So, This is the Hobbit—Er, Girl: Chapter 2
Hey you crazy New Years party people you! I would have said happy new year in chapter one but eh, I didn't. I'll say it now though: Happy New Year! *confetti* I realized that I really like writing this story, and it's nice to write something funny for a change. DON'T THINK THAT MEANS I'M STOPPING SEAS. Cause I'm not. :) Just taking a little rest from it. Everything recognizable is Tolkien and Peter Jackson. I hope you all are liking this fic so far, and read on! Here's chapter 2!
My heart felt like it was going to drill its way out of my chest as I closely followed Gandlalf down the paths of the Shire. My pulse sped probably for multiple reasons, one being the fact that I was in the freakin Shire, and another being that I was receiving many, many strange or disapproving looks from passing Hobbits. Most likely because of my clothing. Or my hair. Hobbits probably haven't seen a high ponytail before. But I did feel pretty happy for being a good two to three feet taller than their curly haired heads, which were adorable, if I may say. Actually, screw that, the entire Shire was adorable.
Then we came around a corner and BOOM. I looked up past multiple hobbit holes and little gardens, towards the top of a hill to see the green door that I love so much. "Oh my god, it's Bag End," I squealed, causing Gandalf to turn and give me a questioning look. "You seem to be familiar with it," he murmured. I nodded excitedly, about to tell him about the books and movies, but realized that that probably wouldn't be a good idea. It would most likely mess with his head. So I just left it with nodding and grinning as we made our way up the hill. I was practicaly skipping.
Skipping into Gandalf. I almost ran into him. He had randomly stopped and turned around to face me. "What's the hold up, Gandalf?" I asked, peering up at him after I had backed up a few steps. "I think it would be wise for you to stay hidden. The Hobbit I am seeing will be shaken as it is to have a wizard appearing to him," he suggested. What?! "Um, well. I kinda want to see Bilbo too. I'm a bit of a fan..," I responded. I really shouldn't have said that. Gandalf's eyes crumpled under the brim of his hat. "Hmm. I will only be a short while. I have the need to talk to you afterwards, though. Stay hidden, and I will find you when I am finished," he finalized, turning to continue walking up the path. I sighed.
Great. What can I possibly do to pass the time? I asked myself as I walked in the opposite direction. But I stopped. Gandalf said I only had to stay hidden; he never said I couldn't watch and hear their conversation. I grinned and turned back towards Bag End, running towards it. But I swerved and ran to the very top of the hill, onto the grassy roof of Bilbo's house. I paused before dropping onto my stomach, ignoring the fact that I'm probably getting increadibly dirty, and half-army crawled to the edge. I must have looked like some sort of spy. A really stupid spy.
I peeked over the edge of the roof and burst into a grin. "Do you wish me a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this particular morning; or that it is a morning to be good on," Gandalf was saying, and I mouthed the words along with him. God, this was so much better than just watching the movies! Holy crap, what if I can prove this is real? I pulled out my phone and flipped it to camera, and took a sneaky picture of the interaction between the two. Too bad there wasn't any service out here. I took a couple more, catalouging the majority of they're conversation.
I looked up from my phone to see Bilbo sassing Gandalf. "We don't want any adventures here, thank you. Not today, not-. I suggest you try over the hill, or-or across the water. ..Good morning," he finished, stepping inside and hurriedly closing the door. I watched as Gandalf sighed and strolled up to the door, scratching the dwarvish rune into the paint. He then did the creepy looking through the window thing before moving out of Bilbo's line of sight. Gandalf looked directly up at me. His eyes holding a get your butt down here look in them. I jumped up and went around to the opposite side of the hill to meet Gandalf a little ways down the path.
"I hope you're very satisfied with your foolishness, Lady Megan. He could have looked up an seen you at any moment," Gandalf scolded once I was next to him. We began walking down the path. "Well, he didn't, so we're fine," I retorted. Actually, I knew that Bilbo didn't look up at his roof in the movie, so unless I did something that made him turn around and look at me, he would never see me. I realized that we were now reaching the edge of Hobbiton. "Uh, Gandalf, where are we going?" I asked. "A ways west of the Shire. I have some people I want to see," he answered. He came to a stop at a small paddoc which housed a grey horse. "Come on. I'm afraid we'll have to share Opal for the time being," he said, mounting the horse.
He offered me his hand but I ignored it, hopping up onto the horse behind Gandalf. I had taken horseback riding lessons until I was a junior, where homework, marching band, and college planning had left me no time. But that was only a few years ago, and I hadn't lost it yet. The wizard nudged the horse quickly into a gallop, heading west, I assumed. I started to think of what was west of the Shire. Well, the ocean between Middle Earth and the Undying Lands...and then a lightbulb went off. I almost slapped myself. DUH! The Blue Mountains! All of the dwarves that left Erebor went there...which means that the Company would be coming back this way to reclaim it.
Holy crap, I'm going to meet them early! I thought as Gandalf guided Opal over the western hills of the Shire. "So, uh, going to get the dwarves?" I asked over the sound of Opal's thundering hooves. Gandalf gave me a quick look over his shoulder. "Indeed. How do you know anything about dwarves? And that I was going to get them?" he questioned, facing forward again. I realized my stupid mistake. I didn't talk for a long time. Whenever I imagined coming here in my head, I had always guessed that I would keep quiet about the whole 'I know everything about the quest' thing. I screwed that one up. Gandalf slowed Opal to a canter. "Um, well, it's a really long story. Probably something for the trip back. Or after that," I said, dodging telling him now. I'll regret this sooo bad I thought.
We came upon a small village, before entering which Gandalf brought Opal to a walk. I looked around at the buildings I had never seen or heard of before. "Where are we?" I asked quietly. The village was very small, and very unpopulated. I only saw a couple of hobbits walk by as we rode down what would probably be Main Street. "A little village. The hobbits that like here do not really have a name for their settlement, or, camp, rather," he murmured back. He stopped Opal in front of what looked like a pub. Great. Gandalf handed Opal's reigns to a male hobbit, pressed a few coins into his hand, and entered the pub. I followed.
Classic hobbit tavern, except for almost abandoned. A female hobbit bartender stood cleaning out a mug. She nodded to us as we came in. I hardly had time to notice her before an outburst of laughter from the other side of the long room rang out, making me jump. I looked over to see none other than..only 9 of the dwarves from Thorin's company sitting around a long table, half of them slamming their fists onto the wood with laughter. Where were the others? Gandalf walked directly towards them. "Oh ok, so I have to hide from a perfectly safe hobbit, but not from a bunch of half-drunk dwarves?" I whispered accusingly to Gandalf. "Oh, stop worrying. You'll get used to them, just like they will get used to you. And they are not dangerous, at least not now," he said as he came to stand over the seated dwarves. I half hid behind him.
"Aye, it's Gandalf!" a voice that sounded like Dori called out. Gandalf chuckled. "Is our burglar ready for us?" Gloin, I assumed, asked. Gandalf nodded. "Indeed he is. But I have someone else to introduce to you first. Master dwarves, may I introduce you to Lady Megan," he said, and stepped to the side. My breath caught. Every single one of the dwarves there was staring at me, some questioning, some confused, and some amused. "Welcome, Lady Megan!" Bofur suddenly shouted, and the rest of the dwarves burst into cheers and laughter. I cracked a smile. "Come on, get the lass a drink!" Bofur commanded, and a mug was slid down the table. Even though I was over 21, I had never drunk anything before. Aw, what the heck? This won't be the last! I thought, then picked up the mug and gulped down a swig of whatever was in it.
It burned like the fires of hell going down my throat, but for some reason I didn't mind. I felt encouraged by the celebratory calls of the dwarves around me, and managed to finish off the mug, slamming it down on the table. The group applauded like I had won an award, and I grinned shyly, wiping my mouth on my sleeve. I heard Gandalf chuckling and turned to see him happily watching the event. Then, by some cue apparently, they all stood and, still laughing, filed out the door while tossing a few coins each onto the bar. Gandalf and I followed at their rear.
Once outside, 9 ponies were brought out, one for each of the dwarves, and Opal. But there was another horse as well. The hobbit handed me his reigns. "His name's Apple," he said, before turning and walking back behind the tavern. I looked at the chestnut horse with a white patch on it's forehead, then at Gandalf, who had mounted Opal. "I assumed you know how to ride a horse, with your denial of my help earlier," he defended himself. I sighed, hopping up onto Apple and hanging my purse on a supply hook on the saddle. I looked up to see the dwarves and Gandalf already moving off.
I nudged Apple to a trot, then playfulness took over and I put him in a full gallop. I raced past the troop of dwarves, laughing triumphantly. I galloped all the way out of the village and a short ways down the path before finally stopping and turning Apple around. I could just see Gandalf trotting Opal towards me, with the ponies trying their best to keep up with all their luggage. I gave Apple a pat on the neck when they reached me. "We thought you had lost control of your horse, Lady Megan. You should not go leaving the group like that," he scolded once again. I sighed. "Yes, Mother. Sorry, Mother," I said sarcastically, earning a few quiet chuckles from the dwarves. I let Gandalf take the lead, and ended up between Bofur and Dori, with Ori on the other side of his brother.
"Lady Megan, we've been meanin' to ask you. Why are you wearing such strange clothing?" Dori asked politely shortly after leaving the village. I pretended to be defensive. "Strange? These are the clothes of my people. All women wear clothes like this. Is this not what dwarvish women uI'sually don?" I responded, acting as innocent as I could. Dori stiffened. "I did not mean any offense, I was simply asking. And no, our women usually do not wear like clothing," Dori answered. I looked over to him and smiled. "No offense taken. I was just acting dumb," I said. Dori grinned, sort of awkwardly it seemed, and looked towards the head of the line. "So, have you been a companion to Gandalf for long? I didn't see you when he met us earlier," Bofur said kindly. I always loved Bofur. He was so sweet and caring, and he had the best smile.
"Actually, I just met Gandalf earlier today. I've just kind of stuck with him. Not like he would let me leave anyway," I answered. Bofur nodded, falling silent. I only talked to Dori and Bofur a few more times, and eventually we were all quiet. After what seemed like ages of riding, I sped Apple to a trot, and came up to Gandalf. "How close are we to being back to Bag End?" I asked. The sun was basically below the horizon, and I was eager for the crazy dwarf dinner party. "Not far. We are just entering Hobbiton," Gandalf answered, and I looked ahead to see the familiar scene from the Fellowship of the Ring, where Gandalf and Frodo are riding in the wagon into Hobbiton. I grinned.
"Awesome. Hey, another question. Where are we going to put all the ponies and horses once we get there?" I questioned. "We shall pay a few farmers to rent out their pole barns for a night. Not a problem," he answered, stopping the procession. He looked back at the group of dwarves. "Find housing for your ponies for the night, and meet me at that green door at the top of that hill. Understood?" he called back. The dwarves called back in acknowledgement and dispersed in multiple directions. I followed Gandalf as he rode directly to Bilbo's door. He went around behind the house and I was surprised to see a pole barn, tall enough for horses, sitting merrily in a little paddock. Gandalf and I dismounted and led Opal and Apple into the pen. "I didn't know Bilbo had a paddock," I commented. "I spotted it earlier. I knew it would come in handy. Come," Gandalf said, and led us back to the front door.
Yay! Next chapter will be the crazy party! I'm so excited to write it! By the way, I meant to say this in chapter one, but this fic is like, SUPER casual writing, so if I sound like a five year old compared to Seas, I'm sorry! This is supposed to sound informal :P. Please review, or follow/ favorite if you want! Speaking of which, thanks DeLacus and Oriana5 for those! I really appreciate it! Love you all!