Finally, the week was through and in perfect timing they reached a stream. Thorin had called an early halt, and Bella had paused only long enough to tell Bilbo where she was going before she raced down to a place sheltered by rocks and bushes. The water was cold, perfect for washing out her wretchedly soaked and bespeckled clothes. After all the blood was washed out, she settled in for a nice refreshing bath.
She scrubbed herself until she was pink then washed her hair all the way to the roots. She crouched in the shallows, allowing herself to half-float in the stream. The first real bath since Rivendell and the only thing that would have made it better was warm water and a better assurance of privacy.
Fili wandered down to the stream. There were a few others who wished to have a proper bath, but that couldn't happen until Bella returned to camp. So, he had decided to slip down to check on her. As he got closer, he turned around and started walking backwards.
"Bella?" he called, stopping.
A pause then. "Fili Son of Dis! What do you think you're doing?"
"Checking to make sure you're alright. Don't worry, I'm not even looking your direction. Or the direction of the stream."
"Ugh. Lucky for you I am nearly finished." Her low grumbles were nearly swallowed by the flowing water. "How many more are following after you?"
"None until you are completely done," Fili answered.
"Alright, it's safe."
He turned round before whipping round again. "No, it's not."
"I am fully dressed. Of course it's safe."
"Your hair's undone."
"Wha-? But hardly more than you, Kili, or Thorin."
"But that's normal for us, even still we have portions of our hair contained. It's the equivalent of Dori or Bombur having their hair free."
"And what's so wrong about that?"
"For some dwarves it's the equivalent of a marriage proposal."
A long moment and then, "Oh. I had no idea."
"I suppose it's going to be a while yet then," Fili guessed.
"Yes, but I'll start brushing it. That helps it dry sometimes." A pause then. "You know, you can come over here and sit. Some could argue that we're practically engaged anyway."
Fili took a couple deep breaths. "You honestly trust me that much?"
"Of course I do. If it bothers you, I won't make you watch me. I just figured it would be more comfortable to sit down instead of just standing. Not to mention being a little closer makes it easier to talk without half-yelling over the water and the distance."
He released a slow breath before turning and slowly walking where Bella had seated herself on a low, flat boulder. "So," he drew out, "it's not a big deal for hobbits to have their hair undone like that?"
"Hair doesn't have a lot of cultural meaning period for hobbits," Bella answered. "I should probably be surprised that I haven't stumbled over myself over something related to hair."
Fili chuckled, glancing over to her out of the corner of his eye. Honey-brown rings surrounded her head and shoulders as she tried to tame them against the wind. "Probably should have guessed since hobbit men cut their hair. Do they shave as well?"
"I'll have you know that hobbits don't grow beards. Though we do take pride in our foot hair."
Fili glanced down to her bare and semi-wooly feet. "I'll admit that I've wondered how you and your brother fare without proper boots."
A smile flavored her voice as she answered, "I don't have much knowledge of footwear, but I'd dare to say that hobbit feet are tougher than any leather sole. But I'll ask you not to try anything. Aside from the rare medical emergency, no one outside the family is allowed to touch another's feet."
"So it's not just a matter of a man touching a lady's foot, but someone outside the family in general."
"Exactly. I'm under the impression that it would be similar to dwarves doing each other's hair?"
"I'd imagine very similar. Only family members braid or otherwise style one's hair. It is seen as the most intimate of gestures outside the marriage chamber."
"I'm very fortunate to have a suitor who is willing to save me from so many cultural fumbles."
Fili turned to her, his smile faded a touch. "I couldn't help but notice that you haven't really called me your One, while I have done so many times."
Bella slowed in her brushing as she released a slow, quiet breath. "I've been meaning to tell you for about a week now, but never really had the opportunity." She bit her bottom lip. "I haven't gotten that sense of knowing like you have. It's not to say that I never will," she added quickly. "Just that it is taking longer than I would have thought."
"You . . . you haven't known?" Fili asked. His chest tightened, his heart near freezing. How–how could this–?
A warm hand touched his own. "This is no rejection," she said firmly, love infusing her words. "I just so happen to be an old spinster who is set in her ways and needs to be hit over the head to change them. I know that I love you, more than a friend and more than a brother. I love you as the one I hope to spend the rest of my life with, to have my children with if Eru would so bless us. It may be as simple as I have expected to feel a certain way when I found my One, and so I have missed all the signs. Or it could be that my head and my heart are mixed up and have yet to send me the proper message. Or," she finally drew out, "it could be a hobbit thing and we don't have Ones, which I pray is not the case for your sake."
Fili turned again to meet her gaze. She looked so beautiful, the sun shining through the wave of curls around her face. But the most gorgeous thing of all were her eyes, glowing with love and promise.
Then she eased away, brushing her damp waves and ringlets. "How did you know that I was your One?" she asked.
Fili lightly shook himself as he turned to look out over the stream. He thought back to that long ago night when they first met, even beyond to when he first heard about the mysterious hobbit ranger a few years ago. "I guess I got a hint of it when I heard about a hobbit ranger from some men in a village a group of dwarves were trading in. I hardly knew anything about hobbits at the time, only that they were a gentle people who valued peace and were a touch smaller than dwarves. But a hobbit willingly taking on ruffians? Not to mention the debates of whether it was a woman or a man dressed as a woman, it all caught my attention. Everything about it whispered, 'This is right.' Possibly why I even said anything about it to Dwalin.
"When we finally met . . . well, it took a little while for me to fully accept what my heart was telling me since for a couple hours we thought you were Bilbo. But when I finally acknowledged it, . . . I can only really describe it as this intense sensation of rightness about it all. I couldn't imagine anyone else but you filling that role in my life, even though before, I had considered a couple dwarf girls in passing." He shrugged. "As Crown Prince, future king, I'm required to marry someone. But after seeing you, whenever I look back, I feel crazy for even imagining it being anyone else."
He glanced over to see his One blushing even as her fingers were buried in the task of taming her curls into a braid. He couldn't help but feel pleased at the accomplishment. "So, what do you imagine finding your One would be like?" he asked.
"Hmm? Oh, uh. Give me a moment to gather my thoughts," she said, her cheeks blushing ever brighter in her fluster.
"Did I manage to render Bellarosa Baggins speechless?" he teased.
"If you don't stop it, I'll toss you into the stream no questions asked," she warned.
Fili held up his hands in surrender even as he chuckled. He had no intention of testing her limits and possibly getting wet.
After a moment she said, "Well, I suppose I always thought that if I did have a One, I'd get the sense of gaining the greatest adventure ever. The awe-inspiring, almost weak-kneed yearning, similar to when I would look to the great forests or paintings of mighty mountains." She gave an amused hum. "So I guess, I could be completely confused thanks to this quest being my first real adventure."
"Or it is meant to feel utterly different," Fili said. He turned to her again, watching her fingers weave three, thick, curling locks into a single braid. "None of us can really predict how we'll know or when we'll know." He released a half-laugh. "I guess I was so confident that we were right, I never stopped to really consider if you had similar feelings."
She lightly laughed. "I'll confess that it was a bit slow for me. You and your brother were among the first of thirteen invaders and I thought you were little more than scamps. Thankfully for you, my opinion of you improved over the evening so that I was willing to consider your suit. Then over the weeks of traveling, I found myself gradually falling in love so that once we arrived in Rivendell, I was certain in my decision to court you. I only waited a few days to ensure that it wasn't the sleepless night or flying emotions that was making the decision.
"I wanted to be certain that if need be, I could look back and recall that I hadn't made my decision during a moment of high emotion. I could look back and tell myself that I had decided to court you because I truly believed we had a future together."
Fili closed the distance between them and kissed her forehead. It may have been rash, but the fact that his amralime had thought it through, made certain of her own mind and heart, despite not having the sixth sense he'd had, made him love her even more. He smiled as her cheeks flushed red again. "At least that will be enough, even if you never receive that special knowing yourself," he said.
She smiled, a beautiful sight. "Thank you for not being disappointed."
He lightly shrugged. "I think I was for a moment, but I'm starting to get the idea, it may be better this way. My knowledge just nudged us in the right direction. This will just make it all the more precious since we have to work at it."
She ducked her head, then scowled at the end of her braid where her fingers were still tangled. "Well, my hair is done, but I didn't think to bring a hair tie with me."
"Let me help with that," he said, reaching into a pouch at his waist. He pulled out a silver bead, one of the spares he kept for his own braids. With practiced ease, he threaded the remaining strands into the bead, clasping it so that his One's braid ended in a silver cylinder.
Bella sent him an amused half-smile. "Are you sure that this won't be interpreted wrong?"
He shrugged. "As you pointed out earlier, we are practically engaged. Besides, what would seal the deal for them is if I had also done your braid, and they'll be able to tell that you were the one to braid your hair."
"Oh? I'm that bad?"
"No, it's just that I would have used more than three sections to weave it."
She slapped him. "Show off," she chided, teasingly.
"Braids have many meanings in our culture," he defended himself. "At times declaring ranks, families, and relations to families. Other times," he gave her a sly look, "they reveal the level of love and devotion, especially between engaged and married couples."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, that's enough. I get the idea. Now, I'm going to collect my things and return to camp so that you baker's dozen and my brother can have your chance at getting clean. And maybe afterward, the entire company will cease to stink to high heaven."
Fili chuckled. "Well, treating furs isn't the most pleasant-smelling occupation."
"If they weren't already nicely smoked, I'd suggest laying them out to air before fashioning them into winter things."
"Hm. We may have overlooked the need of cloth to finish them. But we may get lucky and meet some traders."
Bella rolled her eyes. "And how has our luck been?"
"Fairly good?" Fili returned.
"Patchy at best," she said. Fili laughed some more as she continued, "So, are you joining me on the way back, or are you going to start bathing before the rest?"
"I'll join you," he answered. "I need to get a spare change of clothes." He helped her carry her pack, as she carried the clothes that she had washed.
Upon arriving back in camp, Fili's bead at the end of Bella's braid was noted, but very little was actually said about it. At least not until the Company minus Bella was bathing at the river. A bit of playful ribbing from Bofur and Kili. A few questions from Dori, Balin, Dwalin, and Thorin. Some brotherly protectiveness from Bilbo. Eavesdropping and random comments from the rest. Pretty much what Fili had come to expect.
Yes, things weren't exactly like he had thought they'd be when he found his One. But, much like that moment he realized who Bella was, he honestly wouldn't have it any other way.
Bella looked out over the plains. She almost laughed. Apparently they had potentially met with a patch of luck. "Fili, do you think that those wagons over there could be merchants?"
Fili was by her side within a minute. "It is certainly possible. Shall we grab our brothers and find out?"
In the end, it was the foursome and Dwalin that ventured down from their camp to the small caravan. They were all big folk, camping between big town performances, but were more than happy to conduct some business.
One of the men was a weaver, currently working on good, sturdy wool for the cold months. Bella ran her fingers lightly along his selection of rich, dark colors.
"So, which colors would you and Bilbo like for your winter coats?" Fili asked.
"Hm. Bilbo, do you have a preference?" Bella asked her brother.
Bilbo chortled. "Oh, no. We are not playing that game. You always have the final say of colors. I have stopped trying to give my opinion."
Bella shot him a short glare before turning back to the colors as Kili laughed. After a moment, she tugged out a rich forest green a little further and a majestic dark blue that she was starting to consider Durin's blue. "Bilbo."
"I know, I know." Bilbo rolled his eyes even as he gave her an affectionate, indulgent smile. He stood beside the cart as Bella held the two colors up to him.
"How long have you been married?" the weaver asked.
Bella and her brother both released a sharp "Eep!"
"We're twins," Bilbo quickly said. "Not–" He shuddered.
"Oh, sorry," the man said. "I had thought that all halflings looked alike, so I didn't think anything of it."
"But," Fili stepped in, wrapping an arm around Bella's shoulders, "we our currently courting."
"Ah," the weaver said. "First I've ever heard of a halfling and a dwarf getting together, but everyone to their own I suppose."
"Have you made a decision, Bella?" Kili asked. He yelped when Bella jerked him closer, quickly comparing his tunic to the blue she was considering.
"Just wanted to be sure I was looking at the proper shade," she said.
The weaver chuckled. "The blue is to your liking?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "I believe I'll have some of the blue and some of the green. Enough to make two hobbit-sized coats."
"Yes, madam," the weaver said. A moment later he handed her the two bundles in exchange for two gold coins.
Bella was well aware that she could have bought about the same for less in Hobbiton, but she would make sure that not so much as a scrap went to waste. The coats would have hoods. They would have gloves. If there so happened to be enough, she and Bilbo would have winter trousers.
"Would you look at that?" Kili said.
Bella pulled herself from her sewing plans to see what Kili had spied. A woman was selling various instruments, and Kili was examining a small harp.
The dark-haired dwarf turned to Fili and Dwalin. "Didn't you both say Uncle used to play the harp?"
"Aye, that he did, laddie," Dwalin answered.
"He sold his harp one winter when we had hardly any food between us," Fili said.
"Shortly after the battle of Moria?" Kili asked quietly.
Fili nodded. "It was a hard winter for everyone."
Bella eyed the harp. It was simple, yet the carvings in the wood made it elegant. "How much for it?" she asked the woman.
"One and a half silver coins," she answered. "And I make certain that every instrument is at its best before I set it out."
"I'll buy it then," Bella said, pulling out a silver coin and counting out the needed coppers.
"Bella, you don't have to do that," Fili said.
"I know, but I want to," Bella said. "Besides," she handed over the coins, "dwarvish tradition could argue that it's about time that I gave your uncle a gift."
They wandered the carts about a quarter hour more before they decided to return to their own camp. Bella could hardly contain her smile as she caught sight of her future uncle-in-law. Fili took her cloth as she carried the wooden and string instrument to its new owner.
"Thorin," she said, "I was told that you play the harp."
"A long time ago," Thorin said distractedly, not turning from a map he and Balin were looking over.
"And if your nephew's One just so happened to have a gift related to that?" she asked.
Balin looked up first. He smiled his eye twinkling smile before poking Thorin's shoulder.
Thorin looked first at Balin then turned. His jaw subtly dropped when he saw what Bella held out to him.
Bella shifted in embarrassment. "I know it may not be the quality that you are used to, but I felt that I had to at least get you something since I'd already given Kili something."
Thorin carefully took the harp, hesitated, then ran his fingers along the strings. A gentle, sweet sound floated from the strings. He smiled, one of the rare ones that actually reached his eyes. "Thank you, Mistress Baggins. I thought I'd never play one again."
"How about an evening of music, Uncle?" Kili asked, his fingers already dancing toward his pack.
"I don't see why not," Thorin replied with a humored shake of his head.
Bella was happy and somewhat relieved that Thorin was apparently in a favorable mood for a lighthearted evening. "Why not you perform the Misty Mountains song?" she asked. "Bilbo hasn't heard it yet and I think it's beautiful."
Thorin nodded. "We may even sing some other dwarvish songs neither of you have heard. We are among our own people and not among the likes of elves."
Bella mentally shook her head. It was doubtful that she'd ever truly change his opinions of elves, but at least there hadn't been any insults.
So as the sun slowly disappeared among the hills, the dwarves filled the air with their beautiful songs. Bella once again felt her heart and spirit stir as the dwarves sang the wondrous song of the Misty Mountains and beyond. Awe filled her as she heard their beautiful ballad of Durin the First. She was simply enchanted in some way by each and every song they played. It probably didn't help when Fili would purposefully catch her eye from where he was playing his violin.
Between Fili's subtle flirting and her own enchantment, she was pleased to see that Bilbo seemed to be just as enchanted as she. He would hum along and slowly rock to the slow tunes. She also observed Thorin as he played his new harp. Something seemed to settle over him as he played. She couldn't quite tell what though. Was he remembering bygone days? Was he experiencing a long-lost peace? Or perhaps he was realizing how much he missed playing? She didn't know him well enough to guess, but it was enough to know that he was happy and content.
Thorin carefully clutched his new harp to his chest as he gazed out into the predawn mists. He would never trade the past evening for anything. But . . . there were still too many more miles to go before they reached Erebor. If the instrument was of sturdier wood or some precious metal, maybe it would survive the journey. There was also the possibility that despite how fine an instrument it was, it may be sacrificed to the flame for heat and light. It had been a warning he had given his nephews as they prepared to pack their own instruments, thus leading them to pack their second best instead of the new, finer ones he had gifted them a couple years before.
He sighed, lightly running his fingers across the strings so he could feel them yet not make a sound. This harp deserved an owner that wouldn't put it in such risks. And he couldn't in good conscience risk the gift of his future niece-in-law being destroyed like that. Call him superstitious, but he always suspected that there was some truth in the tales where a courtship gift was destroyed and the courtship itself failed. They were already running high risks with Fili's One being a hobbit and their courtship starting on a quest few were willing to join. The backlash of someone returning a gift would merely be a minor bump in comparison to what could happen if the gift was destroyed.
Steeling his resolve, he walked through the slowly thinning mists to the caravan that his nephews, the hobbits, and Dwalin had visited last evening. When he reached the wagons, he wove round the carts and slowly moving men. Finding a woman near a cart painted with musical instruments, he said, "Excuse me."
The woman turned. "Yes?"
"Were you the one who sold this harp to a hobbit lass just this past evening?" he asked.
"I am. You are displeased with it?"
"No. It pleased me greatly, however my company and I are on a long journey that puts this fine instrument in danger of being doomed for kindling. So I thought it best to return it and thus gift it a better chance of survival." He forced himself to hold the harp out to her, even if his fingers were reluctant to part with it.
The woman gently cradled the surrendered instrument. "I'll get you the lady's coins in return." She stepped into her wagon for a moment before returning. She pressed a small pouch of coins into his hand, wrapping his fingers around it before holding firm. "You tell that golden-haired dwarf to not lose hold of that lass. There are few who find someone willing to buy such things for future in-laws she hardly knows."
Thorin nodded. And once he was released, he turned and made his way back to camp. As he was reentering camp, he found that Bella was also returning. "Where were you off to?" he asked.
"Taking advantage of the stream while I can," she answered. "A light clean never hurt anyone. And where were you off to this early?"
"I was saving your gift from destruction by returning it," Thorin said, holding out the small money pouch.
Bella froze, staring between the pouch and his face. "You, you didn't like it?" Tears gleamed in her eyes, nearly hiding her fear.
Thorin gently smiled. "I loved it, Bella. We're just still too early on in our quest to be sure that the harp will survive to the end." He caught her hand and pressed the pouch into her hand. "Once we are closer, or in Erebor, you can get me another. I will not play another harp unless it is gifted to me by you."
Bella's mouth dropped open a bit before she composed herself and nodded. "I'll be sure to get you another as soon as we are more assured of our victory."
Thorin gave her a final nod in momentary parting as he turned to go prepare for the day's travel.
"Thorin?"
He turned at her call.
"What should I buy your sister? I suspect that it ought to be special since it's her eldest I'm courting."
He chuckled. "I shall have to consider some possibilities myself. Though you may not have to fear about it being too extravagant. Fili's her eldest, yes, but you are not courting her dwarfling."
Bella laughed. "Ah, yes. The dreaded role of the baby of the family, no matter how old you grow to be."
"Exactly. Although, Dis grew up in that position herself. Part of why I refused to hear even a word from her about her coming along."
"But still," Bella said. "I've been able to get something special for Kili, and I've been able to discover the gift you would most appreciate. I just want hers to be equally as special."
Thorin smiled fondly. The woman was right. Bella was a special treasure. "I promise to think it over and offer you some considerations." He then turned, fully intending on locating his eldest sister's-son and passing on the woman's message.
Bella secretly gaped at the three gold pieces the pouch had held. Thankfully a note held an explanation.
"This is to ensure you can buy your future uncle-in-law a proper harp. He is a good dwarf, and if he helped raise your golden-haired suitor, don't you dare let that boy go. I can tell they are more than worth their weight in gold. The blessings of the Valar upon you and your future union."
She smiled softly as she looked over towards where Fili and Thorin were quietly talking. She fingered the silver bead at the end of her braid. No, she had no intention of letting Fili go. She didn't need some magical feeling to tell her they were meant to be. Even if she was doomed as a hobbit to never experience that mysterious sense of knowing, it would never change the fact that she loved Fili without question. And it'd take worse than a dragon to separate them as far as she was concerned.
Author's Note: So a bit of quiet bonding, and a bit more of dwarvish courting traditions.
In the book, Thorin actually played a harp in Bag End, but since none of the dwarves, aside from Bofur and his pipe, got their instruments in the movies, I decided to give a reason for Thorin's harp being absent. It also gave Bella the perfect gift idea. Then I recalled what all the Company has yet to go through. So, are the superstitions right? Or just old wives tales? I'll let you be the judge.
I can't recall if Tolkien ever elaborated on dwarves and their hair/beards. Maybe because I'm barely halfway through his main books. If nothing else, it's accepted fanon and I love joining the fun.
Okay. Next chapter we'll be diving back into movie/book plot, aka into the Misty Mountains. Theories as to what they'll encounter as they cross the mountain range? Thoughts on what happened in this chapter? Look forward to hearing from you.