Tales of how Bilbo's mother, Belladonna Took unexpectantly captured the heart of Bungo Baggins.
Chapter 1: A Reluctant Adventurer
It was a bright, sunny and rather ordinary looking autumn day as Mr Bungo Baggins emerged from his hobbit hole, pipe in one hand and the morning news paper in the other. He was thoroughly set to enjoy a quiet and uneventful morning. Having consumed his fill of both first and second breakfast, bacon, eggs, fried mushrooms and his mothers finest baked blueberry scrolls. What could be better to top this off than a quiet moment to enjoy a pouch full of Old Toby on a warm fall day?
For some reason that he could never fathom later, Bungo chose to spend this particular morning by taking a stroll towards The Hill. At that time, it was a fairly unpopulated and less developed area of Hobbiton. He was sure to remain uninterrupted while he caught up on the latest gossip, best bargains, and news events in the Hobbiton Daily Paper.
Bungo chose to settle in the field that would later be known as the Party Field, and sat under the very tree that would later be known as The Party Tree. He was just beginning to fill his pipe and paused to admire the scenery when a shower of leaves tumbled over him from above, causing him to drop his tobacco pouch. The contents of fine Old Toby weed scattered into the dirt, mixing with leaves and debris, rendering it quite useless.
"Oh I'm so sorry Mr Baggins" said a female voice from above. By the sound of the rolling accent, Bungo guessed it to be coming from one of the Took Clan. He was right. It was none other than Belladonna Took herself! She glanced down apologetically, but couldn't help letting out a small giggle at the sight of poor Mister Bungo Baggins, trying helplessly to collect what was left of his pipe weed.
"I'm sure my father will replace it" Belladonna continued, trying her best to hide her amusement as she clambered yet lower on the branches, causing another wave of leaves to tumble around the very annoyed Bungo Baggins.
Bungo stood indignantly, removing his hat to shake the leaves out of it, before glancing up with a frown. He was hoping that the source of his annoyance would see the look of complete displeasure on his face. However, he did not expect to see the flurry of cotton and lace above him which he clearly recognised to be Bellandonna's fancy petticoat and pantaloons. He quickly looked back down, a bright blush reddening his cheeks.
"I do apologise Miss Took" he mumbled under his breath, but if you think Belladonna was the least bit embarrassed, you are wrong. She merely giggled again as she continued to climb branch by branch down the tree to sit upon the lowest branch, gathering her skirts around her to save him further embarrassment she simply tittered "Pray don't mention it"
"What on earth are you doing up there?" Bungo asked, trying his hardest not to look up again but not at all hiding the annoyance in his voice. He focused his attention on brushing the leaves off of his hat, and shaking them loose from his medium brown curls. He quickly ran a hand through them in an attempt to fix the disheveled mess that it had become.
"I was just retrieving this..." answered Belladonna, showing Bungo a finely crafted arrow, tipped at the end with three beautiful green feathers. Bungo, who was a bit reluctant to look up again, merely glanced at it then looked away. He secretly wondered what a hobbit was doing with such a thing, and a lass at that!
"Do you think you could help me down?" Belladonna asked. "There are very few lower branches." Bungo did not have time to say "Certainly not" before Belladonna tumbled forward right into his reluctant arms, sending the unexpectant hobbit stumbling backwards on his rear with a flurry of frilly lace and auburn curls tumbling around him.
Bungo let out a loud "oof" sound but Bella just laughed, completely unperturbed by the rather awkward and undignified position this left them in.
"Awfully sorry again Mr Baggins" giggled Belladonna but instead of gracefully rising to her feet to brush herself down and collect her dignity, as most note worthy hobbit lasses would, Belladonna threw herself sideways letting out a loud "Weee" sound as she landed 'kerplunk', right into the pile of leaves surrounding them both, and deliberately tossing yet more leaves all over both of them!
Bungo found this most upsetting and downright inappropriate behavior for such a young hobbit lass. Probably in her late tweens. Even for a Took it was surprising. He was quite unaccustomed to such bantering about. Most of the lasses he had know were far too proper to go climbing trees and rolling about in leaves.
Once again, Bungo dusted off his perfectly tailored vest and breeches, climbing to his feet with a loud indignant "Humph!" At this point, he should have walked off, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him, so instead, he turned to the girl, raising his eyebrows at her disapprovingly and asked, "What is a hobbit lass doing fetching arrows out of tree's? Is someone shooting at you?" It was here that he caught his first opportunity to take a really good look at the lass. Her bright auburn hair was even more disheveled than his own, cascading around her shoulders in untidy curls that were tangled up with leaves and twigs. There was no bonnet upon her head. She was wearing a beige dress, with a soiled white apron. What he couldn't help but notice was how bright and clear were her two incredible, crystal green eyes, sparkling with mischief and seeming to dare anyone to tell her to settle down and behave. She had ruddy pink cheeks, dimpled from many hours of laughter, and despite her current unkept appearance, Bungo had to admit, she was quite a beauty.
Belladonna ran her fingers through her hair, removing many of the leaves and twigs, it seemed that in just a few seconds her wild locks took on some form of order, as if by magic falling into place.
"Why, no one is shooting at me" replied Belladonna as she climbed to her feet. "The arrow is mine" She said, as she fetched a finely fletched bow from behind the tree. "I was practicing, when a gust of wind sent my arrow sailing up into the branches. As you can probably tell. I do need a lot more practice." Belladonna giggled playfully as she shouldered the bow and collected a quiver with more arrows in it from behind the tree as if it was a perfectly normal thing for a Hobbit lass to be wearing.
Bungo was quite taken back. "That's not a very proper thing for you to be doing. There are no goblins here and even if there were it would hardly be the job of a lass to shoot them."
"Oh I know all that" replied Belladonna, twirling one of her dark auburn curls in her fingers. "I was only practicing for the fun of it. Don't you Bagginses ever have fun?"
"Of course we do" replied Bungo, sounding very disgruntled. but in all honesty, Bungo couldn't ever remember doing anything for the mere fun of it. He had always been raised a proper hobbit. "One must present oneself neat and tidy at all times" his mother had lectured him often. "Sit up tall, no slurping your soup, hat off indoors, mind your manners and no messes" were the usual things taught to him. However, Bungo couldn't complain. He had lacked very little in his upbringing being from one of the wealthiest families in Hobbiton.
"Well," enquired Belladonna. "What do you do for fun?"
Bungo had to stop and think for a minute. "Well I..." he stumbled, "I like to read and write. I enjoy poetry, soft music, a good ale and a quiet moment with some pipe weed." He was hoping she would get the hint about quiet moments and pipe weed.
"I think what you need Mr Bungo Baggins, is a little bit of adventure" said Belladonna, smiling at him with a mischievous twinkle in her vibrant green eyes.
"Certainly not!" huffed Bungo. "I'm of a respectable sort and would engage in no such thing." He crossed his arms defiantly before him. He'd have no more of this tweenage nonsense. Admittedly, he was only barely of age himself but had still resigned himself to remain mature, responsible and upstanding.
"I see you need a little encouragement" Belladonna giggled then before Bungo could protest in the slightest she snatched his hat from his curly head and skipped off several feet away, waving it in the air as she laughed and danced around.
"Give that back!" Bungo protested.
"I'm afraid if you want it, you will have to come and claim it" Belladonna told him with a cheeky smile on her face. She winked at him then skipped away towards the forest trees.
"I'll be speaking with your father..." Bungo called after her, but it was useless. There was nothing else for it. He'd have to go retrieve it. He couldn't possibly return home with his hair all a mess and no hat to hide it under. What would his mother think of him? Bungo stomped after her shaking is fist in her direction.
"Belladonna Took..." he called out angrily. "Return my hat immediately!" but all he heard in reply was the sound of laughter and no sign of the Hobbitess. Before he realized where he was heading, he found himself in the midst of the surrounding woods of The Shire. "Miss Took..." he called out quite annoyed.
"Shhh" Belladonna said close to his ear. She had somehow crept up behind him and was now resting her chin on his shoulder.
"What are we listening for" whispered Bungo, though he was quite unsure why he was whispering at all. Then he heard faint singing in the distance. Beautiful singing that sounded like bells ringing in harmony. Despite the fact that he was an unadverurous sort, he had to admit that the sound of it was very enchanting.
"Elves" whispered Belladonna. "Hush now lest they hear us and flee" she continued as she grabbed his hand and dragged him quite reluctantly towards the singing. Hobbits are well known to move quite stealthily and silently when they want to. Bungo, although quite opposed to adventuring of any kind, couldn't help but want to hear more of the singing, so willingly crept along as quietly as possible.
The two hobbits neared a clearing. Hiding behind some underbrush they peered between two bushes and there spied a group of six tall elegant elves. Two were playing on flutes while the rest sang in perfect harmony. The sound of their voices blended together perfectly, whisking any listener away to far off places where peace and tranquility reigned and no evil thing could enter. Bungo could not understand the words of the song as it was in elvish, but he could tell it was a song about wonderful things, such as love and freedom and serenity. He felt quite sad when the song ended.
"Let's go before we're discovered" Bungo whispered to Belladonna but she completely ignored him, standing up, waving her hand towards the elven group and loudly saying
"Vedui' Glorimdielle, Cormamin lindua ele lle" (Greetings Glorimdielle, My heart sings to see thee)
Bungo ogled at her in surprise. She spoke elvish?
"Vedui' Belladonna, Oio naa elealla alasse'" (Greetings Belladonna, ever is thy sight a joy) replied a golden haired female elf. Bungo's jaw dropped even further. Belladonna knew these elves?
Belladonna rushed forward, grabbing Bungo by the hand and dragging him along too. She threw her arms around the elven lady in a joyful hug. The other elves gathered around and each of them hugged Belladonna in turn, exchanging elven greetings and smiles. Bungo shifted from one foot to the other, quite uncomfortable.
"I'm forgetting my manners" said Belladonna, using the common speech that most of the free people used when addressing someone of a different race. "This is Mr Bungo Baggins, Bungo, these are my friends, Glorimdielle, Leigolia, Rimel, Celedorn, Lorellian and Arnath." She said, introducing them each in turn.
"A pleasure to meet any friend of yours" said Glorimdielle in the common tongue, bowing politely in Bungo's direction.
"Oh he's not a friend" Belladonna explained. "We barely know each other" Belladonna smiled at Bungo, giving him a playful wink.
"And I really must be going" Bungo said helplessly. He was quite aware that all this was bordering on being a minor adventure and was also thinking that it was about time for elevensies.
Belladonna nudged him firmly in the ribs murmuring "Mind your manners" In hobbitish. Manners were something Bungo prided himself in minding, except of course, when being showered with leaves, but none the less he knew it would be considered quite rude to take off just now. Besides, he had yet to retrieve that blasted hat.
"Perhaps I could stay just a little longer" Bungo said in the common speech. With a sigh he sat himself down on a log, the others joining him in a circle with Belladonna to his left. There was quite a bit of talk about elves, wizards and big folk, kingdoms and wars, valiant deeds of the past and magical places that lay hidden in the land beyond the shire. Half of which went completely over poor Bungo's head, the other half of which he chose to ignore lest he get caught up in some nasty adventure worse than this one.
Eventually the elves rose to their feet. Glorimdielle said "My dearest Belladonna we must be going. T'was so lovely seeing you again."
"Ah ha!" thought Bungo, so the rumors were true. Belladonna had been travelling to far distant places. There had been mutterings all over The Shire about a trouble making grey bearded wizard leading lads and lasses off for months at a time then unexpectantly they would show up again. Belladonna was rumored to be one of them. Bungo made a mental note to steer well clear of her in the future.
"And you as well." replied Belladonna giving a polite curtsy to the elven lady. "Give my deepest regards to Elrond and Arathorn" Bungo had of course, never heard of these names, but he could tell they were noteworthy and important. He opted to make no mention of them.
"Namarie" said Glorimdielle. (Farewell)
"Namarie" replied Belladonna. Then she expectantly looked in Bungo's direction. All eyes were on him now, waiting.
"Name are hee" Bungo said, mispronouncing the elven word badly as he rose to his feet, giving a slight bow. "Lovely meeting you all" he said, secretly hoping he would never see them again!
Belladonna led the way back towards Hobbiton, her curls bouncing playfully on her shoulders as she skipped along. Bungo was quietly happy to see the familiar lands again. He was sure to have been missed. What was he to say? "I got caught up in a good book" he decided was the most suitable excuse for his long absence.
"Oh, I almost forgot" said Belladonna, tussling Bungos unruly hair. "Here is your hat Mr Baggins" She handed it to him with a half smile and a light curtsy.
"Thank you" Bungo said, using his best manners now. "Pray, don't mention this to anyone." Bungo said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We should keep it between us. A secret." Bungo was secretly wondering what his more upstanding friends would say if they knew of any of the events of the morning. He was sure he would never live it down.
"Of course" Belladonna said grinning widely at him. "Tenna' ento lye omenta" (Until next we meet) she said as she turned on her toes and danced away down the road. "Til we meet again, Mr Baggins" she called over her shoulder.
"You can call me Bungo" he nervously called after her, but he was not sure if she had heard, because as fast and unexpectantly as she had appeared into his life, she was suddenly completely out of view.