Send help I gave Nori a sad backstory and I don't know how it happened. Also, my updates seem to be getting more frequent. Hope you all enjoy!
Inspired by a prompt I stumbled upon by lateforerebor on tumblr.
Summary: Bilba "Bell" Baggins decides that she's waited quite long enough to take her mother's advice and old stories and go on an adventure of her own. What she didn't expect was to end up in Ered Luin and be adopted by dwarves! AU, Pre-Quest, Undecided Pairings.
-;-
Bombur was a lively addition to the Grey Goose. The robust dwarf was sweet and often got lost in his work in the kitchen- surprisingly enough, even Dori couldn't fault his occasional, less than graceful moment as he tripped over this or dropped that. The food that he could make astounded everyone, and when he and the Hobbit teamed up with their sweets Dori found himself changing the menu of the Goose to include desserts and tea selections for said desserts specifically.
The snow outdoors did little to dampen the spirits of those in their small household. In fact, Bilba tended to drag Ori outdoors to play- yes, play- in the foot and a half of the white powder that settled over Ered Luin.
Many of those who lived near the brothers had come to know the Hobbit lass rather well since she had arrived during the summer, and few could find fault with the bright smiles and baked goods that she occasionally made and delivered to their doors while still warm.
It was those things that endeared her to the community, even one as widespread as the dwarves of Ered Luin, and the Grey Goose had never seen more business before since its opening.
However, with the business boom came another problem- the less savoury crowds that came into the Grey Goose.
It was a particularly cold night, with the snow turning to sleet as it came down outside. The tavern was full of laughter, warmth, and more food than they had ever cooked in one night before. Bilba was balancing a rather large order on several trays and was navigating the familiar throng of tables and guests when out of nowhere, a large hand slapped her rear and caused the Hobbit lass to squeak in startlement and whirl, her cheeks a flaming red. She took in the smirks, the ale spread out before the Men, before narrowing her eyes and continuing on.
Nori, Bofur, and Gloin were all present, tucked away in a corner with their own drinks. Bofur and Gloin had just finished a long shift mining in one of the northern peaks, and had decided to spend their evening with drinks and good company. Nori, however unwillingly, kept an eye out for their Hobbit lass- and when had she become theirs, anyway?- as he nursed his ale and listened to Bofur's animated tale of how a couple of the lads had gotten lost on the way back to the surface.
"Lass, are ye alright?" Rorin asked as a flustered Bilba returned to the kitchen, taking a moment to lean on the counter and take a couple of deep breaths in order to keep herself together. The utter nerve of those Men, thinking they could get away with such indecent behavior!
"Fine." She replied calmly, raising her chin and straightening her skirts. "I'm going to refill the ale at Nori's table."
"Alright, then." The dwarf frowned, watching as the Hobbit aggressively gathered the pitcher of ale and all but stomped off.
Once again, as there were no other available routes, Bilba had to pass by the table of Men. And once again, a large hand felt her up as she passed. Her grip tightened so drastically on the pitcher that by the time she arrived at the corner table and poured the trio of dwarves their ale that the metal handle had actually begun to warp.
"Uh…" Bofur started, only to be cut off by a quick sign in Iglishmek by Nori. The thief could tell that the Hobbit was getting worked up, and while he could see what was happening, she needed to deal with it on her own. Not that his own temper wasn't raised at the sight of the drunk Men laughing about touching her as if it were a game.
"Yes, Bofur?" she asked innocently enough, raising a brow as she refilled his mug.
"Nothing." He muttered, clearing his throat and turning his attention back to his food. "Excellent dish tonight. 'Nother Shire special?"
"It is." She replied, a hint of a proud smile on her features. She and Bofur had met shortly after Bombur had started at the Goose, and they had hit it off immediately. The Hobbit had a natural cheer and easiness, and Bofur was perpetually wearing a smile on his face and had a wink and a laugh for anyone who asked. Some might say that they were like-minded spirits. "And I'd be happy to send Bombur home with the recipe."
"Much appreciated, Miss Bell." The hatted dwarf winked as she shook her head and began wading through the crowd again.
It was the third time that she had had enough.
Half expecting the hand, the Hobbit snarled something in a tongue that none present had heard before, pulled her fist back, and completely flattened the Man with a heavy hit to the stomach. She followed up with a solid kick to his ribs as he collapsed to the floor, her eyes wild as she whirled on his companions.
"That is quite enough!" she snarled, brandishing the empty pitcher at them as she propped her hands on her hips. "Appalling behavior, acting as though any maid passing you by is a conquest to be had! I will say this once, and only once- leave, before I teach you brutes some manners when concerning a lady!"
The Man at her feet groaned, and she stomped her foot and hissed at his companions in warning. "Get out, and don't come back!"
It had to have been the ale that they had consumed, but the pair left sitting had obviously not been expecting the tiny lass to suddenly turn on them like a rabid bear. Grabbing their companion, they dragged the dazed man out of the tavern.
Complete silence filled the room, and Bilba waited only a moment before letting out a pained wheeze and clutching her hand to her chest and hobbling over to the bar, where Gard was standing with his mouth hanging open. In fact, everyone remaining in the Grey Goose had similar expressions, save Nori- who had personally been on the receiving end of that temper. He was sipping smugly at his ale as Bofur and Gloin stared with their jaws hanging open at the lass.
"That's a lass." Gard finally managed, automatically going to retrieve some of the ice from a barrel beneath the counter, placing some on a cloth before wrapping it and handing it to the grimacing Hobbit. "Didn' know ya had it in ya, lass."
"Yes, well." Bilba flushed, even as she took the cloth gratefully and pressing it against her already bruising hand, "I can only be pushed so far before I snap."
"Apparently." The barkeep barked out a laugh, finally breaking the silence in the tavern. However, there was a new respect and warmth for the Hobbit as she insisted on returning to serving, many of the dwarves present treated her as though she had gone to battle or some such nonsense, and she asked Bombur about it as they began closing up the kitchen.
"Well, you have, haven't you?" the large dwarf returned, raising a brow as he hauled the gigantic stew pot up and placed it on the shelf. "In our culture, a dam proves that she is a warrior in a different manner than then us. Once she's done so, any dwarf will come to her aid in battle afterward."
"And Bilba, if any lot does you a disservice, you handle it as you must. As long as you make sure that the folk who dine and drink here know that you are able to take care of yourself, they will leave you alone. However, you must be the one to put them in their place." Dori's words came to her, from when she had first arrived at the Goose.
"So that's what Dori meant." She huffed. "He told me that if anyone did me a disservice, I would have to handle it on my own. It would have been easier if he had just told me."
Bombur shrugged. "Perhaps he had faith in you."
"It certainly was impressive." Came a new voice, causing the pair to start as Bilba turned to find Nori standing at the doorway of the kitchen, a lazy smirk on his features. "I don't think Bofur will stop talkin' about it any time soon."
"Is that a good thing or not?" she asked suspiciously.
"Good, most likely." He replied. "Your reputation will only spread now."
"Perfect." She deadpanned. "That's exactly what I need."
The pair laughed at her, and Rorin reappeared from the back from where he had been reorganizing the pantry. It had taken a hefty beating that night, after all.
"How's the hand, lass?" he asked, taking note of the bruising and swollen knuckles.
"Possibly broken, but I'll live." Bilba said, flexing her fingers automatically and wincing. "Remind me not to do that again any time soon."
"Duly noted."
"Just wait until Dori hears about it." Nori grinned darkly. "He's likely to smother you when we arrive home."
Bilba paled at the thought, knowing exactly how motherly Dori could be when provoked. The Grey Goose hadn't been named the Grey Goose without reason, after all. That was a running joke that Bilba had finally been brought in on one night when she had been helping Ori study- one in which he and Nori had begun calling Dori a mother goose. Always hissing and spitting and completely willing to tear someone to pieces if they threatened his kin. Likewise, that ire could be channelled the other direction.
Likely hers, tonight.
She sighed, deflating as the dwarves laughed at her predicament.
-;-
She was sitting in the front window of Bag End, which was the first clue that she was dreaming. Outside the window, the light fluffy snowflakes of the first snow were drifting lazily to the ground. The scents of apple and baking bread wafted throughout the halls, and she couldn't help the small sigh of contentment that escaped her.
"Bilba? Love, where are you?"
"Mama?" she turned. Her dreams weren't usually this specific, if at all.
"Bilba? Bilba!"
Suddenly she was standing in snow that came up to her knees, and her heart nearly stopped as she recognized the landscape she was standing in. Looking down at her clothing, she realized that she was right in her assumptions. This was the day she had been visiting her Took cousins with her mother.
"Mama?" she called, whirling around, eyes roving the cold white horizon frantically. "Mama, where are you!"
"Bilba!"
Suddenly her mother appeared over the crest of a hill, her travelling cloak flapping behind her as she brandished her Tookish blade, crimson spattering the snow as she leapt, blade coming down on something behind her-
And then she was running, the bays of the wolves ringing in her ears as her mother, usually so warm and bright and full of laughter was dragging her through the trees, where the snow wasn't as deep and they could reach full stride.
"Mama, what's happening?" she cried as she stumbled, her knee connecting with a sharp rock and sending cold fire through her leg.
"The wolves have come over the river. We must get to Hobbiton and warn the others. Bilba, do you understand? You have to warn the others."
"Me? Mama, what about you?"
She turned, but there was nothing there. And then a pair of glowing amber eyes flickered in the shadows, and she shrieked as it leapt-
"Bilba!"
"No!" she screamed, eyes snapping open as she struggled with whatever was pinning her to the bed. "No! Mama!"
"Bilba, you're safe! Calm down, it's just us!"
She went limp, breathing staggered as she trembled. "Ori?"
"It's us, Bilba." The scribe's soft voice said, though he sounded more rattled than she thought he should be. "You're safe. Just calm down."
She couldn't help the tears, really. Dori, his weight moving off of her, quickly gathered her into his arms as he worriedly fussed over her, trying to figure out how he could help. Nori was in the back of the group, still looking as though he'd just woken despite the knife in his hand. And Ori was already crawling onto the bed, gently carding his fingers through her curls as he joined the pair.
Logically, now that she was waking up more, she knew that her mother had been fine. Well, not fine- it had begun the illness that had eventually taken her into the arms of the earth mother Yavanna, but she had not been injured by any wolf.
She shifted, moved so that she could run her fingers over her calf, feeling the raised edges of the scar that lay on her skin. It had happened, but not the way that her mind had imagined for her.
They sat that way for a while, Nori eventually seating himself on the edge of the bed- just close enough to be included, but not quite touching them.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ori finally asked quietly.
"We call it the Fell Winter now." Bilba replied just as quietly, drawing her knees up to her chest. "I was only twenty-four, hardly out of my tweens. The rivers froze- they never froze before, never enough to hold any weight. But they all froze solid. It was a harsher winter than anyone had ever seen or heard of before. Food was beginning to run low for everyone- including the wolves from the north."
Dori sucked in a breath, rubbing gentle circles on the Hobbit's back.
"My mother and I had been south- the snow had never bothered us before, and we wanted to make sure that everyone was doing alright. On the way back… one of the wolf packs caught our scent. My mother held them off and told me to run ahead and warn the rest of Hobbiton, but I was cornered by another lone wolf. It had been separated from its pack, just skin and bones-
She broke off, shivering at the memory of the sharp teeth puncturing her skin, the almost disconnected sensation she'd had with the entire situation as she slashed the small knife across its muzzle, temporarily loosening the teeth holding her and allowing her to climb out of reach.
She'd later learned that her mother had looped back and had been able to warn the Hobbits in time, allowing everyone to barricade their doors and hide in their cellars until the packs had passed. Of course, there had been those who had brushed off the warning- those smials still lay abandoned, even now.
"By Mahal." Dori said. "I remember that winter. We lost a few dwarrow of our own that year. Why didn't you say anything?"
"I haven't dreamed of it for years." Bilba shook her head, sniffling. "I wasn't expecting it to happen now."
"It got you, didn't it." Nori asked levelly.
Bilba nodded. "My leg. I slashed its muzzle with a knife and it let go long enough for me to get to safety."
She had sat in that tree for hours, her clothing soaked through and the temperature dropping, before her mother and a handful of other Hobbits came looking for her, armed to the teeth from her mother's collection and all of them shaken.
No one said anything, but Ori's grip on her shoulders tightened, and Dori's lips pressed even tighter together. Nori's expression didn't change, but he did nod as he stood and stretched.
"I'm headed back to bed." He announced.
"Aye, we should all think about sleep." Dori agreed, shifting slightly. "Bilba, will you be alright?"
"I'll stay up." Ori offered. "I have some translations to work on."
"I'll be fine." Bilba said with a small smile to Dori. "And I could certainly make some tea if you'd like some help, Ori. I don't think I'll be getting back to sleep any time soon."
"Alright. Ori, make sure you get a bit more sleep. Just because you don't have studies with Balin tomorrow doesn't mean you should stay up all night." Dori fussed as he excused himself, wandering down the hall with his usual heavy steps.
"I'll go get my notes." Ori said, squeezing Bilba's shoulders again before he clambered off of the bed and quietly left.
Bilba took a moment to herself, centering herself as she looked around the room before she sighed and pulled on her shawl over her nightgown and wandering down the hall. At one point, she would never have thought of doing such a thing in the same house as a male, and yet here she was, completely at ease among these dwarves.
Again, her traitorous thoughts flitted through her mind, reminding her that she wasn't staying for good. She still had a home in the Shire, and she would be leaving in the spring.
But for now, she would enjoy the time that she had with the brothers, and work hard at the Goose.