This is my first EVER fanfiction, so please forgive me if it isn't the greatest! Please please review and let me know how I can do better. I hope you enjoy the story. I'm so excited to keep writing. This first chapter is just setting up our protagonist; the dwarves and Bilbo (and more!) will be present in the next chapters! I just wanted to give life to my main character first! I hope you enjoy, and please give me a chance. xx Read, review, and follow if you wish!

Reanna Tullen nestled herself at the foot of the tall oak tree that she had grown rather fond of, listening to the quiet of the afternoon, her notebook and quill in her lap. She had brought freshly baked bread and some of her favorite cheeses with her in a brown wicker basket and was alone with her thoughts. Reanna sat just outside her hometown of Bree, and summer was in full bloom. She wanted to relish the warmth of the sun and the beautiful melodies of birds before the cold of autumn came upon them.

Reanna's thoughts wandered to her grandmother, the only family she had left. She looked down at the ring on her hand, running her fingers over the delicate, silver keepsake. It was not inlaid with jewel or precious stone but was engraved with something far more valuable, her family name. No one in the world had it now. Tullen. Her father and mother died many years ago, and she could barely remember the faces that once smiled at her with such love and care.

She felt tears come to her eyes and ripped her mind away from such thoughts. Her mind fluttered back to thoughts of her grandmother, Brietta. The old woman lay in her bed now, quiet and sleeping. Her time on this earth was coming to an end, and both Reanna and Brietta knew it. It would be so hard to part from her grandmother, who had brought her up since the unfortunate fate of her parents. But it would be any day now, and Reanna had to face this honest truth.

Her grandmother had come to her aid after her parents had found their brutal end many moons ago. Brietta Tunnelly had found Reanna sobbing in the rubble of death, not more than six years of age. The woman took the little girl away from the destruction and brought her into her own home up the hill. From then on, Brietta promised to care for Reanna as her own child, which she did while facing the pain of losing her only daughter and her wonderful son-in-law. Reanna was orphaned, and Brietta became her companion in life. Since that day, they were always there for each other and have always been. Reanna did not know what she would do without her grandmother...

The crash of a falling branch brought Reanna back to the present and away from her dreary thoughts. She could feel the daylight fading, and she knew that she had to get back home. She looked up to the sky and saw that the clouds had begun to lose their brilliant white color. Something is happening, she thought. Reanna felt something within her shift, and an uneasiness grew about her. Gathering her basket and her writings, she quickly headed home.

Reanna approached the gate to her little corner of the world. "Good afternoon, Mr. Goatleaf."

"Well, good afternoon now, Ms. Tullen. I see ya' been in the forest again, writin' I suspect." Mr. Goatleaf guarded the entrance gate to Bree, and Reanna always found him a little odd and slightly creepy.

"Yes sir, I've been just sitting."

"Give my regards to your grandmother. I do hope she feels...better. I'm so sorry to see that she has taken ill." He gave her a sympathetic look, not knowing to smile or frown.

"Thank you Mr. Goatleaf. I appreciate your kind words."

"Hrmpf...right. Now off you go; don't want to be in the woods too late at night."

He gave her an odd nod, and she followed in suit. Weird man, she thought, but still kind it seemed. Reanna took her usual shortcut home, passing behind the Prancing Pony. She smiled a little as she heard some men and women laughing heartily from inside. The end of the afternoon had just commenced, and they were already full of beer and stories, she was sure. She sometimes made her way in there, with the hobbits and men. Reanna loved a good laugh and some great ale too. She was, after all, part hobbit. Yes, her mother was a hobbit and her Father was a nobleman from afar. She knew very little of their love story and her father's origins, only that their love was fierce enough to light the world on fire and cross the lines that race often unnecessarily created. Luckily, in Bree, where men and hobbits lived and grew together, their odd match was welcomed, though it still took some time. Reanna's birth helped in that matter; one look at the babe's chubby cheeks, green-blue eyes, and curly dark brown hair sent the town into frenzy and love for the odd pair and their new family. Anyway, that was long ago now and she was just another resident in their town.

Reanna heard the sounds recede into the distance as she climbed the grassy hill behind the pub to her home. She could have easily taken the street, but this way was quicker and more exhilarating. Maybe it was the man-blood in her, but she was more adventurous than the hobbits in town. She took the paths unknown, always. She, however, did not have the hairy feet that could withstand anything. Reanna had to wear shoes on her many adventures through the forest.

Reanna reached the round, blue door of her humble abode and quickly rushed in. She found the house quiet.

"Grandmother?" Reanna called out but was not greeted with an answer. She placed her basket on the kitchen table and quickly lit the home in anticipation of the evening, rushing to finish this necessary chore so that she could see to her grandmother. As soon as the last candle was lit, she rushed to her grandmother's room, which was towards the back of the home, down a long hallway. Her grandmother was, in fact, a hobbit, and she loved to be cozy and tucked away from the world to rest.

"Grandmother, I'm home," Reanna stated this as she swung her grandmother's door open. Brietta was lying in bed as Reanna had left her, only now she was sitting up a bit. Brietta smiled as she saw her granddaughter pass through her doorway. Her smile was sad, though, and she knew that her time on this earth was coming to a close. She wanted to make sure she had enough energy to say what she had to.

"Reanna, my darling. Come sit with me." Reanna pulled a chair over to her grandmother's side and sat down as she was told. She looked at the aging woman before her, and a strange feeling came over her. She felt helpless to see her grandmother like this, and Reanna swiftly reached for her hand. She squeezed it, not knowing what to say.

"Reanna, I think it has come time for me to say my goodbyes."

"But-Grandmother-"

"No. Please child. Don't interrupt. You mustn't refuse what was meant to be. I'm sure you felt the world shift today, as I did." Brietta saw tears form in Reanna eyes. She placed her hand on top of the young woman's and began to speak again. "Reanna, I wish I could give much more in this life and I wish I had more time. Oh, look at you, the spitting image of your mother, with your father's eyes." Reanna brushed a stray wave of brown hair aside and smiled. Her grandmother began again. "I just want you to know one thing; don't ever live in regret. I see so much passion and fire in you. I see your need for adventure; it's something your father and mother both had. You have more of them in you than just your looks you know." Reanna's hand trembled at the mention of her parents. "Child, I know you miss them dearly, as I do too. But what you should know is that your parents were so full of life, as you are. They were of different worlds, but their love endured...in you. I will tell you what I told your mother when she sought my advice about your father." Brietta paused, making certain to use her words carefully. "Reanna, never doubt your heart. It may scare you, and you may not know what to do with what it says, but don't doubt it. Your mind is useful, but your heart is the key to your soul."

"Grandmother. Please. Don't speak this way; it's as if you think-" Reanna looked away, not able to bear this situation. She was just outside, enjoying the air and birds and sun. Now she was faced with this. She couldn't bear it. Not today. Please not today, she thought.

"Listen to me, child." Breitta spoke emphatically, despite her shortness of breath. "Bree is your home. But, your heart seeks adventure. I know you have stayed here because of my health. But, you must go into the world. You must. When I leave here-"

"Gran-"

"Please, just listen. When I leave here, you must leave too, at least for a little while. You must not let yourself grow comfortable and wither away alone in the same place forever. I have friends, in the Shire, you know. It would be nice for you to meet them and maybe spend some time there."

"Yes, the Bagginses. I remember, you told me."

"Yes. Mr. Bilbo Baggins in fact. He will remember me. I was friends with his father, long ago." At this, Reanna noticed a twinkle in her grandmother's eye. Or did she imagine it?

"You must make your way there to tell him of what happened here, with me. Mr. Bungo Baggins, that's Bilbo's father, was a great friend of mine once, long ago. We...lost touch, unfortunately. But he was dear to my heart, and I still think of him. I suspect his son is just as wonderful as his father was once."

The old woman smiled at Reanna. Reanna smiled back. "Was he special to you, Grandmother?"

"Yes, my dear, very much. Remember what I told you now. Listen to your heart."

Her grandmother's eyes began to close. "Grandmother?!"

Brietta's eyes fluttered open again. "Yes? Oh, Re, yes. I am, I fear, I am feeling tired again. I think I need to rest..."

Reanna and Brietta exchanged a warm smile, and Brietta lightly squeezed Reanna's hand. The sun was beginning to set, and it was both their favorite time of day. Reanna turned and peered out the window, which was next to her grandmother's bed, and watched as the sun descended into the faraway hills; orange and red filled the sky. She was in awe with the beauty of it all. The world was, indeed, a wonderful place. Maybe, she is right. Maybe it is time for my adventure. "Grandmother, look at the-"

She turned to ask her Grandmother to look at the glorious colors of Middle Earth. Her grandmother, though, was quiet and still. Her eyes were closed, and she had a slight smile on her face. She looked asleep, but Reanna knew what had just happened. With the sunset of that evening, her grandmother had left her. A wind blew past the window and Reanna felt the tears pour down her cheeks. I'm alone now.

Her grandmother's burial was done quietly and respectfully. The hobbits and men of Bree came to give their condolences. Brietta Tunnelly was beloved in their community, and they all knew of the close relationship between Brietta and her granddaughter. For weeks after her grandmother's passing, people brought Reanna food and drink and came by to give her some company. Even Mr. Goatleaf brought over some pipe-weed for her. He was most awkward of all, but his gesture meant a lot to her.

As it always does though, time goes by and those that have passed become memory. Brietta's life lived on in the stories people shared, but it was the truth that Reanna was alone now. Reanna's days grew long and lonely. Her grandmother's home echoed each night and each day. She went out into the forest to write, but it wasn't the same. Bree began to feel empty.

As she was cleaning up the house one day, she recalled her grandmother's last words. Bilbo Baggins, she thought. The Shire. As always, her grandmother was right. Reanna loved Bree, but she could not stay there forever. She looked at the warmth of the walls around her, and she smiled. The cozy colors made her comfortable, and the fluffy quilts her grandmother had made still adorned the beds and sofas. She was grateful for this home and all the memories in it. She loved the people of Bree too.

But it was time. You must go into the world. Her grandmother's words entered her mind. "Yes, I must. I think it is time." She put down the broom and walked to her room. She stared at her bed and looked out her window. It was settled then. She was to make her way to the Shire. And she did not know when she would return.