Sunlight kissed her eyelids, a gentle, familiar wake up call. She stretched without really moving, just enjoying the tightening and then release of her muscles. Just like every morning in Bag End. A slow, peaceful sort of morning.
Wait. A thought had her scrunching her brows down in confusion. Didn't she have fourteen guests? Thirteen of which were loud, slightly obnoxious dwarves? But everything was silent aside from the usual early morning noises she was used to.
She got up, only briefly pausing to straighten Bilbo's robe around her. She wandered around Bag End, expecting around any corner to find the dwarves. No one. In fact, if it wasn't for the pantry and the softly gleaming glory box, the whole of last night could have been a bizarre dream.
She selected a few items from the remaining food baskets and made a light breakfast. She was just starting to return to the natural routine of hobbits after being in Bree and having only three main meals. Also, the emptiness of her home seemed to have stolen her appetite. So having eaten an egg and a slice of toast, Bella returned to wandering aimlessly about her home as she ate a peach.
Upon entering her living room, she discovered a third item that proved that the dwarves had been here. The contract sat upon a footstool, the place for three signatures prominently in the sunlight. "Signed: Thorin, Son of Thrain Witness: Balin, Son of Fundin Burglar(s): _"
She crouched, running a careful finger along the edge of the parchment. What if she was to go? Invite Bilbo to come along at least until Rivendell? Of course considering the danger of the dragon, she wouldn't consider having him sign the contract and thus binding himself to come on the entire quest. But, was she willing to risk breaking her promise if Bilbo didn't come?
She looked out the window, taking in the early morning light that was just starting to caress the rolling hills of Hobbiton. Some of Gandalf's words from the night before echoed in her ears. Resolve settled in.
Precisely between first and second breakfast, a hobbit raced out of Bag End. Trouser-clad with a thick coat and fine hunter green traveler's cloak. A long piece of paper trailed behind the figure, even as the wind tried to tease out brown tendrils from the confines of a crudely wound length of thong. The traveler's pack did nothing to slow the runner down, even when leaping over full wheelbarrows or swinging over fences.
"Mr. Bilbo? Where are you going?" a neighbor called.
"Can't stop, I'm already late," the running Baggins called back.
"Late for what?"
Bella smiled, feeling more Tookish than she ever felt in her life. "I'm going on an adventure!"
Half-past second breakfast, in time to help prepare elevensies. Bilbo smiled, pleased with himself that he could surprise Bella like this. All business had been taken care of last night, leaving him free to return early.
"Mr. Bilbo?"
He turned to see Farmer Hamfest. "Good morning," he greeted.
"Back already?" Farmer Hamfest asked. "I would have thought your adventure would have taken you longer."
Bilbo blinked slightly shaking his head. "Excuse me?"
"I just saw you two hours ago racing out of Hobbiton as though your life depended on it," his neighbor answered. "Said you were late for an adventure."
Bilbo's heart sank with a speed he hadn't felt in decades. "Good morning," he said before racing the final stretch to Bag End. He hurriedly opened the door, searching. "Bella?" he called. "Bella?" But it was as he had feared. She wasn't there.
His heart tried to choke him as he saw a sight that threatened his peace of mind. One of Bella's throwing knives held a sheet of paper to the frame of the quest room door. He half-stumbled, trembling as he pulled the knife out so he could unfold the paper.
"Dear Bilbo,
"Don't worry, I haven't been kidnaped and thus been forced to write this in exchange for my safety or other such nonsense. Although I and our beloved Bag End did suffer from a bit of home invasion last night.
"Gandalf had the audacity to invite thirteen dwarves over without warning us. We can thank the rangers and their training that I was able to establish some order. Anyway, long story short, these dozen plus one dwarves are hoping to reclaim their homeland from a dragon, but they need someone that won't tip the scaley beast off that something is afoot. So they need a hobbit burglar, and I have agreed to sign the contract and follow along with them. There is one little thing . . . aside from Gandalf and two dwarves, they all believe that I am you. So, I am in a set of your travel clothes and I'm taking your travel pack.
"Before you potentially go raging that I broke my promise, I know that I am taking the risk of that. But, yesterday, I was certain I saw a bit of your old self peeking out. It is because of that, that I'm inviting you to join the whole lot of us. Gandalf meant for both of us to come, but I will not insist that you join me on the contract. We are certain to stop in Rivendell, and that is all the farther I'll ask you to come.
"If you wish, you can stay there, or return home. Personally thanks to some mental images one of the dwarves unhelpfully put into my head, I would much prefer that you choose one of those two options. Though I am perfectly aware that I couldn't stop you from continuing on with us if you set your mind to it.
"I set out some sensible travel-like clothes for you next to my pack if you decide to join us on the road to Rivendell. Yes, I'm basically saying that if you want me to stop dressing like a boy, you need to come along for a little while. I also packed some of my knives in my pack since I don't have my skirts with their numerous pockets to hide all of my weapons. I have what I need to defend myself, don't worry.
"Just, please, join me in traveling to Rivendell?
"Hoping to see you shortly,
Bella."
Bilbo lowered the letter, slowly digesting what his twin had written. She had agreed to go on an adventure. Signed a contract with a bunch of dwarves. He wanted to be angry with her, but he also couldn't deny that she had waited so long. Kept her promise all these years. He only now realized, he hadn't quite followed up on his own promise.
A slow smile crept onto his face. If his little sister could manage her Took side for him, he could manage his Baggins side for her and go on this quest.
He stepped outside, pleased to see a lad running along the lane. "Young man!" he called. "Might you do something very quick for me?"
"Yes, Master Baggins," the lad said.
"I need you to fetch Master Gamgee for me," Bilbo said. "Tell him it is very important that I see him before elevensies."
"Yes, sir," the lad said before running off.
That done, Bilbo returned inside and took quick inventory of Bag End. He was shocked to discover that of all the foodstuffs, only two baskets remained. Apparently their guests were bottomless pits if they managed to nearly eat them out of house and home. Checking over the remaining food, he packed away what he knew would travel well, and set aside the rest to give to the Gamgees.
He changed into the clothes Bella had laid out for him, acknowledging that they were indeed a bit sturdier than his others. He was just buttoning the vest when Mr. Gamgee arrived. Bilbo quickly explained how he and Bella were going to be away for an unknown length of time and needed someone to watch the house and ensure that the Sackville-Bagginses didn't steal it away. Of course, Mr. Gamgee agreed and even helped Bilbo in final preparations.
So it was that just at elevensies, Bilbo found himself heading out his door again, running as fast as his legs could carry him in the direction that Bella had mentioned in a postscript. If he'd had the breath to spare, he would have whooped and laughed. He was going on an adventure.
It was nearly elevensies when Bella finally caught up with the small caravan of dwarves and one wizard. "Wait!" she called. "Wait!" She fought to keep herself from bending over double in exhaustion. She was better accustomed to walking long distances, not running them.
Thankfully the dwarves stopped, allowing her to jog the rest of the way. "I signed it," she said, handing the contract to Balin. The dwarf returned her smile as he took a closer look at the signature. She had used what she and Bilbo considered their joint signature, commonly used on documents that could easily have used both of their signatures but either only one was allowed to sign it, or the other was absent. In this case, Bella used it to insure that even when she was discovered, she couldn't be sent back.
She smiled a bit when she caught Fili's eyes. They would at least find out how each other fared on a long journey. A strong gaze pulled her to turn to Thorin. She could practically feel his doubt radiating off of him. Apparently she would have to prove herself to some of these dwarves still.
"Everything appears to be in order," Balin said. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
Bella half-laughed, bouncing on her toes in excitement. She couldn't remember a time that she felt more alive. She was going on a quest. She was traveling to Rivendell and beyond!
"Give him a pony," Thorin ordered grumpily.
"I am perfectly fine walking," Bella said. "I have walked all the way to Bree. I am perfectly fine. I don't need a–whoa!" Two suspiciously familiar hands grabbed her shoulders, lifting her up and plopped her into the saddle of one of the pack ponies.
"Best that you trust our uncle on this, dear ranger," Kili said with a cheeky grin. "You'll be happy for the pony before the week is out."
Bella huffed, accepting the reins Fili handed her.
"I hoped you'd come," he said, his smile almost tender.
"I'm hoping to be joined by my twin before sundown," she confessed.
"Our purses are hoping that as well," Kili said, catching a flying moneybag. Not a second later, Fili was catching a moneybag of his own.
"What's this all about?" Bella asked.
"Oh," Gandalf answered drawing back alongside them, "they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't."
Bella worried her bottom lip. "What did you think?"
Gandalf's eyes twinkled as he simply held up his hand in time to catch a bag. "I never doubted you for a second. Though if your twin doesn't show up, I just may lose what I earned. But I suspect that he will."
"Aye," Fili said, "not only did the three of us wager that you'd come, but that if you did, the second Baggins would come along as well."
"But we ain't seen any sign of a second halfling, laddie," Nori called. "We may get your gold yet."
Bella looked to the wizard and the two dwarves on either side of her. Fili and Kili had yet to meet her brother, and they were confident that he would show up. Gandalf had known the two of them for years and was confident that Bilbo would come. Maybe she should have some faith in him too. "What are the wager rates, my good fellows?" she asked with a grin. "I may throw a few coin on my twin's arrival."
Bilbo caught himself on a hitching post in Bree. "You should have been joining her on those trips," he muttered to himself. He winced at the stitch in his side. He slid to the ground. "Stop fooling yourself. Bella has a good four hours on you, the dwarves even more." He shook his head. "It'd take a miracle to reach them at this rate. You can't even be completely sure you're on the right road."
"Oi, Master Hobbit," a man called, "what's ailing you?"
"Ah, I fear I am several hours behind my traveling party," Bilbo answered, pulling himself to his feet. "Would you have happened to have seen about thirteen dwarves and a hobbit pass this way? Maybe even a grey wizard?"
"Aye," the man answered. "The sun was barely up when I saw the dwarves and wizard pass by. The hobbit came by a couple hours later, racing as though the dark lord Sauron himself was at his heels."
Bilbo sighed. "And that was at least four hours ago, wasn't it?"
"Maybe closer to three and a half, but about right."
The hobbit groaned. "At this rate I'll be lucky to reach them by midnight."
The man chuckled. "I do believe you are one of the few hobbits that I can count on one hand so eager to leave the Shire."
"Who are the others?"
"Well, the hobbit I spied earlier of course, and two young hobbits I'd see regularly years ago. Those twins were set for traveling to the elvish city, maybe even meet great elf lords and ladies. But then, it was only the lass I would see. She told me that their plans had been postponed for the time being. She wasn't sure for how long, but she always gave me a down payment for two ponies. 'I may not know when my brother will finally be ready, but I want to be sure that we have some proper transportation.' She has now given me enough money for two ponies, their tack, and some extras."
"This hobbit lass," Bilbo ventured, "wouldn't happen to be Bellarosa Baggins, would she?"
"Why, yes, how'd you guess?"
"I'm the brother who has been dragging his heels about adventuring for the past couple of decades."
The man stared at him. "No. Not the energetic lad that couldn't stop babbling about everything he knew concerning elves and history?"
"I am he, Bilbo Baggins," Bilbo confirmed. "I became rather stuffy over the years, but I'm now trying to join my sister on an adventure."
"Well, now, then you'd best get your ponies, right quick," the man said. "Follow me."
Ten minutes later, Bilbo found himself seated on one of two ponies, both outfitted in the finest tack. When he had voiced worry about any legal papers, he was shown receipts signed with his and Bella's joint signature. He had almost laughed out loud. Apparently Bella had been prepared for anything. So reassured that everything was as it should be, he started off upon the pony. It took a little doing to get his confidence up, but he was soon urging the creatures into a steady gallop. They didn't even slow as they entered a brightly lit forest.
He smiled once again. He had just crossed the first hurdle in his adventure. Now, he just had to catch up, and that was looking more likely by the minute.
"I had thought hobbits had songs for every occasion."
Bella laughed as she shook her head at Kili. "But we also rarely travel, and when we do, it is rarely considered a joyous occasion."
"But surely there is at least one song that you can share with us," Fili said.
Bella quickly looked around before confiding with the two. "If I were to sing, I'd give myself away in no time flat. I can't afford to be found out and sent away since Master Oakenshield is stubbornly resentful of my presence."
"Well, we can't argue that," Fili said.
"Indeed," Gandalf agreed. "I personally believe you proved yourself quite capable with your knives last night."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Maybe I should have actually nicked him so that he could have something to remember the experience by."
"Or he just hardly trusts anyone who isn't a dwarf," Fili said. "Don't worry. I'm sure that you'll have more than enough times to prove your worth."
"I certainly hope so, because I'm starting to wonder if he was born with that scowl." She momentarily checked herself. "Or that it has been there ever since Smaug appeared."
"He isn't always so gloomy or harsh," Kili said. "He just has to keep up the appearance of a king."
"Alright, I think that I have been missing a couple pieces," Bella said.
Gandalf smiled sadly. "He is Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. The throne of Erebor is his by inheritance."
Bella felt her jaw drop, trying to reach the ground under her pony's hooves. "I threatened the life of a king in my own home," she murmured.
"You were showing him your ability with your blades," Fili said.
"I put his nephews, princes, to work like they were common menservants!" she panicked, clutching her head.
"Putting us back in our places, since we were for all intents and purposes invading your home since you had no prior knowledge," Fili said. "And I'll remind you, Kili voluntarily cleaned your carpets and entry hall. You only told him to clean the box he used to scrape his boots on."
"And technically," Kili said, "we aren't actually princes yet. Maybe princes in exile, but we have to have a whole lot of paperwork done and rituals completed before we're actually princes."
Fili then leaned near her ear with a horribly cheeky grin. "If it helps you feel any better," he said softly, "you were also asked for a courtship from a prince."
Bella clapped her hands over her mouth to muffle her "Eep!" She didn't know if she should feel giddy or shocked at this new revelation.
"Hey, laddie," Bofur called. "What'd Fili say to make you turn so red?"
"Nothing, nothing, nothing!" she cried, pulling her cloak's hood up and over her head. She glared at the blonde scamp who was fighting to contain his mirth. "I'll pay you back, just you wait," she whispered fiercely.
"I look forward to it," he returned with a wink.
She stuck her tongue out at him, despite knowing it was horribly childish. Oh, she wasn't sure how she'd manage to make him pay, but she'd find a way.
While she slowly got over her mortification, Fili, Kili, and Gandalf started on other topics of conversation. Finally, she was certain that her cheeks were cool enough that she could safely put her hood back again.
"Bellarosa Baggins!"
Bella winced, cringing atop her pony as everyone drew to a startled halt. She was in trouble now. She turned to see her irate twin brother staring at her with his hands on his hips even as he sat astride his own pony and with a very un-Baggins-like scowl on his face. Oh, yes. Bilbo Baggins was mad. Maybe she should have given better thought as to how to handle the whole situation.
Author's Note: Welp. Caught up to the point where I snagged the snippet at the start of chapter 2. :-D And we'll have to wait until next time to watch Bilbo and Bella butt heads. Will the journey be stopped before it is barely started?
At least Bilbo has some idea of what was going on, even if he doesn't have all the details yet. And Bella was pretty thorough in her planning, including with the ponies. Although, she didn't make any plans for house watching, a must when the Sackville-Bagginses are trying to steal Bag End away. At least Bilbo took care of that before he left. But just how far will Bilbo go?
So, what do you think of Bilbo's reactions so far? How do you think the twins' reunion will play out? What about Bella's reaction to Thorin, Fili, and Kili being royalty? Any idea how Bella will enact her revenge on Fili for making her blush? Until next time.