Seven: Dwarven Contracts & Protective Fathers
Bella had gone to the market getting more food than normal and that was surprising to many of the Hobbits. But also making many of the Hobbits whisper behind their hands. She was able to meet Drogo and had sent him with a note over to Took borough with a note for her Papa letting him know of the upcoming visit.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Prim had asked her, and she had come and kept her company as she walked the market.
"Yes, Prim, it's Gandalf and you have to remember Ori." Bella said. "Plus, keep in mind we have a Dwarven Uncle."
"I know but Uncle Garor is not dangerous,"
"I am not saying the Dwarves would be bad, I'm not Lobelia, what I am trying to say is we don't know what Gandalf has planned. The stories are that every time he came…"
"Mother left with him to an adventure." Bella finished. "I go on adventures all the time Prim, I just returned last year."
"I know." Primula knew that her cousin would go on adventures, Uncle Bungo had become really accustom to the changes. They didn't tell Bella that Bungo had to defend her constantly from scornful tongues. How some Hobbits would say that it would be better that Bella did not return or that she would return shamed.
"Come Prim, it will not be as bad."
"Well let's help with the food than, Uncle Garor said that we should do more meats."
"That's the spirit." Bella said with a smile.
Prim had left hours and Bella didn't know what time they had planned to come, but this wouldn't help with the whispers. She had sat down in the living room reading a book.
"They are late." Sherlock told her.
"Yes, they are." Bella said. "Though Gandalf didn't mention, when they would come in."
"I still think he shouldn't have defaced your door." Sherlock told her.
"True, Papa will not be happy about that one, we can let him tear Gandalf a new one." Bella told him with a smile. The knock on the door surprised them both. Bella got up once it happens once more.
Dwalin stood outside being on the first to come to have eyes on their host. He wanted to see, what treatment they should expect. When the door opened the woman that stood there surprised him.
"Hello." She told him with a soft smile.
"Hello?"
"Hmm... well there is but I do suggest you tell me your name and if you are involved with Gandalf."
"Yes, the wizard is coming." He told her. "Dwalin at your service."
"Belladonna Baggins at yours." She said.
"Is your husband in to do business?" he asked.
"No, my Father is with my Grandpappy, come inside Mr. Dwarf and put your cloak and boot at the door." She said. Dwalin was surprised the lass would give her back to him so easily. There was also something about her that seem odd. He walked into the dinning room and was in shock. He had not seen so much food.
"I have to admit Gandalf did not inform me, how many of you would come so I went with rule of thumb." She told him.
"Thirteen." Dwalin was able to say.
"Well eat some snacks waiting for them." Bella said. There was a knock on the door and Bella went to open it leaving Dwalin on the dinning room.
"Balin at your service." The old Dwarf told her.
"Belladonna at yours." Bella said.
"Am I late." He asked coming in.
"No, I believe Master Dwalin has just arrived." She said. As the brothers were giving their greetings Bella was given the low-down.
'Brothers the oldest is a scholar, I would say advisor, the second is a warrior, works as a guard, I would say it's a captain.' Sherlock informed her. The door rang once more, and Bella went to answer it.
"What do you make of the lass?" Dwalin asked Balin.
"Is she alone?"
"Yes, the Father is visiting family, what is the wizard thinking."
"I don't know, but Thorin will not be too happy."
Bella stood at the door and saw two young ones.
"Fili and Kili at your service." They told her in unison and she had to smile at bit.
"Hello Belladonna at yours. Now I believe Balin and Dwalin are inside you must be part of the group." The boys were about to push their way inside but couldn't move the door and inch.
"I would suggest removing your boots and weapons just like your other companions." Bella said with a smile before opening the door a bit wider. Fili and Kili got the impression of their mother and grandmother.
"Now I did have food made and you are welcome to it as long as it is the one in this dinning room." Bella said.
"We will lass." Balin said, that's when the next ring came.
Bella opened the door to see the dwarves falling and behind them.
"Gandalf." She said with a smile.
"Bella." Gandalf said with a smile. Bella looked and noticed someone.
"Ori?" she said. Ori stood up and saw Bella.
"Bella." Ori said with smile and hugging the Hobbit woman. The rest of the dwarves were surprised.
"You know young Ori." Gandalf asked.
"Yes, she was the one Talion and I helped."
"I did hear from Hunter of that endeavor." Gandalf said.
"Come there's dinner." Bella said with a smile.
"Is your Father in."
"He is still with my Grandfather." Bella said with a smile. The Dwarves were eating, and Sherlock let her know that there was still a dwarf missing. She separated some food for him. She avoided beautifully the questions they had about her safe from Ori and let Ori tell them. Balin was looking at Bella and had to admit there was something about her. They were roughly, and Bella was surprised it was almost like having a Hobbit party. When she almost had a heart, attack was when they began to clean up.
"Don't blunt them." She said.
"Do you hear that boys, she said don't blunt them." The one with the hat said and a song began about her. She had to keep Sherlock incredibly still before he attacked someone. When they finished cleaning the dishes, she almost had a headache from the fact that Sherlock was tearing many of the Dwarves apart verbally. The knock on the door made everyone go silent.
"He's here." Gandalf said.
'No of course the Dwarf is here, who do we expect Mycroft?' Sherlock snapped. Gandalf opened the door.
"Gandalf, I thought you said this place would be easy to find..." Thorin said coming inside. "I lost my place twice if it wasn't for that mark at the door."
"How do you get lost in a place with two roads." Sherlock inquired. Bella tried not to smile at that.
"Bella, I want you to meet the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf said. Bella turned to the Dwarf and they looked at each other. "Thorin, Ms. Belladonna Baggins."
"So, this is the Hobbit." Thorin said, there was a tone in his voice that Bella didn't like almost an undertone that said, 'punch me in the face'. He began to circle her like a predator that made her own back stand up military style and her gaze turn cold. Unfortunately for Thorin he did not notice, but Dwalin and Balin did, Ori had noticed before that Bella would get an odd look on her face.
"Tell me Ms. Baggins have you done much fighting."
"Yes, far too much." Bella replied surprising Thorin.
"Axe or Sword, what is your weapon of choice." He said.
"Depends on the situation, I am also good at Conkers, but I don't know why it would be relevant." Bella said.
"Thought at much…she looks more like a bar maid than a burglar…" Thorin was surprised when he suffered a push out of nowhere.
"You seem more like a scoundrel than a leader, but I would seem a bad host if I didn't offer you food." Bella said moving away from them.
"What was that?" Thorin asked. "Did your burglar attack me."
"No, I would watch my tongue with Ms. Baggins, her home has ear everywhere." Gandalf said.
Bella let the Dwarf eat and it was only her curiosity that stopped her from kicking him out of her home.
"That rude git." Bella whispered. They began talking about the real business that brought them to her home. Sherlock was listening in for her.
'They speak of their brother in the Iron Hills and Ered Luin, whatever quest they will not be helped.' Sherlock informed her.
"So what quest is this?" Bella asked.
"Bella dear please bring in lighter." Gandalf said, and Bella moved throwing a look at Sherlock to stay and see what the business was. When she came back, she read the name.
"The Lonely Mountain."
"Aye, Oin has read the portents and the portents say that it is time." That got a reaction from many of the dwarves. Bella left them to speak their business when she heard about a beast.
"What beast?"
"That would be a reference to Smaug the terrible, chiefest of all calamity of our edge."
"You can stop now Master Bofur, I know what a Dragon is." Bella said, these dwarves couldn't be serious. They began to speak questioning Gandalf about killing dragons and asking Bella if she was a burglar.
"The wild is no place for someone weak that could not fight." Dwalin said after his brother mentioned she didn't look burglar material. Gandalf stood up with their scare tactics.
"If I say Bella Baggins is buglar material she is." He said surprising the dwarves. After they gave her the contract surprising Bella as she began to read. Sherlock stayed by Gandalf side and heard the words.
"I will not be responsible for her safety." Thorin said.
"Understood." Gandalf said.
"Nor will I be responsible for her fate." He didn't notice Sherlock looking at him as Bella began to read the funeral arrangements. They didn't notice when the door to Bag end opened and Bungo came inside.
"Incineration, Evisceration…" Bofur began to explain Smaug and Bella just looked at him. When she heard someone fall and looked up.
"Papa!" she exclaimed and ran toward her Father.
"Gandalf, help me with Father." Bella said. "Sherlock the door to the study will you." The Dwarves looked at each other, Ori was surprised, she had heard the name before but just saw the door open to the study.
"Great going is that, how dwarves get people to go on quest?" Bella snapped at Gandalf.
"Well that went well."
"Did you see the door open by itself." Kili mentioned to Fili.
"Why didn't you mention she or her father was an Old Soul?" Balin asked Ori.
"I didn't know." Ori said. That went through all the Dwarves, they knew of Old Souls their ancestor Durin had a wife that was an Old Soul.
#
Bungo was standing and he was not too happy.
"They want to take my daughter to face a dragon." Bungo said.
"Well that is the plan." Bella said.
"Of all the things, don't think I don't know you are the one to put the mark on my door Gandalf." Bungo said.
"Bungo, my friend..."
"No, I already know my daughters answer, you heard the song just as I did." Bungo said, he had to admit that the song had broken his heart and would get his soft-hearted daughter. "She will go on the quest."
"Papa." Bella said touching his hand.
"Master Baggins, I can say that your daughter coming with us…" Balin stopped seeing the look on the older Baggins face.
"If my daughter is indeed going with your group, then I demand to see the contract and make adjustments to it."
"Adjustments!" Dwalin said a little too loud.
"Yes, Master Dwarf adjustments…I want my daughter back home after this quest and I do not wish to be rude, but I know your leader will not be responsible for her safety or her fate." Bungo repeated the words Thorin had just used and it was pure pride that caused him not to blush. "Now Master Balin, please come with me as I believe you wrote the contract and I feel you can help."
#
It took a few hours before Bungo was really satisfied with the changes made and Balin was surprised to see that he was reasonable and very versatile in making treaties.
"I think this should satisfy all of us." Bungo said.
"It will indeed." Balin told him.
Bella signed the contract trusting her Dad and Sherlock to have done the correct thing.
"Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshiled."
