(AN) Tiatia's name is pronounced T-I-a T-E-E. I was wondering that myself, soooo…. Oh, and I don't own Lord of the Rings…. (cries) Disclaimer… But I do own Tiatia!
And that statement was on my mind when I awoke in a cold sweat. Fate rarely lets you carve your own path… What a horrid nightmare! How could anyone consider taking a
life? How uncouth! And where did such a dream even come from? I shook my head as I untangled my legs from my damp sheets. My Mother would have said it to be un-
lady like to dream such dreams. I could feel a single tears slide down the side of my cheek at the thought of my mother. I sighed, and wiped it away. My Mother had been
dead for the past three summers, but I still missed her terribly. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a loud and rather urgent knock penetrated my train of thought. I
pulled my night robe over my arms hurriedly, wondering who it was at my door at this time. I walked through my small three roomed house, and to the front door,
grabbing a candle along the way. Of course, it didn't do much good, because the candle wasn't lit. I sighed heavily and placed the candle down onto a small plain brown
table by the door. Another loud knock came from the other side of the door, and after making sure my night robe was secure, I pulled open the door. I took and instinctive
step back at the sight of the person standing on my door step. It was the young Constable, Rithen. "Hullo Miss, I'm sorry if I woke you, but there has been somewhat of a,
uh, disturbance in Bree. I was sent to check all the houses to make sure everyone was safe." The young man said, looking rather terrified. I gasped, and covered my
mouth with my hand, and then placed it over my heart. "Is everyone all right, Constable?" I said, peering up at him. He nodded his head, and I asked him what had
happened. "Well, Miss, some strange folk ran through town after the West gate had been closed. A building burned down, and a couple of hobbits just barely escaped!
These folk, Miss they weren't normal. They looked like black riders, riding them big black horses with their black cloaks and all." I gasped again, and was slightly taken
aback at the mention of the hobbits. "If that'll be all Miss, I must be going. Have a nice night, er, morning as it were." He said, tipping his hat slightly as he walk down my
little path, and out my gate. "Good… morning Constable Rithen!" I said, watching his retreating figure. I heaved a heavy sigh, and shut the door, turning around to survey
my living room. There was a large plain brown wood table in the center of the room, while a fire place occupied the top right corner of the room. I had a chair here and
there, as well as a table piled with plates, and other eating utensils. I walked around the table, and entered my room, still thinking about hobbits. Of course, I had seen
them, but I hadn't gotten to know any… Hmm… There was that one hobbit girl who sold Blueberry Muffins down by the West gate in Bree. Maybe she could tell me
something. It's decided then; I'll just go and buy a Muffin for breakfast. I wondered if they were any good as I got ready for the day.
I was walking down the cobble stone path of Bree, heading towards the last place I had seen the Muffin hobbit. I reached the West gate, and stopped, taking stock of my
surrounding. There were the stables, and the stable master to my right, with the West gate directly in front of me. I looked around again, and caught sight of a small cart,
with a brightly colored tent like thing over it. The cart itself was so small; it had to belong to a hobbit… or a young child. I looked down to my dress, which was a pale,
faded yellow, with a red corset, and a slightly uneven white apron. I swiped my hand against my apron a few times, dislodging a few nonexistent bits of dust. I patted my
right hip, feeling for my worn leather coin purse. Finally satisfied, I calmly made my way over to the small, brightly colored food cart. I was almost directly in front of it,
when a small hobbit girl appeared in front of me. I jumped slightly, which earned me a chuckle from the young Muffin hobbit. "Hullo! Would you like a Blueberry Muffin, or
maybe an Apple Pie? I'll even give you a discount! Buy an Apple Pie, and get a Blueberry Muffin free! What a deal, what a deal!" The young hobbit said this all while
waving her hands around, and taking a few steps in random directions. I smiled slightly at her enthusiasm. Then the hobbit stopped short, and spun around to look at me.
"Where are my manners? My name's Sebella, Sebella Blueberry! And who might you be my lovely young human?" She said, looking up at me with a large, rather impish
smile plastered of her face. I smiled down at her, and offered her my hand. "My name is Tiatia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sebella." I said, shaking her hand. "And I would
love to take you up on that offer, Sebella." Sebellas light green eyes brightened at my words. She spun around, and nearly skipped back to her brightly colored cart. She
reemerged, holding a small, hobbit sized stool for me to sit on. I thanked her as I took the stool from her. I placed it beside Sebellas cart, and sat down, folding my legs off
to the side. It would have been un-lady like if my knees were above my chest. I watched as Sebella skipped behind her cart, and produced a lovely looking Apple Pie. As
she set it in front of me, the smell hit. It was so mouth wateringly pleasant. It wasn't over powering. It was just… perfect. Sebella giggled, and handed me a fork. The
cinnamon was pleasant, and I could see the finely cut apple slices underneath the beautifully cut and arranged top dough. I inhaled the heavenly sent before digging in.
As I ate, I took in Sebellas appearance. She was slightly plump, with curves, and a round smiling face framed by wild red hair. He green eyes twinkled as I ate, and the
beautiful white roses in her hair caught my attention. I looked to her dress as I took another bit of the Apple Pie. It was an umber colored dress with lacing up the front,
and different colored patches in various places. Sebella had a frying pan secured to each of her hips, within easy reach. Her cart was piled high with baked goods. I could
see Blueberry Muffins, and two more Apple Pies, as well as what looked to be a Blueberry Pie. I stopped eating, and set my fork aside, letting a very satisfied sigh escape
my lips. "Thank you, Sebella. That was delicious. How much do I owe you?" I said, looking at her. She looked up at me from her previous task, which was wrapping my
Blueberry Muffin in crinkly brown paper, and smiled. "Three silver pieces, and two coppers, if you would." Sebella said, still smiling. I reached for my coin purse, and
counted out three silvers, and eight coppers. I handed the amount to her, and stood up. She looked up at me and said while smiling, "Thank you, lovely Tiatia, for the tip."
I nodded at her, and smiled. She handed me my Blueberry Muffin, and I said my good byes. "Come back any time!" Sebella said, waving at me as I walked away. I
laughed, and waved back. I turned around, and cut into a side ally off to my right. I smiled to myself as I recounted Sebellas enthusiasm. I really had enjoyed the young
hobbits company… and her cooking. I had just passed a large square stone garden when I heard it. It was a slightly muffled scuffling sound coming from my right. I whirled
around, just in time to see a figure emerge from the shadows of a large building. I stumbled back as the figure closed in at an alarming rate. It finally stepped from the
shadows to reveal a brigand. I stumbled again, and this time, I tripped over something in the road. I heard the brigand chuckle as I fell. He now stood directly in front of
me, holding a small dagger. "Alright, missy, hand me all yer coins, and I might let ya go… unharmed…" He said, laughing as I whimpered. I quickly reached for my coin
purse hanging at my hip… only to find the empty strings, where I usually hung it. I looked back up to the brigand fearfully. I saw his knuckles tighten, and his face contort
with anger. He took a menacing step forward, and I closed my eyes. I cowered away from him as he took another step closer. A loud gong like sound emanated from
directly in front of me, causing my eyes to flash open. I started slightly as something heavy and round fell in my lap. It was a frying pan. I quickly looked back up to the
brigand, and saw a large, angry red welt forming on his forehead as he crumpled to the ground. I yelped as one of his arms fell over my legs. I kicked the unconscious
brigand off me, and stood unsteadily, the frying pan falling from my lap. I nearly fell over again as a familiar voice shouted out. "Tiatia! Are you okay, dear?" I whirled
around, and saw Sebella march up to me. She was rather angry looking, with a fierce, fiery determination in her eyes, and the frying pan from her left hip was missing. I
could only nod as she marched past me and up to the brigand. She bent over and retrieved her frying pan from the ground, and held it up to her face. She inspected it for
about five seconds before she whirled on the unconscious brigand. My eyes widened as she started yelling abuse at him. "How could you, you stupid clodpoll! How could
you dent my frying pan! Dumb, moron, clodpoll! How dare you!" Sebella yelled at him, kicking him a few times in the ribs. I laughed slightly at her antics. I guess she had
forgotten about me, because as I laughed, she spun around again to face me. She rushed over, and grabbed my hand. "Tiatia! Are you alright? I hope that brigand didn't
harm you… I'll kick him again if he has!" Sebella said fiercely. I shook my head again. "I'm fine Sebella. Thank you for saving me… how did you know?" I said, smiling down
at her. Her eyes lit up, and she reach for one of the many pockets on her dress. "You forgot this at my stand." She said, handing me my coin purse. I tied it to my hip, and
looked back at her. "Thank you Sebella! I really don't think I would have made it without you." I said, smiling widely at my little hobbit friend. She smiled back, and looked
over her shoulder. "We should turn him in to one of the Constables." Sebella said, still looking at the brigand. I nodded, and walked over with Sebella. She took her
already dented frying pan, and thwacked him on the head again. The frying pan made the gong sound as it connected with his head, and he groaned. Sebella gave a
satisfied nod, and turned on her heal, marching briskly out of the ally. I laugh silently as I followed my hobbit savior.
"But Constable, he dented my frying pan! You must arrest him!" Sebella said firmly, staring at Constable Rithen. He looked at her, and shook his head slightly. "Is that all
he did, Miss?" The young Constable asked, still looking at Sebella. She balked, and stared disbelievingly at him. "Isn't that enough, Constable?" She said "And besides, he
did try to take Miss Tiatias belongings." Constable Rithen looked over at me and asked me if this was true. "Yes Constable, it's true." I said, looking at him. He nodded
firmly, and said he'd go and take care of it right away. "He'll be in the stocks before noon tomorrow." The young Constable said, nodding his head firmly again. I heaved a
relieved sigh, and thanked him, shaking his hand. I turned around, and left his small room with Sebella. I heard her muttering about her dented frying pan, and I had to
smile. It was funny that that was what she was worried about. We came to a cross road, and had to part ways. I turned to Sebella, and stuck out my hand. "Thank you
Sebella, for saving me, and for the Apple Pie… although I seemed to have miss placed my Muffin." I said, just realizing this. Sebella laughed, and shook my hand. "Then
come back tomorrow, and I'll give you a Blueberry Muffin, on the house!" She said, smiling up at me with that impish smile of hers. I laughed, and said that sounded like a
fine idea. "But this time, I'll avoid the ally's." I said, shaking my head ruefully. She laughed and said that was probably for the best. I smiled at her, and watched as she
turned, and headed back to her brightly colored cart. I to turn, and made my way up the cobbled streets of Bree, heading home.
