This and the next chapter are going to span over 4-6 weeks. Another week passes after Gandalf first wonders about Ginger. Who should have arrived with the company a week before that. Also, wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Years. I hope it starts off the way you wanted it to and whatever your resolution is you achieve your goal.
Lost and Found
Ginger had dragged herself off the shoreline, and managed to make it into the trees where she took cover in the leaves. Night had fallen and with no pack she shivered in the cold, too afraid of what would happen if she lit a fire. In the great distance she could hear the orc's whooping and howling. Instead, she made due with wringing out her clothes and letting them hang dry. She was positive at least one of her ribs was fractured and her wrist sprained. Not to mention her side was entirely blue and purple. Ginger's open wounds weren't so bad, but if she couldn't find any plants to make a salve then they could become infected and she would die anyway.
With a heavy heart Ginger folded her arms around her knees, trying to keep warm. Her stomach rumbled as she sat there all alone and pathetic. An entire day without food did not sit well for a hobbit and now that Ginger thought about it, she didn't think it'd sit well with anyone. "Do not fret Tippy, we'll figure a way out of here." Ginger soothed her small doll which miraculously still clung to Ginger's rope. She had been so overjoyed at the toy's survival that she had attempted a leap for joy but her pain had enabled her to do so and instead settled for a mini fist pump.
"I do hope you are having more luck than I dear brother." Ginger whispered softly, resting her head.
BILBO'S POV
"Tell us of your sister Bilbo." Fili asked, grinning along side his brother. Bilbo scowled inwardly. The brother's had taken to asking him of Ginger because while they were genuinely curious of the quirky hobbit, they also knew it greatly annoyed him. He did not like speaking of his sister who was unwed to unwed dwarves. And also, he missed her greatly and hoped she fared well. Shortly into his journey he had felt such great anxiety over leaving her. He regretted leaving in such a manner, for he knew Ginger was dealing with bombarding questions and retched gossip.
"I've told you everything." Bilbo replied curtly. "Come now, surely her age and interest in gardening is not all there is to know." Kili said, leading his pony next to Bilbo's. "Dwarves are particularly stubborn Bilbo..." Gandalf mused, stealing a glance back at him. "Well..." Bilbo cleared his throat. "Let's see. Ginger is well sought out by many suitors, but alas she refuses to be wooed and prefers to be in the company of books. When she is not at home taking care of her duties or reading she is off in the fields playing with the children..."
It dawned on Bilbo then at how different his sister was. He had realized that she had never once invited other women over for tea or anybody for that matter, when she was out in town she never walked, more like strutted with her hands stuffed in her apron as she whistled loudly. When she hadn't been home sick, Ginger was rebuked often for her boyish ways. As a child her oddity was apparent among her peers and was not at all accepted. Ginger had been shunned by all of the girls in Hobbiton and had become the source of their bullying.
He had discovered this on the way home when he spotted Ginger being pushed and shoved as her doll Tippy was tossed back and forth. The arm had been ripped clean off dispersing the girls as Bilbo charged forward. Never would he strike a lady, but he had wanted to. His sister was sent into a frenzy who had been reading quietly to herself in her favorite willow tree. Bilbo had done his best to sew the arm back but had done so poorly that it would have been better to have left it alone. But the gesture had made Ginger so happy that he had vowed to watch over her from then on. Bilbo had convinced his father to buy the willow and have it moved closer to Bag End where Ginger could read in the safe perimeter of her parent's home. If she wished to go any where on the rare occasion Bilbo was by her side to take her.
His chest filled with guilt and sadness thinking of his sister all alone. Who was he to live a dream that was not even his? He was fortunate that Ginger had grown into a bold girl. Who plainly told people what she thought and was caught on more than one occasion, arm wrestling some of the men in the local tavern.
"Hello? Are you there?" Fili waved his hand in Bilbo's face bringing him out of his brooding. "What? What happened?" Bilbo glanced around him, having forgotten what he was saying. "You were telling us about your sister." Bofur called from the back. "Ah yes. Well to be honest who she is not who she should be." Bilbo spoke regaining his composure. "Too many times she's been told she must be who she is not. "
GANDALF'S POV
All this talk of Ginger made him wonder where on earth the little hobbit was. Another week had gone by and Ginger should have met up with the company by now. He feared something horrible had happened to her and in secret sent a letter to Lord Celeborn and his wife, Lady Galadriel. He had been disheartened when their response came. No hobbit had turned up on their doorstep but a pack of orcs had been eliminated. To blacken the wizard's mood even more the orcs had been found very close to the path that he had instructed Ginger to travel on. Which brought another matter at hand, what were orcs doing so close to elven land? He peered back at the hobbit who would indeed go into fits if he knew of his sister's true whereabouts. It would be best to not mention anything at all until more information was gathered. But there was one thing that Gandalf knew for certain, he knew Ginger would not pass up an adventure. She had long since left the safety of Hobbiton. Only time would tell. The wizard thought solemnly.
GINGER'S POV
It was week two in the forest, but Ginger honestly couldn't recall. The foilage was so thick here that she struggled to see what time of day it was. Her wounds were burning a bright red and were grotesquely swollen. Ginger had found a plant that had looked similar to a plant in the Shire that was used to relieve pain and was a natural bacteria killer. She had foolishly rubbed the plants into her hands only to feel pain that lasted hours. Once the throbbing had ebbed away, the cuts were swollen and had begun to pus up. Now as Ginger fumbled through the forest she clumsily made her way deeper into the trees, losing all sense of direction as her body began to fight an infection it had no hope of winning.
Ginger did not trust any plant the forest had to offer and she was so loud that the animals easily avoided her, her aching stomach a constant reminder of this fact. "I'm so hopelessly lost!" Ginger cried, passing the same boulder for the fifth time that day. She allowed herself to collapse into the ground, curling into a tight ball. Thankfully her fever brought her relief from the cold, although that wasn't exactly a good thing.
Her dreams were warped and filled with images of Bilbo, Tippy -who could talk-, and wretched orcs that jeered at her with their pointed blades. Ginger was not sure how long she lay on the forest floor awaiting an imminent death when a face so spectacular peered down at her, bringing a comfortable glow around her. "I am Haldir of Lothlórien, hafling." Anything that the man said after that came out garbled. It had been hard to make sense of anything with fever and infection swimming in her veins. Instead she allowed herself to be scooped up and carried away, making sure to grasp for Tippy. Poor Tippy would be so sad if she had been forgotten.
TWO WEEKS LATER
(4 weeks total passed since Ginger's scheduled arrival. Company is nearing the area where they meet the trolls)
Ginger's eyes fluttered for the first time in weeks and she sat up slowly glancing around the room, becoming startled when she discovered a beautiful elf woman standing before her. "Welcome to the city of Caras Galadhon." The woman said, her face holding a soft friendly smile. "I am Lady Galadriel." Ginger blinked a few times, that name sounded so familiar.
"Am I dead? Where am I?" The woman continued on patiently. "You are in the realm of Lothlórien under the care of my husband, Lord Celeborn. My servant Haldir and his scouting party found you just within the borders of our kingdom, and brought you here to seek treatment."
"Thank you. You have been too kind Lady Galadriel. I've been a fool to think I could go on a journey like my brother..." Ginger said softly, looking down heatedly at her lap, she hated to admit she was bad at something. Lady Galadriel smiled, motioning Ginger out of bed. "Fret not Ginger Baggins for all is well and your journey will not end here."
Ginger followed the elf maiden wide eyed. Never before had she seen such grace and beauty paired with such strength. Ginger had only learned to be rough, holding no grace or an ounce of lady-likeness in her.
Lady Galadriel personally showed Ginger around the city herself, which Ginger admired very much. It was very different in every aspect from the Shire. As they sat to eat, Ginger discovered that elves did not consume meat which enlightened her greatly. They held such knowledge and with immortality on their side could acquire as much as they wanted so long as they lived and chose to do so. Their hospitality was far beyond that of any hobbit Ginger had ever known, including herself and she was constantly finding herself stumbling over thank-you's and you-shouldn't-have's.
Ginger had grown to be very fond of the elves here. Especially Lady Galadriel. If they did notice Ginger's oddness they did not question her on it and simply treated her as they treated each other. "Now that you are well rested Ginger, you can travel with me to Rivendell, I have some business to take care of there, and I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Ginger happily agreed, anxious to meet more elves and experience new culture. This was an adventure, she thought happily as she packed her things. One she would never forget.
Waving goodbye to Haldir and Lord Celebron Ginger turned in her saddle, knowing she would miss this enchanted realm. Should she ever see it again she hoped it would be under much brighter circumstances.
I hope you all enjoyed it, She's going to be meeting up with the company in the next chapter. Please comment/fav/follow! Thank you guys bunches!
