Chapter 6- New hobbit lass in town
The group of friends, plus one more, crawled out of the secret leaf bed covered from head to toe in mud. Each feeling exhausted from the actions of chasing and throwing in the massive mud fight. Kate and Kat led the group out of the forest happily chatting about how they now have another hobbitlass in the group to talk to. Faramir and Thomas were right behind them, also talking about the young girl, but there also was some talk about Drogo included in their discussion. And lagging a few feet behind was Drogo and Aubrey. "Your friends are fun and very nice."
"Aren't they though?" Drogo picked some mud from his hair. Aubrey smiled and patted some of the mud back into his hair. "Hey!"
"Is for horses," she smiled and laughed. He started to run after her, but she dodged him and ran through the four in front of her with Drogo very close behind.
"Watch out you two," yelled Kate at them.
"And stop flirting," added Faramir. The two chasing one another didn't pay any attention to the others. Aubrey jumped and dodged Drogo as he kept stumbling, almost falling face first into yet another pile of mud. She kept her distance in front of her and started flinging more mud behind her at him.
Once he finally caught up with her he grabbed her around the waist, "Now I got you."
Aubrey turned around, but didn't count on being so close. They were both about two inches apart from one another, "Um, you cozy, Drogo?"
She got out of his arms and started to pick some more of the mud out of his hair. He nodded his head from her previous question and started to lean toward her, taking her back into his arms, "Very."
"Drogo Baggins! Where are you?"
Drogo let her go and she almost stumbled, until Drogo caught her arm, realizing he almost dropped her, "Sorry Aubrey." The others came up to them.
"Drogo Baggins, get out here now! I swear, you are the most unmanageable hobbit in the whole Shire. Ow! – Stupid woods. Branches always getting in my way."
"Who is that, Drogo?" Aubrey looked up at him.
"Do you remember about that person that I didn't want to see in the market?"
"Really, her?" Aubrey asked somewhat amused.
"She is one of the biggest sluts in the Shire. Excuse my language," said Thomas.
"You shouldn't excuse yourself. It's true," said Kat, "She dated Drogo for a few days, but at the end of the third day she asked Thomas if he wanted to go behind Drogo's back and date her," she explained to Aubrey.
"Oh great, another Cara," Aubrey commented.
"Who's Cara?" asked Kate.
"I'll tell you later. Does this girl know about the leaf bed?"
"No, but we're far enough away from it that she won't see it," said Faramir as he stepped next to Drogo.
"Well, let's get back to market, maybe she'll back off by then. She tries to keep her image of a perfect little angel in town," said Thomas as they started walking again.
They started walking hoping to go around the area where the other hobbit lass was yelling from, but couldn't make it. Another hobbitlass came from the tree branches of an old willow, and walked toward them. She had dark brown hair that went to her shoulders, with brown eyes that sparkled in a way. She smiled and showed off her perfect teeth. The first word that came to Aubrey's mind was, 'prep.' (A/N: No offense to people considered preps or anything. It's just that at my school . . . well; let's just put it this way, most of them aren't cool.)
"Drogo, I've been looking for you," she came up and grabbed his arm, "I was wondering if you wanted to buy me some things at market and go for some supper."
Aubrey sneered at the girl, and she felt a fire burning inside her own being when she focused her eyes on the girl's hand around Drogo's arm. 'Maybe this is what jealousy is. I never really got to feel what it felt like with Jeremy since it happened so fast,' Aubrey thought to herself, and as the girl tried to put her arms around his waist the fire burned higher, 'Oh yeah, this is jealousy. Get off him now!'
She leaned over to Kat who was next to her and whispered, "Was she always this way?"
"Oh yeah."
Drogo removed the lass's arms from around him, "Look Sandy, I told you. After going after my cousin behind my back, there is nothing about you that is worth anything to me," Drogo turned his back and headed toward the group.
Aubrey couldn't keep it in anymore, "Denied! Totally denied!"
Everyone turned to her and she covered her mouth, but smiled at what she said. They looked at her with astonishment, no one ever stood up to Sandy before. The others started to laugh at what she said, all except Sandy.
"What is so funny?" she stepped up to Aubrey, "And just who do you think you are?"
"Me?" Aubrey pointed at her own chest, "Hmmm, that is sure a hard question. Oh, I know. I'm the new hobbit lass in town that is just about to kick your butt if I hear that you are trying to hurt any of my new friends again."
"Like you could even try to kick my butt. It doesn't even look like you know how to be a true lady, covered in all that mud."
"Like you know anything about being a lady, Sandy," said Kate from behind.
"Nice one, Kate," said Aubrey looking behind her.
"Thanks."
"Hey, remember the saying, Brandybuck. It takes one to know one."
"Know one of what? You can't even put a whole thought together," Aubrey looked back at Sandy. "I think I know just what type you are. The one who expects everyone to bow down at you feet and kiss the ground you walk on. Even though the only thing that that ground is good for after you stepped on it would be for a compost heap."
Sandy looked at her with rage, "How dare you! This coming from a girl that is nothing but a mud covered tomboy. No, that would be complementing you. You are a full fledged boy!"
"What did you just call me?"
"You heard me, BOY."
Aubrey turned to Drogo, "Would you mind if I?" She motioned toward Sandy and Drogo got the idea.
"Not at all," he turned to the rest of the group, "Would you guys?"
"Please precede, Aubrey," said Thomas, "Afterward we could get something to eat."
Drogo laughed softly at his cousin's comment, "All say it is ok, here. Please, don't let us stop you."
Aubrey smiled, "It would be my ultimate pleasure," she turned and gave Sandy a punch on the face and another on the other side. Sandy tried to hit her back, but only gave her a few scratches. After a few minutes, there was a huge battle between the two girls. Aubrey got up after she thought it was enough to prove her point. Sandy got up off the ground with a soon to be black eye and a bloody lip, after giving Aubrey only a few scratches.
"What do you say now, Sandy?"
"I say that he isn't worth it. None of it," she said pointing at Drogo, "he doesn't deserve anyone like me!"
Aubrey hit her again in the stomach. "Don't ever say that about Drogo. But, then again you're right. He doesn't deserve you. He deserves so much more then some one like you."
Sandy fell to the ground and Aubrey walked over to the others.
"You alright, Aubrey?" Drogo asked as she came over.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Let's get out of here, little princess is making me gag."
All of them walked over Sandy, Kate and Kat making a point to step on her back at the same time, and walked toward Market and home.
***
For weeks, Aubrey stayed at Bag End with Frodo and Drogo. She continued with the studies, and excelled in the elvish language, and soon will be surpassing Frodo himself. At least that is what he said, with some joking manner, of course.
Each day her knowledge growing to a higher peak then the day before, she couldn't help but to keep learning. Not only was it something interesting to do, it was also something to get her mind off of her troubles back home. And when nothing could distract her from it she would find herself crying to sleep at night, with Drogo just on the opposite side of the wall, wondering why she was crying.
The weeks passed like moments and Aubrey soon found that she was there for a whole month that soon grew to two months and after that, Aubrey lost count. Every day she would have lessons with Frodo and Drogo, and then follow Drogo out to the leaf bed to meet the rest of the group. Some times Aubrey would run off with Kat, Kate and Thomas on their little escapades that their fathers must have gone on before them.
Just the last week they found themselves in Farmer Maggot's crops and when they got home they found themselves facing the very disapproving faces of Drogo, Frodo and Faramir.
"When are you ever going to leave that poor Mr. Maggot alone?" Faramir shook some of the carrots in the face of Thomas.
"Come on, Faramir," Aubrey said putting Faramir's hand down, "I always go back and pay him for the vegetables."
"And where is the fun in that?" Kate asked putting her hands on her hips after Faramir took a big sigh and walked away. Aubrey looked at her and gave her a wink. Both Brandybucks and the Took left shortly afterward with Faramir close behind. Drogo eyed Aubrey suspiciously.
"You are going to pay him back, aren't you?"
"Of course Drogo," Aubrey smiled putting her hands in her pockets and pulling out some currency.
"Where did you find that money?"
"From Faramir. Kate gave me the idea."
"Aubrey . . ." he was about to scold her, but couldn't help but smile at her ingenious mischief. She smirked back at him and walked down the hall and into bed.
Other days she would be out in the grass fields underneath the shade of the trees, reading and studying with Drogo. Each day brought a new surprise, a new hobbit or hobbitlass to meet, and a new adventure. Even though not every adventure was worth looking forward to.
One day while walking through market on the way to the leaf bed, the group once again ran into Sandy and her group of followers. "If it isn't the little boy," she said walking up to the group with three other girls behind her. Aubrey started to snicker at her appearance. Sandy still had a tell-tale mark of the black eye that Aubrey gave her from their little run in the other day when Sandy tried to put down Kat. That was very fun, both Kate and Kat joined in the fight with Aubrey.
"So, what are you laughing at? Your stupidity?" Sandy glared at them.
"Actually," Aubrey stopped to take a breath, "I'm laughing at yours." She started laughing once again. "I mean, how many times do I have to beat you up for you to understand not to bug us?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to give you guys the point that you are all under me."
"Really?" Aubrey looked back at the others behind her, "Did you guys know that we are all under a piece of bacterium of the lowest dirt?" The others laughed as she turned back at Sandy, "I didn't think that that was possible."
"Well at least I don't steal other lasses guys."
"No you just go behind your guy's back and try to date their cousin," stated Thomas.
"He's got you their, Sand," said one of the girls behind Sandy.
"Shut up!" she looked at the bunch and stuck her nose in the air and turned back around toward her father's market stall.
Drogo came up from behind Aubrey and gave her a hug from behind, "I'm so proud of you."
"Why is that?" Aubrey asked, flustered by Drogo's sudden embrace.
"You are actually scaring her off with out even using physical abuse."
"Score another one for me!" Aubrey said jumping up.
"And let's celebrate with some food from the sweet stall!" Thomas added.
"Thomas . . ." Kate put a hand on his shoulder, "Sometimes other things come before food."
"And the other times besides those . . ." he persisted.
"You're right. What am I thinking?" Kate smacked her forehead like she made a huge mistake keeping the sarcastic point in her voice.
"Yeah I thought so. Now who's the one that is thinking?"
"Unfortunately you. Now why is that thought so scary?"
The group laughed and started to continue their way to the leaf bed.
Sandy stared at them walking away from her, "She will pay for her . . . her . . ."
"Good comebacks?" one of the girls named Olivia suggested.
"Beating on you?" another named Belle asked.
"Shut up! I will make Drogo mine again. No matter what it takes."
***
Later that day Frodo had invited the whole group for dinner and sent the girls to go and get some ingredients. Aubrey agreed as she dragged the other two out of the door.
"Why do we have to go?" Kat complained.
"Would you rather Thomas went and ate all the food before he even got back to Bag End? After spending all that money on food, then not sharing any of it?" Aubrey asked of them.
"You have a point," Kate said.
"Don't I always?"
"Yeah, yeah," Kat pushed her in the side jokingly.
They walked along the road and watched as the younger hobbits ran along the roads and fields. Aubrey smiled and was happy to see the young ones smile, but at the same time had to turn away when a mother came and scooped her child in her arms and swung them around. Her mother loved hills and fields filled with grass. Her mother even talked about having a small cottage out in the country just to have the comforting hills surround her. Sure, it seemed cheesy to Aubrey at the time, but now . . . after seeing this place, no wonder her mother yarned to live in the hills. How her mother would love to see this place.
A small hobbit ran around her mother singing a song and pulling on her dress to have her follow along. Soon enough they go back inside and leave the other young hobbits to play.
"Aubrey? Hello, Aubrey?"
"What? Oh, I'm sorry you two. Sometimes I just get into my own dream world and get lost."
"Yeah, but at least you don't get lost in it when you're waiting for food like Thomas, so we have to hurry."
"He knows it will take us at least an hour or so to get the stuff from Market," Aubrey said.
"So, what is with you and Drogo?" Kat asked upon reaching Market.
"Whatever do you mean, Kat?" Aubrey asked innocently.
"Come on, we Brandybucks always know when something is going on, don't we Kate?"
"Yes . . . we do."
Aubrey looked at her strange and wondered if she was keeping something from the group as well.
"I tell you both the truth. Nothing is between Drogo and I but friendship. Besides, I am like a stranger to these parts still," Aubrey walked up to the stall for vegetables and looked over the potatoes.
"What do you mean, Aubrey? You've been here for months now! You're no stranger. Nearly everyone in Hobbiton knows you . . . well, at least heard of you," Kat said, "Isn't that right Mister Proudfoot?" Kat turned to the man setting out the new vegetables.
The older hobbit nearly nodded his head, smiled and went back to his duties of sorting the vegetables. "See Aubrey?"
"Ah, but Mister Proudfoot has seen me at least every other day. It's far too much to say that the whole of Hobbiton has heard of me. And getting back to my original point, I have been here only a few months. And . . . it takes . . . time to like and feel for someone like that . . . or in that way . . ." Aubrey trailed off staring into the pile of potatoes in front of her. Kate stood next to her and tried to get eye contact with Aubrey, but could not get it. She looked at her sister then at a cart in the distance.
"Kat, didn't Uncle Frodo ask for some fresh flowers for the table?" Kate motioned for her to look at the flower cart.
Kat nodded her head, "He did, didn't he? I'll be back before you can say Buckland three times fast," then ran over to the other cart.
"She'll never make it that fast," Kate leaned on the edge of stall, "Now, tell me the real story, Aubrey."
"I have already," Aubrey picked out half a basket load of potatoes. "I'll take these," she said to Mister Proudfoot.
"Come on, Aubrey. You can't keep it inside forever. You now that either my sister or I will find you out sooner or later."
Aubrey stepped away from the stall and went over to a little less populated part of market. Kate followed close behind, "So what do you want to know about me?"
Kate looked at her, "Everything that you want to tell me. At least right now. You know we can do everything in installments." Kate smiled.
"Alright."
"Ok, for starters . . . where is this so called California and how did you get here?"
"If you really want to know, promise me that you won't shun me or think that I'm weird."
"I promise," she held up her hand, "Hobbitlass honor."
Aubrey took a deep breath after looking around, "I come from another world. Another dimension."
"Excuse me?"
"Kate you promised."
"Just a question."
"Look, I don't completely understand it either. I mean one night I'm in my bed, then the next time I wake up I am being held captive by orcs and-"
"Orcs?!"
"Yes, didn't Drogo tell you?"
"Of course he didn't. I don't think he'd ever tell anything of the sort about someone's experiences. Especially with orcs."
"Well, I don't know how, but they brought me here and . . . and well, I escaped with some help from Gandalf and he brought me here. And that is how I came to be in the Shire."
"Well, if what you are saying is true- you coming from another dimension and all- then wouldn't you look . . . well, different?"
Aubrey bit her lip, "Well . . . the thing is . . . that at one time I was . . . different."
"What do you mean?"
"I was a human."
"A human?"
"Yeah, but . . . I don't know," Aubrey looked up with determination glowing in her eyes, "But now I know I'm a hobbit lass the strongest being I can be! And I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Kate was shocked, but laughed at her outburst, "Alright, alright." Kate suddenly thought of a question, "Have you told Drogo about any of this?"
Aubrey turned to her quickly, "Of course not! Don't you see Kate that is why I can't . . . I don't want him to know about my past. What is done is done. I don't think I can go back. I don't want him to know about it. I mean, of course he knows about the orcs, but he knows nothing of me at one time being a human. So please no word of this to him or the others. Please?"
Kate looked into her eyes, "You know he wouldn't judge you any other way then what you are."
"Please Kate!"
"Alright, I'll keep it a secret," Kate received a grateful hug from Aubrey, "But I still think you should tell him the truth. He likes you for who you are, not for who you were."
Aubrey looked at her, "He . . . he likes me?"
"Oops," Kate smiled nervously and grabbed the list of things from Aubrey's hands, "Let's see, what else is on this list of yours?"
"Kate!" Aubrey chased after her.
They soon both found Kat and continued with their shopping. From around one of the stalls Sandy stepped into the light with her arms folded in front of her chest, "So that is your big secret, huh? You used to be human . . . very interesting. I bet Drogo's dying to hear the news and then he will be dying to step back into my arms." Sandy laughed and ran off down the road.
***
Aubrey and the twin Brandybucks made it back to Bag End with no problem finding the items for supper. All three laughed with each other and complemented Kat's choices on the flowers for the table. Aubrey opened the door and all of the boys were sitting in the den around Drogo.
Aubrey looked at Drogo and saw that something was wrong, her smiled faded away completely. He looked up at her and it seemed like he held sorrow in his eyes more then anything. Kate and Kat took the basket from her arm and continued into the kitchen. Frodo saw that the girls had returned form their trip and got the other two boys out of the room so Aubrey and Drogo could talk. Aubrey still stood in the hall before the door. Drogo had lowered his eyes back to the floor and studied his hands for a while. Aubrey closed the door behind her.
"Sandy told me a real interesting fact today . . . about you," Aubrey perked her head up, "Why didn't you ever tell me about what you were?" he finally spoke up.
Aubrey looked over at him after she closed and locked the door, "I told you everything I could Drogo."
"Friends don't keep anything from one another Aubrey. I told you everything about me, what about you?" he looked up at her.
"Some things, you have to keep to yourself. That's the way I was taught."
"Well, I was taught differently," he said it in such a harsh tone, that Aubrey felt the bitter sting of his words and turned her head. Her eyes focused on the fire that they were beginning to build in the fireplace.
"I don't see why this is so important, Drogo. Am I not entitled to some secrets of my own?"
"But these secrets? I thought as your friend here that you would have told me."
"And let you think that I was crazy?"
"Is that why you cry at night? Because you were afraid of telling me. Because you were afraid of what others might have thought of you?"
Aubrey walked away from him, trying to get as close as she could to the fire that was glowing hot. For some reason or another, she felt too cold for comfort. "No. That was never the reason for my crying. And I would much rather that that reason be kept to myself."
"Oh great another secret," Drogo leaned back in his chair, "Why don't you go and tell only Kate about it, I bet she would be happy to hear about it."
Aubrey turned at Drogo and fiercely looked him in the eyes, "You really want to know Drogo Baggins? Do you want to know why I cry at night? Because of my mother! My mother was dying in my world and I'm not there with her! That is why! Why do you have to react this way?"
"Your mother is . . ." he suddenly began to soften.
Aubrey didn't notice as she turned away, "And these facts coming from Sandy no less! Probably trying to ruin my life, just as is everything else around me."
"Aubrey, I-"
"Do you know what it is like for me? I think about her almost every night. Asking myself how it must be for her. My father died when I was two, she had no one but me. And then . . . to know that you are dying and . . . your only child is then missing. She may be in terrible pain and I can't help her through it. Do you know how that feels? Do you now understand why?" she placed her hand on the mantelpiece.
"Yes," she turned toward him. He now stood in front of his chair, with tears down his face, "Don't you think that I would think the same about my mother?"
Aubrey thought and started to walk toward him, "I'm sorry Drogo; it's just that . . . I didn't want you and the others to see me as . . . well to see me as anything but what I am."
"And we don't," he held her hand, "And I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have reacted like that. I was thinking that you didn't trust me or something, and I couldn't stand that thought. I want you to be able to trust me with anything."
"It's ok Drogo," Aubrey started to cough through the tears, "I should have told you. You were right."
"Look, I shouldn't have jumped to actions. And I shouldn't have listened to Sandy."
"But she is right, Drogo. I was at one time human," she waited for his reaction. Closed her eyes and turning away to hopefully soften the blow.
"So?"
She turned back to him and smiled, "Is that all you have to say to it?"
Drogo smiled and gave her a hug, "Just want you to know that I don't judge you. You are one of my very best friends."
"And you are mine," Aubrey hugged back.
"Um, Kate didn't tell you anything about me did she?" he asked stepping from the hug.
Aubrey thought about what she had said about the liking thing, "No, nothing at all. Is there something that you need to tell me, Drogo?"
"No nothing," he said fast and walked toward the dinning area, "Come on, we have to see how much they heard."
"Do you think they were listening?" Aubrey wiped her tears.
"Now, who are you talking about? Because you should know our friends by now."
"Yeah. I should know our friends. What am I thinking?"
"Come m'lady," he came back for her, offering his arm, "We need to eat and gain back the strength that you must have lost by shopping with my cousins."
"Thank you," Aubrey took his arm as they went in to eat.