I stayed with Hyacinthe for probably close to a month and in that time I learned so much that I thought my head was going to explode. She taught me how to take care of the pony, who I had nicknamed Sir Hoover as his real name was something I couldn't pronounce, and she showed me how to tend to the garden properly –my mother's way of doing things were totally wrong apparently –and she showed me around Hobbiton so that I wouldn't get lost, which I had told her would probably happen. She had joked that if a Dwarf could somehow lose her way and end up among Hobbits then that wasn't hard to believe. She showed me around the market and the small valley that they held parties and we even strolled around under The Hill and over The Hill which were names of areas on the slope that I had seen outside my window. Over The Hill was considered to be, in my opinion, the Beverly Hills of Hobbiton; all the 'rich folk' lived up that way and everyone else was under The Hill. There was also a river on the other side of The Hill called The Water that lead to a huge farmland, but Hyacinth never bothered to take me past there.

"Nothing but adventurers and hooligans across The Water," Hyacinthe tutted to me when I had asked her about it. "Us respectable folk stay here on The Hill where we belong. Nothing is ever unexpected, over here. Aside from you of course, my dear."

Obviously these peoples' imaginations were lacking. My dog, Febus, could come up with better names.

… And yes, my dog's name was Febus. He was a golden retriever.

Anywho…

It took me a while, let's say a week, to get used to finding my way around. I had never really realized how dependent on my phone I was until I figured out that I would never use GPS or fruit ninja again. Hell, I couldn't even look at the damn thing, since it didn't cross worlds with me, which was probably a good thing because if I stared at it waiting for a text message then I'm sure I would have gone completely bonkers by now. And if it hadn't been for the shoes Hyacinth had the leather making dude make for me or the pants and tunic I had helped Cinthia sew up, I'm pretty sure I would have lost it after a day.

Oh, and going back to the over The Hill thing, Hyacinthe told me about the other Hobbits that lived in the area. She was a gossiper, that Hyacinthe.

We would take walks up there every few days and she would tell me little snippets about each of the Hobbits we passed and said hello to, but there was one Hobbit that she never had anything bad to say about. A Bilbo Baggins who lived at one of the very top holes. His name had struck a feeling of resemblance in me and I knew he was someone important to the whole shindig thing I had been dumped into and had paid close attention when Cinthia –as I had started calling her –talked about him. If I hadn't have known any better I would say the old woman had a crush on him.

But every time we passed his Hobbit hole there he was sitting peacefully on his bench and having a smoke from his pipe, surrounded by his beautiful gardens with a smile on his face. I couldn't deny that he was actually kind of cute in a way –with his blond curly hair and slightly upturned nose –but he seemed too skittish to me. Every time Cinthia got a little too talkative he would laugh and nod and shuffle around on his huge ass feet as if he wasn't even paying attention. Oh, but the worst was when she always brought me into the conversation and talked about me like I was her own daughter. I think I even got the impression at some point that she was trying to hook me up with him…

And I think Bilbo noticed it too because as I was brought into the conversation it immediately got awkward and he would look away nervously. At first he had been excited to meet me since I was a Dwarf, but once I told him I had no memory he had turned to just friendly and polite, which was totally fine with me. I didn't need anyone prying into my non-existent Dwarfy past; it was hard enough not be a modern 21st century girl in a medieval style world anyways.

It was one morning that I needed to go for a walk, but Cinthia had decided to sleep a little while longer –her joints were aching a little, she said. Without my phone or a TV or computer or even studying to do I figured a nice walk would do me good. So I took our normal route around the paths that served as roads along The Hill saying hello to other Hobbits who I had spoken to with Cinthia before, but hardly received the friendly greeting back. A lot of the Hobbits thought it odd that a Dwarf had suddenly appeared and others considered it an abomination. I swear the Gamgees had something against me though because every time I passed by their hole there always seemed to be some sort of stick or gardening tool out to trip me.

By the time I reached Bilbo's hole I found he already had a visitor. He was a tall old guy in a grey cloak with a matching pointy hat and long scraggly beard. In his hand he held a twisted brown stick that was just as tall as him and he used it to lean on. That came as no surprise because it looked like the guy was about to keel over any minute as he spoke to Bilbo. Without having to see the Lord of the Rings movies I recognized this guy right off the hop; that was Ganandorf or, um, Glander or something except I think in later movies he was in white which meant he probably gets anointed or something later on.

As I came closer I could just hear the tail end of what G-dog was saying. Something about mornings. Whatever, it was making Bilbo all confused and flustered, which wasn't really a hard thing to do in itself.

Bilbo's pipe was hanging out of his mouth as he stared at the taller man with utter confusion. I stopped a few yards away from the two in order not to interrupt, but close enough to listen as the Hobbit finally removed the pipe from his mouth. "All of them at once, I suppose," he replied unsurely.

G-dog made a small humming noise and just stared at Bilbo. As I was to his side I couldn't really see the look on his face, but I saw Bilbo shift awkwardly under his gaze. "Can I help you?" he asked after a moment.

"That remains to be seen," G-dog said slowly, still staring at the Hobbit. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."

Bilbo's pipe, which he had placed back in his mouth, was pulled out again. "An adventure?" he repeated slowly, his words stumbling for a moment as he shook his head with a frown. "No, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures." I then made the mistake of shuffling slightly causing the gravel beneath my feet to crunch loudly and drew the attention of the two conversing men. I gave a sheepish smile and waved as Bilbo used his pipe to point at me. "Aside from Poppy here perhaps." He then stood to move over to his mailbox, bringing G-dog's attention back to him. "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner." He chuckled then.

Since I was already caught I figured I might as well join the two even as I raised an eyebrow at Bilbo shuffling through his mail and humming at each letter he saw which was obviously an excuse to avoid the wizard. His eyes flickered up to both me and the grey guy every few seconds and then once he realized that neither of us were going anywhere he tested his pipe, which he had shoved back into his mouth, then began moving back towards his door. "Good morning."

G-dog looked down at me with a raised eyebrow that I returned with a shrug before he huffed and turned back to Bilbo while placing his free hand on his hip. He actually looked quite sassy from that action. "To think that I should have lived to be 'good morninged' by Belladonna Took's son as if I were selling buttons at the door," he spat, clearly offended by Bilbo brushing him off in the way that he was. Bilbo, at the taller man's words, stopped half way up his steps to stare at him in surprise.

"Beg your pardon?" he asked slowly.

"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins," the Wizard told him disappointedly with a frown.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Bilbo asked.

I felt a little awkward just standing there watching all this happen, but what other choice did I have? Sure, I could have left and let them alone because it wasn't really my business at all to be there, but I felt this was significant somehow. This Wizard guy and the Hobbit dude were important, I could feel it.

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf," he said and I almost threw my hands up and cheered at finally knowing what his name was. Though I really did like calling him G-dog. Thankfully before I had urge to do a happy dance I got cut off as Gandalf continued. "And Gandalf means…" He seemed at a loss for words. "Me."

"Gandalf?" Bilbo asked quietly to himself, drawing my attention back to him. "Not Gandalf the wandering wizard who made such excellent fireworks?" Gandalf gave a little modest nod and a small laugh as Bilbo went on excitedly. "Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve!" He gave a small laugh and then seemed to regain his composure as he cleared his throat and bit on his pipe again. "No idea he was still in business."

Gandalf seemed offended once again. "And where else should I be?" Bilbo mumbled something I couldn't quite understand then cleared his throat again and sucked on his pipe to probably stop himself from saying something. Gandalf eyed him for a moment. "Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me… Even if it's only my fireworks."

I raised an eyebrow at him. I don't know about him, but goody little two shoes Bilbo remembering anything remotely awesome like fireworks sounded like a good thing to me, but the old guy seemed disappointed. "Yes," he suddenly continued. "Well, then it's decided." He then switched his staff thingy to his other hand and pointed at the Hobbit. "It will be very good for you… and most amusing for me." The second part sounded more like he was talking to himself. "I shall inform the others."

The old man was about to turn to me and say something when Bilbo cut him off hastily. "Inform the who? What? No. No. No-wait," he stuttered then ran up closer to his round little door. "We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today. Not-um… I suggest you try Over the Hill or Across the Water." He fumbled and stuttered a few more times while he waved his pipe around and Gandalf just watched him with interest. "Good morning." With that he ran back into his hole and shut the door. A moment later the distinct sound of a lock moving into place was heard.

Gandalf and I just stood there for a few seconds staring at the door until he glanced at me and I looked back up at him, having to crane my neck to do so. "Not a very open minded guy, huh?" I quipped to which Gandalf just huffed slightly and proceeded to push past Bilbo's gate and climb the tiny steps to the green door. "What are you doing?" He didn't answer me as he moved the bottom of his staff closer to the door, but what he was doing with it I couldn't see because his body was blocking my view. After he was done, he looked inside one of the windows and I was able to see a blue mark fade to nothing on the door. Before I could comment on it though Gandalf was retreating from Bilbo's hole humming a tune and exiting through the gate to stand at my side.

"Would you care to join me for a walk, my dear?" he asked me with a smile as if what had just occurred never happened. I blinked and glanced back at Bilbo's hole to see him peering out one of his windows at us and shrugged. Turning with the Wizard I jogged lightly to catch up to his side as he continued to hum.

"Poppy, was it?" he asked after another bout of silence and I nodded.

"Yep."

"From where do you hail? You are quite obviously not a Hobbit," he said with a small chuckle.

"No, I think I'm a Dwarf," I replied without even thinking.

"You think?" Gandalf questioned and suddenly stopped, causing me to halt my steps too and look up at his confused gaze.

"Yeah, um…" I paused, not sure what to say. "A Hobbit named Hyacinthe found me in the woods over there," here I pointed to the trees outlining the edge of the village, "about a month ago. I don't remember anything."

"Anything, you say?" he mumbled interestedly and I shook my head.

"Nothing except for my name. It's Poppletof, by the way, if you were wondering."

Gandalf hummed again as his eyes roamed over me and I had to stop myself from shuffling uncomfortably. I felt like he was staring right through me. "Interesting," he finally mumbled as we continued walking down the small road. "I assume then, that you know not how you came to be in Hobbiton, yes?" I shook my head. "Hm…"

He was staring off into the distance or something, probably thinking and I was busy looking around at the other Hobbits we passed who were giving both me and Gandalf strange looks. Oh, great. Next thing I know the Gamgees will be laying out rakes for me to step on and smack me in the face.

"I also assume," Gandalf suddenly continued, catching my attention again, "that with no memory of where you came from, you have no planned destination, is that correct?"

"Yup, sounds about right," I agreed with a nod. Turning a corner on the path I was able to see Cinthia's hole on the edge of the treeline. "I'm holing up with Hyacinthe until I figure something out."

"I see," Gandalf mumbled interestedly then turned to me with a bright smile that was only partially hidden by his beard. "How would you like to come on an adventure?"

I blinked as we stopped only a few yards from Hyacinthe's hole where I could already hear her shuffling around the kitchen. "What about Bilbo?" I asked.

"Worry not about him, dear girl," he said while shaking his head slightly. "He will come around eventually, I suspect."

"Ok…" I eyed him carefully then gave a shrug. "Sure, why not?"

"Excellent," the Wizard exclaimed with a laugh. "Return to Bilbo's hole this evening and everything will be explained. Now, I must be off to inform the others. I look forward to seeing you this evening, Miss Poppy."

With that he turned after giving a small bow and left down the road with a tune on his lips. I raised my eyebrow at his retreating back then shrugged and entered Cinthia's hole to inform her that I'd probably be leaving. If I knew anything from my friend Kate about Lord of the Rings –who was a huge fanatic about it –it was that their adventures started pretty quick. I didn't doubt that I'd be leaving Hobbiton either tonight or early tomorrow. That meant I had to say goodbye to the nice old lady that opened her hole to me.

Awe man, that sounded so dirty.

When I entered Cinthia was busy in the kitchen as I had thought she was; pulling out pots and pans and already having an abundance of food set out that had my mouth watering. I was used to eating as much as my little heart desired back where I came from, my world or whatever, but it almost seemed like as soon as I became a Dwarf I was constantly hungry and it didn't help that Cinthia always had a crap load of food for the both of us and Sir Hoover. It was no wonder I always felt bloated.

It took hardly a second for Cinthia to notice me and immediately she ushered me to the table to eat. I didn't complain, but I was a little nervous about telling her I would be leaving soon. I couldn't even get a word in before she was talking. "How was your walk, dear?" she asked excitedly as she brushed her hands on her little white apron.

"It was good," I nodded as I began piling my plate with bacon, sausage and toast. "Almost tripped over the Gamgees' ho again. Oh, and I ran into Bilbo."

"Oh, did you?" she said cheerily and I swear I could hear the excited mischievous grin she probably wore even though I couldn't see it as her back was turned to me. "And how is our dear Mr. Baggins today?"

"Alright, I guess," I almost laughed at the memory of this morning and the meeting with the wizard. "Some guy named Gandalf was there to see him, but I don't think Bilbo knew who he was." I took a large bite of my bacon and chewed at the greasiness of it happily.

"Gandalf?" Cinthia questioned as she turned to face me and placed a platter or freshly baked biscuits on the table. "Never heard of him. Is he a Hobbit from across The Water?"

I swallowed my bacon before answering. "Well, he's probably from across The Water, but he's definitely not a Hobbit. He's a Wizard," I replied and Cinthia gave me a startled look.

"A Wizard? Oh my, these are strange days. First a Dwarf and now a Wizard. Next we'll have Elves and Men in our midst," she laughed as she sat down on her own wooden chair that we had pulled from one of the other rooms across from me and began to fill her own plate.

"Yeah," I mumbled, suddenly remembering that I had something to tell her. Sighing, I put the other half of my bacon that I hadn't eaten yet back on my plate and folded my hands in my lap. "Hey, uh, Cinthia?"

"Yes, dear?" she asked.

"Speaking of the Wizard, um… He asked me to go with him. Out of Hobbiton. On a, uh, adventure," I told her unsurely and looked through my messy hair at her when she suddenly stopped cutting some cheese off of a wheel and looked at me.

"Oh," was all she said.

"Yeah, and I said yes," I continued then bit my lip. I didn't think it would be so hard to tell her. Man, I felt like an ass.

"Well," she sighed. "I suppose if that is what your heart is telling you, then I have no right to object. Hobbits are not meant for traveling and adventures, but Dwarves are. I knew you'd be off and back on the road eventually." Her small withered hand stretched across the table and opened to me as a gesture to take it and I did. Gripping my hand gently in such a motherly way I had a hard time containing my smile as she gave me a bright grin. "I'm happy for you, dear, and I will help you in any way I can."

I blinked in surprise. This old lady continued to amaze me with her kindness and I was floored at the fact that it was all genuine. I had nothing to give to her in return except for my friendship and thanks. We had only known each other for a month and she was showing me more love than I had ever known from people I had been around for years. I wanted to hug the shit out of her for that fact alone.

"Thank you, Cinthia," I said, unable to find any other appropriate words of gratitude. "I-I can't express to you how awesome you are. You've done more for me than you should."

"Oh, think nothing of it, dearie," she laughed and waved her hand after releasing mine and returned to her meal. "Now eat up and then we will spend the rest of the day packing for your departure."

Beaming at her, I picked up the piece of bacon I had previously been eating. "Thanks."

The rest of that day really was spent packing. We fixed holes in cloaks and clothes that I was to bring with me –all pants and tunics, yay! –and then she was showing me how to saddle Sir Hoover. To my surprise she was allowing me to take the animal and when I tried to protest she merely waved me off and shooed away my argument.

"He will be much more use to you than me," she had insisted. "Poor thing just stands there and eats all day except for the walk about the trees you take him on every day. I'm too old to do anything useful with him. Take him, dear, unless you plan on carrying all your provisions by yourself."

That had shut me up real quick. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had only ridden a horse once in my life when I was five. Plus, that would bust my whole amnesia story to itty bitty little pieces. And I really didn't want to carry all that crap with me. It was only, like, noon-ish and we already had a bedroll that she had somehow been able to sew up in the last few hours, a sac packed with an extra set of clothes, a couple cloaks, a pair of boots and some thread and needles just in case, and another sac full of food that we were keeping in the cellar to stay fresh. All that was left was to saddle up and prepare Sir Hoover for the journey when it was time to go, which I still wasn't sure of when that would be.

I didn't bother telling Cinthia I was meeting Gandalf and a few others, whoever they were, at Bilbo's that evening. The poor old lady's view on the Hobbit would be shattered to pieces and his respectability would be thrown out the window. Cinthia was a gossiper and she'd probably spread around Hobbiton that Bilbo was not the Hobbit everyone thought he was. Then again, if he really was going to join in on this adventure then that was probably going to happen anyway. Well, I guess I'd just have to wait and see.

By the time it started getting dark and lamps were being lit all around Hobbiton, I was starting to feel nervous. I didn't know what time I had to be there or if Gandalf was going to be there when I showed up and it made me antsy. Cinthia kept me calm while serving tea and biscuits, but when I had enough of waiting and staring out the window at Bilbo's green door at the top of The Hill I decided it was time for me to leave.

I said my farewell to Cinthia and told her that I would miss her. She told me to be safe and to enjoy my journey and that if she wasn't going to see me again before my departure that I was free to take the pony as soon I was ready to leave and that the sac of food was still in the cellar. With tears in both of our eyes, we hugged for a few minutes and then I left. She watched me leave up the path in the darkness until we could no longer see each other and that was the last I ever saw of my Hobbit savior.

Taking a huge breath to calm my nerves I stared my way up at Bilbo's Hobbit hole from the base of The Hill and with another glance back at the hole I had come from, I began my trudge up the The Hill to begin my journey.