The Hobbit – What You Wish For
[Edited] As of 9/7/2017 this story is under edits! (The story will not change, only the spelling/grammar) Chapter 1 here is edited, and I will be moving on to all other chapters also. Though I will keep the old authors notes mostly, for nostalgic purposes. If the chapter has edited at the top, then I've finished that one and moved onto the next!
Hello all, I'm back again with a new project. I know what you're thinking, not another one – right? I do have to apologise to those people who have been waiting months for updates, and I want you to know that my other things are not abandoned. I recently lost my Grandfather, and the grief was all consuming. My creative activities, even my day to day life took a massive hit. Thus, I completely lost my ideas and aspirations for my other stories.
This story here I have been thinking about for a while, as once again the great works of Tolkien have banished the darkness enough for me to at least enjoy reading again, and attempt to write (even if I spend most of the time just staring at the screen). I have read many fanfictions in the last few weeks on the topic of an oc insert into tale of the hobbit. And wholeheartedly, I believe that writing this will be therapeutic for me.
So, just to state this at the beginning: I intend to follow the canon as close as possible, switching between the books and the movies – even with a hint of the games at times. I adore Tolkien, middle-earth and his awe-inspiring works but I can by no means match them, or get everything correct. That being said, bear with me. I have a loose idea of what I want, and where I was this story to go but nothing is set in stone. I just want it to flow where it will.
Thanks for listening, and with no further interruptions – here is the first chapter:
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Evrion closed the book between her hands, then let out a deep sign before breathing in the crisp air of the countryside. An ache resonated in her chest, grief and stress weighing heavily upon her.
She wished they survived. Every time….
Evrion drew a hand over the cover of Tolkien's The Hobbit.
"...I wish I could save them."
Thorin. Fili. KIli. Even Balin, Oin and Ori years later in their cold, dark stone tomb of Moria.
"Evrion!" She glanced up at her name. Heading towards her with cameras around their necks and bags of equipment in hand. Friends from the University she was attending in Scotland. Evrion had always wanted to move from her home in the North of England, and finding a course of costume making in Scotland had been a stroke of luck.
A friendly smile pulled at her lips. While she had been at the university for a few months, she still struggled to make friends. Gwendolin, Eruyale and Esca had already formed a group by the time they attended University, having met at school. Evrion had somehow found her way into their little tight nit circle, much to her surprise though she was grateful. Without them, she would have been alone in a city she didn't know.
She shoved her book into the satchel attached to her hip, being part of her costume and rose to greet them. Her flowing forest green cloak whipped around her legs as she did so, and the wind travelled through her Viking styled braided, ash brown hair. Much to Scottish tradition, it was cold and windy but the group had decided to get ahead on their coursework and in the process help one another out.
Eruyale and Gwendolin studied photography, and so they had agreed to take professional styled photos of Evrion's costume she'd been working on. Esca was also part of the costume creation course, but was purely there to take some inspiration from the textures around them. Evrion could see her already eyeing the bark and leaves where she would silently pull out her crayons and paper to get rub markings.
"You're here early," Eruyale called, waving with a large smile on her face. Despite being an introvert, Evrion couldn't help but find the blonde's eagerness and positivity rub off on her the more time she spent with her. Eruyale had her straight blonde hair up in her usual ponytail, and her eyes were as clear as the sky above.
Evrion returned the smile, her usually dull sea blue eyes softened. "Yeah, I was worried I'd get lost so I set out early."
"Oh, Evrion," Eruyale reached her and patted her shoulder. "You'll get used to this place soon. It's not a large city!"
"Hopefully," she offered another smile, not letting on that did indeed think it was a large city and too easily she got lost in it. A part of her, the one that made it hard for her to speak out in groups, whispered doubt at her. That she should have stayed home, shouldn't have ventured out of her comfort zone, that she didn't belong Scotland.
Shaking off her unwelcome negative thoughts, she looked to the other girls. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Gwendolin returned with a nod, her dark hair was combed back off her face in a thick, beautiful mane. Evrion smiled when hearing the Irish twang to her accent. It really was charming. Pared with deep brown eyes, Evrion had immediately thought the girl looked as wild as the Highlands she came from. She had accidently said as much, on the second day of knowing the group, but thankfully Gwen didn't appear to take offence. If anything, she took in her stride, ever confident. Not overly so, but sure in her skin. It awed Evrion at times.
"Mornin'," Esca called, not looking at either of them as she bent to examine a rather large leaf that had floated by her booted feet.
"You're like a burrower," Gwendolin tilted her head at the other girl, who had the large brown leaf up against her face.
"Thank you," Esca returned, in a tone that had taken some time for Evrion to get used to. Esca was as much as quick witted and smooth as the rivers she was named for. Gwendolin had meant the comment as bait, but Esca simply took in on her shoulders, accepted it and then no one could use anything against her. Despite her rather blunt, upfront nature which seemed to grate on others nerves, Evrion thought she was the strongest of the group. Skin as hard as stone, but with a caring heart beneath she only showed in private moments.
Evrion shuffled over to Esca as the other two girls started discussing camera settings. "That'll make a nice marking," she commented, pointing at the leaf.
Esca shifted her eyes to meet hers, and not for the first time did Evrion think they were rather startling. Peridot mixed with hints of blue, and flickers of brown. A unique hazel for sure. It went well with her sandy brown hair. "I think it will too," she offered, and proceeded to rub the crayon over the paper and leaf beneath that.
As she had done many times since meeting the group, Evrion thought how lucky she had been to have found people with similar interests and who were willing to bring her into their already established lives. And listening to all the different accents always put a smile on her face, and warmed her heart to the idea that she had made the right choice to move miles away from her life before.
Eruyale had moved from America with her parents five years ago, but still held some of her former accent. Gwendolin was from Ireland, herself from the north of England with Esca being the only one who had grown up in Scotland and held the accent thickly.
"You've done some good work with your project," Esca pulled her from her thoughts, jutting her chin at the clothes Evrion wore.
"Thank you," she smiled, looking down at herself. Tight brown riding trousers, a matching leather jacket tailored to her frame, patterned green gauntlets, and shoulder pads along with tall, knee length leather boots. On her fingers were the guards she used for archery to match the bow she had hidden away on the bench.
"Have you started work on your own?" She asked. Esca always kept her head down in class, though she did answer questions and never shied to show her knowledge or skill.
Esca nodded. "I am looking to fill my paper coursework out today, while looking for an interested pattern I can use on my fabric."
Their design brief had been vague, but both herself and Esca had gone for a more nature theme than the others. Most were doing some sort of theatre costume, or ball gowns – those were quite popular. She believed Esca was focussing more on fabric and textures of nature, an outfit centred on that while Evrion had gone for fantasy. She couldn't help it – being obsessed and all. If anything, her love of lore and folk tales had been what had drawn her to Scotland at a young age.
Standing in the nature park they'd agreed to meet at only solidified that notion. It was breath-taking to be surrounded by trees, and the changing leaves of spring. Seeing grey streets and buildings everyday had become tiresome to Evrion, as she had always longed for the freedom that a wilder place could offer her. When she had holidayed down in the South, she had adored walking on the Moors. Though they were dangerous, as most nature was if you underestimated it. She'd even taking to walking with a hat similar to that of Sherlock's at the time, and pretending to discover the mystery behind the Hound of the Baskervilles. She had been as a strange and isolated child, to say the least. Taken with the fantasies in her head over the reality before her.
"You ready, Evrion?" Eruyale caught her attention with another smile. "You costume is brilliant, can't wait to start snapping it." She held up her camera.
Evrion nodded, then moved to the bench where she removed her bow from the casing.
"Woah," Eruyale gasped, wide eyed. "I knew you practiced archery, but it's always something seeing a bow up close!"
"A compound bow," Gwendolin eyed her bow with what Evrion guessed was an impressed raised brow.
"That's right," Evrion balanced the bow in her right hand, allowing Eruyale to run a finger over it in curiosity. Evrion had pondered bringing a modern bow to the photoshoot, knowing a traditional one would have suited the theme better. However, they were expensive both to buy and to make. The one she did have was too precious to use for the photoshoot, for fear that it would break. Her grandfather had crafted it for her, and he had passed away a few weeks before she moved out to Scotland. The grief was still crippling, and she felt her throat clog up. She coughed to clear it, and then settled the bow against the bench as she started to strap her arrow sheath across her back.
Along with woodwork, that her grandad had taught her, Archery was the one thing she'd really stuck at. She enjoyed reading, writing and art – but had needed something to throw herself into to avoid the smothering sensation of pure loss. Archery had been her release, and so her compound bow was like an extension of herself. Using what little money she had left after paying for her living, she used to continue her lessons though they were few and far between as she had to travel a little way.
"The cameras are set up," Eruyale informed her when she'd finished preparing herself. "Ready when you are."
"Head over there to begin," Gwendolin took control, as she often did though Evrion didn't mind. She followed her friend's orders and lifted her bow to make for the nearest line of trees.
"A step backwards," Gwendolin instructed. "But her careful."
"Like this?" Evrion questioned, positioning her feet further back on the prominent rock that was a mix of stone and moss. It had intrigued all the girls when they'd seen it, and so it had been perfect for some pictures. Esca had given her a foot up in order to stand at the top. Evrion was very glad the park wasn't very busy as she stood out like a sore thumb. She wasn't embarrassed by her work, or dressing up, but she had no doubt standing on a rock with a compound bow would draw some attention. Defiantly not all good.
"Don't worry about it," Esca had said to her, as if the girl had read her thoughts. Then proceed to heave her up onto the rocky hill.
"A bit further back, but watch where you're putting your feet!" Gwendolin called.
Evrion looked down as she did as she was told when a rather violent gush of wind hit her. It threatened to tear the cloak from her neck and whipped her braids into her face till her cheeks were stung pink. Bow in hand, she tried to ignore the weather as she drew a fake wooden arrow she'd painted black to match the metal and settled in onto the string.
"You alright?" Eruyale shouted, concerned. Evrion felt her eyes water but blinked the liquid away and nodded. The other had taken time to help her, and she didn't want to waste their time.
Another gust of wind screeched overhead, and her footing faltered. Her arms loosened from their taunt stance, the arrow fell from the string and she unconsciously tried to move her hair from her face in a vain attempt to see.
"Evrion!" Three voices cried in unison.
The trees rustled loudly all around, till the sound filled her head. Her heart lurched as her heels slipped and she went tumbling, bow and all.
It was odd. She felt the impact on her shoulder and temple, but nothing else. A blink, and then she found she had landed. Perhaps it was shock that blocked the pain. Her face and front were pressed against the ground, the tell-tale coolness of grass with the odd bumps of flowers and small stones.
Evrion did not know if she were hurt, and her eyes sealed as unconsciousness swept over her like a morning breeze.
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Evrion woke with a start. Her fingers clutched at the ground; at the soil and grass as she gasped for breath.
It was dark.
Why was it dark?!
Had the group just left her? They wouldn't do that! Would they? No!
She scrambled to her knees, then regretted it as she clutched her sides when a sharp pain echoed through her ribs. A loud grunt escaped from her lips in response to the sudden pain. Evrion looked down at herself, though it was useless in the dark. The fall must have bruised her ribs, or broken them. As she raised her head, she still wondered in worsening panic just where on Earth she was and why the others had left her.
What she found made her breath come out in short, sharp intakes. Even in the night light, she could tell she was no longer in the nature park.
The moon was out overhead, clear in the black sky. But what created the most light, and alerted her to the fact she was no longer where she had been was the rolling, flower covered hills that were lit by warm lights from small houses dotted about.
Evrion could only stare, mouth agape.
Was it some kind of joke? Had the others taken her somewhere while she was out cold, and just dropped her off? Evrion daren't shout for them in case there was some danger around. Fear worked its way into her hope till she almost shook with it. Surely they wouldn't do this? No, something else must have happened. Evrion wondered if they had been in trouble also, and this gave her enough strength to start moving.
Her head spun when she moved it on her neck, and a harsh throbbing pounded on her temple. When she brushed it with her fingers, she felt something sticky. Blood. Her eyes widened, she could barely see the colour in the dim light but there wasn't any other explanation.
Gritting her teeth, Evrion fought with the nausea and fumbled with her hands as the grass soaked into the material at her knees. She almost jumped out her skin when she felt something cold and hard touch her finger tips. Evrion pulled her hand back quickly towards her chest, peering into the darkness.
It was her bow. She could just make out the outline. Grasping it, Evrion used it to stand on shaky legs. With the end of her bow in the ground, she leant on it and looked around. Blood rushed through ears but she knew she needed to start moving.
Stumbling at best over the hill in front of her, she almost lost her footing as she slid down onto a path. The houses…they were…what? They almost looked familiar, but that couldn't be...The buildings were built into earth mounds in the ground, with large circular doors. A thought niggled in the corner of her mind. A possibility she could not even voice inside her head.
Perhaps someone in one of the homes could help her? Ring the police…or something, even tell her where the in the hell she was.
The nearest house was on the crest of the hill, one of the tallest in sight, with the rest below it like little lanterns. She turned back to look at the lone house and found it surrounded by a low wooden fence. Evrion limped along, looking for a gate of some sort.
Rain started to dribble as she walked, using a bow as a walking stick. The other arm was wrapped around herself, though she slipped it away for a moment to pull on her billowed hood up over her head and injured temple. When Evrion spotted the gate, she let out a small breath. Her hands shook as she reached for the latch, and she was too preoccupied to close it behind her.
The steps were another issue, but Evrion pushed on through the haze with clung to her and took each step slowly, trying to hang onto anything that was close enough. When she finally reached the door, she wanted to sag from the effort. The lights were on in this house as well, and if she tried hard enough, she could almost hear voices coming from inside. That made her pause, but then what other choice did she have?
So she steeled herself, with all the courage she could muster and knocked with her fist on the green door. The voices went silent, and Evrion swallowed dryly. Something shining blue caught her attention in the bottom corner of the door, but as her eyes trailed to it, the door swung open.
What Evrion saw made her head pound violently. A small man, one who wore simple trousers with bracers and a buttoned up white shirt. His caramel brown hair was curled to his neck, and his feet…his feet were…her head swam and she dropped her bow.
"…M-My lady," he spoke, but she was already falling over the threshold of his house.
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Bilbo Baggins opened his door for what felt like the umpteenth time that night. He was entirely frazzled, to say the least and more than put out that his pantry had been more or less emptied by thirteen dwarves!
He expected his face did not look amused as he let his door swing inwards. Gandalf had been the first to react to the knock as he clapped his hands together. While Thorin, was that his name? Yes, he believed it had been. He'd gained a darker look than the one he was wearing before, if that were possible.
"We are not expecting anyone else," he growled, to the wizard. "All the company is present."
"Yes, well," the wizard did one of his strange looks. "That is not entirely true." Before Thorin could protest, or throttle the wizard, Gandalf looked to him. "Bilbo, would you be so kind as to answer the door."
Bilbo had sighed. "I don't see why not," he huffed, and trudged to his door.
That was when he'd opened it to reveal the hooded ranger. He was startled by the strange bow in her hands at first, almost taking a step back but then he noticed her sea blue eyes were dull and unfocussed. And blood! There was blood on the side of her face.
"Can I help you, My Lady?" he stuttered, but she did not seem to hear him.
She swayed, and he called for Gandalf but the wizard wasn't fast enough as the woman dropped her weapon she appeared to have been using to stand and collapsed forward. Bilbo didn't know what to do so he just reacted on instinct. He couldn't let her hit her head! However, her weight was much more than he could carry with his small size and he tumbled back with her. His stomach cushioned the blow to her head, but she still groaned. Bilbo looked down in fright at the woman in his lap.
"Gandalf!" he cried, as the wizard came rushing towards him. The dwarfs rose also, but he bellowed at them to stay back. Thorin looked down right murderous, if Bilbo were to guess correctly in his shocked state.
"Who is this woman?" he demanded, but Gandalf ignored him.
"She's bleeding," Bofur, with his strange hat pointed out worriedly from by the doorway to the dining room, where all the dwarves were crowed. Thorin had just arrived, and they had taken to sitting around the table while he ate.
The wizard knelt beside her, then threw his head to the side. "Master Oin, if you will – I need your assistance as a healer."
Thorin looked ready to protest. He didn't know the girl, after all and that made Bilbo frown considerably, and not because the poor woman was heavy. Oin however, was indeed a healer at heart and pushed through the group who were muttering and wore a range of expressions from curiosity, to cautiousness and downright distrust where Dwalin was concerned.
"Let's take her into the living area," Oin suggested.
"Yes, yes," Gandalf lifted the girl quite easily considering his age – though Bilbo presumed the wizard was full of surprises, even exceeded in them.
The dwarves were left to speak among themselves. He heard the younger ones talking.
Ori, "Why was she hurt?"
Kili, "Don't know. Who is she? Do ya think the wizard knows her?"
Fili, "Question is. What's she doing here?"
"You know her, hobbit?" Gloin glowered at him, while he still sat on his floor – dumbfounded.
"No," Bilbo breathed. "No, I don't. I thought she was a ranger…"
"Hm, must to the wizard then," Gloin turned to the others.
"Ain't like any ranger I've seen before," Dori muttered, pushing Ori to sit down beside him.
"The wizard had better answer my questions," Thorin growled, and took back his seat to finish eating his soup. Quicker than before.
"I second that," Dwalin grumbled, as he crossed his large arms over his chest and stood by Thorin's shoulder to stare at the living room door.
Nori snorted. "So suspicious," he muttered, and ended up getting a smack from his comrades.
"We should wait to hear what she says when the lass wakes up," Bombur, much to everyone's surprise spoke up from where he sat, fingers playing nervously together. "Then it will be cleared up."
From what Bilbo could tell, from poor Bifur who had an axe in his head, agreed with what his brother said.
"Aye, aye," some of them agreed, while Dwalin still looked like he wanted to storm in there and shake the wizard to get answers.
Bilbo was still rather shocked, and still hadn't gotten off the floor. His eyes travelled to the black bow that laid on his door step.
"You alright, laddy?" Balin came over, and offered a hand. Bilbo took it graciously, Balin seemed the good type. Certainly out of the others.
"Fine, fine," he brushed down his clothes, straightening them. Then he looked to the open door and the bow. "I should," he pointed with a pause, where Balin followed. "Return this to her." Balin raised his white brows as Bilbo picked it up. It was almost as big as him! Then he closed the door behind him, and gingerly carried the weapon across his hall to the living room.
"Look at that bow!" Kili called, almost jumping on the table to get a look at it.
"What in Durin's bread," he heard someone mutter, and even Thorin had turned one his icy blue eyes to look, a large black brow raised.
"I want to look!" Kili cried, but Fili pulled him back as Dwalin pushed his shoulder down and Thorin shouted. "Kili!"
Bilbo knocked on the living room door, to ensure he didn't interrupt anything.
"Who is it?" Gandalf barked.
"Bilbo," he returned, shuffling with bare and hairy feet along the wooden floorboards.
"Oh, do come in Bilbo-"
He opened the door to find the girl laid out on his low table by the fire. Oin appeared to have removed the blood from the side of her head to get a better look at the wound – he could only guess as he was in no way a healer. Wouldn't have known what to do at all had the dwarf not been there to assist.
"I-uh," he showed the weapon in his hands. "Came to return this."
Gandalf smiled, though it was tight and pulled at the wrinkles in his face. "Very good. Leave it over there, will you?" Bilbo edged over to the comfortable chair that he kept to the side of the fire to read in and placed the bow carefully against it.
Bilbo rubbed his hands together nervously as he looked over the unconscious girl. She did not seem very old, in fact she appeared to be only in her twentieth year. Though Bilbo couldn't say for sure. After all, humans did age differently to other races in middle-earth.
"There are no serous wounds. Some bruising on her ribs for which I can give a salve to assist in the healing process. The head wound is also minor, though she will be dizzy when she wakes. Be warned not to let her stand too quickly." The dwarf stepped back, and turned to the wizard where he had on Bilbo's sofa. That's all I can do for her."
"My thanks, Master Oin," Gandalf nodded, as the slightly deaf dwarf took up his hearing horn and left the living room. As soon as the door opened, both he and Gandalf could hear the ruckus on the other side.
Bilbo scratched his cheek in an uncomfortable gesture before Gandalf rose with a deep and weary sigh. "I had better go answer their questions, lest we never hear the end of it." When Bilbo made to follow, Gandalf held up a hand to stop him.
"Stay here with her. Ensure she doesn't wake alone, and indeed bang her head again."
Bilbo couldn't help that he looked put out.
"Do not worry, she will not harm you." But the Wizard wore one of those expressions he did not trust, and if he stretched back his memory to when he was but a child, he recalled the same look when the wizard was about to try out a new firework.
"Ah, well," Bilbo gave a forced smile, and squeezed his hands together as he bunched his shoulders and looked around the room. "As you say, Gandalf."
The wizard looked at him with an unreadable expression, for longer than he usually did. Then gave a strong nod before spinning on his heels and disappearing through the door, back to the dwarves in his dining room.
Bilbo let out a large sigh and collapsed onto the sofa that the wizard had just vacated. His eyes shifted from the doorway where he could hear muttered voices, to the unconscious girl. She appeared only to be in deep sleep, face pale and there was a mar between her dark brows from where she frowned. Bilbo didn't think he'd ever seen creature like her. Not had he'd seen many humans, that is! Not for a long time, when he would go adventuring as a child, trailing twigs and mud behind him.
Gandalf's words came back to him, and Bilbo huffed out loud. "An adventure indeed." Right in his own home. Never would he had imagined he'd be entertaining the company of thirteen dwarves, a wizard and a human!
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Would anyone care to review?
It would defiantly help my confidence, and fuel my inspiration to keep going. I'd love to hear what you thought about the characters! Do you like Evrion? Did I do the wonderful dwarves I love so much justice? Gandalf? Even Bilbo's point of view?
I know these sorts of stories have been done a million times but I am hoping I can keep it from being repetitive. And again, thanks for reading!
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My original novel: Fated Rising is uploaded unedited to chapter ten on Inkitt and Wattpad. Follow FatedRisingSeries on tumblr for updates and artwork. Currently in the process of editing for publishing sometime 2017/2018
