An Unexpected Companion

Chapter 5

Concerning Unexpected Parties

Thorin Oakenshield left The Prancing Pony before either Gandalf or Tiki awoke. From what Tiki could see, Gandalf was displeased by the action, but when the innkeeper told him the dwarven prince left to meet his kin on the road to the Shire from the Blue Mountains, Gandalf forgave the dwarf. After all, it wasn't like the three of them needed to travel together to get to their destinations.

And, according to Gandalf, this could prove to be a good thing. The company of dwarves Thorin chose was either still in the Blue Mountains or on the road towards the Shire already. He could meet them somewhere on the road and lead them to where Bilbo Baggins lived.

So, satisfied with the circumstances, Gandalf paid for his and Tiki's breakfast (a lovely serving of eggs, toast, and pork sausage), then the pair set out from Bree.

Three days out of Bree, they entered the borders of the Shire. At the border, they encountered a large forest which the road cut through.

"The Old Forest, or so the Hobbits call it," Gandalf had told Tiki when they passed through that place. "I'm not exactly sure what anyone else would call it, but it fits."

Indeed, it did. But the forest was not old in a spooky sense. It was filled with bright oaks, maples, and birches. Sunlight fell to the foliage-covered floor in soft beams of golden light from the crystal clear sky. A starkly different landscape and aura compared to the downcast hills and plains between Rivendell and Bree.

Birds chirped from the eaves hanging over the road. Tiki thought she even saw squirrels, chipmunks, and deer scampering through the thickets. The presence of such game made their meals healthy and hearty. While the Lembas bread given to them by Elrond was very good, Tiki appreciated Gandalf cooking her a squirrel or a rabbit when they stopped for the evening.

It only took them a day to pass through The Old Forest. Once on the other side, they came across a bridge sitting atop a slow moving river. According to Gandalf, it was the Brandywine river; the river that cut the Shire in half. If Tiki were to go north, she would enter Buckland. If she went south, she'd reach Sarn Ford before exiting the Shire. Further west lay Hobbiton.

At this point, Tiki began to notice small settlements near the road. At first, she thought her eyes were deceiving her. The houses she saw were not houses in the traditional sense. They were holes… in the ground. Hobbit holes, with small round doors and little gardens on their grassy roofs. There were even some with glass windows embedded in the soil. A few of the small people tended to their flower and vegetable gardens while giving her and Gandalf suspicious looks.

Those suspicious glances grew more frequent a few days later when the duo entered Hobbiton. Despite the wary looks from the Hobbits, Tiki couldn't help but love the quaint nature of the Shire, especially Hobbiton.

The landscape was so green and vibrant. It reminded her so much of the lands surrounding Ylisstol before Grima: alive and thriving. Fields of daisies, tulips, and sunflowers dotted the hills and homes of Hobbiton. Small children who didn't even rise to Tiki's waist raced through the lush fields. Some of them stopped in their play and waved to her and Gandalf. Tiki couldn't help but smile and wave back.

"It seems you're enjoying the scenery?" Gandalf pointed out as the dirt road beneath their feet turned to well-kept cobblestone.

Not much further down the road, Tiki saw a small, squat structure; the only one that was not a hole in the ground. A sign with a green dragon painted on it sat over the door. Her sensitive ears heard singing and merry-making inside. Again, the corners of her mouth tugged upward.

"It seems very pleasant here."

"It most certainly is, even if the folk can be a bit wary. Although, when they warm up to you, there might not be better company." Gandalf replied as they started up a tall hill with houses dug into the slopes.

Tiki's ears twitched. A particularly grouchy hobbit-lady gave her a stern frown as she walked by, her hands on her hips and a clump of weeds from her garden wadded up in one of her hands. She offered a hesitant wave to the lady. The woman turned her nose and marched through her home's circular door.

"Have they warmed up to you yet?" Tiki asked Gandalf.

Gandalf's lips thinned within his beard. "They take a long time to warm."

"Ah."

Gandalf's pace slowed as they reached the top of the hill. At the very top, Gandalf stopped in front of a house with a large, front garden and a green door. A small, wooden bench sat near the door, and a hobbit with brown curls and wearing a white shirt, brown vest, and moss-colored trousers sat on it. Here, Gandalf came to a stop. Tiki stopped alongside him.

The hobbit, a younger one, sat with his eyes closed. A long, slender pipe sat in his hand as he enjoyed the warm, morning air. After a moment, Gandalf sighed, causing the hobbit to jerk awake.

"O-oh," The hobbit cleared his throat, tilted his head to them, and gestured with his pipe. "Good morning!"

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked, causing Tiki's lips to purse as some amusement filled her. The start of this conversation had a familiar direction. The hobbit looked puzzled. "Do you wish me good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

Even Tiki felt mildly confused by Gandalf's brain-twister of a question. Couldn't good morning mean all of those things?

"All of them at once, I suppose?" The Hobbit hesitantly replied.

And the hobbit agrees with me. She thought.

A stiff silence hung in the air for a moment, then Tiki realized Gandalf and the hobbit were both looking at her. Her emerald eyes blinked, then she realized what they were waiting for.

"Oh," She bowed her head to the hobbit, "Good morning."

"And what do you mean?" Gandalf asked. A sharp glare from Tiki told Gandalf all he needed to know. The wizard nodded and leaned against his staff. "Indeed, it is a good morning."

"Oh absolutely," The hobbit replied with a closed smile. "A wonderful morning for pipeweed and sunshine and whatnot."

Another long pause of silence. Tiki wondered if the Hobbit was waiting for her or Gandalf to reply. After shifting uncomfortably on his seat, the hobbit's friendly grin wavered. He shoved his pipe in his mouth, reached for a mailbox beside his bench, withdrew some letters, then rose to leave.

"Good morning," He nodded one more time, turning away.

"Bilbo Baggins," The hobbit ground to a halt when Gandalf said his name. Tiki blinked, surprised that the burglar Gandalf had in mind was this hobbit. Then again, appearances could be deceiving, and she was a prime example of that. "I never knew you to shoo away strange guests as if they were nothing but small annoyances."

The hobbit spun around and yanked his pipe from his mouth. "H-how do you," He tucked his chin a moment as he processed Gandalf's words, clearly offended. "Who are you?"

"Who am I?" Gandalf replied, stunned. "Well, I am Gandalf. And Gandalf is… me."

Bilbo's eyes narrowed. Then, he snapped his fingers. "Oh! Oh! Gandalf, right," Gandalf looked pleased. "You're that old man with the fireworks who came around every so often for festivals. I thought you were dead," Bilbo finished with a mutter.

It was Gandalf's turn to look offended and Bilbo's turn to be embarrassed about it. All the while, Tiki struggled to fight the grin threatening to burst over her face.

"But," Bilbo swiftly continued. "Clearly you are not. Um, how can uh… how can I help you?"

"That remains to be seen," Gandalf drew in a deep breath. "I have a proposition for you, Bilbo Baggins. I am looking for someone to partake in an adventure."

Bilbo gave Gandalf an incredulous look. "I'm sorry, an adventure?" He chuckled. "Nope, no adventures here. I don't know anyone west of Bree who is interested in an adventure."

"We are," Tiki chimed, "And, well, we're west of Bree."

"It was um," Bilbo brushed his nose with his thumb, cleared his throat, and shoved his letters under his arm. "Never mind. If you're trying to find someone else to partake in an adventure, perhaps try talking to someone over the hill or across the water. Other than that, good morning."

"Bilbo," Gandalf said. Likely against his better judgment, Bilbo turned around again. Tiki couldn't help but be impressed by his manners. She wouldn't have lasted this long. "Do you mind if my companion stays with you while I tidy up some business in town? She doesn't know her way around and is, as your neighbors would say, quite the strange character. I wouldn't want her to cause a disturbance."

Tiki gave Gandalf a pointed look, but the wizard did not seem to notice.

Bilbo seemed taken aback. "I um, well the thing is-"

"You wouldn't leave a lady outdoors, alone, now would you, Mister Baggins?" Tiki added in with her most pleasant smile.

An embarrassed expression crossed Bilbo's face. He took a moment to deliberate, then sighed.

"It is nearly elevenses," He mumbled, mouth twitching. Then he waved for Tiki to follow him. "I believe I have some cheese and crackers ready."

He strolled up the steps to his home's short, round door. Tiki hesitated a moment then turned to say something to Gandalf. She wasn't able to address him. He was already strolling back down the hill, humming a little tune to himself.

And like that, I'm left to my own devices. Tiki nodded to herself. I get the feeling Elrond would throw a fit.

"Miss?" Bilbo called. Tiki whipped her gaze back to him. "Are you joining me?"

"Oh, right! Coming," Tiki scaled the small steps to the door, which Bilbo held open for her. She did have to wonder: what on earth was elevenses?

Hobbits eat… a lot. The number of meals they ate in a day stunned Tiki. When she sat down for cheese and crackers with Bilbo Baggins, he had already enjoyed two breakfasts; a customary practice among Hobbits in the Shire. Then, after finishing elevenses, not even a couple of hours later, Bilbo had a luncheon prepared for himself and her.

So, Tiki already felt quite full when he returned a couple of hours later with some tea and biscuits from his kitchen. Her eyes bugged from her skull as he set down a quaint, white teacup on a little plate in front of her. Steam swirled up from the dark liquid in the cup. A flowery aroma hit her, which was more than pleasant. Although, she couldn't help but wonder if she might burst if she ate anymore.

Drinking some tea might not be a bad thing. She thought.

Another curious thing: this entire time Bilbo had not really spoken to her. Sure, he went through the normal pleasantries, as a well-mannered person ought to do, but he never got into an extended conversation with her. He would finish brief chats, then scamper off to some other part of his lovely home to do something or another.

Tiki remained in the dining room, mostly because the ceiling wasn't too low there and she felt it would be rude to go snooping around someone's home. Gandalf wanted Bilbo to be the burglar, and she wasn't about to let a bad impression prevent that from happening.

As she brought her teacup to her lips, she glanced around the cozy dining room again. Yes… cozy, that was the best word she could use to describe Bilbo's home. She never expected a hole in the ground to feel so homey, but indeed it did.

It was a lovely hole in the ground. Carefully varnished wood floors sat beneath her feet. Well constructed walls stood all around her with pleasant wooden beams keeping the roof aloft. Everything inside was organized and tidy and spoke well of the home's owner. If some of Tiki's old friends were with her, particularly the Duchess of Themis, she had a feeling they would like Bilbo's living space.

Oh? She blinked after sipping her tea. It's hot.

"How do the tea and biscuits taste?" Bilbo called from the nearby… what room would it be called again? Tiki had no idea, but it looked like a dining room, only dining did not happen in it. Perhaps it was a study?

No, there aren't any bookshelves.

"Miss, uh… Tiki, was it?"

Tiki blinked. "Oh!" She quickly shoved a small cake into her mouth, painstakingly chewed, then swallowed. Her eyes closed as the biscuit struggled to settle in her already full stomach. "It's quite good."

Bilbo returned from whatever room it was with a book in hand. He gave her a small nod and a polite smile before taking a seat near the small, dining room window. As he cracked open the book, and as Tiki sipped on her tea, she noticed him stealing a glance or two at her every so often. The hobbit did his best to hide his glances behind the pages of his book, but Tiki still noticed.

She set her teacup down, folded her hands, and cleared her throat.

"Hm? Yes," Bilbo's book fell from his face. "Is something the matter?"

Tiki gave him a wry smirk. "Are all hobbits this shy?"

Bilbo's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Sh-shy? Well," He coughed into his hand as the book remained in his lap. "We don't get many outsiders in the Shire. Certainly not many Big-Folk, as we say."

"Big-folk?" Tiki snorted.

"Oh, yes. And, even less of the tall fair-folk come through here."

Tiki tilted her head. "Fair folk?"

"Well," Bilbo pointed at her ears. "I assumed that-"

"Oh!" Tiki chirped as she set her teacup down back down on the squat table, "Yes, well… that's complicated."

Bilbo furrowed his brow. "I don't quite understand what is complicated about it, but I will not pry."

Tiki could see the curiosity brimming within his eyes. Bilbo was shy, like all the hobbits Tiki had seen so far, but he also seemed more interested in new things. He never gave her or Gandalf a scowl or a glare. Maybe that was the result of his exquisite manners, but he presented a more welcoming disposition than the rest of his kind.

His curiosity gave way to more confusion when Tiki sipped her tea but did not take another biscuit.

"Do you not like the biscuits?" He asked.

Tiki uttered a small laugh. "They are lovely Bilbo. I am just not used to eating this much."

Bilbo furrowed his brow a moment, then his eyes widened like balloons. "Oh… oh!" He tapped his forehead with his fingers. "My apologies. I forgot I'm not entertaining someone with a hobbit's appetite."

Tiki let out an amused chuckle. "No worries, Mister Baggins. I am not offended. Indeed, I am actually grateful for the hospitality while we wait for Gandalf to return."

"Wonderful," Bilbo's friendly grin wavered a moment. "And, out of curiosity, when do you think Gandalf will come back?"

Tiki shrugged. It was an answer that did not please the hobbit, but he did not voice his displeasure. He simply tapped the binding of his book with one hand, nodded, and let out a sigh before glancing out the window.

"A few more hours and it will be dinner."

Tiki froze mid-sip. "Dinner?"

Bilbo nodded. "Then supper when the sun goes down. Do you like fish? I bought some lovely bass from the markets this morning before I- you know- wished you a good morning and subsequently had you in for every meal of the day. Anyways," He cleared his throat. "Where do you hail from, if I might ask?"

Now that was a topic of conversation Tiki knew she would enjoy. Perhaps it would distract her from her aching stomach. She grinned, set her teacup down, and focused her emerald eyes on Bilbo.

"Where I'm from depends on which century you're talking about."

Bilbo's eyes lit up as his curiosity got the better of him. Tiki smiled. She was starting to see why Gandalf chose him.

Bilbo's brow furrowed and his mouth twitched as he sat across from Tiki, deep in thought. His hands folded on the table and his book sat closed beside them, untouched since he and Tiki started chatting about her home. The only time Bilbo had turned away from Tiki had been to put two fishes on a skillet, as well as get some vegetables boiling in a pot of water. She smelled brussel sprouts.

It's been a long time since I've had those.

"So, Ylisse is ruled by someone called an Exalt?" Bilbo said.

"Yes," Tiki nodded.

Oh, she could smell the fish sizzling on the hot skillet over the fire. Her mouth watered as the scent hit her. While she was stuffed earlier in the day, she skipped dinner so she could enjoy a proper hobbit supper with Bilbo, who had become much more open since they started discussing homelands, friends, and general curiosities they had.

Between her small anecdotes about both Valentia and Archanea, Bilbo shared tidbits about the Shire. Like how the favorite gathering place for hobbits in Hobbiton was the Green Dragon Inn, and they had excellent ale and food that even a Big-Person like herself would enjoy. Also, Bilbo discussed those strange Bucklanders that one of his family members married. They enjoyed the water, unlike other hobbits, which was another curious thing about these people Tiki found interesting. They did not like to swim.

"And the Exalt," Bilbo continued, drawing Tiki from her thoughts. "They are the descendants of your friend, King Marth Lowell?"

"That's correct," Tiki nodded. "And, while I did not have the pleasure of knowing every Exalt in the thousand years they have ruled Ylisse, I have become quite close with the most recent ones."

"Who rules now, if I may be so bold to ask?" Bilbo asked, rising from his seat to check on the fish. Once by the skillet, he nodded and threw a square of butter on top of both fishes.

"The previous Exalt's sister is ruling until the heir comes of age," Tiki replied. "Her name is Lissa."

Bilbo gave her a confused look. "The Exalt or the heir?" He asked, gesturing back and forth with a wooden spatula.

"Oh, the Exalt. She is Lissa. She is quite a bubbly character. Lots of energy, even if she is exhausted dealing with the troubles of my homeland."

"Heavy is the head," Bilbo nodded as he flipped the fishes over. "Or so I read in the histories of some of the Kingdoms of Men and the Elves. Those who cannot handle the weight, well, they usually made for poor rulers. Although, from how you described Exalt Lissa, she seems to be handling it rather well."

"Yes. Given the circumstances, she is."

"Circumstances?" Bilbo inquired as he scooted over to a shelf and grabbed two ceramic plates.

Some sadness crossed Tiki's face. "My home is at war, Bilbo. A war for its very existence. Last I remember, it was not going well."

Bilbo glanced over his shoulder at her, pausing as he scooped brussel sprouts onto the plates. "So you are seeking aid? Refuge perhaps?"

Tiki shook her head. "I am simply trying to return in time. I don't really know how I came to Middle-Earth. I only know that it happened."

Bilbo nodded. "Well, don't lose heart. Given what you've told me about your home and the friends you have there, I'm sure they'll be alright."

A sad smile crossed Tiki's lips. "I hope you are right."

Bilbo spun around from the kitchen, carrying the two plates laden with fish and sprouts. It smelled divine to Tiki. Despite her melancholy at recalling her friends' desperate plight against Grima, the smell of a Hobbit meal managed to dispel all her worries. Bilbo set her plate down, took his seat, set his plate down, and prepared to dig in.

Right as Tiki took her first bite, a knock sounded on the door.

Is Gandalf back? She thought.

Bilbo glared at the door, both puzzled and mildly irritated. With a sigh, he set his utensils down and excused himself from the table. Quickly, he marched to the door and opened it.

"Um, can I help you?" Tiki heard Bilbo ask whoever stood at the door.

Heavy boots shifted in the doorway. "Dwalin," A low, gruff voice said. Metal jangled and leather creaked. "At your service."

Strong footsteps entered Bilbo's home. The smell of dirt and grime from days of travel hit Tiki's nose, both barely overpowered by the aromatic fish in front of her. Tiki twisted in her seat and blinked at what she saw.

A dwarf with a bald head and a long, thick, black beard strutted into Bilbo's home. Without a second thought, the dwarf removed his cloak, took off an ax on his belt, and thrust them into Bilbo's unsuspecting arms.

"Is Gandalf here?" The dwarf, who Tiki assumed was named Dwalin, asked.

"G-Gandalf is- do I know you?" Bilbo asked.

Dwalin glanced back at Bilbo. "No," He sniffed the air. "Gandalf said there'd be food."

"W-well I-"

Dwalin did not let Bilbo finish. The dwarf marched into the dining room. He paused in the round archway when he spotted Tiki sitting at the dining table, her emerald eyes narrowed on him. The dwarf's heavy brow furrowed as well, and one of his large, blocky hands stroked his dark beard.

"Don't you know it's rude to barge into someone's home uninvited?" Tiki remarked.

Dwalin's brow rose. He turned back to Bilbo, who was busy shutting the door, then glanced at Tiki. His lips thinned and a heavy breath left his lips.

"Didn't realize you were a woman, Miss Baggins," Dwalin grunted, causing Tiki's eyes to widen.

"I am most certainly-" Bilbo was cut off when another knock sounded on his door.

Dwalin didn't hear him. He just marched to the table, took Bilbo's seat, and smelled the food. Only a stern glare from Tiki kept him from devouring Bilbo's meal right there and then.

"Balin," A chirpy voice said next from the doorway. Tiki spun in her seat, eyes widened when she saw a second dwarf with a long, white beard, white hair, and cheerful blue eyes bowing to Bilbo. "At your service."

"Balin!" Dwalin hollered, a broad grin forming on his face. He shot from his seat and marched around the table to greet the other dwarf. Balin had an equally wide smile on his lips when he embraced his kinsman. "Where are the others?" Dwalin followed up.

"Not far behind," Balin remarked. "Is there food?"

"I think the pantry is this way," Dwalin remarked, leading Balin further into Bilbo's home.

"The pantry is not that way. It is-" Another knock sounded. Bilbo dropped all of Dwalin and Balin's items on the floor. He drew in a deep, calming breath, cast Tiki an exasperated glance, then opened his door again.

"Kili," A young man's voice chirped.

"Fili," Another young voice introduced

"At your service," They said together.

Two of the youngest dwarves Tiki had seen, even though she had not seen many dwarves, stepped in. They wore finer leathers and linens than the older dwarves who entered. One had long blonde hair with a decent length beard tied up in a knot under his chin. His companion, the younger of the two, had short, dark whiskers on his jaw and chin and long black hair. Both gave Bilbo friendly smiles as they shut the door behind them.

"Is Gandalf here?" The blonde asked.

"I don't see him," The black-haired one replied.

"No, Gandalf is not here!" Bilbo huffed.

The blonde patted his companion's chest, "Hear that, Kili? Gandalf's not here."

"He's probably still on his way then, Fili," Kili replied. He sniffed the air. "I smell food."

"The pantry is this way," Fili said, gesturing for Kili to follow him.

"The pantry is not- you-" A frustrated sound erupted from Bilbo, but the dwarves did not hear him. Deep in the house, Tiki heard rustling, footsteps, and the sound of dishes clanking together.

The dwarves found the pantry. She took another bite of her buttery bass.

Bilbo tossed Kili and Fili mottled cloaks to the side. His small hands balled up into fists as he turned away from the door. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, clenched his jaw, and took one step away from the door.

Another knock. Tiki nearly spat out her bite of brussel sprouts.

"No," Bilbo muttered. "No, no, no," He said louder. "Go away! I don't want any more visitors, or dwarves, or unwelcome guests!"

He threw the door open. Tiki's eyes shot wide when a whole cluster of dwarves fell into the house. Grunts, snarls, yelps, and curses in a strange tongue shot from the group of dwarves in a pile at Bilbo's feet. And, of course, the fattest dwarf Tiki had seen yet was at the very top of the pile.

As Bilbo gawked at the dwarves trying to disentangle themselves, a familiar, tall wizard stooped into the home. Bilbo's gaze rose and he glared at Gandalf. Gandalf returned his glare with a friendly smile. He nodded to Bilbo, glanced at Tiki, and smiled at her as well. Tiki returned his grin.

"I-" Bilbo's mouth closed. "You-" He raised a finger, face turning red, "Dwarves!"

With that bellow, he marched back into the dining room in a huff. A massive scowl sat on his face as he took his seat. He glanced down at his untouched dinner, folded his arms, and puffed out an annoyed breath. His eyes then flicked to Tiki, who gave him an amused smirk.

"I guess you don't like parties?" Tiki remarked, doing her best to stifle giggles, but failing.

Bilbo said nothing. Instead, he shoved a brussel sprout into his mouth, folded his arms again, and cringed as he heard the dwarves tromping through his house. When he heard the group start shouting at each other, he rolled his eyes and cast his gaze to the ceiling.

"I don't like unexpected parties."

And chapter! Alright, we're starting to get going here folks. I just love how easy-going this story is for the most part. It's a true adventure, and it's so refreshing to write. I aim to write at least a chapter a week for this story, but it is not my highest priority. This is my for fun story after all, and Rigged from the Start is my baby lol. That being said, I'm enjoying this one, and I hope you all are enjoying it too!

Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!

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