Okay, so this is a rewrite of 'I'm Still Here'. Obviously things are going to start out a little differently this time.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit
Grey eyes shifted unseeingly through the undergrowth. The huntresses' blindness mattered little during her hunts, for all her others senses were sharp and finely tuned. She inhaled deeply. She was hot on the bucks trail and wasn't far behind it. The trick now was to sneak up on it.
She crouched low to the forest floor, creeping along slowly, feeling out with her hands and barely shifting forward as she strained not to make a sound. She couldn't see, so her best choice was to do everything else. Her listened closely; she could hear the buck now as it trotted through he undergrowth. She could smell him. The musk of his fur and the fern on his breath. Her mouth watered. A buck this large and it would feed her for weeks.
Reaching back, she slowly pulled an arrow from her quiver and notched it into her bow. Feeling the feathers tickle her fingertips she pulled the string taught and squared her shoulders. She exhaled and focused in on the buck's position, ready to lose her arrow.
Suddenly the birds above her took off, startling the buck and the huntress. The buck snorted and ran and the huntress could do nothing but listen to the sound of its hooves pounding into the earth. The wind blew strands of her hair form her hood. The huntress sniffed the air once. Twice. She knew this scent.
"Gandalf."
"Arriah my dear. It's been far too long."
Sighing Arriah returned the arrow to her quiver and strapped her bow over her shoulder.
"This had better be important Gandalf. Losing that buck will come back to bite me the arse later."
Gandalf hummed.
"Yes well, I wouldn't have come to you if it wasn't."
Arriah nodded. Having known the wizard since her birth she was quite inclined to trust him. She owed him much, he had saved her life after all.
"Well, how may I be of service?"
"I need you to travel to Hobbiton, and find a Master Baggins."
Arriah furrowed her brows. "Why?"
"Ah. I am leading a company of thirteen dwarves to Erebor."
The huntresses' eyes widened. "Don't tell me; Oakenshield?"
The Dwarves had been forced from their home sixty years ago. Now they stuck close to Erid Luin and the Iron Hills. Only venturing so far as to trade, or if they were looking for work.
"The dragon plagues your thoughts, doesn't he?"
"Yes."
"You intend to have Oakenshield reclaim the mountain? Why Gandalf?"
The smell of pipe weed hit Arriah as she waited for an answer.
"Because we need to secure the north. I fear that our enemy has not been as idle as we originally thought."
"Idle? Gandalf are you imply that he was never laid to rest in the first place?"
"That is what I believe."
Arriah's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Unbelievable. You need to lay off the weed."
"The attack on your people could not have been a coincide, Arriah. He has begun making his moves. The destruction of your people was definitely a strategic act and was only the first I fear- "
"Gandalf please."
The wizard huffed but quieted.
"Why me?"
"Because you my dear, despite your blindness, have a vast and unparalleled knowledge of the wilds of Middle Earth. And I do believe it would be most entertaining. For myself, mostly, but perhaps for you as well. In addition, as a member of the company you would receive a share in the gold."
Arriah raised an eyebrow. "Gold means little to me Gandalf."
The wizard chuckled softly.
Shaking her head Arriah turned to face the wizard in full…or so she figured. Her guess was as good as any. "When shall I meet you?"
"Three days from now."
She nodded. "That's doable."
"Then I take my leave. Good day, Arriah."
The huntress listened to the sound of the wizard's footfall until she could no longer hear it. Laughing softly she turned in the direction of her house and started walking.
"That wizard will be the death of me."
Arriah trudged along the road to Hobbiton silently. The road was easy; even and straight and at this pace she'd reach Hobbiton in just fifteen minutes. The only challenge was to find out where this 'Baggins' lived and get there.
Continuing on Arriah found herself pleasantly relaxed by the scents of dirt, plant, ale, and pipe weed and the soft sounds the forest made around her. Hobbiton truly was easy one the nose and ears, and from her memory Arriah could recall vivid greens and flowers of all kinds and colors. The huntress hummed contentedly as she remembered her first time to Hobbiton. Gandalf had been the cause of that trip as well, and was in Hobbiton to light of some fireworks on new year's. Of course that had been decades ago, but none the less it was a treasured memory.
Arriah stopped suddenly when her musings were interrupted by low whistling.
"Uhm, exc-excuse me?"
The whistling stopped.
She called out again. "Hello?"
"Turn the other way girl."
"Oh." Arriah rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly and turned.
"What can I help ya' with?"
"Well I was wondering if you could direct towards a Master Baggins?"
The person she was speaking with grunted. "And what business would ya' be havin' with Master Baggins?"
Arriah frowned. "Well I believe that's none of yours."
The hobbit grunted again. "Very well m'lady. Just continue on this path all the way, past the market, and then across the bridge. Bag End sits at the top of the hill. Big green door. Nice garden. Can't miss it."
"O-oh. Okay, thank you." Arriah turned and continued on. Can't miss it. Ha. That's what he thinks. I swear I'll be wandering around Hobbition till morning.
Suddenly the dirt road turned to cobblestone and Arriah could only guess by the sounds and smells that she had entered the market. Maybe I can ask someone to escort me.
A shoulder bumped hers. "Ow."
"My apologies lass."
"No that's alri- hey, uhm, could I possibly bother you to be my escort through Hobbiton?"
"Beg your pardon miss?"
"Well, I'm blind and am having a hard time finding my way around. I need to get to a Master Baggins you see."
"Oh well I- "
"I have some Cherry Nut weed I can give you in exchange for your service."
"Deal."
Arriah grinned as her hand was placed in the crook of an arm and she was led on.
"Ah, here is where the Gamgee's live. Finest gardeners I ever met."
Arriah shook her head and her grin grew.
"And here is the main home of the Proudfoot's."
Proudfeet?
"And lest we forget the Tooks."
The hobbit rambled on as he led Arriah up a hill.
"And the Brandybucks."
Brandy…
"And finally we arrive at Master Baggins' home. Can you handle yourself from here? It has gotten quite dark."
Arriah nodded and shifted around in her pockets for her payment. "Here you are."
She pulled out a satin bag and held it out for the hobbit to take.
"Thank you. I'll be on my way then."
Arriah lowered her head in farewell before feeling out for the gate. Unlatching it she walked through and slowly made her way up a few steps. Reaching out she ran her fingertips along the door. She took a deep breath.
She knocked.
Please review and tell me what you think!