Chapter 7 What?
Frodo sat at the kitchen table, rolling an apple around the smooth wood, lost in thought as his eyes remained glued to the doorway. Without looking at his nephew, Bilbo knew he was more than curious about the new arrival who had yet to wake up even though it was nearing lunch. He knew from experience how exhausting traveling across the land could be and therefore didn't worry about her. At least not yet. If she hadn't moved by evening then he would go wake her; if only to give her food and drink.
"Are you going to eat that, lad? Or just bruise it up?"
Blue eyes blinked at the older hobbit as Frodo's mind came back to the present. "Where is the robin?"
"Unless Daemyn has moved, still perched outside Miss Maliah's window just in case."
"Of what?"
Bilbo gave a smile and sat across from Frodo, settling a teapot between them. "She made it almost all the way across Middle Earth, in a very short span of time, without being caught. I can only imagine the state her mother must be in right now; I only hope she hasn't hurt anyone for broke anything during that time."
He tilted his head at his Uncle. "Is this the same Queen you went on adventures with when you were younger?"
Chuckles fell from the once burglar. "Only one adventure lad, although it was a great one. Did I ever tell you of the time she…" His words were cut short at a thud sounding down the hallway. For a moment, neither moved and they waited for another sound of life from their guest. Another thump was heard and this time was accompanied with a picture on the wall shaking.
"I believe she's running into walls Uncle."
He was more than likely right, but Bilbo didn't stand to help his guest in her unfamiliar territory immediately after Frodo's words or even at the next thud. And he didn't have to as the young hobbit across from him was on his feet and peering around the edge of the doorway. Then he was gone. Bilbo sat patiently, pouring tea into the two cups he had set on the table, and less than a minute later Frodo reappeared with a hand on the Princess's elbow. A smile quirked at his lips at the sight of Maliah half sleep walking into the kitchen, her eyes barely open.
"Give her a seat before she falls over, Frodo."
With a bit of stumbling, she made it to the long bench and all but sprawled herself onto the table. Bilbo was quick to secure his mother's china and hot kettle from Maliah's elbow and forearm. Muttered words were barely heard from underneath the tangled mess he dared call hair and both he and Frodo leaned in closer.
"Pardon?"
"How did you survive your journey?"
The question was barely audible and comprehensible, but their sharp ears heard what was said and Bilbo couldn't help but chuckle as he sat back into his seat and pushed his cup of tea to his guest and another to his nephew. "For one, I didn't cross Middle Earth as fast as you have just done. Secondly, I had constant companions and adventures."
"I had adventures." Her hand snuck to the fine cup and slowly slid it to her by the saucer.
"Stories you should probably save for your mother, who I have no doubt is on her way."
Maliah jerked up, her sleepy eyes now wide and focused on Bilbo. "No! I can't go back, I don't belong there."
A curious brow rose and the two family members exchanged looks. True, Frodo knew little about the dwarf family his Uncle favorited, but a reaction such as this seemed unusual. He watched as she looked about the room, her head coming around to his direction and her eyes flitting every which way. Cooper brown eyes skidded to a stop when they met his blue ones and Frodo's head tilted to the side at her expression. It was almost like awe which shone on her face and a bit of disbelief. Confused, he looked to his Uncle who was peering at the young princess oddly.
"I do believe your creator may have a sense of humor. And quite possible ours."
"Uncle?"
Bilbo sighed and leaned back heavily in his chair, suddenly feeling his years more so now at the intrusion of the little dwarrow into his plans. Nothing could be done though, not if he was right. "She may have just experienced an event only a small portion of her race has been able to feel."
Frodo was beginning to feel nervous, especially at her unblinking stare. "And what is that?"
"Miss Maliah has found her One, the being who completes her. In you."
"What?"
"WHAT?!"
Tauriel moved to the left to avoid a chair thrown to the wall. The violent act appeared to come from nowhere as her friend had just been sitting in her sitting room staring off into space. Disbelief and anger claimed Râlia's face and the elf watched as the Queen picked up an ornament and threw it against the other wall. "Did something happen?"
"A hobbit? Of all the people in this world he chose the fucking hobbit," glass shattered against the stone floor, "who is has a specific role in the next…" Râlia froze, a small axe ready to maim an innocent chair. "You son of a bitch!" A savage scream tore through the room and the axe embedded itself into the chair. Streams of Khuzdul fell from her lips and the elf was left behind in the one-sided conversation since she didn't know what was being said, other than the name calling she had picked up.
Tauriel was now more than a little worried and looked behind her to see Melli standing in the doorway, looking in the general direction of the Queen. The blind dwarf moved into the room completely and shut the door, leaving the bolt off.
"Did you give her bad news?"
"Wasn't me, no one has been in here. I wonder if her robin found Maliah."
The two stood together, listening and watching for their friend to wind down from her aggression. Unsure of how much time had passed, both were relieved when all noise stopped and Râlia fell to her knees.
"Why?"
The grief-stricken word was like a slap and both females moved closer, Tauriel being the first to speak.
"What has happened?"
A sniffle was the first answer. "My baby, my Maliah, not even an adult yet, was introduced to her One. Bilbo's nephew, Frodo."
"Daemyn was waiting at the shire then."
Râlia nodded, her braids falling over her shoulders. "She's only 42, almost 43. 20 years from being completely of age. How am I supposed to take her home now?"
Silence fell around them as the two had no idea what to say in this situation. They only sat on the ground next to their friend, avoiding the glass and hugged her from both sides. After a time, Tauriel asked a question.
"Who were you calling names before?"
"Mahal. He took away all my knowledge of what was going to happen in the future for Middle Earth that I knew."
Again, neither had a reply of something that could comfort her.
"Perhaps, for now, it would be a good idea to let her live there. Frodo lives with Bilbo and he is a hobbit of good reputation, he won't allow anything to happen while in his home. If it would make you feel better, send dwarf to be her companion or have one of the soldiers in the caravan stay with her."
Râlia said nothing, only stood after a half minute and shook out her dress. "I need to talk to Fili." Using the remark as a dismissal, she left the room and her two friends behind.
Helping Melli to her feet, Tauriel looked to the doorway where the Queen had left. "I don't know what we should do."
Melli snorted a laugh. "Forever the Elf. We will leave her alone to talk to Fili and be there when she needs to speak us. Now help me to the main floor where the war hall is, Flori wanted some more instruction on knife throwing and Nori is busy. I figured you could spare some time to help her out."
"Of course." Tauriel led Melli from the room by way of her hand on the left shoulder and Melli's walking stick finding walls and bumps on the floor. "What do you think will happen to your creator when she meets him by the time Râlia's life is over?"
Laughter filled the hall. "I'm not sure, but I can only hope I am there to witness whatever she does to him."
Frodo didn't deny there was a spark when he met eyes with her in the doorway last night, but he assumed it was from meeting a female of her race for the first time. But hearing this news, he wasn't sure what to think. From Bilbo's teachings, Frodo knew what happened when dwarves met their Ones and it was a bit different than hobbits. For dwarves it was instant, but for hobbits it was a bit slower; like an instant friendship and connection to their One. It must have been what he felt last night and staring back at the dwarf princess now, he couldn't deny the feelings in him that were reserved for his closest friends and Bilbo.
"How?"
"How what, Frodo? How could you be meant for one another when you are of two different races?" Bilbo grabbed a plate of bread and fruit from the counter behind him and nudged it towards Maliah. "We aren't all that different, even though it is told dwarves have no relation to any of the races in Middle Earth." He watched as his nephew sat down at the table and handed Maliah a piece of fruit which she obediently took. "Since the ratio of males to females is so unbalanced with Dwarves, it surprises me Aulë would do such an act. You two are simply meant for to be together. However, I do recommend you don't make an appearance when the dwarf caravan arrives next month."
At that moment, Daemyn swooped into the kitchen seemingly from nowhere and shrilled in Frodo's face. The young hobbit was taken aback, eyes wide as he appeared to be getting a lecture from Erebor's feathered messenger. It didn't last long as swift hands came from behind the robin and gently snatched him from the air. Bilbo and Frodo looked at Maliah who was carefully cradled the bird and had started a staring contest with him. Both exchanged looks of confused curiosity before returning their attention them.
"I'm not going back, Mama. I know now why I left and why I felt the need to come to the Shire. Please don't be angry with anyone." The robin seemed to droop in defeat, more than likely conveying his mistress's feelings. She transferred Daemyn to one hand and stroked his head with a finger. "I'm sorry." The avian ruffled its feathers after those two words and took off in a flurry of wings.
The three watched as the robin disappeared down a hallway and Maliah's attention returned to the chocolate haired hobbit who was her One. Not seconds later, feeling her gaze upon him, Frodo returned her odd stare. And there they sat, across from Bilbo, observing the other. The old hobbit would say one thing, the princess did inherit a decent portion of her mother's looks which peeked out from the dwarf body structure Maliah was partially born with. The same heart shaped face and eyes, although the brown color came from another member of the family. The braided blonde hair seemed to had a red tint when sun hit it, the same as Râlia, and Bilbo could see it now with the sunlight coming in through the window. With a sigh, he took a sip of his tea and contemplated the young couple across from him. What was he to do now? Hopefully, Maliah didn't take after her mother in too many of the personality aspects. He didn't want to have to explain to the slightly volatile Queen that her daughter was no longer a maiden whenever Râlia would arrive. Assumptions were the only things he could do in this situation, and the result of those was a troupe of guards staying in his home during the required year courtship for Dwarves.
With another sigh, he took a bite of bread and contemplated whose door he should put a bolt on.
Back in Erebor, Tauriel and Melli found their friend in the arms of her husband, in his study, leaning defeated against his chest.
"What happened?"
"Daemyn relayed a message from Maliah. She found her One in Bilbo's nephew and refuses to return."
Fili's voice had a hollow quality to the tone and silence filled the room since everyone knew the same outcome. Unless Frodo was to come to Erebor, Maliah would stay in the Shire as it was unthinkable to separate two soulmates.
Not going to lie, a fair amount of this was written while I was half asleep. such a difficult thing to come by these days. Let me know what you thought.