Bilba left the office with a grin on her face. Her plan is delayed but that is a triffle. When she exited the smial she found Balin and Gloin waiting for her with packs in hand. She greeted them with a smile,
"Let us be off gentlemen, I'll not be making us a late dinner."
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Both Balin and Gloin learned more about their host within the week of their stay. She had kindly given them rooms and only ever asked for occasional help with cleaning.
Balin enjoyed speaking to her of Dwarrow history, at least the parts that were not secret anyway. She was an avid listener and even gave a bit of hobbit history in return.
Gloin would begin to talk for hours about his family and she sat with him and often expressed a wish to meet them herself when they arrived.
They discovered she had a nack for telling fantastic stories of futuristic worlds, mythical creatures kept by a magic man, heroes defending their home from beings of the stars. All were mear fantasy of course but quite enjoyable.
Bibla found her guests to be slightly different then from the future she saw. Then again they believed her to be a princess and still wont stop calling her such, blast Uncle and his well meaning schemes.
They were both polite and asked upfront about any cultural differences in order to stop from unknowingly insulating anyone. Which surprised her but was also delightful since she wouldn't have to clean up any social messes.
According to Balin their kin would be arriving sometime within the next few days. Gloin's family and the Ur and Ri families would be amoung those arriving. She was a bit weary on one of the Ri's though. Nori, poor fellow, has kleptomania from what she could tell and would likely steal from many homes. Bilba did not want to clean that mess up at all.
It was arround noon time that Gloin left Bag-End to meet up with his family. They should be nearing Tookland this day, or so Balin believed. Bilba mearly shook her head and made the older dwarf help her set up rooms for the new guests on the way.
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"Now Lady Bilba's told Balin and me about how different things are here so you all best talk with me or Balin before seting up shop. Lady Bilba's home is at the top right there." Gloin said as he carried his son while leading the others to Bag-End. The sun was beginning to set as they all marched up the hill.
Gimli hadn't yet seen one of the hobbities, much to his discontent, since he had slept through most of the trip. He was eager to see one, especially the hobbity princess.
Once they got to the green door of Bag-End it opened to reveal a smiling Bilba.
"Good evening everyone. I'm Bilba Baggins at your service." She offered them a bow.
Glimli's eyes widened as he saw her. Her hair looked like copper and to his surprise she had matching foot hair as well.
"Your beards fallen to your feet!" He exclaimed his worried shock. Gloin turned bright red while Glimi's mother and Bofur began to laugh.
Bilba looked at him with a smile.
"Indeed it has young sir but that is where all hobbit keep it. So you best not touch without permission alright?"
Glimli nodded quickly, not understanding why his mother was having a coughing fit. Bilba looked at them all again and continued,
"Boots off by the door, I'll not be cleaning mud from my carpets tonight. I've set the bath for you all. You'll have to take turns but I'm sure you'll manage. Once you're done there's dinner ready and waiting."
With that final word they all followed her inside, greeting her individually. Gloin was the first to introduce her to the new comers.
"Lady Bilba this young lad is my boy Gimli and over here is my lively wife Gilda." Gloin's wife had an intricately braided beard and long braided hair both as red as fire. Gimli's hair was a darker red and barely had whiskers on his face. Bilba smiled at them and said,
"I've heard much about you both from Master Gloin and I cannot wait to get to know you."
When they passed by toward the bathroom Bofur walked up with his brother and cousin with him. He pulled off his hat and bowed with a flourish and wink.
"Lovely to meet you Shire Princess I'm Bofur. This here is my brother Bombur, he doesnt speak much."
The large dwarf with orange hair smiled and gave her a wave.
"and this here is our cousin Bifur, he can't speak any westeron due to his axe there."
Bifur grumbled in Khazdul and nodded toward her. Bilba smiled at them and began to sign as she spoke. She had learned sign language in her previous life since her mother was deaf due to an accident.
"It is wonderful to meet you all, you'll not have to worry about speaking here master Bifur. Nearly the whole of the Shire knows sign and if you don't know this type I will gladly teach you."
All three of them gawked at her for a moment and Bifur began to grin. His eyes were shining with excitement as he signed back in whatever dwarrow style it was. Bofur snapped out of his shock and replied.
"Bifur says he would love to learn from you when you've a free moment."
With that taken care off she waved them inside as the last two dwarrow came up. Dori, brown streaked with grey in his intricate yet somewhat short beard was holding young Ori's hand. Little Ori gave her a shy smile as he clutched a book to his chest. He stayed somewhat behind Dori's leg as they both give her a bow,
"I am Dori and this is my little brother Ori. Thank yoy for taking us in."
"It was no problem dear sir. I can see that your brother is a reader. I've a library with many books he can peruse during your stay here."
Ori's eyes light up and he began to tug on Dori's hand.
"Come on Dori! Books!" He exclaimed in, what was probably suppost to be, a whisper.
Dori chuckled to himself as ge let his brother drag him inside. Bilba shut the door and re-entered her dinning room to set up the table.
Perhaps it was a good that Uncle Isengrim offer her home for their stay. She had though it would delay her plan but...maybe this change will help push her plan along faster then it would have moved orignally.
Now if only she could get them to stop calling her Lady Bilba.