Bella knew her real tasks would begin now. She had roughly a year and half before the Quest and there was loads she had to get done in the meantime. Much as she'd wanted to run away from all her responsibilities when they became too much or run away to blue mountains to see her Company, she knew it would serve to only make things messy. So she had focused on getting her life in the Shire organised first. She'd overseen the building of farmer smials for the hobbits working on her farms, then ensured that proper storages were made to keep the harvest. Some of her time had also been spent learning healing from healer Took. Bella knew how much of a useful skill it was to have in a pinch. When harvest season arrived, she was all set to leave to take care of her other tasks.
With everything taken care of on homefront, she started looking outward. Her first destination was Bree. She booked a cart, handed the keys of BagEnd along with a set of instructions for Drogo and left for Bree with some travel essentials. The roads were in good condition so she managed to get there in good time. First, she booked a room at the Prancing Pony, then went about gathering a good gear and basic armour. Bed roll, oilskin, cloaks, travel clothes, flint and whetstones, cold tins, water skins, vambraces and a newly customised bounder armour and such. On her third day in town, she heard something from the grapevine that made her heart beat a little faster. The Forge had a new and very skilled Dwarf from Ered Luin who was taking commissions. She already had a dozen of Elven and Mannish daggers given to her by the Rangers but, if there was an opportunity to make some profit for Thorin's people in whatever capacity, she would do it in a heartbeat. So, the third day post lunch found her walking towards the forge in a bundle of nerves with a big pouch of coins. She had prepared the whole conversation in her mind. If the Dwarrow was an honourable one, then she would offer him more work and make sure he would go home a happy man. She knocked on the door and waited to be attained. She could hear the voice of hammering stop followed by a conversation in Khuzdul that she was unable to understand but knew was going on. One of the voices felt slightly familiar but she couldn't tell for certain. Then, a dwarrow walked out and she found herself a little speechless. He had a wooden left leg to start with, was in a loose tunic and breeches. But she hardly noticed that for he bore an unholy amount of resemblance to Thorin but more with Fili's face structure and lo behold, he had no beard, much like Thorin. His left ear was half cut and very visible through his braids but more visible were the beads that Arabella knew proclaimed him to all those who recognised them as a son of the royal line of Durin. She forced herself to not react or look at his injuries knowing from Bifur how it could be a bother and made eye contact with him. Something that cemented that whoever this was, wasn't Thorin. She didn't know how she was sure, but she was. So, she chastised herself silently and gave him what she hoped was a small smile and a low bow like her dwarrows had taught her and introduced herself.
"Good Morning, Master Dwarrow. I am Arabella, daughter of Bungo and Belladonna. I was told you were taking commissions and wished to inquire more regarding that."
When Frerin had fought with Dis and Thorin over going to Bree to gather resources this time, he had felt compelled to do so. Something had pulled at him to go there. Somehow, he knew it was very important for him to be there this time. He had been here before of course, it was one of the good places to make profit. But it was never without Thorin. His dear old brother who had turned into a mother hen after Frerin's brush with death at the Battle of Azanulbizar. Honestly, he had no idea as to how he survived. Somehow, the strike that would have definitely cleaved him in half, had only taken half his leg and half his ear. It was painful, traumatizing especially because of all the other deaths and the destruction he had witnessed. He had felt rather useless all things considered, so he'd allowed Thorin and Dis to baby him despite his sister being the youngest. But, the birth of his nephews had changed that. They had given him a reason to get over his own pain and struggle and motivated him to do better. But apparently, Thorin and Dis never got that news. They continued to coddle him and act as though he was about to vanish. Yes, he knew how that felt and did his own share of fussing over them, but this was a bit much. At 185, Frerin felt more than entitled to not be fussed over. Besides, there were Fili and Kili to worry about. If Thorin and Frerin went to work at different places, it would only make for more resources. As such, he had put his rather stable and pointed artificial foot down and allowed only Dwalin along with much grumbling. So, much to their fraying nerves, here he was, already making a good profit because it had been over five years or so since any dwarrow from Ered Luin last visited Bree as a blacksmith. It was a good experience, though the ignorance and derision of the race of men and the halflings if he ever came across any was a little disheartening. He knew how it grated his brother, but now, Frerin had already come to terms with it. So, when a little halfling came to the forge and introduced herself in the way of the khazad, without any judgement involved and without looking at his injuries, Frerin was suitably surprised. He bowed in return to her own and decided to go ahead with his real name.
"Frerin, son of Thrain, at your service."
He silently cursed when he saw her eyes go wide as dinner plates. Dwalin was already barking at him in khuzdul for introducing himself and now he may or may not land himself in a precarious position depending on what she said next. Her eyes widened more at the sound and then she was focusing on him with a scrutiny of a healer. He watched her closely as she took in the details of his face, only to later realise she was looking at his beads and not face or ear. He thought he was mistaken but she seemed to have relaxed after looking at his beads. What did she have to be relaxed about anyway? Just who was this halfling and how did she know what to look for? He knew the Shirelings were highly ignorant of world outside of their borders. Why then was she reacting to his name and looking at his beads? Then to top it all, she gave him another bow, one fit to his station and his hand inched towards his dagger. This was proving to be most interesting. When he was sure she was going to say something to let Dwalin know he had screwed up, she surprised him again.
"Thank you Master Frerin. I wish to commission a few weapons for myself along with a sturdy staff."
"Weapons?"
"I understand that Hobbits are looked on as gentle-folk but I can assure you I am not jesting. I wish to travel for trade purpose on relatively unsafe roads and as such need to have weapons to defend myself should the need arise. Will you be amiable to do so?"
Now, he was really confused. This meeting was becoming more and more strange. He was glad she hadn't let Dwalin know what she knew, or Thorin would have grounded him. Prince or not. So, he decided to humor her.
"What are the weapons that you wish to have made, Miss?"
Arabella was having a very hard time from not having a hysterical reaction. When the dwarrow had introduced himself, she thought it meant Prince Frerin survived the Battle of Azanulbizar but maybe Thorin didn't, especially after hearing what was without a doubt Dwalin's gruff voice. Dwalin was always attached to Thorin's hip in the last timeline. So she surveyed his beads and relaxed when she realized they were similar to Fili's, meaning of the Heir's and not that of the King's and allowed herself to relax. No, her Lady mother had promised her with a chance to make it upto Thorin. He couldn't be dead. His expressions made it obvious enough that he didn't wish to be acknowledged, especially if his glances in Dwalin's directions were to go by. So, she simply gave him a low bow as was fit to his station, for she couldn't not and proceeded with her business. When he asked about what she wanted to have made, she pulled out the sketches she had drawn last night and a pair of her daggers. And passed them to him. She noticed how he tensed when she made to take them out of her bag but decided not to react and make him more paranoid.
"I wish to have a dozen daggers similar to these but not curved, a pair of swords, well swords for my size as are sketched on this paper and two dozen arrow heads of this kind, a dozen of this and a dozen of this kind. Lastly, I want a walking staff that won't be too heavy so probably a wooden one enforced with metal for durability."
"You aren't planning to go to war are you? Little Miss?"
"Not anytime soon. But should I decide to do so, I shall venture to remember you for weapon supplement."
Frerin really couldn't tell if she was joking or not. But decided that the sparkle in her eyes as mischief and let the comment slide. He imagined Thorin at his place and bit back a smile. His brother would definitely have been more confused, the clot-head. There was something fishy about her though. So, he had to test if she was trying to butter up to him for whatever reason.
"The order will take at least a week and half to finish for I have a few more and some are to be delivered early. It will also cost you around 10 gold and 20 silver coins at minimum for the weapons and depending on what I use for the staff, some more silver coins."
"Come now, Master Frerin. That is hardly a fair cost. I am amiable to give 8 gold coins and 20 silver coins for all of it."
He knew it was a fair price, something that he would get if he were in a dwarrow market. But he had to haggle. Had to know why she was offering so much. Years of scorn had taught him to beware of kindness. It was hardly if ever, given freely.
"I cannot go below 9 gold coins and a total of 24 silver's"
If she was trying to intimidate him, it was a good enough attempt, only he had Dis for a sister and nothing was scarier than her. He saw her hesitate, prepare to haggle more but then she gave a resigned sort of sigh that made him feel a little guilty.
"Very well, I am the one in need after all"
Arabella knew she was being tested but didn't have the energy to haggle. Here he was, this dwarrow prince. Looking a mixture of Thorin and Fili, his eyes alive like Kili's. She just wanted to go back to her room at the Pony and have a good cry. She was thankful that Thorin and Lady Dis had their brother with them this time. She counted the money and put the amount of gold coins on top of her sketches.
"I will pay the silver when the order is done. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes. A week and a half. Although, don't miss that day for I will be leaving the next day."
He winced. That was exactly the sort of information he was supposed to not give to suspicious strangers. But before he could say anything, she nodded and left with a heavy air about herself. Leaving him feeling bad about giving her an unfair deal. But he had been assuming that she would bargain, oh well, maybe he would put in extra effort on the staff and make it a worthwhile deal for her. He picked up the material from her and began work with a new zeal. This was a good profit and it would serve them well for buying food come winter.