HEAL

The saddest thing about loving people and growing to have them as family was when someone unexpectedly died.

It had started off as a cold, the odd sniffle here and there and then it was a fever that couldn't be broken. Ma had suffered for five weeks before she gave into her pain.

Bilbo was heartbroken and I felt a fraud to be sharing in his anguish.

I felt hopeless the whole time.

None of my teas were helping her and the healing spells I knew couldn't help her.

I even went as far as sending Egil to Papa to ask for him to help but by the time he sent Arwen to help, it was too late.

"I cannot believe him!" I snapped glaring at the door as I slammed it behind me.

Arwen and Suri both looked amused though they tried their best to hide their smiles.

"What is it, Effie?" Bilbo asked, coming out of the kitchen with a steaming cup of tea for Arwen.

"That god forsaken Otho Sackville-Baggins is trying to get my hand for his imbecile of a son Rotho," I spat, kicking off my shoes and glaring as Bilbo let out a snort of laughter. "It has been two weeks since Ma passed and he thinks I'm weak Bilbo. He thinks I will agree due to my grief."

"People have been known to do crazy things in their grief," Suri said, her hand resting on her swollen belly. One of the great things to come out of the last four years was Suri's marriage to Hamfest.

I was sad that my Ma had gone but Suri's firstborn bairn would soon be here and that was a highlight. It was why Arwen had stayed after Ma's funeral. Suri wanted the elf here to help with the birth of her child.

"Yes and I will be known to all in The Shire to murder!"

"Right, you," Bilbo said, grabbing hold of my shoulders and guiding me to the kitchen where a plate of warm cheese scones waited. "You seem a tad bit hungry to me, eat up and you'll soon feel better."

"I am not a hobbit, Bilbo. Food is not a comfort to me," I said, reluctantly stuffing my face with the cheese scones, glaring at my brother because he knew me so well. He knew I had a weakness for cheese scones.

"I will talk to Otho in the morning and warn him off you, Fee. He'll thank me once I remind him that you consort with elves and have magic. It will scare him."

"Oh thanks, Bilbo, just spread evil rumours about me."

"You're not evil and everyone in The Shire loves you so why should it matter if Otho and Lobelia hate you, they hate me too and it's because we are Baggins' of Bag End."

"That's true." I knew Otho only wanted me to marry Rotho due to me being a Baggins. Even if I was adopted into the family, I had more right to the family title and money than he did.

A month later we bade Arwen a farewell as she returned to Rivendell after the birth of Hamson Gamgee.

The little lad was a spit of his mother although I could see his father in him when he scrunched his nose in anger or sadness.

"Fee," Suri said softly, her eyes on her week old babe as I sat next to her, sorting through my inventory book for the stall I had taken over when Ma passed.

"Yes, Suri," I muttered, not looking up from my book as she shifted on her bed.

"If anything was to happen to me you would take Hamson on as your own, right?"

That caused me to look up.

"Nothing is going to happen to you Suri," I said to her, dropping my book and taking her hand in mine. "You are young and Arwen said you're healthy after the birth. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"I know, but I mean in the future. If I have more bairns and something happens to me. Or something was to happen to Hamfest and it drove my mind mad, you would care for our children as if they were your own, right?"

"You know I would, Suri. You are my cousin and I would take on any of your children if you left this world."

"I know, I just needed to hear you say it."

"Why do you ask, Suri? What made you think of this?"

"I had a dream." That was never a good thing I had learnt. "Something awful happened to The Shire and I knew it would harm my children."

"I would never let any harm come to your young ones, Suri. I promise you."

I knew something had happened to The Shire in the future. Hermione had been furious when she first read the books and she had been crying in the Common Room. Gin was worried about her, thinking something had happened in class but she had soon left me alone with Hermione when the know-it-all started explaining.

Something dark had taken over The Shire, something I knew I was here to prevent.

The years went by with much merriment in The Shire.

Suri and Hamfest welcomed two other fauntlings into their family, Halfred and Daisy and were soon to welcome their fourth, any day now if I was correct.

Bilbo, well Bilbo over the years turned into a true Baggins and forgot that he had part Took running through his blood. Ma would be turning in her grave at the lack of adventure he desired.

I would have been disappointed in my brother if I didn't know he was due for an adventure some time in the next couple of years.

I didn't know when. I could hardly remember the dates but at least I could remember some of the facts of the book.

If I could convince Gandalf to take me along with them I could protect Bilbo from some of the worst.

"Good morning, Bilbo," I greeted, placing his breakfast in front of him as he joined me in the kitchen.

"Morning, Effie," he greeted me using one of his preferred nicknames for me.

Over the years, I learnt that Etheldred was saved for his anger. Ethel when he was being the elder sibling and scolding me. Effie for everyday and Fee when he was truly concerned.

And I always called him Bilbo.

There were many tones to his name. All of them he understood and went well with my facial expressions. Something, according to Bilbo I had learnt from Ma.

"What do you—" I was cut off by a banging on the door.

Sharing a curious look with Bilbo before I rose from the table as the banging continued.

OPening the door, I was surprised to find Hamfest there, out of breath and red-faced.

"Hamfest?"

"Suri's labouring," he huffed out, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Oh." I spun on my heel, grabbed my medical bag I had prepared for this day and gave Bilbo a rushed wave and left our home to his muttering of missing breakfast.

Hours later, as the sun set, I was wiping Suri's brow as a few other Hobbit lasses helped in the birthing room.

A Hobbit's birthing room was for family only so amongst us was Donnamira, Suri's cousins Marigold, Lilly, and Poppy as well as their mother, Willow.

"Nearly there, Suri," I whispered to her, running my fingers through her hair as she panted through her pain. "Only a few more pushes and then your bairn will be here."

"Tell Hamfest no more after this one," she said and I couldn't help but smile because I knew she would give Hamfest as many children as he wished.

"I have been doing this for hours," she cried, shifting in bed as another contraction washed over her. "None of the others were like this."

"And I tell you every time that labour is different with every child."

"It's time to push, my darling," Donnamira said, as she glanced up from between Suri's legs. "Bear down for me."

"You hear that, Suri, it's time."

Suri grabbed hold of my hands and clutched onto Poppy's as she beared down and screamed out in pain.

This was her hardest labour, none of the others were like this and I knew if she was to have another child, it would be a couple of years at least.

"You can do this, Suri, come on," I encouraged, sharing a look with Donnamira as she nodded encouragingly.

And with a final push, Suri's scream was joined by that of a crying babe.

The Gamgee's welcomed another daughter into their family. Little May who had a cute little button nose and tiny fluff on her feet.

I was quite smitten with the little lass. Her golden hair was like the sun catching red in the fire light and I knew she would have her mother's blue eyes, just like her siblings.

"Do you need me to walk you home, Fee?" Hamfest asked, as he smiled at his wife as proud as he could be.

"No, I'll be fine to walk home, Hamfest. The night is a cool one and I wouldn't mind admiring the stars tonight."

"I'll see you in the morning, dear," Donnamira said, placing a kiss on my head as she helped me with my coat and handed me my medical bag. "Don't be out too late, Ethel."

"Of course, Auntie."

As I stepped out into the night, I glanced up at the stars, smiling as they reminded me of my old home.

The names here were different but they were the same constellations I had learnt at Hogwarts. Even gazing upon Draco calmed me.

Taking in a deep breath, I walked out of the Gamgee garden, closing the gate behind me as I made my way back to Bag End. It had been a long day and all I wanted was a nice warm bath and a well-cooked meal.

I could smell rain in the air as the flowers' scents were stronger and there was a hint of salt hanging around. It was relaxing and reminded me of the Black Lake at Hogwarts. If I closed my eyes now I could just imagine sitting by the lake with my friends as we laughed away in the sun.

I missed them so much and I had to hold back a cry as I feared that I was forgetting them.

As the years went by, as my family and time in Middle Earth grew I was thinking less and less of my family back in my old world. It was as if they were just memories from a dream.

Taking in another deep breath, I opened my eyes and wasn't surprised to find myself standing outside Bag End.

Walking up the little path towards home, I almost missed the glowing rune on the door as my hand reached the doorknob.

"That's strange," I muttered, running my finger over the rune trying to remember what one it was.

There were so many different languages here in Middle Earth and trying to remember which rune belonged to each language was more difficult than speaking the language.

"Bilbo!" I called out, opening the door and becoming shocked by the state of our house.

There were weapons and coats littering the hallway and chatter coming from somewhere deeper in the Hobbit hole.

"Weapons," I whispered, waiting for something to click. "Wait."

Weapons. Rune on the door. Guests at Bag End.

"Dwarves."

There were dwarves in our home.

And by the sound of things they were having a hell of a time.

Dropping my medical bag on the floor, I slowly walked down the hallway until I came upon a group of dwarves burping and laughing.

Gazing upon them I almost felt faint by the stinging in my nose and behind my eyes.

This was it.

This was what I had been waiting for.

Goosebumps rose upon my arms and the back of my neck as I took in the jolly bunch as if they were celebrating a birthday and not about to venture on a dangerous quest.

It was when one young dwarf finished burping that Bilbo noticed me.

"Ethel!" he called out, rushing towards me, fear on his face.

Bilbo reached me the same time the dwarves managed to set their eyes upon me.

"Hello," I muttered, feeling put off by all the stares. I shifted awkwardly on my spot before turning to Bilbo. "You didn't tell me we were having guests," I said to him quietly, knowing he didn't invite them.

"I didn't invite them," my brother muttered just as quietly glaring at the group as if they had broken into the house to kill him.

"You're covered in blood," a soft voice said which made my stomach flip and tingle. "Are you hurt?"

Glancing down at my soiled dress, I realised that I was indeed covered in blood from Suri's labouring.

"Oh, no, umm I helped labour a bairn," I whispered, looking up and catching the concerned eyes of a blond-haired, blue-eyed marvel. If I wasn't so flustered all ready he would have caused me to become so with the intensity of his stare.

The dwarf I locked eyes with was handsome, something I didn't think dwarves could be, not after listening to Legolas complain about them for years. But this dwarf, there was something about him.

And I was extremely attracted to the two braids dangling from his moustache.

"Ah, you never told us you have a wife, Mister Baggins," an older dwarf with a brilliant white beard said from somewhere at the table.

"Blood hell. No! Absolutely not!" I screeched, looking at Bilbo in disgust as I glared at the elder dwarf. "Bilbo is my brother!"

I don't think I could have announced my disgust any better.

"Aye, lass, Balin, at your service," he said, dipping his head in greeting which was quickly followed by names flying over my head.

"Fili, at your service." My eyes snapped to Fili and I felt my face heat up by the intensity of his stare.

"Oh, umm Etheldred at yours, but please, call me Ethel," I introduced myself, dipping down in a curtsy to them all before spotting a very familiar grey wizard hidden amongst the dwarves. "Gandalf."

"Good evening, Etheldred, you are looking well," he greeted, a twinkle in his eyes.

"She's covered in blood," the dark-haired dwarf sitting next to Fili said, not so quietly. I could remember his name. Kili. Hermione had been fond of the brothers Fili and Kili and I could see why. "How can she look well?"

"You are right, Kili," I said, startling the dwarf and gave him a soft smile as his panicked eyes landed on me. "I should change. And then I will join you."

"That seems ideal, lass," Balin said and I felt like he had just given me permission to change in my own home.

"I will plate you some food, Fee," Bilbo promised and I could tell he knew I hadn't eaten much today while tending to Suri.

"Thank you, Bilbo."

Thank you for reading xx