Arabella ended up spending the rest of the day bawling her eyes out. She was glad it wasn't one of her dwarrows she had come across or she likely would've started crying in front of them. As much as she was eager to see them, she just wasn't fully prepared yet. Next day she found a bounder early in the morning and sent a letter to the Gamgees to have all of her produce at the farms harvested and stored for selling in a week's time along with making provisions of its transport. She had planned for this well in advance. This was excess produce and it was to go with her to Ered Luin for trade. It would be a good three-four cart worth of grains, vegetables and fruits and she would have to hire some sort of protection detail for it. But, if prince Frerin and Dwalin were also going that way, then she could maybe make a better deal out of this whole situation. Next she went to the woodwork shop and ordered shafts for her bows. Feathers for fletching at the poultry shop, leather scabbards and holder for the daggers, swords and arrows and other nick nacks she would need for her travel. The next few days she spent learning under the local healer and creating poltuces and packets for her herb kit like Oin and Granny Took had taught her. She made it a point to avoid going anywhere near the forge but kept her ear open for any news on the dwarrows. Two days before Prince Frerin had said they were due to leave, she had come across Dwalin making purchases for relatively a month long travel and realized that the Prince had actually slipped her the real date of their departure.
Boosted with her new knowledge, she made sure everything was packed, booked a cart again and went over to the forge as late as she could the next day. She found most of the forge bare and Prince Frerin sitting behind the counter tinkering with something and Dwalin, in all his warrior glory, with Grasper and Keeper at his back glowering at her. She gave him a short bow without flinching having gotten used to them from last time and turned towards the Prince who looked entirely too amused.
"Good Evening, Master Frerin. I hope my order is ready?"
"Yes, Miss. We were waiting for you only. I had thought that you perhaps forgot our decided date."
"My apologies. I am to leave at the morrow and got caught up in the preparations. I still haven't been able to find the good sort to aid me with my travel for trade."
"That's quite alright Miss. Where if I may ask, are you travelling to?"
"Ohh, the Blue Mountains.. err Ered Luin that is by the way of Hobbiton to collect my ware."
Frerin bit back a smirk when Dwalin growled. So that's how she knew him. Not that Dwalin knew that. It wasn't a necessary information to have to be able to trade in Ered Luin. There were loads of other Lords there and Thorin's Halls were somewhat of a mere gathering place. The honorary name given much to the annoyance of his brother and joy of him and Dis. But it wasn't very suspicious to know of it either. He had tailed her ever since she had come to the forge when he could. She had done nothing suspicious but had spent all her time gathering resources for travel and rest at the local healer's learning from them. The only odd thing was that she was always dressed like a male. Which wasn't very rare for dwarrowdams, for it was done out of precaution, so he supposed that could be the reason. From what he could tell through the gossip though, it was scandalous for the halflings to travel, the women especially more so. He needed to know more about this. If she was indeed planning to come to his people for trade, he needed to know her intentions and what better way to do that than to accompany her. But it would have to be done tactfully. Without making either her or Dwalin suspicious. He spread out her order on the counter and held the staff in his hand keeping it for the end. He truly had outdone himself with the staff. Frerin had decided to give his best at it after realising the lass was earnest in her request. He saw her inspect the arrow heads and watched her closely. He had made half dozen each extra for himself and Kili out of her designs after realizing how well they would work. He knew Kili would love to try them. He himself was fond of swords and battle axes but had shifted to the bow and arrow due to his leg. He would have to give her compensation for having copied her design, it was only fair. His eyes were sharp when she started inspecting the daggers and held them in a very experienced grip. This was no novice. She proved him right when she threw each dagger at the plank next to Dwalin with a precision that spoke of years of experience. The daggers had been difficult for he had to remember to make sure they weighed less as the one's she had given for sample. He knew those daggers were elvish and had itched to make better one's. Hence couldn't help but smirk when she complimented them.
"My, those are better than the ones I gave you for sample. The grip is perfect and the weight is absolutely easy to deal with."
He inclined his head and made an effort to not preen. He could tell Dwalin was already impressed by her display and if all went right, his plan might easily succeed. When she examined the sword, Frerin forced himself to not let his anticipation show. They were one of the most challenging swords he had made since his mastery. To achieve perfect balance taking her weight and height into consideration had been very difficult. But he had enjoyed the task as much as he did making her staff. He saw from the corner of his eye when Dwalin's gaze sharpened with the way she held the sword. They both knew that hold. It was eerily similar to how Thorin held his swords to examine. Was this a coincidence? Was their something more at play? Just who was this Miss Baggins and what was she hiding? He forced himself to relax when she flicked the sword in a distinct non-dwarrow manner. He was only seeing things. There was no way she could know Thorin held his sword like that without observing him for a long time, something that wouldn't escape the notice of Dwalin and him. But if she was a spy and had really managed to observe Thorin for long enough, then she wouldn't give herself up like that in front of them. He included Dwalin because anyone who observed Thorin would just have to know who Dwalin was. Her form was very good though.
Arabella was in awe of how efficiently the weapons were made. She had seen Erebor and some of the great creations made by the Dwarrows there but to actually see what she had visualised been made for real, it was humbling. It filled her with pain to know that people of such talent were forced to undervalue their work to feed themselves. She pushed her anger in testing the daggers biting back a smirk at how high strung Dwalin was. It was good to see her old friend in all his grumpy glory. He had looked lost after the loss of the King and his heirs. Tired and hunched over in a way she had never thought he could look. It gave her hope seeing him stand tall again. She was so lost in her musings that she never realized her mistake until both her audience tensed and forced herself to not react. She knew why they had tensed. Nobody quite held their sword in a way that Thorin did other than his own nephew who too had learned from him. He was the one who had corrected her grip and the one she had watched the most and had started involuntarily copy much to the amusement of the King. Here though, it would only make them suspicious so she just as casually forced her stance into how her mother had taught her. And congratulated herself when they relaxed somewhat. She placed the last sword and started placing the daggers back in their place. She took one last look at them all and turned to the Prince.
"I have to be honest, Master Frerin, I had never expected them to be so flawlessly made. I feel as though I got the better end of the deal and have wronged you by not giving enough in return. That too without having seen the staff. How am I to compensate?"
"No Miss. You have paid what was decided and was enough. It was a joy to work on this challenging commission and that is a reward enough. I do hope the staff is to your liking as well."
Arabella found herself struck speechless at the sight of the staff. It was made from Oakwood. Oh the irony. Gnarled at top with sharp broad needles. Metal was running across the staff inlaid with what she assumed were khazad runes. The base was capped with metal and leather in a paw like manner. All in all, it was very very beautiful but practical and she had highly underpaid for it.
"Master Frerin... this this is.. it is worth three golds all by itself if not more. It is so much more than I had hoped. Oh I have truly done your craft a disservice. You must let me renegotiate our deal."
When he appeared to be happy yet unyielding, she turned to Dwalin and gave him her best fauntling look.
"Master dwarrow, I am Arabella, daughter of Bungo and Belladonna. You must help me, surely you will agree. This is a work of art and deserves to be paid for as such. Just look at how beautifully it has been made."
"Aye Miss. I agree with you, Dwalin, son of Fundin at your service."
Dwalin ignored Frerin's betrayed look and watched with a smirk as the halfling happily dug out the promised silver and three extra gold coins with it. He had given Frerin a good what for after he had given the lass his real name. Of all the troll headed things to do. Did he not know there was a risk of being recognised? So the moment she had left the forge, he had tailed her. Inquired about the orders she had made, her name and everything he could without making anybody suspicious. She had done nothing strange or threatening at all. But being a warrior, he knew better than to let his guard down. He knew Frerin was trailing her when he wasn't but hadn't found anything suspicious either. She had given them a good deal, made the journey to Bree worthwhile and he was thankful, but no less suspicious. Something that returned twofold when she disclosed her destination. This bore close inspecting. Even more so now that he knew she was well trained, wonderfully in fact for the gentle-folk. She didn't seem to have bad intentions. But they had learned much over the last century and half. He knew Frerin would want to accompany her and to a certain level, he agreed. If a trained person was to come to Thorin's Halls as a trader, it was best they came under a watch. She certainly seemed to have an eye for good things at least. He gave the prince a look that said deal with it and turned back towards the lass. Frerin, seemingly having decided no help would come from him, spoke again.
"Miss. Arabella, I thank you for your appreciation. But you need not pay me more. For, I was highly impressed with your designs of arrowheads and have incorporated them to make some for myself and my nephew. I am to compensate for them anyway, as such you need not pay me more."
"Nonsense. If my work helps you make your nephew happy then that is all the payment I require. Us hobbits weigh measure of payments differently, Master Frerin. More than anything, spreading cheer and feeding guests is what makes us happy. You need not compensate me in any way. I am truly glad for this. It will make my travel much easier."
"Err.. but.."
"No. I will not take the money back. If you still wish to help me, then should you know anybody trustworthy here, I would have you recommend me someone I can make the journey to the Blue Mountains with. I have quite the load with me and I am afraid going alone, even well armed, won't be a good idea."
Frerin looked at Dwalin and silently communicated what he wanted. He bit back a sigh at Dwalin's approval and turned to the lass.
"About that, Dwalin and I are leaving for Ered Luin tomorrow. We will be happy to accompany you along the way."
Frerin saw how her posture suddenly went on defensive and wondered if she was in fact a spy of sort and went on alert himself. He saw Dwalin doing the same. But then she spoke, sounding rather vulnerable for the first time.
"What will you be expecting in return?"
Ohh.. well, it was suspicious of two male folk to offer accompanying a female they didn't know so readily. She obviously expected foul play, but he didn't know how to deal with this. Dis had always been the strong sort and most people he came across knew him already but so did this hobbi.. huhh, well a Prince making the offer would be even more suspicious. He wondered if he had managed to thoroughly bullox this and looked at Dwalin for help. Thankfully, his fellow came to the rescue
"We would normally be going at a much faster speed on the ponies, but if you have carts with you then it would make the journey longer and we'd need more resources. So, the only payment we want is for you to pay for the food and if you are adept at cooking, then take up that duty while on road."
Arabella pretended to think. She knew she couldn't appear over eager for it would make them more suspicious. She knew they already were. Dwalin even more so. Or maybe she thought that because she knew him well. She had hoped for a recommendation from the Prince to help establish trade at Ered Luin, but this was a dozen times better. If she was able to do it all properly, then she would be able to have her produce sold to the people at Ered Luin as expected and the burden on Thorin would lessen by some knowing that their was at least plenty of food to lessen the blow of coming winter.
"Very well. I am in agreement with this. But, in return when we get to Ered Luin, you will do me one last favour by helping me find a safe enough place to lodge at."
Dwalin found himself appreciating her paranoia despite himself. If she was honest and earnest in her effort, he knew both of them would help her make a good trade too. He made sure Frerin agreed and turned back to her.
"We are in agreement then. We leave at dawn. Do you need any help at present?"
"No. none at all. I have all the resources gathered already. Also, I have a cart so you need not invest in ponies. If that is acceptable to you of course."
"It is. We will meet you at dawn by the gate."
Arabella made sure everything was in order, that she had collected all that she needed and made her way back to the Prancing Pony; suddenly highly aware of the four eyes following her. It occurred to her only now, that they may have been doing so for the duration of her whole stay and she might not have realised. She wondered why the sudden change. But now that she knew she was being followed, she couldn't help but look over her shoulder. She relaxed a little when she reached the Pony and talked to Butterbur to clear her tab and add tonight's dinner, asked to be sent to her room and breakfast to go for three to it. She hurried to her room and bolted the door. Allowed herself to calm down. Dwalin's paranoia was not new to her. It was something she should've expected. But she remembered how Green Lady had said that those she knew could be different and already the Prince was unknown to her. She had seen Dwalin fight, knew how she paled in comparison. If they decided to harm her, she would be harmed. But she didn't think Dwalin in any way could do something of that sort. The Prince didn't give her any bad feelings either, dangerous but not bad. She set all her purchases on the floor and started going through the mechanical work of packing everything to calm herself down. She placed the daggers made by the Prince on two separate broad leather belts made to put daggers, after sheathing each one, oiled the sheath and practiced pulling them out till she became highly acquainted with the process then rolled the belts to be put on her thighs for tomorrow. She placed her elven daggers next to her leather armour, placed six in the slits she had custom made at the back and six in front for the same. Went through with the same motions like before till they came out smoothly and in an easy motion and placed it aside as well. Then, she pulled out the Healer's kit she had carried with her since young age and emptied it on the floor and placed all the new things she had bought, made and gathered in Bree next to them. She had also bought a new tin for the herbs and a bigger healer's kit for everything together. She placed them to her own setting and found herself relaxing more and more. She placed her travel clothes other than the pair she was to wear in her sack. Packing it so that it wouldn't have to be redone in Bag-End. Knowing this was helping her relax, she put everything else in order. Packed in rolls to be put in the cart. She was glad she'd picked a big cart for it would be necessary to hold her and the dwarrows baggage. It was sturdy so she knew she could rely on it to last up until Ered Luin and back to Shire.