There and Back Again: Edith's Story

Chapter II

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Author's Note: I didn't even remember as I was coming up with a character name for my OC – Tolkien's wife was also Edith! 0.0

Edith bit her tongue as she pressed a hand up on the door she had just come through. Wherever she had been brought to, there was no way of knowing if she could make her way back to her fiancé. A wave of regret washed over her as she thought of Jack. The last thing she had said was she couldn't forgive him tonight for the things he had said. She sighed, knowing she had to step away from the door towards wherever this new corridor led. A little further down, she could hear laughter and movement. A few moments later, a gentle hum began. She followed the sound quietly through the small house she appeared to be in. It was awfully small, but it felt quite comfortable for whoever lived here. It was a very quaint and rustic place, but lovely.

A voice reached her ears that made her stop dead in her tracks, a song she knew all too well, though she had never heard it sung.

Far over, the misty mountains called

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day,

To claim our long-forgotten gold

Goblets they carved there for themselves

And harps of gold, where no man delves

There lay they long, and many a song

Was sung unheard by men or elves

The pines were roaring on the height,

The winds were moaning in the night.

The fire was red, it flaming spread;

The trees like torches blazed with light.

The bells were ringing in the dale

And men looked up with faces pale;

The dragon's ire more fierce than fire

Laid low their towers and houses frail.

Another chill went down her spine as she continued to listen to the melancholic tune of the dwarves. She felt something stir in the air. It almost felt like magic. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of her own home. An odd whimper escaped her as her first tears fell. Edith covered her mouth, hoping no one had heard her. But, it wasn't so. A little creature poked his head from around the corner in utter confusion. He had a handsome face, ash blonde hair that was curly and she noticed his feet were wide and hairy. The hair on his feet were combed over and he was well dressed.

"Oh," was all the small man said. "I – I'm sorry, but how did you get in? I didn't see you through the front door and – well, I'm quite certain you came with none of the dwarves. And – oh heavens, you're in your nightgown."

Edith looked down at what she was wearing and felt her cheeks go hot. The little creature also looked rather embarrassed and she could see a light shade of pink across his cheeks.

"I –," her voice cracked as more voices could be heard.

The other men in the house all clamored and shouted when they heard this fellow speaking to her. They had all gathered around, weapons drawn. When they noticed it was a young woman, they seemed to relax – at least some of them. There were two or three who kept their weapons raised.

"I—," she tried to speak but that only caused tears.

The small man looked at the others in exasperation.

"For heaven's sake, put away your weapons – she clearly is lost and defenseless!" he squeaked.

A dark-haired man stepped forward, glowering at the other who had just spoken in her defense. He then looked her way. Edith backed away against the wall as he walked up to her. These men reminded her of Vikings, the way they had dressed - how they were armed.

"What is your name, girl?" the man inquired, his voice was low and deep unlike the other.

"Edith," she managed to choke out.

"I have never heard of such a name. Where do you come from and how do you know of our gathering at Master Baggins' home? Has someone sent you to spy on us?"

"I – I don't know how I got here, sir. I was in my sitting room back home. I was rather trying to avoid a conversation with my fiancé because we were having an argument again. I left, and I don't know what happened. I opened a door in the back of this corridor and stepped in." Edith exclaimed, with panic rising.

"This fiancé of yours, does he live around these parts?"

"I do not know where here is! Do you not understand?" Edith shouted, fresh tears falling. "It is almost Christmas at home and I would like to go back now!"

"Sorry, but what is Christmas?" the small creature asked.

"It – it is a holiday where I come from. People celebrate it once a year, after the winter solstice. It is such a lovely time of year for snow, ice skating, spending time with family and we give presents and get them in return. Now I have no idea how to go home and spend Christmas with Jack!" Edith wept.

"Who is Jack?" one of the men inquired.

"The man who I am going to marry." Edith answered.

The dark-haired man raised his hand at his men and silenced them.

"I would like you to go back through that door from whence you came and not speak a word of this to anyone what you have witnessed." The dark-haired man said, threateningly.

"Believe me, if I knew how to get back, I would!" Edith cried.

"Uncle, she is in distress, can you not be a bit sympathetic?" one of the younger men spoke up, stepping forward.

"She has intruded on this meeting."

"You have intruded into my house for this meeting and eaten everything in my pantry! She is welcome to stay for she is now my guest. If you have any issues with that – you can say so to the wizard!" the small creature said, sharply.

"So, she isn't Mrs. Boggins then?" another younger man inquired.

"No, I am not married." Bilbo exclaimed.

"I just said I was engaged to someone named Jack! I don't know who any of you even are!" Edith reminded them, she knew the characters but could not place a name for anyone in her presence.

A taller elderly gentleman came through, crouched over in the small house. Edith felt pity for him having to bend over and peer down at the others.

"Whatever seems to be the matter now?" he inquired.

"This young woman seems to have lost her way and is now a guest of Master Baggins. Did you invite this woman, Master Gandalf?" the one who had been interrogating her looked up at the elder one.

"I don't recall inviting this lovely young lady here. But what does that matter? If Master Baggins has allowed her to stay, then she is welcome. Come, my dear, I am sure there's still something left for you to eat if you'd like to join us."

"I don't even know any of your names. I am also in my nightgown, which is rather inappropriate to sit at a table with men in just this."

The elderly gentleman chuckled and pondered for a moment.

"I am quite sure our host as something more agreeable for you to wear. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gandalf the Grey. This is Master Bilbo Baggins. These are the dwarves who I have gathered for a meeting to this place. You have already met Thorin."

He introduced each one of the dwarves. Some were cautious and skeptical of Edith. The feeling was reciprocated but the younger ones seemed more welcoming. There had been thirteen in all.

"And now, Bilbo, I think this young lady needs some clothes."

"Yes, of course, if you'll follow me this way." The small creature, who's name was Bilbo led her to a spare bedroom.

Everything was neat and tidy. Not a speck of dust was on any furniture as she looked around. Once she truly realized where she was, Edith admired the little hobbit hole she'd read so much about. She had always wondered what the places in her book looked like, and now she could see them with her own eyes.

"Here you are, Miss Edith. I hope these will fit. I haven't much else in the way of clothes."

"Thank you, Mr. Baggins."

"I'll find something for you to eat if you'd like to join us once you're ready."

"I will," Edith said.

Bilbo left with a small smile, closing the door behind him. It dawned on her that she was in her book. All these people were characters in a book! How was even possible that she came to the world of The Hobbit? It shouldn't even exist in the first place! Was it something like The Wizard of Oz? Did she have to think of home and say it repeatedly until she was back home? Edith attempted that. She clicked her heels together muttering, "There's no place like home." Three times to herself.

She frowned in disappointment when she opened her eyes and was still in the home of Bilbo Baggins. It had been worth a try, she thought. As she got dressed in the clothing Bilbo had given her, she wondered how she would get home. And when she did, she would apologize to Jack for all the fighting they had done. Now that she had been torn away from him, she began to realize how much he truly meant to her – what the ring on her finger reminded her of.

"I will come home, Jack. I promise." Edith whispered, before gathering courage to go sit with the wizard and dwarves.

She made her way to the dining room where some of the dwarves still sat. The younger dwarves she had see earlier, Fili and Kili, had invited her to sit down. She thanked them and Bilbo as he brought her a bowl of stew.

"So, Miss Edith – where are you from? You said you were from somewhere else and didn't know how to get back!"

"Well," she began, rather slowly. "I, er, I'm from a land far away from here. It is small. One of many countries. In my home, there are only humans. We don't have elves, dwarves, hobbits or anything that may be in this place. I don't even know how to begin to describe it. It is quite different than this place, at least the cities are. I'm sure the country is quiet and beautiful just like this."

"You've never seen the wild?" Kili asked.

"Well, in paintings I have. My mother and father preferred the city. They liked the noise and the busyness. They never travelled much. I suppose it was a few years ago now, but my land had gone to war with a neighboring land and many children were brought to the safety of the countryside as soldiers attacked us. Men went away to war. Some women stayed at home. Some became nurses and some of us women went on to build weapons for the men."

She didn't know how much to give away. This world had no understanding of the machinery she had in her world – they knew nothing of her world for that matter. The dwarves around her listened as she told them more stories about who she was – bending the truth a little.

"Did you lose anyone during your war, Lady Edith?" Ori, the youngest dwarf, inquired.

"I lost my mother. My father had died several years before when I was just a little girl. He died in a terrible accident. Far too many good families, men, women and children died – there was too much death."

"I am sorry for your loss," Fili said, quietly.

"Thank you, Fili." Edith smiled at him lightly and he returned her smile.

"You said that many women became nurses and builders. What did you choose to do?"

"I, er, I became a nurse."

The dwarves raised their eyebrows at her. Edith glanced at them, realizing they had a different understanding of what a 'nurse' was. Healer and wet nurses were different, much like the times before the change the twentieth century had brought.

"I mean, I was a healer. I tended the wounded who came from the battlefield." Edith corrected herself.

"Have you any experience fighting on the battlefield?" Thorin walked over to the table, looking her way.

"I had no training for that, sir, only healing and cooking, amongst other things of that nature. It's been a few years since then."

Thorin raised a brow.

"Why would they let a woman healer tend to men on the battlefield if you cannot defend yourself?" Thorin questioned. "What makes you think you are worthy to be a part of this company?"

Edith sent him a look.

"Listen, and listen well, Thorin Oakenshield, I have not come here to be a part of your company. I haven't a clue why I am here. If you don't approve of me, maybe then it should be you to leave. I have been granted permission to stay here, I don't recall anyone saying you could." Edith said, standing up.

Some of the younger dwarves looked at her in shock. How anyone would dare question their leader was beyond them. The elder dwarves looked at her threateningly, as she had greatly insulted their king. The wizard sat in the corner with a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth, chuckling at the young woman's temperamental mind. Even Bilbo looked at her in surprise.

Thorin got up and stood but a few inches away from her, his eyes full of anger but his voice was low again as he spoke to her.

"I would remind you of your place, woman, before speaking in such an ill manner before me. You have heart and are determined, I will say that much of you. However, you have no place amongst us." Thorin said, his voice rumbling.

"I think, Thorin, that she will be my companion on this venture of yours. You need not worry over Lady Edith. I will care for her." Gandalf interrupted, standing up. "If she will agree to it, that is."

"I should be delighted to be your companion, Gandalf." Edith replied, not taking her eyes off Thorin who now clenched his jaw.

"There may be others in Middle-earth who can help guide her home." Gandalf continued. "For that, she will join us on her own task."

Fili stepped up and cleared his throat to speak to his uncle. Thorin broke his stare from Edith. The young prince walked up to Edith and looked between the two before gently placing his hand on her shoulder. He felt her shoulders stiffen at his contact. She looked his way curiously.

"She can ride with Kili and me tomorrow when we leave at dawn. It won't be any trouble for us, Uncle." Fili interjected, Edith noticed a subtle smirk on his mouth.

"Very well," Thorin grumbled. "I will not be responsible for your safety or protection."

"I understand perfectly." Edith said.

Thorin muttered incoherently as he turned to leave the dining room. The elder dwarves followed him, each one of them glancing at Edith, some with cautionary looks.

"Don't mind them, they just don't know you yet." Fili continued.

"Neither do you and you still want me to ride with you and your brother," Edith countered.

Fili didn't miss the playful look on her face as she said this. He raised a brow and chuckled.

"That may be so, but I don't think we'll be strangers for too long. It is a long journey to where we are going."

Edith shifted, and Fili realized his hand was still on her shoulder. He let go as a ghost of a laugh escaped him. He cleared his throat.

"I should go get some rest."

"Aye."

Edith stepped out of the kitchen and Bilbo offered one of his guest rooms to her for the night. It had been warmed and she found the bed a delightful place to rest. It was soft – much softer than the bed she had at home. Thinking of her home brought a wave of sadness over her. Jack must have been dreadfully worried. She bit her lip as she thought of him. If only they hadn't ended their evening in a fight, she thought.

"Oh, Jack, I am so sorry!" she gasped, softly.

After her tears subsided, she finally fell asleep. She hoped that somehow, someone would be able to get her back home to England, to Jack. I promise, Jack.