Happy Halloween everyone! Yes, I have FINALLY started possibly one of my most favorite fanfics I could be writing. And if you`re new, you may or may not be asking "But Emma, why are you writing another Hobbit story?" That my friend is, well, I had written one back when I was 11. Oh boy. If it`s not there, be happy; I wouldn't want you to die from a cringe overdose, now would I? Hahaha, I`ll let the door hit me on the way out.

But seriously, yes it was the worst I`ve ever written, and yes I have now re-read the book and re-watched the movies, but the main reason is because I have actually finished reading the book at my school. A funny story real quick, my grade actually watched the first 10 minutes of the animated version, and they had absolutely no idea what was going on! Of course, having my sister forcing me to watch it when I was younger, I was unfazed. Alright! Enough of my monologuing, I don`t honestly know if I`ll update much during November, because I am already participating in the NaNoWriMo. But, I will do what I can.

To everyone going out: Stay Safe!

Cast:

MAIN: Liesel- Willow Shields.

SIDE: Briar- Brie Larson.


It was a quiet, yet sunny April morning, but a slight breeze in the wind too. This was, and still is, Bilbo Baggins` perfect weather. It is the perfect weather to perhaps read a good book on the hearth, or smoke a few rings from his pipe in his garden in front the Hobbit Hole. The hole was not like any house or shelter you would imagine a man or even elf would have. It is a comfy hole built in a small hill, and furnished with whatever the owner had brought with them when they had moved or purchased if it is their first home.

The door on each house in The Shire is perfectly rounded, like a porthole; with a shiny brass or copper, or if you are extremely rich, gold knob in the exact middle. The door opens to a tube-shaped hall like tunnel: an extremely comfortable tunnel without smoke, with paneled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted. Also Mr. Baggins was provided with polished chairs and many pegs for hats and coats. He was very fond of any of his neighbors visiting. But, many years after this story, he would rather spend his age of staying locked in his home, all by himself, besides only a few selective people you will come to meet in this story, or another.

Two of those selective people are Briar and Liesel Hayward, mother and daughter. Around this time, Liesel must be 20 years old; to which is the equivalent of a young 13 year old girl in man`s years. The young child lived in refusal for eight years in man`s time. The family had been having income troubles, so the man of the house, her father Ferris, had kissed his wife and daughter goodbye and planned to travel all of Middle-Earth to find at least a single job to support his family. He had promised both of them he would write to them once a week and return after two years, no matter if he had found a job or not. It had been an extra five for her and her mother.

As the weeks went by, slowly and slowly, his letters decreased in quality and quantity. The last letter they had gotten before the true tale began was six months ago; and they were just like all the others. For the expected two years, he had always signed it 'Love, father and husband'. But for the seldom rest, he had used his birth name.

On this particular day in April, Bilbo had decided on resting outside of his Hobbit hole, and sit on his lawn chair and smoke on his pipe instead of isolating himself in his home and reading.

He must have been the most relaxed and joyed hobbit in all of Hobbiton, because it had surprised him greatly on the inside when he heard a noise swoosh in front of him and it seemed that his own smoke had made its way into his nose. He opened his soothing eyes and stared up at the tall man before him.

A fairly lofty man stood right in front of him, carrying a simple wooden staff. He had a tall pointed grey hat, a long cloak of the same color, a silver scarf over which his long, white beard hung down below his waist and his immense black boots.

Bilbo had almost stuttered out his first words to the stranger "Good morning," he then drew his face to the ground

"What do you mean?" Bilbo pulled his face back up to him.

"Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or, perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?"

Bilbo held his mouth open for a second, than closed it. "All of them at once, I suppose."

The stranger stared at him for a few seconds. This bewildered Bilbo. He had turned on his chair, tempted to up and leave right there, but the miniature Tookish side in him asked "Can I help you?"

"That remains to be seen. I`m looking for someone, to share in an adventure."

Bilbo`s pipe had almost been dropped out of his hand, but had successfully slipped out of his mouth. "An adventure? Never in my days." He had thought.

His two parents were major opposites, on his mother`s side, Belladonna Took and her family were the most adventurous and self-confident hobbits you would ever meet, if you had the chance. But his father`s relatives were the ones he had inherited the most characteristics.

His father`s side were the homely Baggins`s. Never late for dinner, never staying out past curfew, and almost every never you could write a book about. They were humble and pleasant hobbits, if I have to say so myself.

"An adventure?" He had finally said after his inner thoughts. "Now, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures." He had pointed to his right with his pipe, then stood up and walked to his mailbox. "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner, hm, and mm." He opened up and collected the mail and searched through the letters, moving quicker as he kept looking up from them.

He had gotten tired of this stranger`s staring and began to turn around and walk up his stairs to the porch. "Good morning,"

"To think that I should have lived to be good morninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I were selling buttons at the door."

Bilbo had frozen I his place and slightly turned his head at the mention of his mother`s name. How would this stranger know about her?

Bilbo had been taken so aback by his remark, it took him a few seconds to find the right words "Beg your pardon?"

"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means … me."

It didn't take Bilbo as long to remember this man`s name "Gandalf...not Gandalf, the wandering Wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. Ha, ha! Well. Hmm, I had no idea you were still in business."

"And where else should I be?" Gandalf had given him a questioning stare.

"Ha, ha! Hm, hmm..." Bilbo puffed confusedly on his pipe.

"Well, I'm pleased to find your remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks.

Well that's decided. It will be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

Bilbo had been taken aghast by this "Inform the who? What? No. No. No! Wait. We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today, notmm. I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water." He tried to give a shooing motion, and turned to go back into the home, but without one last "Good morning."

Once inside, he bolted the door and leaned against it. Hearing a curious noise, he put his ear close to the door. The noise is from Gandalf drawing a glowing symbol on Bilbo's door with his staff.

Alarmed, Bilbo looks out his side window, only to find Gandalf's eye appear in front of him! He jumped back in fright and hid behind a wall. He looked out another window and saw Gandalf hurrying away.


It was the same quiet April day for the Hayward`s Hobbit hole. That it, until Liesel woke up. She had slept in for a few extra hours and had missed breakfast, so there was her mother busily cooking her only daughter an exuberant amount of second breakfast.

Liesel had rolled herself, literally, out of her bed and tossed off her sleeping gown and pulled on a white, short sleeved blouse, and green skirt that just went past her knees.

She had moved to her calendar on her nightstand and reached for the red crayon she had used to mark off another day. She was about to, when she saw 'Papa`s birthday!' written in blue on the date of that day.

Her eyes had the instantly perked up and a sparkle that had been hidden reached out. She dropped the crayon onto the floor and rushed out of the room, her bare feet, with an average amount of hair beginning to grow, brushed the carpets with that familiar childhood feel.

"Did you get the mail?" She asked eagerly to her mother, who was still cooking.

"Not yet," Briar had responded weakly. She was the complete opposite of Liesel`s hopefulness for Ferris coming home.

A wide smile appeared on Liesel`s face as she ran out and pulled the hatch of the mailbox open. She glanced up and saw her neighbor across the road in her rocking chair.

Now, Mrs. Shaw was a poor, elderly widow, and had perhaps the worst attitude a hobbit could have. But Liesel was in a jubilant mood, so instead of scowling or completely ignoring her like usual, she flashed a smile her way. "Morning, Mrs. Shaw."

The old lady scoffed and pointed to her with a boney, long finger "You don`t say "Morning," you say "GOOD morning!" The young hobbit just smiled and swiped the letters out and sprinted back in without closing the hatch.

"Forgot to close it again," Her mother said without making eye contact while cutting various vegetables.

"I`ll do it later," Liesel said without thinking and began searching through several envelopes.

Briar turned her head towards her daughter "Now," She hissed.

She let out a groan and rolled her eyes as she set the notes down on the coffee table and opened the front door and slammed the hatch shut. "Good day, Mrs. Shaw." She mumbled under her breath.

Mrs. Shaw put her slim hand to her ear "What did you say you ugly girl? Speak up!"

Liesel then marched back in to search for a particular letter.

She continued her search, and then searched again. "This can`t be right, is the mailer drunk again?" She turned her head and asked her mom.

"Doubt it; he probably just didn't want to write, again." He mother grumbled at the end.

"Who, the mailer?" Liesel cocked her head.

"No, your-." Briar began, until Liesel interrupted her.

"Oh wait!" She pulled a stool from beside the sofa and brought it to the edge of the hearth, stood on it, grabbed a clump of multiple letters secured by a rubber band, and opened the first one in the stack.

She opened it up, and began to read. If you asked her to recite every letter word for word, she`d pass with flying colors.

This is what the letter had read:

Dearest child and wife,

I apologize for not returning to you in the two years I promised, it has just been so difficult finding even the tiniest job. I solemnly swear I will come back to the Shire, at the most, in half a year.

I would like to give my regrets for not being able to attend your days of birth and holiday, including Yuletide. I am greatly apologetic for missing your special days especially, Liesel. When I make it home, I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you.

I shall return near my birthday if I am correct. I am still hoping the both of you remember my favorite flavor. If you don`t, then I guess it`ll be a grand guessing game for you to play. I long for the day I return.

With love, Ferris.

Liesel had the exact same smile she always had when she ever read his past letters. She set the message back in the plane envelope, and wrapped it back up with the stack of them. She looked back up to her mother, who had finished her cookery and was just starting to place the silverware and setting the table.

"We still have blueberries, right?" She asked.

"We should," her mother said, once again, staring continuously at her task. Liesel was about to press forward and begin baking her father`s cake, but took a small glance at her mother and the food she prepared. She swallowed her pride and ate with her mother, which brought a sincere grin to Briar`s face as they ate.

When they had ate until they could no more, Liesel pulled herself out of her chair and helped her mother with cleaning up the dishes and the overall kitchen. She then had taken the ingredients from the cabinets and ice box she would need, and began mixing them together to form a tiny treat.

Her mother had simply shrugged her shoulders and decided to let her little girl bake in peace, and did the simple tasks she did every day; tidy up the house, run to the market, offer herself for any tasks that needed to be done for money in exchange, and of course had lovely small chats with her friends and neighbors.

By the time she had come home from working as a waitress at the Green Dragon, the local and most popular pub, Liesel had just taken the diminutive cake right out of the cooker and placed it on the dining table for it to cool.

"Hey, it looks like it came out good." Briar walked beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling.

"Yes, I think papa`s going to be very-well pleased with it." Liesel responded and looked up at Briar, a satisfied smile on the girl`s face.

Her mother bit her tongue not to lose her grin and speak to her about the chances of her father coming back. She already had, trust me, but Liesel had the fire of her mother, she just would never listen.

"You know, we should have a slice right after it cools down, then the blueberries will be extra creamy, and it won`t be stale when we eat it after supper." He mother said with just a hint of phony cheerfulness.

The child`s smile fell, then shook her head. "Nah, let`s eat it when pa`s back, it won`t be that bad."

Briar started to open her mouth to persuade her daughter once more, but closed it and said "Fine, suite yourself." Then spun around to the bookshelf and took her favorite book from off the shelf. An Adventurer`s Guild I believe it was called.

Liesel turned her face away from her mother`s tense figure and back to the small, piping hot treat. "Something`s missing," She thought to herself and forwarded her eyes and focused on the solely on the cake.

"Let`s see," She began to think again "Blueberries, check. Extra sugar, check. Little bit of chocolate, check. What could I be missing?"

She thought once more until she remembered. "Candles and matches!" She accidently yelled aloud. Briar looked up from her literature and at her daughter "What?"

"Candles and matches, that`s what we`re missing!" A gleeful smile appeared on Liesel`s face.

Briar stood up from the sofa "Liesel, we don`t need candles."

"But it`s his birthday."

"That doesn't matter," Briar`s voice began to rose "they`re too expensive!"

"They are not!" Liesel glared.

Her mother let out a harsh breath "Well they`re meaningless, it`d be a waste of good money."

"I`ll buy them," Liesel spoke.

There was a slight pause of thought for both of them, then Briar rolled her eyes and sighed. "Alright fine, knock yourself out."

A bright smile appeared on the happy girl`s face. "Thanks mum!" She rushed passed her mother and grabbed her coin purse out of her room, then gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek, and was off.


Bilbo had completely forgotten that he was running low on fish when he had assumed he had nothing else important to do on that April morning, which had turned into noon quicker than he expected, he had counted miscellaneous things in his plentiful Hobbit hole.

He had finished counting buttons on all of his shirts, when he had moved onto the pantry. Ten breadboxes full of loaves, three chunks of whole cheese, five bottles for each wine he owned, but no salmon.

He was hesitant to even step a single toe out of his safe haven, but mustered up the courage and put on a new, blue fleece, grabbed a wooden basket that`s was beginning to fall apart, and stepped out his door, looking behind him all the way to the market.

When he had finally reached the Shire`s joyful market, carpenters were building new furniture, tailors were creating shoes, chefs were serving customers, parents were trying their best to keep their children distracted with games, and other exuberant hobbit minding their own business and money.

Bilbo had stopped at the fisherman`s booth and payed the man and took the salmon quicker than an owl finding prey. He still checked behind him every second of the way, and started walking backwards in pure paranoia.

He heard a few small shouts coming from behind him and turned around to see Liesel at the candle maker, snatching a rag doll from a few young boys an gave it back to a little girl, she hugged the doll.

Liesel talked to the small ones for a few moments, than they left to continue playing pirates.

"Oh hello Bilbo!" Liesel said with her best delighted tone and facial when she looked up.

"Ah, hello to you too Liesel, what are you doing here?" He asked her.

Bilbo and Liesel had, quite amusingly, known each other for a few years. They did live in a close distance from each other, four other Hobbit hole`s down to be exact. Their first meeting was quite comedic, and though she had gotten into trouble and was quite bitter to him at first glance, they had become fine acquaintances and would say "Hi," and "Hello," anytime they had passed by each other, and she would, from time to time, water his flowers and trees for him if he ever forgot.

"Not much, I just needed candles."

"What`s the occasion?"

"My pa`s coming home today."

He forced a small smile on his face "Is that so?"

She nodded with a smile you couldn't wipe off.

He remembered what Gandalf had said to him earlier that day, and his paranoia grew once again "I-I don`t suppose you`ve seen a wizard beyond these parts?" He stuttered.

She cocked her eyebrow up at him, and halted the little one that tugged on her arm forever "A wizard? Bilbo, I believe you have spent too much time in your hole- what are you doing?" She asked as he hid himself behind her when he spotted a tall, grey hat approaching him. Or, what he thought was one.

It had come around the corner and revealed itself to be a basket full of pillows and blankets. She had turned back around and saw Bilbo scurry across the bridge. She shook her head with a grin.

She had gone back home, and Briar wasn't there. She found a note on the mantle, telling her that her mother left to Farmer Maggot`s farmstead to help him and his wife tend to the crops, or any other thing they needed help with.

"May Valar protect her soul from him," she giggled at her thought. She placed the candles on the birthday cake and stared at them with the biggest smile on her face, then recalled that her father could arrive any minute now! She flew onto the seat closets to the front widow and never drew her enlarged eyes from it; until she fell asleep after three hours of nothing to report on.


The shrill sound of the front door slamming awoke her from her nap.

"Pa?!" She shouted.

"No!" Briar`s voice echoed in annoyance. Liesel stood up from the seat and walked over to her mother, who practically fell onto a dining chair, hiding her head in her hands.

"Are you okay?" Liesel asked hesitantly.

Briar took her hands away from her face and glared at her daughter "Yes Liesel, I cut my hands on a stupid letter opener," She showed the palm of her left hand, tied in cloth with blood seeking through "My skirt is the heaviest thing in the entire universe, so I was sweating like a damn pig, and some stupid child ran into the weed killer, and spilled it all on the corn! Yes Liesel, I am the happiest woman in the world."

The little girl`s fingers were slightly shaking, but her posture overall was frozen.

"W-well, how about we have the cake like you said-?"

"Oh why such a change of heart? I thought you were saving it for papa?" Briar mocked in her frazzled stage.

Liesel had had enough. "Well, if you`d just be happy for once in your life, pa would be here right now!" The light brunette covered her mouth in shock of what just came out of her lips.

"Oh, oh, now you think it`s my fault?! Well you want to know a fun fact? He`s not even a hundred miles of the Shire. He`s in another town, drunk as all hell, sleeping with his whore!"

Liesel stood frozen in place. Her mother had never said anything like that to anyone, especially her father. Yes, she did complain from time to time about him being gone, but she would quickly stop.

Liesel`s eyes pricked with tears, but was still fuming with anger "How could you say that?!"

"Because it is true!"

"No it`s not, will you open your eyes?! He still cares, you just don`t want to see it!"

Her mother raised her hands to her hairs and grabbed clumps of them and turned her back to her daughter "Please, just stop! You`re in denial!"

"And you just care about nobody but yourself!" Even with what she said, Liesel was shocked at what she told her mother.

The strained mother had completely lost control for just a mere second. She whipped around and slapped her daughter right across the left cheek, and caused her daughter to fall to her knees in shock, and impact.

Briar froze and stared down at her hand that hit her daughter, than her daughter herself. Liesel hadn't bothered to hold back the tears and stared at her mother. She had meant for it to be cold, but instead it was pitiful.

"Oh no, Liesel, I-!" Her mom tried to spit it out, but Liesel didn't want to listen again. She got up, slammed the purple door open, then shut, and ran away from her home. No, she couldn't even call it that. "Liesel wait! I didn't mean to, I`m sorry!"

She sprinted down the road, pushing past anyone coming in her way. Most just stared at her and were slightly concerned what she could be so upset over, and a few, including some of the "higher class" hobbits scoffed at her and shouted in her ear "Watch where you`re going!"

She hadn't notice a root sticking out of the ground, until she stumbled over it and rolled down the small hill. Thankfully, a river that would go up to her ankles caught her fall. When she had stood herself up, all of her clothes were sodden and a moderate amount of mud was covered on her chest and skirt.

Pulling herself back onto the surface, she made quiet sobs. She had to go to someone for help. But who?


He heard the fish sizzling in the pan over the fire as he set a small basket of bread on the table for one, then gathered his plate and scooped the fish out of the burning pan and onto his plate. He let out a small sigh from the wonderful smell, then set plate on the table and was ready to eat, when-.

Ring.

He looked up from his meal and turned his head to his door. He got up from his seat and answered it. Outside was a shivering, soaked, chilled to the bone little girl a few inches shorter than him, and a tear-stricken face.

He squinted his eyes, just to be sure it was who he suspected. "Liesel?" Her nod was stiff and a few tears fell from her eyes.

Bilbo remembered how chilly it could get on April nights, even if the day was warm. "Come, come in, you`ll catch a cold if you`re out there." He stepped out of the way for her to enter in the cozy, safe Hobbit hole. She stepped in and a small sigh of relief escaped her lips.

"Now, won`t you tell me why you`re covered from head to toe in mud and water?" He urged.

She stared at the floor, then back at him, "No way I`m getting out of this," she thought to herself.

"I fell,"

"You fell?"

She nodded. "In the river, I tripped."

He tried to let out a quiet sigh, but Liesel, unfortunately, heard it, but she kept her mouth shut.

The hobbit grabbed a knitted blanket out of a small box in the living room, and handed it to her.

She reached out and took it, but didn't wrap it around herself. "I`m sorry," she whispered.

"What? No, there`s nothing to be sorry for." He tried to muster his best words. Even though she was the closest thing to a child, they hadn't been speaking much, so he lost his train of thought on how to speak to children; or others for that matter.

She hesitated again with the blanket, but unfolded it and wrapped it around her small figure. He smiled a small grin to attempt to cheer her up. This was the most unusual day he had in years. A wizard he had long forgotten showed up on his doorstep and offered him an adventure, and a little girl he hadn't had a lengthy conversation with in a long time came to him for help.

He shook his head as he led Liesel to the kitchen and sat her down near the fire for her to warm up. "Be thankful that this will be the limit of peculiar for today, Bilbo." He said in his mind.

"What happened?" He asked and sat across from her.

She shrugged her shoulders. It was obvious she didn't want to tell him just yet.

He sighed again "Well, that`s alright." There was slightly uncomfortable silence as he was pondering other things to say to either comfort her, or get the truth out.

Ring.

Bilbo and Liesel`s eyes fell on the door. Bilbo had assumed she hadn't eaten yet and stood up from his chair and made his way to the pantry. "Can you please get that?" He asked as he searched.

She walked towards the door and gently turned the hatch and opened the door.

It was a dwarf. Long beard, bald held, completely towering over her, staring at something. He noticed the door opened and turned to the little girl.

"Dwalin. At your service." He bowed without breaking eye-contact.

He mouth trembled as she tried to get words out of it. But, she turned her head swiftly to the pantry.

"Bilbo!"