Disclaimer- None of the characters are mine except for Camellia, not even Pippin. *sigh* Thank you to my faithful reviewers Abby, LoTR Fanatic, Megan and anyone else who I accidentally didn't type here.

Down The Hobbit Hole

Chapter Four- Wake-Up Call

A light tapping noise awoke Camellia with a start. Her green eyes widened with fear as she leapt off of the comfortable bed and onto the hard wooden floor on the far side of it.

"Who is it? Who is there?" She asked, voice quavering with the fear that was building inside of her.

The door slowly creaked open and she cowered behind the bed with heads covering her head full of golden brown curls. Tears of fright began to stream down her face.

"Ella its me Pippin! Where are you? I can hear you but I cannot see thee." He whispered questioningly into the semi-darkness.

Camellia sighed with relief ,scrambling to her feet while brushing the tears that she had shed from her face. "I am here." She said feeling rather foolish as she saw the look of confusion on Pippin's face thanks to the faint light of the sun that's light was just beginning to peer over the horizon and through the fair sized round window.

"What in middle-earth were you doing hiding behind the bed instead of sleeping in it?" He asked rather amused by her actions.

"I….um…well….was scared by the noise. Now I suppose it was only you tapping lightly on my door. You see I live on my own with my dog so I am not used to early morning visitors." Ella confessed rather sheepishly.

Pippin chuckled "I am sorry that I startled you miss. I was just wondering if you would care to have me give you a little tour of the surrounding area."

"Oh yes that would be quite lovely." She glanced down at her clothes from the day before, a pair of faded jeans and white blouse, which were by now quite filthy and worn. While observing this she cringed slightly, 'whatever will the people in these parts think of me?'.

As if reading her thoughts Pippin declared, "After you fell asleep last night me mum put a couple of my sisters' old dresses in the wardrobe over there. I am afraid that they will be a bit short as my sisters are smaller than I."

"Oh thank you ever so much for your friendliness and hospitality. I am sorry if I am a bother."

"You are quite welcome and you are not a bother at all." He grinned widely.

"I will leave you now so that you can get ready. I should like to depart rather soon, so that we can make the most of this beautiful day." At that he walked to the door, smiled at her once more and was gone.

Camellia wandered over to the wardrobe out of curiosity. She gasped as she opened the door. There hung three dresses one of a linen colored in a handsome olive green, one in a woven emerald, and one of ivory made of what appeared to be velvet. She removed the olive colored one and admired it further. It was rather plain, yet beautiful and well made. Its square boat cut neckline was trimmed with an striking ribbon of many shades of green and gray. The sleeves were bell-like and ended just below the elbows. Instantly she removed her soiled, worn clothing and slipped the new dress over her head. It fit her well though it was a tad bit short, only reaching a few inches below her knees.

She glanced at her appearance and grinned. Ella hurried over to the pitcher and bowl that set on a nearby dresser and proceeded to wash her face and hands. Noticing a ribbon near the basin which was quite similar in color to that of her dress, she tied her hair back into a low ponytail, after brushing it until it shone with a brush that she had found.

Again she admired her reflection in the looking glass. Quickly, she decided to remove her sneakers, as they were caked with dark mud. She had noticed yesterday that all of Pippin's family appeared to go without shoes all of the time and decided it was only appropriate to do the same.

The smell of bacon, sausage, and eggs wafted through the air leading Camellia, who by now was quite famished, to the homey Took kitchen.

There at the breakfast table sat Pippin and his sister Pervincia along with a man who she could only assume was Pippin's father. Eglantine was standing with her back to them facing a charming fireplace where she appeared to be making tea.

It was then that Paladin Took noticed their young female visitor.

"And who might this be?" He asked grinning at Camellia.

"My name is Camellia sir."

"Are you a friend of Pervincia's or Peregrin's" He asked eyes twinkling.

"She is a friend of mine father." Pippin said standing to take her arm. He pulled out the chair next to his own. "I met her yesterday while I was wandering about. She had a terrible fall and was very lost so I brought her home with me."

Camellia bit her lip in an attempt not to laugh. He reminded her of a very similar breakfast discussion when she was a child. She had brought a puppy home with her who she had found limping and alone in her neighborhood in the city. Her father asked what on earth a puppy was doing in the house. She had told him that it was hurt and lost so she had brought him home with her. 'Daddy may I please keep him. I promise I will take good care of him. I promise I will,' she had asked with pleading eyes. After much moaning and groaning her father gave in and she was allowed to keep…..Maegelin.