I don't own the hobbit series.
And the Wonderland I'm using is my own inspired by books and games based off of Alice in Wonderland.
Annabel Devin and other OCs are mine.
A new chapter will be posted every Friday in the afternoon.
What Little Logic...
Middle Earth Cats Are.
Bilbo's POV:
Annabel's sweet laugh could be heard easily through the rocky, hilly valley.
"Your kidding! Oh please tell me that what you speak of is all true." Annabel's voice voiced joyously to the chuckling Thorin.
"It's true. All of it." Thorin answered with amusement as he watched Annabel's reaction.
"Oh good heavens that is rich." Annabel spoke with joy and amusement. She never laughed like that when I told her; just a soft giggle - maybe an audible chuckle - and smile. She turned to her head to look my way. Well more to my left; to Balin. "Is that true did Balin? Did Thorin and his siblings take their grandfathers crown and placed at the top of the thrown." Annabel sounded like she genuinely wanted to know. She barely ever sounded like that when it came to my stories.
"I'y, it true. For hours King Thror tried to get it himself till he had some guards stake themselves on one another to get to it for him." Balin explained with his natural smile. Annabel seemed to laugh harder, making her beautiful laugh ring through my ears. She never laughed like that at anything of my storie.
Annabel's POV:
Some time had paced from Thorin's mischief story and as we made it to a small rocky hill in the valley we've been riding through for sometime.
"Will make camp here." Thorin announced at the front by my side.
I was the first to dismounted my mount. I then took Cheshire from his place on the saddle before placing him on the ground to wonder and nap were he pleases.
"You stay near the others. Do you understand me friend." I said to Cheshire like a mother.
"Meow." It was a yes.
"Good boy." I applauded him.
I was walking over and stopped in front of the ruins of a ounce livable house when I heard Gandalf speak.
"A farmer and his family use to live here." He's voice was solemn as he spoke of the last and finale owners of this house. "I think it would be wiser to move on." Gandalf added. I agreed with him. It felt wrong to take a home with out asking the owners first. Especially when the last owners lost the home and their lives; probably. But Thorin did not see it this way. "We could make for the Hidden Valley." Thorin seemed to hate that idea.
"I've told you already. I will not go near that place." The stubbornness of Thorin Oakenshield was strong in him at that time.
"Why not?" I feel like Gandalf already knew the answer. "The Elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice." Gandalf added.
"I do not need there advice." Thorin said determinedly, giving little room for argument. That doesn't mean Gandalf would not try.
"We have a map, that we cannot read; lord Elrond could help us." The word 'help' and 'Elves' were two words you never wanted to put together in a conversation with Thorin.
"Help? A Dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orc's plunder Moriea, desecrate are sacred halls. The Elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people that betrayed my grandfather, betrayed my father." Thorin said with anger and spite.
"You are neither of them." Gandalf reminded him. "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past." Gandalf sounded like he was getting annoyed. But Thorin sounded angrier.
"I did not they were your to keep." Thorin bit. It seemed to silence the old wizard. I had decided to make myself known and give more thoughts.
"He could of keeper them away from you." I spoke as I walked to them through the archway that was ounce a entryway. "He could've let you be. Stewing in regret and malice till it consumed you alive." I now stood tall. Letting my life among nobles of all kinds seen. "And unless we are near the forest that's by the lake that's by the Lonely Mountain. If we are not, then I do not see why your malice to a house of Elves that probably did not even know of Smaug's attack and Erebor's fall till sometimes paced from the actual events for them to even know about." I bent myself to eye level of the prince. My furious pale colored eyes meet his dark ones. "Do not hate those that did not help you when they could not help you." I spoke, my normally soft voice taking a serious one instead.
"I do not needs words of wisdom from a woman that's lost her mind." Thorin spat with his own fury. I learned that moment that Thorin was to thick headed and stubborn for words to breakthrough To him. He'd have to experience for my words to even make a dent. I also learned that he quick to insult when angry.
I stood, tall and proud; like my mother and grandmother taught me. I spun to look at the spectating wizard.
"Gandalf are you going anywhere by chance." I asked kindly. I knew fully well that both me and Gandalf need some air from the stubborn stone called Thorin Oakenshield.
"Actually, yes I am. Would you like to join me miss Annabel." Gandalf questioned. He already knew the answer. So we began to walk, my arm looped into the free one he offered me like a gentleman As we briskly walked pass the others.
"Everything alright? Gandalf, Annabel where are you going?" We continued to walk as Gandalf answered Bilbo's question.
"Seeking the company of the only ones around here who's got any sense."
"And who's that?" Bilbo inquired. Gandalf was quick to answer.
"Myself and miss Devins, mister Baggins." And hotly too. "I've had enough of Dwarves for one day." Gandalf mumbled so that only I and those close to use.
"We will be back later. Do not worry Bilbo." I hollered to him. "At least I will." I looked to Gandalf, who seemed to ignore my statement.
Me and Gandalf walked from sit of the Dwarves and the Hobbit. And into the forest we went.
Bilbo's POV:
It had been sometime since Gandalf and Annabel left to the woods. In that time we'v seat camp. And it had become dark as the fire glowed in the ruins, as the Dwarves ate dinner. I was at the entry of the ruins, looking, searching for the wizard and my dark haired friend.
I know I shouldn't worry. Annabel said they'd return, but I couldn't help it. It was mine and Annabel's first true time leaving the Shire for more then a day; even then we didn't go far from the forest borders.
I looked down to Annabel's cat, Cheshire. I would not lie that Cheshire did - and still does - scare me. His sharp teeth grin always present even when he's mad, he even had one when he was a sleep; his mouth would just be closed. I could tell that if it weren't for the fact I feed him and cared for him when Annabel rarely didn't; he wouldn't - I think still doesn't - really care if I lived or died on this journey or before it, even after this journey - if I survive - he probably still wouldn't care. I noted that he had also become thinner - almost bony - since we left the those few weeks ago.
Thinking of how long it's been reminds me that I was Annabel's only friend before this adventure began. She was now friends with Fili and Kili; they would tell her stories about their antics back home and jokes that made smile and laugh more then she ever did in the Shire, Ori and Dori; they'd cook the meals together and ask Annabel questions about her homeland; to which she'd happily talk about for houses on end, Gloin; he talk about his 'brave' son and strong wife, even show her the locket with their portraits in it, Balin and Dwalin; they'd tell her about Erebor before Smaug and the battles the won before and after the Dragon attack, Gandalf; He would tell her about magic and all about the other races in Middle Earth and in return she would talk about her own worlds magic and races, Thorin maybe; though Annabel left with Gandalf after - I could only assume - talking to Thorin, they stifled looked like they could be good friends, and though she seemed not as close to the others; she still seemed closer to them then she's ever had with me. It hurt to think that, but a little voice in the back of my mind said it was true.
I decide to voice my worry of are still not present wizard and Wonderlander.
"They'v been gone a long time."
"Who?" Bofur asked as he poured the stew in some bowls.
"Gandalf and Annabel." I spoke in beat as I looked, hoping to see them in the darkness around are camp.
"He's a wizard, he does as he choices. And Annabel is -" He waved ladle - almost smacking Bombur in the face as he thought of what to say. " Well she's Annabel, I highly doubt she'd get hurt easily, lost yes, hurt? No, and besides she's with Gandalf. She'll be fine." Bofur said with ease as he looked at me and handed me the wooden bowl of stew. "Here, here's a favor take this to the lads." He nudged to the are we left the ponies, and where Fili and Kili were watching them. I took them and left to the twins passing a grazing Felix right outside the ruins and the camp. I looked to Annabel's strange horse as Cheshire jumped on his back with ease; it seemed that Annabel's animal friends didn't want to go far from camp without Annabel.
I walked pass some of the horses that grazed On the grass further out from the camp. I found the twins - for some strange reason - farther in the bush just staring forward in thought. Not taking the food that I offered them.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"We're suppose to eat looking after the ponies." Kili stated without even glancing at me. This fact I new though so I was still confused.
"Only we've in countered a slight problem." Fili added.
"We had sixteen." Kili added on to Fili's statement.
"Now there's fourteen." Fili finished.
They moved to find the missing horses as I still held the bowls in hand.
"Daisy and Bungle are missing." Kili stated as he finished checking the horses. I said the first thing that came to mind.
"Well. That's not good." I let out an uncomfortable laugh when I saw the knocked down uprooted trees. "Ahha, and that is not good at all. Shouldn't we tell Thorin." Fili was quick to answer.
"Uh, no. Let's not worry him. As are official burglar, we thought that you might like to look into it." Fili said as him and his brother looked to me for an answer.
"Well, uh, Looks like something big uprooted these trees."
"That what I was thinking." Kili said
"It's something very big. And possibly quite dangerous." I said, hoping I was wrong.
"Hey -" Fili spoke, seeing something in the distance of the trees. "- there's a light." He was now whispering. He looked to his brother and I. "Come here." We crouched as walked beside Fili.
"Stat down." Whispered Kili.
We moved closer to light and could hear laughs, grunts, and snorts.
"What is it?" I needed to know.
"Trolls." Kili said with fire in his voice as he and Fili ran ahead. I so followed behind them. Almost forgetting the bowls.
We hide from sight as we watched a troll carried our two more of our horses
wrestled for freedom but just couldn't get out. I saw my own pony fight to be free.
"They got Muriel and Mindy." I said in a loud whisper. I felt like the sweet ponies were about to meet an undeserved fate. "I think their going to eat them. We got to do something." I was not going just let Trolls eat them.
The twins looked to me.
"Yes, you should. Mountain Trolls are slow and stupid and your so small they'll never see you." Kili spoke, spinning me around and taking one of the bowls from my hands. But I was quick to rebuttal.
"No, no, no." Was all I said.
"It's perfectly safe. We'll be right behind you." Kili said in a quick hush.
"If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a Barn Owl then once like Brown Owl." Fili explained quickly as he took the other bowl from my hand and bushed me towards them.
I tried to remember what I was suppose to do when needing their help. But I soon lost it and only grew more confused, but when I was about to ask them to say it again; I found them gone.
I heard the Trolls talking.
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow." One spoke.
"Quit your griping. These ain't sheep. These is west nags." The one carrying the horses said.
"Oh I don't like horse. I never have. Not enough fat on em." The skinniest on at the fire said.
"Well better then that old farmer. All skin and bone, he was." I moved closer as they spoke. "I'm still picking bits of him out of me teeth." The smaller, dopier one said. The thinner one sneezed. "Oh that's lovely, that is a flouter." In the pot apparently.
"Oh, might improve the flavor." The voice of the horse stealer said. It also seemed to encourage the sneezing one.
"Oh, there's more where that are from." He said. only for his nose to be held I a death grip that made him howl in pain.
"Oh, no you don't." The shorter one shouted as he held the thinner ones nose.
Wall they were distracted I snuck to the make shift pen that held are horses. I tried to untie one of the knots, but it was tight and hard to pull. I almost got caught when the skinny one came to look at the horses; scaring them more. I stopped listening to them only focusing on getting the knot undone wall not being seen or heard. Once they weren't looking again, I tried with all my might but couldn't get it to budge. I then saw one of the Trolls had a large hooked knife at his hip. I realized that I needed that knife to cut the rope to free the ponies.
I silently walked to the thin Troll to get his knife. I went towards it then turned around when the Troll scratched his behind. I stayed out of sight as I crawled to the Troll that had just been smacked by the one with the ladle for accidentally taking his drink. I was right behind the Troll, trying to get the knife. But he kept moving. He then stood and I was forced to sit and watch as he scratched is butt. I tried to get it ounce more only to be grabbed and blowed onto like a snot rage by the Troll. In other words I had been found.
"Blimey, look, look at what come out of my hooter. It's got arms and legs and everything." The that had a hold on me said with unwanted excitement.
"What is it?" The one to the right questioned.
"I don't know. But I don't like the way it wiggles around." The one threw me on the ground after saying that; like I was dong.
"What are ya then, an over sized squirwel?" The bulkiest one from asked.
"I'm a burglar- Ah Hobbit." I said quickly.
"A Burglar Hobbit?" The skinny one questioned.
"Can we cook him?" The bulky one wondered aloud.
"We can try!" The skinny one shouted as he tried to grab me. But I move before he could get me.
Only to be stopped the shorter one with his ladle.
"He wouldn't Mae more then a mouthful. Not when he's skin and bone." He assessed as he pushed me back with his giant ladle. The bulky one stopped me at knife point.
" Perhaps there are more Burglar Hobbits around these parts. Might be enough for a bite." He stared.
I was able to slip under the skinny one when they were trying to grab me. Only to caught at the legs by the one with the knife and hung upside down.
"Are there any more of you little fellas hidden where you shouldn't?" He asked.
"No." I said almost to quickly.
"He's lying." the skinny one said.
"No I'm not." I retorted.
"Hold his toes over the fire." The skinny laggy eyed Troll said to the others. "Make him squeal."
Before they could do anything, Kili came running through the bushes cutting at the back of the skinny Troll's knee; causing him to squeal Instead. Kili continued to attack the Troll's feet till it feel in pain.
"Drop him." Kili ordered.
"You what?" The big Troll asked.
"I said, drop him." Kili repeated.
The Troll complied by throwing me at Kili, causing us to fall when he caught me. But wall we were on the ground, the others appeared from the bushes, charging with weapons in hand; attacking the Trolls fiercely. We would of won if I hadn't gotten caught.
"Bilbo!" Kili shouted when he saw me held by my arms and legs by the two bulky ones.
"Lay down your arms." The one that held my right limbs commended."Or we'll rip his off." He threatened. Fear filled me as I looked to them, waiting for Thorin's decision.
He stabbed he's sword in the ground and the others followed his example.
The Dwarves shouted at the Trolls from the pile, yelling insults as they cooked the others on a spit over the fire.
"Don't bother cooking em. Let's just sit on em and squash them into jelly." The thin Troll spoke.
"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." The short 'chief' of the Trolls instructed.
"Oh- that does sound quite nice." The thin Troll agreed.
"Never mind the seasoning. We ain't got all night. Don't look nights far away, let's get a move on. I don't fancy turned to stone." The hulk of the Trolls spoke.
Then an idea struck me. I spoke.
"Wait!" I said to gain their attention. "You are making a terrible mistake."
"You can't reason with em, there half wits." Dori said to me from the spit. I rolled my sacked covered self on to my knees then hopped onto my feet.
"I meant with the seasoning." The cooking one stopped spinning and looked to me and asked.
"What about the seasoning?"
"We'll have you smelled them? Your going to need something stronger then sage before you plate this lot up." I said. Being called traitor in the process by Thorin.
"What do you know about cooking Dwarf?" Asked the one still spinning the spit.
"Shut up. Let the, uh, flerdeburger Hobbit talk." The stoutly Troll said, wanting to hear my 'ideas'.
"Uh, the-the secret to cooking Dwarf is, um." I paused in thought as the 'chief' tried to get me to tell them the 'secret'."It's uh-" I thought ounce more. "Ye-yes, I'm telling you. The secret is. To skin them first!" I said and received a flurry of shouts from all the Dwarves.
"Tom get me fillaty knife." The cook fanatic Troll said as the Dwarves threatened to hurt me in many ways when they got to me.
"What a loud of rwubbish." Said the largest. "I've eaten plenty with their skins on-" I didn't listen to the rest of his sentence as I saw a blur of Gandalf and Annabel in the bushes.
Before I could say anything to stop the Troll from eating Bombur. Cheshire came flying in the air with a hiss from the bushes behind the Troll trying to eat Bombur.
"AH! Get it off, get it off!" The skinny Troll said when he dropped Bombur onto the ground with a light chuck and began tying to swat him off.
"Cheshire!" I called in shock as I watched him claw at the flailing and screeching Troll as the others cheered him on.
"Stay still." Largest one said as he stopped turning the spit and walked to the other and tore Cheshire of him. He then looked at the grinning cat. "What you smiling at, uh? I take that smile off that face." He said as he opened his mouth wide about to bit of his head.
"No!" We all shouted as we heard the crunch of Cheshire's bones as the Troll tore of his head. Making a noise of displeasure as he spat out the dark blue furred cats head and threw his severed body over the fire and caused it to land in front of me. Dark blue blood flowed from in his bodies opening. All was silent as we stared stared at the body of the broken body of Cheshire the cat; Annabel's only pet that with her to Wonderland and came with her - and us - on the quest to reclaim a homeland. He was dead. I felt sick.
"Ah disgusting. Ah that's no cat. It's something else." Shouted the Troll.
"Fools?" One said.
"The dawn will take you all!" Shouted Gandalf as a light of the sun shun behind him.
"Who's that?"
"No idea."
"Can we eat him?"
Gandalf raised his staff and brought it down on the boulder and splitting it in half to show the light of the rising sun. The Trolls screamed and shouted in pain as they tried to run from the sun light. Only to turn to stone. A moment of silence fell till all the Dwarves cheered for the stones defeat.
After freeing are selves. I walked to Cheshire's body, head in hand. All watched as I placed his head where it should be; it looked like he was just sleeping, his not even gone in death.
"Oh dear."Gandalf said with Thorin beside him. I looked to him seeing no Annabel in sight.
"Where's Annabel?" I had to ask. She had to she this.
"Oh, yes." Gandalf turned to the split boulder where the light of the sun grew larger - to large for are sun - and some of the light was shaking? I also noticed some flexes of white light floating in the lower light. "You can stop with the light crystal Annabel. The sun is up and the Trolls are stone. Come out." Gandalf said.
The moving light disappeared - as did the unnatural intensity of the sun - and out came holdin one of her light crystals.
Annabel's POV:
I smiled to the shocked company as I appeared from the boulder. With a trigonal shaped, sunrise yellow crystal in hand. I looked up at the now stone - once living - Trolls. I looked to everyone, waving the crystal at them.
"Told you I had extras."
"But how did that do-" Bilbo pointed to the closes stoned Troll. "- that?"
"Easy. One of the reasons this light thing is called a Light Crystal is because it absorbs sunlight as its light source send then changes the lights color with its own color." Bilbo nodded in silent understanding before looking at something behind him with sadness. The others seemed to follow. "Bilbo what's wrong we won. Didn't we?"
"I'm so so sorry Annabel." Bilbo said with shame.
"We're sorry lassie." Said Balin as he looked to me.
"He fought to give us time. He fought like a warrior, with pride and honor." Thorin said solemnly as he looked to me. The others looked just as sad.
They moved to the sides to reveal a 'dead' Cheshire. I was confused.
"What's wrong?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"He's dead." Kili said.
"No he's not." I retorted calmly.
"Poor lass, she's in denial" Said Oin to some of the others, pity in his voice and eyes.
"No I'm not." I said. I was truly lost. "I'll show you." I walked past Bilbo and stood above Cheshire. "Cheshire the cat of the Devin House. You will stop this trickery at ounce." I picked up his head as everyone watched. I glared at his 'dead' face. I saw the right side of his mouth quirk up slightly. "I saw that stop- AH!" I shouted when Thorin gripped my arm tightly; sending Cheshire's head flying and into Bombur's hands.
Before Thorin could say anything though a deep smooth voice spoke.
"Boo." Then Bombur screamed as has he threw the head in the air, sending it felling to the ground.
But before it hit the ground with any kind of splat, it went into a poof of baby blue smoke. The smoke moved on the ground and to my cat friends - now sitting - body as the same deep voice chuckled a deep chuckle.
"You Dwarves are quite amusing." The same voice spoke smoothly.
Everyone watched as the smoke spun around where Cheshire's head ounce was for a moment, before it toke form of said smiling cats head; attached to body and all. He then spoke in his deep voice.
"What cat got your tongues." Cheshire asked. He looked to Bilbo. "What's wrong Bilbo? Hoping I was really dead." He spoke in a mocking tone like he normally does to the stunned Hobbit.
"You can talk?" Was all Bilbo could mutter.
"Have you always been able to talk?" Asked a baffled Ori.
"Yes." Was all Cheshire said.
"How aren't ye dead?" questioned Gloin.
"Because I have died many times before." The Wonderland Cat answered.
They all looked to me for confirmation. I simply nodded as my answer.
"Why did you never talk to me or any of use before." Bilbo inquired.
"Because I did not wish to. I only ever enjoyed talking to lady Annabel." Said Cheshire.
I then had a question that I thought needed answering.
"Can cats in Middle Earth not do what Cheshire can?" I asked.
"No!" Said the Dwarvies and Hobbit.
"Oh, what little logic your Middle Earth cats have." I said confused dejection.
Everyone but Cheshire sighed loudly.
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