LITTLE TALKS

Elvish will be in italics. I don't mind writing it but whenever I'm reading a story and the language changes, I always wish I knew what they were saying then and not at the end of the chapter.

Before I knew it I had spent two years with Belladonna and Bilbo. We had become as close as I remembered being with my parents, Bella really was a mother to me and insisted I call her Ma and Bilbo was the best big brother scaring off any Hobbit lads that took an interest in me.

And surprisingly they did, take an interest in me that was.

I couldn't believe my ears or eyes as I watched Bilbo scare off another Hobbit coming to ask for my hand.

"These bothersome fools," he hissed, closing the front door, shaking his head as he ran his hands through his curls. His eyes met mine then, and I was sure he could see the amusement hidden behind the wide eyes. "You look far too much like a hobbit, Fee." I didn't take it as an insult but I think Bilbo meant it as one. "It is not in a Hobbit to ask for a lady's hand in marriage if she is not of his race. Some believe you have Took blood in your line for you to fit in so well around here."

"Oh Bilbo, don't insult your sister," Ma said as she came in from the kitchen wiping her hands and giving him a fond smile. She turned to me, her smiling widening as she cupped my face in her hands. "You're brother doesn't lie though, love, you do look like a Hobbit lass and ever since your thirty-eighth birthday you've had more suitors than Theodelinda Proudfoot."

"Ma!" I whined, knowing how much Theodelinda hated me because - I quote from Suri Took, Bilbo's cousin and therefore my cousin and also my closest friend in the Shire - she was disgruntled that an outsider was prettier than her and taking the attention of all the Shire Lads. "You know I'm not interested in anyone."

"No, my sweet lass isn't good enough for any Shirefolk." Her eyes grew misty as she looked at me and I was almost afraid she was going to cry. "No my darling, I see a golden-haired lion in your future. One with a heart of gold and the soul of old."

Well, that made no sense.

"Thank you, Ma, but I don't think I'm ever going to get married," I told her, trying to keep in my laughter as Bilbo spluttered in the background.

"Married! No! My sister is not getting married!" he exclaimed, huffing out as he grabbed for his pipe and muttered insults under his breath.

"Just because you have sworn off marriage Bilbo Baggins does not mean your sister will too. There is a kind, brave man out there waiting for her and I will not have you getting in the way of their love and happiness!"

"Yeah Bilbo, not everyone wants to end up a bachelor like you."

"Wh-what? You said not a moment ago that you didn't want to get married," he muttered looking flabbergasted.

"No, I said I don't think I'd ever get married, not that I didn't want to get married."

For there was no love life for me in Middle Earth.

I had once believed I would fall in love, Professor Trelawney said there was a blond-haired man out there for me and at one point in my life I feared she was talking about Draco Malfoy. I lost that fear when I ended up here in Middle Earth and I was more than thankful for that.

"When the time comes, you'll find your one," Ma said and for some reason her words wouldn't leave me alone.

That night, as I lay in bed her words kept rolling around in my mind.

You'll find your one.

I wish I could find my one. What would happen if I missed my chance? If my one was in my old world and not in this one?

"You can't hurry love, Etheldred," I told myself as I turned and gazed out of the window and up at the stars.

I will find my one.

"Fee, come along, he'll find us!" Suri called, her auburn curls bouncing as she ran down the path, giggling as we bumped into Hamfest Gamgee and Holman Dewfoot.

"Evening ladies," Holman greeted, dipping his head down as Hamfest caught hold of my arm.

"Mistress Baggins, where are you going?"

"Oh." I shared a look with Suri, the both of us breaking out into laughter as we heard grumbling behind us. "We're running from Bilbo," I told him, seeing the top of my brother's head as he turned the corner. "I put some hiccuping powder in his tea."

Hamfest and Holman laughed, knowing how frustrated Bilbo got when he had the hiccups.

"You better run from your brother then, lass," Hamfest said, letting go of my arm as Bilbo caught sight of us.

"Etheldred! Suri! Come back here!"

Suri and I shared a look before bursting into laughter again and heading towards the market. Ma would be there with Suri's mother, Ma's sister, and they would stop Bilbo from bothering us.

"Auntie Donnamira! Quick, hide us," I called, shuffling to hide behind our mother's, the pair of us ducking down behind their stall.

"Etheldred Baggins, what have you done now?" Ma asked, her hands on her hips and a devilish smile on her lips.

"Should have given her the name Took," Aunt Donnamira said, her smile matching her sisters.

There could be no doubt that Belladonna and Donnamira were sisters, not only having similar names but also being identical twins. Their mannerisms were very similar too, the pair of them often getting up to mischief even in their age, as Ma would say.

Donnamira was such a Took like Ma. When Mira met her husband, Bero Oldbuck, he loved her the moment his eyes landed on her. He loved her so much, he took her name when they married because she wanted to keep her Took name.

"Should have been born a Took, you both look like a pair of Tookish twins to me," Donnamira went on, that twinkle in her eye she shared with Ma.

"Ethel, darling, Master Langham has requested some more of your Pepper-Up tea as he's still suffering from his cold."

"Of course, Ma, I'll go over in the morning and drop a jar of tea leaves round."

It came to no surprise to me that over the years I discovered that many of the potion ingredients I knew in my world were the same as many of the plants decorating Middle Earth. Well, many of the ingredients I needed to make the most common and less complex potions and I was able to convert many of them into tea leaves with the help of Lord Elrond.

"Make sure you do it before you leave for your journey," she reminded me, and I felt the excitement build as I was reminded that I would be venturing out to see my elven family tomorrow.

"I'll do it first thing, Ma," I promised, giving her a sweet smile as Bilbo came stomping passed, hiccupping as he went by.

Rivendell would always be my first and true home in Middle Earth and I knew it was because I spent the first twenty years of my life in this world here.

It was like I had grown as a child and matured into the adult I was here in this magical place.

It was here I completed my magical schooling and learnt a great deal about this new world I was in. I had discovered that learning the languages of Middle Earth was as if I was taking an Ancient Runes class and I wasn't afraid to admit that thanks to Hermione I was a pro at Ancient Runes.

"There you are sister, we have been looking for you," Elladan said as he scooped me into his arms and chucked me over to Elrohir.

"You won't be avoiding the party will you?" Elrohir said as he threw me back to Elladan.

"Why would I be avoiding the party?" I asked, waving my hand at the pair of them and smiling as they were hit with a stunning jinx.

"Because a fine Prince is waiting to see how you have improved in your archery skills and I know you haven't been practising since entering The Shire," Elrohir said, giving me a teasing smile as they both took my arms and pulled me in the direction of the party.

"Just because I haven't been practising doesn't mean I don't remember how to shoot," I snapped at them both, becoming startled as they guided me toward the archery range where Legolas was waiting, my bow in his hands.

"Trying to hide from me, Aithne?" Legolas asked, giving me a pointed look as he handed me my bow. I smiled at the nickname, a fond memory of Legolas catching me setting a fire to prank the twins. I had learned from my brothers that Aithne meant fire which they said could also be fitting because of my flaming hair.

"No not hiding, my Prince, just admiring my time here before I head back to The Shire."

It had been a long time since I had seen Bilbo and Ma. Nearly two months in Rivendell and I was already missing them. Perhaps I had been lying when I said Rivendell was my true home. For me, home was where the people I loved were.

I had a home here in Rivendell with my elvish family and a home in The Shire with my Hobbit family.

"You miss your mother and brother," he said, clearly able to read my thoughts.

"I do," I admitted, notching the arrow and aiming at the target. As expected - I had been trained by the best, though I would never tell the twins that - I hit the target. "I miss my Ma and Bilbo very much. I think I will return in the morning."

"I had a feeling you would be leaving tomorrow. By teleportation?" Elladan said, an uncomfortable look on his face. He probably didn't forget the first and only time I ever apparated with him.

"It is the quickest and safest way to get home, Elladan, you know that."

"I'd rather you travel your magical way then leave you to roam the wilds alone," Elrohir said in answer to his brother. "Come now, Little One, show Legolas how well you remember to swing a blade.

I wasn't too bad at swordplay, but my true skill lay with the bow and I wasn't too bad at throwing knives as I used my magic to guide them.

"Perhaps one day you will visit me in the Woodland Realm?" Legolas asked as he handed me back more throwing knives after he collected them.

"Hey, just because you are a prince does not mean you get to invite our baby sister to visit you." The twins both shouted, reminding me of my favourite pair of red-headed twins.

My smile faded when I remembered that Fred had died during the battle at Hogwarts.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Aithne," Legolas said, as he noted the drop of my smile.

"It is not you, Legolas, but memories that upset me. I would love to visit you in your homeland realm, I would love to see Tauriel again too."

"Tauriel misses you too. She hasn't stopped talking about you since she met you ten years ago."

"Has it really been ten years since I last saw her?" I asked, feeling strange that so much time had passed but it felt like I had last seen her a few months ago. Arwen mentioned that time would soon pass by and the years would mix together feeling like nothing.

That was a life I was left to live with my eternal soul.

I do not know how long I could survive in this world before becoming depressed at the passing of time and the loss of loved ones.

"Feels like a blink of an eye to an elf," Legolas reminded me.

Yes. It was but a blink of an eye for elves.

"I will write to you soon, my prince," I told him, giving him a departing bow before leaving, following the flower path up to my chambers.

I wasn't surprised to find my father waiting for me by my door.

"Hello Papa," I greeted, accepting the kiss he placed upon my forehead.

I had never thought I could have replaced my parents after their death, Mr and Mrs Weasley were a good substitute but they never truly felt like my parents but ever since I stepped foot into Middle Earth and had been welcomed by Lord Elrond and then later Belladonna, I knew they were at a similar standing to my birth parents.

"Your brothers inform me of your leaving on the morrow," he said and we both shared a smile at the pair of them trying to get me into trouble. "I do hope you write to us more often, my daughter. Arwen did not spend weeks training Egil for you to forget how to use him."

"I know Papa, she scolds me every time she sends a letter." I gave him a parting hug before leaving him and wishing him a good night.

Come the morning I would be back in The Shire with Ma and Bilbo.