Even as a child, Bella had known there was something not normal about her, strangely it never bothered her. This, whatsoever was not normal, only helped her. She always found the best hiding spots, learned her letters and numbers before others, did somethings that she normally never would have. But it never caused her any harm other than some minor confusions. But, that dreadful evening, everything changed. The sight before her had scared her to her bones for sure, but it had brought out something more, foggy memories and names that she had never before heard. She had first thought it an after effect of the whole incident and focused more on her parents. But then her Tad passed, soon her Mamau followed and in the years that followed, Bella found herself chasing the faceless names and nameless terrors. Somehow, she knew it was important to know what she was chasing after, so that's what she did. She carried on her own directed path. Learning, exploring, becoming better, knowing all that she could. It wasn't until her 48th birthday, that she found out why.
Bilbo had remembered the Green Lady saying things would be different, but it wasn't until the Fell Winter that he realised just how very different. As it turned out though, he had needed a reminder of just what was at stake, so he held back his paranoid side and tried to help Bella more, somewhere along the years, he stopped thinking of himself as Bilbo but instead started thinking as Bella. He didn't even try to resist, for he knew that when he was in complete control, there would be only two years to prepare and too much to do. As her 48th birthday grew near, Bilbo found himself more in control, became used to being a girl and thinking of himself as her.
When she woke up on the day of her 48th birthday, Arabella Baggins found herself remembering the life she had lived as Bilbo Baggins. The trials, the mistakes, the good, the bad, everything. It filled her with a sense of purpose and she finally knew what she had to do. She allowed herself to go through the motions of her birthday party and kept half her mind focused on what she was supposed to do after this. It took quite a bit of effort to not snap at everyone and go have a good cry back at home. But if there was one thing she had learnt after reliving her past life and the life she had led uptill now, it was the fact that you could never have too many friends and you should never take the good times for granted. So, she chatted with everyone. Made a request with Aunt Mirabella to visit next week for tea to discuss something of import. Then made another appointment with grandfather Took in four days time giving the same reason. Now that she knew that she was supposed to go travel well in advance, she was determined to be prepared better and make arrangements so that people and her business back home was not left in the wind like Bilbo had had to do. It was good to finally have a clear picture of all that was expected of her. She knew she was going to be on a hard journey here after, so she allowed herself this one day, for tomorrow, everything would be completely different.
Arabella spent the next day setting her house in order. She had only one present that came from the Rangers since hobbits gave presents on their birthdays and Men received them on their birthdays. Like last year and the years before, it was weapons and a poltuce of herbs. She started testing their grip and thought back fondly on the day she had come across them. It was while on one of her walking holidays to Bree and she had felt as though she was being watched. And who should it be, but the Dunedain Rangers, just worried about a hobbit lass travelling by herself. Since then, whenever she planned on taking another holiday, she alerted them as they had taught her until they had deemed her capable enough to go by herself. Not that she stopped seeking them after, just that the meets were rare, but she liked to think of them as her friends and was glad for all the knowledge they had imparted with her. It occurred to her only now, had she known all that she did now, mayhaps she would've been able to help King Elessar's father avoid his death? She knew, like her Lady had reminded her, that some incidents were simply unavoidable and try as she might, certain things would simply remain unchanged. It terrified her, this task she was assigned with and the weight of it. She allowed herself to fall in the well practiced manner of caring for her weapons and placing them on the rack. Today, she would allow herself to grieve, for all those that had been lost and for all those she may not be able to save. Then, she would plan like a Baggins would and see her Tookish enthusiasm become it a reality.
As decided, Bella Baggins became one extremely busy hobbit from the next day. After sleeping on it, and coming to terms with all her knowledge, she had come up with a very basic plan for the time being. She had a mental list prepared.
-Write down the account of mine and Frodo's journey.
-Set the estate and inheritance in order.
-Start practicing riding the pony and walking for an extended period.
-Train more.
-Figure out what is different from the last time.
-Make a plan as to what to do differently for the Quest and then about the destruction of the Abomination.
This was something the Bilbo in her had come up with, the older part of her that had her priorities set. These, Bella knew had come from a sense of desperation to right the past wrongs. But she needed to think properly, plan more and ahead while looking at the big picture. The first thing she knew would have to be writing the account of the adventures that changed her and her nephew's lives. She did one better, first, she wrote the journal over the days till her hand ached. Then, she read it, all the while adding things she would have liked to change in another journal. It helped her think more clearly, without muddling up what she remembered from years ago. It also gave her many inspirations while dealing with her second assigned task.
The Dwarrows of Erebor, lived a comfortable life in the Blue Mountains but it was by no means a good one. It seemed comfortable only because they had their wandering years to compare it to. Having talked to Balin over it many times Before, she knew of their troubles very well, the biggest of which was food. Other than what they experienced during the Fell Winter, Hobbits were completely alien to the concept of lack of food. Food was something that was found plenty in the Shire and was shared happily just as well. The Dwarrows of Ered Luin however had to struggle for the same, even more so during the winters. So, when she met her Tad-Cu for the meeting to settle her inheritances and estates, Bella presented him with a proposal.
Genitorus Took had seen many a things in his considerably long life and after his most beloved Belladonna, he had thought nothing would surprise him. But here he was, sitting in his study with his dear departed Belladonna's daughter who had managed to one up her mother. Hobbits as a general rule, avoided outsiders with certain exceptions. His dear friend Gandalf for example, had managed to worm his way in over generations. Then there were the Rangers, those that protected them. They were highly respected but the general populace was wary of them and so, over the years the Rangers had learnt to be visible and approach only when essential. Next came the mannish settlement of Bree. Which was somewhat of an compulsion rather than done out of will. As self sufficient as the hobbits were, they were simply dependent for somethings that they weren't good at. If anything, the scorn of the humans in Bree made it seem all the more important to avoid outsiders. This, also meant that any trade that happened, was done through Bree. He had known all these years, that the humans there bought from the hobbits at a cheap rate and sold to whoever they did on a very high rate. But, in spite of being the Thain, he hadn't found a concrete solution over the problem. Also, after hearing of Belladonna's account of the highly comfortable lives of the elves at Rivendell, he had put it out of his mind. Now, his granddaughter had again reminded him of all those musings and was also giving him a solution for his concerns. The important part though, was a different point. He looked closely at his granddaughter. She was everything her own mother had been and more. He could see her honesty and the determined glint in her eye, but he was still at a loss.
"Tell me dear Arabella, why do you wish to do this?"
"Tad-cu, not only are these people already struggling due to having lost their home and having to rely on others for basic needs, they are forced to pay, more than we could imagine charging for food, only because they have no options. Even the number of their younglings reduces for they have no means to provide for should they have any. These are the people of our Lady's Husband, Tad-cu. Our Kin through Divine marriage. Also, it isn't as though this would do us any loss. They are said to be highly skilled masons, artisans, blacksmiths and more. They could provide us with better tools and at a better rate than the Bree folk charge us with. Besides, what I am suggesting, is a mere experiment. The expenses will be on my head, every single one of it. But should this venture prove successful, we would not only be able to find trade with more skilled workmen, but also indulge in a satisfying trade ourselves. We both know the Rangers try but Shire isn't small, I have heard in my travels how the filths grow bolder, if we have one more strong ally on our side should this work, would it be such a bad thing?"
Damn his fondness for his granddaughter. He wanted to tell her no, not because she was wrong, but he was worried for her. But he could see she would do this with or without his help. He knew his dear departed daughter was laughing at him from Yavanna's gardens. How did his granddaughter get so wise anyway? He knew she had made all fair points and was not acting on a passing fancy but instead a well thought of plan. He sighed, he was too old for this, really.
"Very well. Currently, you own two vineyards as came from the Baggins inheritance, a fruit farm given to you by dear Bungo on his 51st birthday and a vegetable farm given by Belladonna on her 51st birthday. Correct?"
"Yes, Tad-cu."
"You are certain about wanting Drogo to inherit?"
"Yes. I want the title of the Head of the Baggins family to go to him sometime next year along with Bag End with certain conditions in place. This will include the vineyards but not the rest. If this venture is successful, then I will hire caretakers who will be responsible for carrying on the trade. I will be doing that regardless, but this is so that should I decide to travel, the matter of the trade need not become a confusion of any sort."
"Understandable. What if you get married though?"
"To be honest, right now, I have no intentions to do so. I understand you cannot plan such things, but I am quite certain that me getting married and settling down in Shire doesn't seem like a likely thing to happen."
"Aaaah, the Took blood is strong in you my dear. Regardless, your requests so far are agreed to. What next?"
"Like I told you, I wish to buy land for farming. Next to what Mamau and Tad gave me, there is a huge stretch of fertile land. It was bought by many-great grand-uncle Bandoras. It has been left vacant since then. From what I understand, it is yours right now."
"Hmmn.. Smart as a whip aren't you, little fox? That land has just been vacant for quite long. Incidentally, I had planned for Belladonna to have it as her Dower but, Bungo did me one better and so it was left aside then."
"What... what are you..saying?"
"You don't need to buy it from me, dear Heart. It would have come to you after my passing as your dower anyway. Now, enough of this legal jargon. I will have all the papers ready by tomorrow and you can go meet Mirabella and sort Drogo's matter with her."
"Truly??? I.. Ohh Tad-cu. Thank you so very much."
As she went to sleep by the end of the week, Bella decided that it could not have gone better. She had met Aunt Mirabella after meeting her grandfather and explained how she wanted Drogo to inherit. The lad was young yet. Barely had crossed his majority but she was adamant on him learning the Baggins trade and taking the mantle of the head of the family lest the Sackville-Baggins have any unsavoury ideas. Her aunt had been distressed but decided to respect her wishes. As such, Drogo spent his afternoons in Bag-End learning what he could.
Having Drogo around created a complication Bella hadn't foreseen. Turned out that Frodo had been more like his father than Bella realised. So quite a few times, poor Drogo gave his eccentric but brilliant cousin Bella confused looks when she called him Frodo. It wasn't a strange name but Drogo didn't know anyone by that name and when he asked Bella, it made her give him a sad smile so he simply shook his head fondly and carried on with his learning. Being the Head of the Bagginses came with a lot of responsibility after all. Of course, Drogo had some non traditional responsibilities too but he found that he didn't mind. He'd seen how Bella treated her tenants and farm workers like friends, how she treated the Rangers like family and always had kind words for everyone. He'd observed how her behaviour was appreciated and reciprocated. He wanted to be just like her. So yes, as per her request, he'd always welcome a weary traveller should they seem to need the warmth of BagEnd's Home and Hearth.
Bella knew she had confused them with her insistence of Drogo inheriting after her but she had her reasons. Not first of which was keeping Otho and Lobelia away. She never wanted Frodo to grow up without his parents. If Drogo and Primula had a house in Bag End, they won't live near the Brandywine river and wouldn't grow curious to make a boat or take a picnic in it. For what she had stolen from Frodo even though nobody knew, she would ensure that he had more than enough this time around. Which also prompted her to appoint the Gamgees as the caretakers of her old and newly bought farms in her absence with a good enough sum so that it may later help Samwise when necessary. She already had plans to keep a trust fund for Merry and Pippin when the time came. Time passed quickly, especially since most of her time was either spent at the farms overseeing the work, training or tutoring Drogo. Before she knew it, the time for harvest was upon them.