Hello All! Hope you enjoy!
I own nothing!
And remember, 8888 means a simultaneous scene while 8888888888888 means a scene hours later, my quirky shorthand.
One- The Mirror Speaks
Bilbo huffed as he gave a final tug to pull his bucket full of water from the well, this was one of the few good wells left and as consequence one had to drop the bucket very low to get a full amount of water. With a sigh he transferred the water to the pail he had brought with him and then reset the well for the next person who needed it. As he walked back to the main house Bilbo took in a large breath of fresh air, it was a surprisingly nice day. He lifted his face to bask in the rare rays of pure sunshine, the few brown curls that escaped his green cloak-hood shined brightly and his skin glowed lightly. Any who saw him would've thought he was some forest spirit or apparition.
After a moment or two more he came back to himself and continued on his way,
This is no time for dawdling! Today the traveling market opens in these parts and this year I am going!
With this thought as motivation Bilbo made his quick way back to the kitchens so as to deliver the water Shamira, the head cook and master of the kitchens, had asked him to fetch. Even before his mother's passing Bilbo had loved to help in the kitchens, seeing the gifts from the earth made into even more lovely things to eat was always a delight. He guessed that's why he retreated there-and to the waiting arms of Shamira and the other servants- after things went from bad to worse with his "uncle" Clovis.
That man…had changed after the lovely Belladonna had died, Bilbo had felt it. The man had gone from not being readable at all, to just oozing mal-intent, and magic. And every time Bilbo saw him- which thankfully wasn't very much- it only grew worse. Bilbo prayed that things would work out in the end, but as long as his parent's final will said Clovis would have the manor, he was nothing but a poor guest in his very own home.
Bilbo shook the bad thoughts from his mind, today was not the day for brooding. He smiled as he was welcomed back into the kitchen by the workers within.
"'Bout time ye came back." drawled Juno, a young half-dwarf girl that was one of Shamira's assistant cooks.
Bilbo rolled his eyes good naturedly, and was about to retort when he was cut off.
"Says the girl who is taking an age to peel me my potatoes!" said Shamira, eyeing her daughter with a critical eye and a large grin.
While Juno blushed the third assistant cook Zan let out loud chuckles as he diced vegetables for that day's midday meal, it was to be a hearty stew to offset the early spring chill.
Bilbo let out a sigh as he placed the water next to Juno- and quickly made a face at her which she returned with a grin- and turned back Shamira in time for a hug. The dwarf-woman was always bestowing affection upon him, she had come with his mother after she married his father Lord Baggins as a sort of all-purpose assistant and had found her place in leading the kitchens. She was like an aunt to him and he thanked the Moon and Sun for her presence in his life every day.
"Sha I have finished with the usual chores, is there anything else you need of me?" He tried to keep himself from looking anxious as much as possible but Shamira saw right through him as always. She grinned as she said
"Why? Got some place to go, do we love? The market perhaps?"
He could only grin innocently in response.
With a laugh she said "All right, all right. Go clean yourself up and go enjoy it. But make sure no one sees you leave."
She leaned forward then and handed him a small pouch of money before continuing, "Go buy yourself something nice and if you find any interesting tidbits to cook with don't hesitate to pick some up some for the kitchen."
Much more softly she added "And keep your hood up."
He nodded and left the kitchen, a grin on his face. As he walked down the hall toward his room he could hear Juno complain
"Hey! How come he gets to skip on afternoon work?!"
88888
Clovis Baggins, lord of the estate of Bag-End and its surrounding lands up until the territories of neighboring noblemen began, sole authority of those under his thumb with the lack of a proper king on the throne of the nearby kingdom, sat and brooded. He brooded for the fact that truly, he was not a man and he wished he was where he was meant to be.
For in truth he was a troll, the King of the Golden-Bearded trolls in point of fact. Or at least he had been. His true name was Jarogniew, son of Zbigniew. He had been making designs on expanding his territory, namely the land a certain nobleman had currently been occupying. He was just about to send his plans into motion when his good for nothing nephew Leutwin told not only the nobleman but also his mother, his dear sister Reut.
She spared no time in confronting him upon the matter, and when he refused to concede even when she brought up that it was in violation of ancient laws- he didn't give a horse's arse about laws, the lands had valuable riches and good Sun-infused soil!- she challenged him for the right to rule. To his ever-lasting chagrin she had defeated him and banished him. But he had gotten back at her, in secret he had had her son, the little rat, killed. He had made it look like an accident and none could point to him or anyone else as responsible. He would have tried to kill her too but her magic had always been more powerful, she'd be able to smell his plans towards her from miles away.
With that he had set his sights on getting back at the nobleman, but he could not. At least at first. Thanks to his late nephew's interference the nobleman was prepared, he had placed Sun charms and barriers all around the borders of his land. Keeping those with bad intentions out. Jarogniew had nearly choked with frustration and rage, his magic could do nothing.
He searched for something to aid him in his "quest" and found the cave of this…thing…that collected items, both magical and mundane. He was an odd fellow-he assumed it was a fellow for it only wore a loincloth and had a flat chest- and talked to himself regularly. In exchange for a simple ring that could turn its wearer invisible he was given leave to take any item that caught his fancy.
That is when he saw it, a magical mirror with a gold frame decorated in serpents and shining with magic. He could not believe the find, quickly he took leave of the creature with his trade and returned to what had been his hideout at the time. It was there he had learned of the magic's true power.
There are many magic mirrors in the world, all of them do different things. Some show the past, some glimpses of the future, and some the inner hearts of those before it. But a few, a special few, held a slave within. A spirit with advanced clairvoyance and knowledge, some dark texts speak of the details but it is unknown if the spirit within is either of the living or a devil.
But either way the slave within the mirror would be loyal to the current owner of it, though, it is warned, that the spirit will at times have its own agenda or simply wish to only speak half-truths. The former troll king had not been worried and persuaded the spirit to help him in his quest.
With the help of the mirror Jarogniew had cursed the human with illness when he finally ventured past his land's borders and later had taken over the form of the true Clovis Baggins to infiltrate his enemy's former estate. It was there he had found his lonely widow and runt of a son. Again with the help of the mirror and his own cunning Jarogniew made sure to gain control of the lands and disposed of the mother as he had the father.
He had contemplated on killing the son, but thought better of it. He could be of use someday, if not as a pawn than as a tasty morsel when he finally finished growing and Jarogniew found the mood for it. He simply decided to push the lad to the side and forgot him, the boy never resisted so he never spared him a thought.
After gaining control of the lands and the populace Jarogniew secretly sent word to those still loyal to him and had them come to his new base of operations where they began work on retaking his kingdom. But, to his utter aggravation, no plans he had begun came to fruition. All because he did not have the magic to rival his sister's, he could charge a full frontal assault that might take many lives, but it would destroy his kingdom and mostly likely himself.
His sister was just as cunning as he and had her own tricks. All of mother's good magic went to her.
All assassination attempts had failed, and more often than not he had had to hide and repress his magic to avoid being discovered in this guise. So here he was, years later. Stuck in a land of depleting magic and mortals and dwarves, he slapped his hand on the oaken desk before him and looked to mirror upon the far wall.
It was currently inactive, it's glass opaque. He moved toward it and raised his hands. In a commanding tone he began.
"Slave in the magic mirror,
Come from the farthest space."
Smoke and fire rippled within the confines of the glass.
"Through wind and darkness I summon thee!
Speak!
Let me see thy face!"
As the flames died down a figure appeared from the darkness, a "face" that was more of a mask. It looked like something from a play or human festival, the "skin" was bone white with gold detailing around the "eyes" and had bright red pouty lips. From said lips a voice came, it was a lilting melodic tone that made one think of a woman in her twenties.
"How shall I help thee today master?"
"We have to find another way to give me more power. We have tried charms, animal sacrifice and magical items. I need blood magic! Tell me of the most powerful spell possible to give one power that requires a sacrifice or tribute."
The "face" looked at him for a few moments, and then seemed to smile.
"There is one such spell I know of. One must take a pure soul who has been blessed by two Great Gods, at noon on the day of a great full moon the individual must be killed and have their heart taken. With the heart make a potion with eye of newt, griffin's feather and a fish's entrails, drink the potion and your magic will strengthen a thousand fold."
Jarogniew grinned at the news, but then frowned.
"How am I to find and then gain access to the one I need?"
Again the "face" smiled, but it seemed more like a smirk.
"Why look under thy very own roof of course. One of such caliber resides here."
His brows raised and he asked eagerly.
"Who?!"
"The Child of the Sun and the Moon. One Bilbo Baggins."
Yes that is a title drop! hahaha
Okay what the troll says to summon the mirror is what the queen says in the original snow white movie.
Okay Shamira means guardian, Juno is strength I think and Zan means support.
Jarogniew basically means one of anger while Zbigniew means resist anger. Leutwin means bold, brave friend and Reut means friend as well.
The "ingredients" of the spell are completely from my imagination.
I think that about covers it! Enjoy and tell me what you think!
