Disclaimer: see chapter 1
A/N: thanks for reviewing. I'll try my best to write often on this story.
Keep reading and reviewing.
Chapter 2
I hurried up the well-worn path as the sun peaked over the hills. As I neared Bag End, dread came over me and I slowed my pace. I opened the gate and climbed the steps to the rather large hobbit hole. I stood for a while just in front of the deep green door. Rapping my knuckles on the round door, my body became nervous as I stood there. Footsteps grew louder within the house before finally stopping. The door opened to reveal a slightly portly hobbit, taller than I, with a short golden curly mop. His brown eyes seemed to smile before his face did. His light tan clothes contrasted the rumors of riches that dwelled within Bad End.
"Master Gamgee?" I inquired.
"Aye. You must be Miss Fairbairn," he said cordially. I nodded in response. He opened the door wider to allow me in. "It's nice of you to come help us out."
"It's my pleasure," I said, smiling as I entered the hobbit hole. The place seemed to be very well kept and definitely not in need of a maid. It had a good calm feeling and I felt like I was at home immediately. As I walked further in, the simple wooden furnishings and aged walls gave the whole house a cozy feeling. I could already imagine myself curling up in a nice leather chair near the fireplace.
"Now, Miss Fairbairn," Master Gamgee stated, interrupting my daydreams, "my wife is in the kitchen and she will tell you all the information you need to know about working here." I looked up at him to see him smiling again.
"Please, call me Mirabella if I am to work for you.'
"Alright, Miss.. Mirabella." His grin widened as a chuckle shook his body.
I walked around the house and found the kitchen where I saw lovely young lass with long curling red hair. Her hands moved quickly as she peeled potatoes for second breakfast.
"Mrs. Gamgee?" I asked, still very shy. The woman turned around and smiled when she saw me.
"You must be Mirabella Fairbairn."
"Aye."
"Your father seemed very eager to have you help us out."
"We need the money," I stated bluntly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay, Don't be."
"What does your father do?"
"He helps out Master Magot in reaping the crops during harvest season. Usually he helps with whatever jobs are available. He's quite handy."
"How many siblings do you have?"
"Four, the youngest one is ten."
"You must be spread out because you look like you're in your tweens."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Now, about your working hours. I'd like you to come in the morning in time to make breakfast. You can leave after washing the dishes after dinner or when I feel that I can handle the rest of the chores for the evening."
"Sounds fair enough."
"If you don't mind my asking, why did you previous employer fire you?"
"I worked for Master Chubb down at the Green Dragon and he always gated me. Halfast Proudfoot tripped me two nights ago and Master Chubb decided he'd had enough of me."
"That's horrible. You sat that happened tow nights ago?"
I nodded. Rosie crossed the kitchen and sat down at the table, bringing with her a plate of potatoes which she started peeling. I followed her suit.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You seem like a very nice young lass."
"Why thank you."
"Let's get you started here with helping second breakfast." She slid a knife in my direction and whipped out a second plate of potatoes. I picked up the knife and began chopping up the potato. The realization hit me that I was going to be enduring another hard day of work similar to the previous day at home.
The day progressed slowly, but not as bad as I had originally guessed. After second breakfast was over and done with, Rosie showed me around Bag End. I learned where all the rooms were and who they belonged to. Then she sent me out to the market to gather some supplies for dinner. I gathered up a basket and shawl and hurried out f the hobbit hole.
The sun beamed down on my back as I walked to the market. The fresh air livened me a little bit, gave me joy and a sense of freedom that working at the Green Dragon never granted me. I took in the sounds and smells around me, enjoying being outside at a time other than when the sun had sunk behind the hills.
I finally reached the market which resided in the middle of town. People were bustling about in the market, chattering about. So many different faces than what I was used to seeing at the Green Dragon. Every day when I worked at the local tavern drunks and very less than sober hobbits surrounded me. These people were different, alive, cheerful and not trying to crab me as I passed by them. I made my way to the fruit bins near the middle of the market. All the colors shine brightly at me as I passed them, contrasting to the dreary dull colors of the tavern. I gathered what I needed quickly and paid the farmers what they asked for with the money that Rosie had given me.
I left the small market without talking to too many people. I just enjoyed being out among them. A shy lad selling baked goods gave me a polite smile and blushed slightly when I handed him what money was due to him. Other than that, I felt very little connection with any of the people. While I walked home, I thought about his soft gray eyes and his warm smile, very different from what I was used to. And so I returned back to Bag End, Rosie taking everything from me and putting it away promptly. I put away my shawl and retreated to the kitchen, hoping to help Rosie prepare lunch.
Rosie worked quickly and with ease while my hands fumbled around with the knife and food as if I was handling a bar of soap. Soon, lunch was done and Rosie had everything laid out on the table.
"Mirabella?" she asked. I looked up at her and nodded. "Could you go fetch Sam from the front garden?" Again I nodded and found my way through the house to the front door. Upon entering into the fresh air, I saw Sam kneeled over in the dirt near the fence, planting some new flowers and pulling weeds.
"Master Gamgee, lunch is ready," I said, approaching him slightly. He stood up and dusted off the dirt caked onto his arms and legs.
"Why thank you, Miss Mirabella." He smiled and headed towards the house. I couldn't help but smile at his politeness. Following him into Bag End, I returned to the kitchen. Sam sat down at the table and began to eat.
"I guess I should go fetch him, shouldn't I?" Rosie inquired of Sam.
"Have Miss Mirabella take it to Mr. Frodo. We hired her so you wouldn't have to work so hard," Sam replied. Rosie sighed and nodded.
"Take this to Mr. Baggins in the study please," she said turning to me and handing me a plate. I nodded and took the plate cautiously. Slowly, I made my way to the study and stood in front of it briefly before knocking on the door.
"Come in," came a soft voice from within the room. I opened the door and entered slowly, taking a few steps into the room. The aged walls reminded me of my father's sitting room. I glanced around the room to see a figure hunched over a desk near the far end of the room beneath a small window. I approached him cautiously. He turned around quickly, allowing me to catch a glimpse of his piercing blue eyes beneath dark curls. "You must be the new maid," he said as he returned to his work.
"Aye, Master Baggins." I was nervous, wondering if all the stories were true about him.
"You can leave my meal on the table by the door."
And so I put the plate on the small table by the door and left promptly, but not without taking a final glance at him. I returned to the kitchen and ate my lunch.
The rest of the day passed rather quickly. It was not nearly as hard as I had expected, but it was much better than long hours of being a barmaid. Frodo remained cooped up in the study and Rosie had me take his meals to him as well as bring out the dirty dishes.
Far into the evening, after I had finished washing the dishes and had carefully put them away, I walked into the main sitting room to find Rosie sewing and Sam reading a book near the small fire.
"If there's nothing else for me to do, I guess I'll be returning home now," I said, standing in the doorway.
"I'm sure Rosie can take care of everything else," Sam said, smiling once again at me. "We'll see you early in the morning then?"
I nodded and then gathered up my shawl, wrapping it around my shoulders and departing into the night. The walk home seemed longer than when I used to walk home from the tavern, maybe because I hated the tavern so much and the Gamgees had been so nice to me. As I approached the small hobbit hole I called home, I recognized the small flame flickering in my father's sitting room. I went in greeted my father.
"Did you have a nice day at the Gamgees'?" he asked.
"Aye," I said.
"Very good. Maybe you won't get fired from this job so quickly." He never even looked up at me during the two sentences he spoke to me. I returned to my room and changed into my nightclothes and curled under the covers, avoiding all questions that Lily asked.
Chapter 2
I hurried up the well-worn path as the sun peaked over the hills. As I neared Bag End, dread came over me and I slowed my pace. I opened the gate and climbed the steps to the rather large hobbit hole. I stood for a while just in front of the deep green door. Rapping my knuckles on the round door, my body became nervous as I stood there. Footsteps grew louder within the house before finally stopping. The door opened to reveal a slightly portly hobbit, taller than I, with a short golden curly mop. His brown eyes seemed to smile before his face did. His light tan clothes contrasted the rumors of riches that dwelled within Bad End.
"Master Gamgee?" I inquired.
"Aye. You must be Miss Fairbairn," he said cordially. I nodded in response. He opened the door wider to allow me in. "It's nice of you to come help us out."
"It's my pleasure," I said, smiling as I entered the hobbit hole. The place seemed to be very well kept and definitely not in need of a maid. It had a good calm feeling and I felt like I was at home immediately. As I walked further in, the simple wooden furnishings and aged walls gave the whole house a cozy feeling. I could already imagine myself curling up in a nice leather chair near the fireplace.
"Now, Miss Fairbairn," Master Gamgee stated, interrupting my daydreams, "my wife is in the kitchen and she will tell you all the information you need to know about working here." I looked up at him to see him smiling again.
"Please, call me Mirabella if I am to work for you.'
"Alright, Miss.. Mirabella." His grin widened as a chuckle shook his body.
I walked around the house and found the kitchen where I saw lovely young lass with long curling red hair. Her hands moved quickly as she peeled potatoes for second breakfast.
"Mrs. Gamgee?" I asked, still very shy. The woman turned around and smiled when she saw me.
"You must be Mirabella Fairbairn."
"Aye."
"Your father seemed very eager to have you help us out."
"We need the money," I stated bluntly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay, Don't be."
"What does your father do?"
"He helps out Master Magot in reaping the crops during harvest season. Usually he helps with whatever jobs are available. He's quite handy."
"How many siblings do you have?"
"Four, the youngest one is ten."
"You must be spread out because you look like you're in your tweens."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Now, about your working hours. I'd like you to come in the morning in time to make breakfast. You can leave after washing the dishes after dinner or when I feel that I can handle the rest of the chores for the evening."
"Sounds fair enough."
"If you don't mind my asking, why did you previous employer fire you?"
"I worked for Master Chubb down at the Green Dragon and he always gated me. Halfast Proudfoot tripped me two nights ago and Master Chubb decided he'd had enough of me."
"That's horrible. You sat that happened tow nights ago?"
I nodded. Rosie crossed the kitchen and sat down at the table, bringing with her a plate of potatoes which she started peeling. I followed her suit.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You seem like a very nice young lass."
"Why thank you."
"Let's get you started here with helping second breakfast." She slid a knife in my direction and whipped out a second plate of potatoes. I picked up the knife and began chopping up the potato. The realization hit me that I was going to be enduring another hard day of work similar to the previous day at home.
The day progressed slowly, but not as bad as I had originally guessed. After second breakfast was over and done with, Rosie showed me around Bag End. I learned where all the rooms were and who they belonged to. Then she sent me out to the market to gather some supplies for dinner. I gathered up a basket and shawl and hurried out f the hobbit hole.
The sun beamed down on my back as I walked to the market. The fresh air livened me a little bit, gave me joy and a sense of freedom that working at the Green Dragon never granted me. I took in the sounds and smells around me, enjoying being outside at a time other than when the sun had sunk behind the hills.
I finally reached the market which resided in the middle of town. People were bustling about in the market, chattering about. So many different faces than what I was used to seeing at the Green Dragon. Every day when I worked at the local tavern drunks and very less than sober hobbits surrounded me. These people were different, alive, cheerful and not trying to crab me as I passed by them. I made my way to the fruit bins near the middle of the market. All the colors shine brightly at me as I passed them, contrasting to the dreary dull colors of the tavern. I gathered what I needed quickly and paid the farmers what they asked for with the money that Rosie had given me.
I left the small market without talking to too many people. I just enjoyed being out among them. A shy lad selling baked goods gave me a polite smile and blushed slightly when I handed him what money was due to him. Other than that, I felt very little connection with any of the people. While I walked home, I thought about his soft gray eyes and his warm smile, very different from what I was used to. And so I returned back to Bag End, Rosie taking everything from me and putting it away promptly. I put away my shawl and retreated to the kitchen, hoping to help Rosie prepare lunch.
Rosie worked quickly and with ease while my hands fumbled around with the knife and food as if I was handling a bar of soap. Soon, lunch was done and Rosie had everything laid out on the table.
"Mirabella?" she asked. I looked up at her and nodded. "Could you go fetch Sam from the front garden?" Again I nodded and found my way through the house to the front door. Upon entering into the fresh air, I saw Sam kneeled over in the dirt near the fence, planting some new flowers and pulling weeds.
"Master Gamgee, lunch is ready," I said, approaching him slightly. He stood up and dusted off the dirt caked onto his arms and legs.
"Why thank you, Miss Mirabella." He smiled and headed towards the house. I couldn't help but smile at his politeness. Following him into Bag End, I returned to the kitchen. Sam sat down at the table and began to eat.
"I guess I should go fetch him, shouldn't I?" Rosie inquired of Sam.
"Have Miss Mirabella take it to Mr. Frodo. We hired her so you wouldn't have to work so hard," Sam replied. Rosie sighed and nodded.
"Take this to Mr. Baggins in the study please," she said turning to me and handing me a plate. I nodded and took the plate cautiously. Slowly, I made my way to the study and stood in front of it briefly before knocking on the door.
"Come in," came a soft voice from within the room. I opened the door and entered slowly, taking a few steps into the room. The aged walls reminded me of my father's sitting room. I glanced around the room to see a figure hunched over a desk near the far end of the room beneath a small window. I approached him cautiously. He turned around quickly, allowing me to catch a glimpse of his piercing blue eyes beneath dark curls. "You must be the new maid," he said as he returned to his work.
"Aye, Master Baggins." I was nervous, wondering if all the stories were true about him.
"You can leave my meal on the table by the door."
And so I put the plate on the small table by the door and left promptly, but not without taking a final glance at him. I returned to the kitchen and ate my lunch.
The rest of the day passed rather quickly. It was not nearly as hard as I had expected, but it was much better than long hours of being a barmaid. Frodo remained cooped up in the study and Rosie had me take his meals to him as well as bring out the dirty dishes.
Far into the evening, after I had finished washing the dishes and had carefully put them away, I walked into the main sitting room to find Rosie sewing and Sam reading a book near the small fire.
"If there's nothing else for me to do, I guess I'll be returning home now," I said, standing in the doorway.
"I'm sure Rosie can take care of everything else," Sam said, smiling once again at me. "We'll see you early in the morning then?"
I nodded and then gathered up my shawl, wrapping it around my shoulders and departing into the night. The walk home seemed longer than when I used to walk home from the tavern, maybe because I hated the tavern so much and the Gamgees had been so nice to me. As I approached the small hobbit hole I called home, I recognized the small flame flickering in my father's sitting room. I went in greeted my father.
"Did you have a nice day at the Gamgees'?" he asked.
"Aye," I said.
"Very good. Maybe you won't get fired from this job so quickly." He never even looked up at me during the two sentences he spoke to me. I returned to my room and changed into my nightclothes and curled under the covers, avoiding all questions that Lily asked.
