Laerwen's POV
A sharp poke to my aching ribs caused my eyes to fly open. I blinked once, then twice, taking in a clear blue sky above me. I blinked again and then wiggled my extremities, which protested painfully. I moved to sit up, but upon growing dizzy, I laid my head back down on what felt like springy moss. I stared up at the sky a few moments until a smallish voice broke through the fog hazing my mind.
"Are you alright?"
I turned my head towards the voice, only to see a rather small man crouching next to me. His face was one of utter astonishment but his eyes were full of concern. I put a hand against the ground to try and help myself sit up, and though my vision swam, I managed it.
Again, the small man asked, "Are you alright?"
I blinked at him a few times, moved my lips, tongue and jaw silently and then croaked, "I-I believe so."
The tiny man let loose a small sigh, "Oh, thank goodness... But, if I may... What In all of Middle Earth are you doing in my garden?"
I blinked at him, confused beyond belief, then looked around at my surroundings. There was a neat looking rose bush sitting just to my right and to my left was a tiny bubbling fountain.
Taking in things further away, I noticed a round door attached to a house built into a hill. I put a hand up to my aching head, and whispered, "I honestly have no idea..."
The little man let out a slightly exasperated sounding huff, "well this certainly is odd! People just don't appear in other people's gardens out of nowhere!"
Trying to blink away the pounding headache I had, I looked down at myself and saw I was wearing a thin, white, cap-sleeved dress that reached only to my knees. Upon further inspection I realized I was wearing nothing on my feet. I felt my hair swish as a slight breeze swooped through the garden. I turned to face the little man, "where am I?"
He scoffed, "you're at my home, Bag-End, in Hobbiton, a part of the Shire." He stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants. "would you like some tea?"
I gave him a look of utter confusion before saying yes. He then proceeded to help me up, and I observed that I was almost two and a half feet taller than him. We must have made an interesting sight, walking around to his front door.
Upon entering, I found myself in a neat little home, with many open spaces and many branching halls. I almost hit my head on the low hanging chandelier, but I was short enough to fit under the circular arches. Feeling quite clumsy, I attempted to gracefully lower myself into the seat the little man had just offered me. I turned my head this way and that, trying to take in as much of my unfamiliar surroundings as possible.
The tiny man set a lovely china tea set in front of me saying, "You know, I never did catch your name, but mine is Bilbo Baggins."
I swallowed the lump in my throat when a ghost of a memory flutters across the back of my mind. "I-my name is Laerwen."
Bilbo put out his hand for me to shake saying, "it's quite the pleasure to meet you!"
I smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you as well!"
Bilbo gently lifted a teacup from the tray he had brought in earlier, asking as he passed me the fragile china, "Your name is quite lovely, is it Elvish?"
I looked down into my teacup, "You know, I honestly cannot remember... And to be quite honest I have no idea who I am, what I am, or how I came to be in your garden."
Bilbo gave me another strange look, "you can't recall anything besides your name?"
I almost leaped for joy when two more wisps of thoughts passed through my brain, "I Just recalled my age! I'm fifteen in human years, which I am fairly positive that's what I am. Human."
Bilbo smiled, "well at least you can remember some things!" He looked conflicted for a moment before saying, "you know this may sound a bit rude, but would you like to live with me until you regain your memory?"
I just about leaped out of my chair, "that would be wonderful!" I sobered quickly, "Though I may not remember anything else at all..."
Bilbo shook his head, "no matter! I have a feeling that something is going to happen for the better!" He then showed me to a cozy little bedroom with two tiny beds. Looking from the beds to me and then back to the beds, he decided to push them together to make one larger bed. Bilbo looked up at me, "I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do for n-"
I pulled him into a light hug, "Thank you so much! You have been too kind! What you have right here is more than enough!" I smiled at him and turned around, noticing he had a slightly surprised smile teasing his lips.
"W-well I'll leave you to rest then! Just call if you need anything!" Bilbo left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Three years later...
"Laerwen! Laerwen, come back!" Mr. Proudfoot's pleading shouts rang in my ears. "You haven't finished your lessons!"
I turned, a smile on my face, "I'm sorry, Mr. Proudfoot, but Bilbo was expecting me back ten minutes ago!"
"But he knew you had lessons today!"
"Goodbye, Mr. Proudfoot!" I laughed and ran faster down the gravel lane, rocks digging into the soft soles of my feet. For living without shoes the past three years, my soles were incredibly soft. I ignored the pinching pain and shouts of exasperation as I flew down the street, scattering Hobbits, animals and produce alike. I grinned as I leaped up the cobblestone steps to Bilbo's big green door.
"Bilbo, I'm home!" I hung my small leather schoolbag on a peg in the hall and brushed the dirt off of the hem of my favorite sage green dress.
"Laerwen, darling! You're late!" Bilbo Baggins walked through the arch connecting the hall to the kitchen, shaking his head and a finger at me. "You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago!"
I smiled shyly, "I'm sorry, but I forgot to tell Mr. Proudfoot and he almost didn't let me leave lessons!"
Bilbo shook his head again, this time a small smile playing at his lips, "I suppose you ran right out of his house again, didn't you? You need to be more polite about these things, Laerwen!"
"I'm sorry. But you said you had a surprise for me, and it sounded important! I'm Just so excited!" I fairly hopped for joy, but stopped myself for fear of hitting my head on the chandelier above me.
Bilbo sighed exasperatedly, "oh, alright I suppose right now is a good a time as any! Come on, into the living room! On with you!" He smiled as I ducked into my larger than hobbit sized chair near the fire. He had had this chair specially made for me a month after I had been living with him, and my bed had been built six months after that.
Bilbo slipped into his room for a moment before returning with a rather large box tied with a emerald green ribbon. "Here you are my dear," he placed the box on my lap with a gentle smile.
"Happy birthday!"
I grinned and tugged gently on the ribbon; I was going to save it and put it in my box already full of ribbons. I then lifted open the lid of the box and sighed, pulling out the most beautiful dress I had ever seen! It was red and sunny yellow with gold embroidery on the ends of the elbow length sleeves and around the seam at the bottom. Lace lined the sleeves, squared collar and bottom of the dress. I placed the box on the ground and stood up, pressing the dress against me.
"Oh Bilbo, it's beautiful!" I twirled once, making Bilbo's smile grow even more.
"Go and put it on for me, I want to see it on you!" Bilbo waved a hand at me. "I'll get the tea ready while I'm waiting!"
I very nearly ran to my room, tripping on the rug in the hall. I threw off my green dress and gently tugged the new one over my head. I looked at the mirror in the corner and was stunned my the beauty before me. The dress fit me perfectly, making every nonexistent curve show nicely.
I reached up a hand to move my hair scarf behind my shoulder, but stilled when my fingertips grazed the fabric. After a moment's hesitation, I pulled it off, ignoring the pins still stuck in my scalp. A wave of curly mahogany colored locks fell around my shoulders and I gasped.
I was beautiful.
I had never felt so gorgeous in all my life, what little of my life I remembered. I heard a small sigh and turned to see Bilbo standing in the doorway. I blushed when he said, "Laerwen, you look beautiful!"
I giggled shyly and said, "you're supposed to say that, you're my adoptive father!"
Bilbo shook his head, "no. I mean it! And this is only the third time I've seen your beautiful hair!"
I sighed, feeling a lump grow in my throat, "Well at least you think so! Thank you so much for the dress Bilbo! And for the compliment."
Bilbo waved away my thanks, "it's not everyday I get to spoil my adoptive daughter! Come on, there's still more in the box!" He grabbed my hand and I laughed as he pulled me back into the living room. I sat back in my chair and lifted the box into my lap once again.
This time I pulled out a small book about how to mix your own paint in the wild, a new set of tiny detail brushes, a thin gold chain and a small leather bookmark. I flew out of my chair and embraced a surprised hobbit. "Thank you so much, Bilbo! I couldn't have asked for better gifts!"
I sniffed and Bilbo patted my shoulder.
"You're very welcome Laerwen... Now! shall we take our tea?"
I giggled and took my favorite green china tea cup from Bilbo's outstretched hand, "Tea sounds lovely!"
