Bilbo had lost all track of time. Still sitting on his now designed bed it seemed like hours ago he was brought to this godforsaken room. He was guessing it must be about late afternoon to early evening due to the slowly fading light outside the window. Though being knocked out many times and not knowing the duration of how long he was out cold. Made guessing even more difficult. The Hobbit couldn't even tell if it was still the same day as to when he was kidnapped.
Eventually Hildegard had returned with a bowl of stew and two helping of bread rolls. First Bilbo was reluctant to eat despite the enormous amount of hunger building in his stomach. But the smell and the girls threats to hold his mouth open and force it down his throat. Quickly resulted in him accepting and letting Hildegard spoon feed him. He had to admit to himself the food was delicious.
Having been living off small portions and rationings for months did mean he was pretty much always hungry. His usual seven meals a day diet was a distant memory and did result in him foraging whilst on the journey to help compensate. There were the moment when he was also able to indulge and restore his fat reserves when at Rivendale. Beorin also gladly over fed him whilst they took refuge in his home. Admitting in his words 'he didn't like seeing the little bunny be starving' so made it his mission to give the Hobbit about a weeks worth of food in two days. He lastly was able to eat a larger amount again when the Master discovered them. Throwing them a grand feast to welcome and celebrate their arrival.
'Oh how perceptions of people can change so quickly.'
Once the bowl was empty and the rolls eaten. Hildegard got up from her place on the floor and placed it down on a nearby table.
" That's a good boy you ate all you dinner right up." She went back over to Bilbo and patted him on the head before touching and then scratching a spot behind his right ear. He could feel the annoyance build up in his chest. Just like their feet Hobbits hated their ears being touched and he was really being to hate how many times this had happened recently. It was the equivalent of holding a young animal up by the neck but also accompanied by an uncomfortable feeling. It pretty much paralysis hobbits on the spot but also sends out aching, unpleasant sensations through their bodies. It was made even worse now while he was being petted like a damn dog.
" Excuse me young lady I do not appreciate being petted like some simple minded creature. Will you please reframe from scratching or even touching my ears. I don't like it, it's uncomfortable and rude."
Hildegard expression dropped as she looked at the Hobbit in the eyes. Without warning she grabbed a fist full of Bilbo's hair and yanked him backwards. He yelped out in surprised before letting out a hiss when his skull connected with wood. Unfortunately he missed the sofa pillow and blankets by centimetres so it was the hard wooden flooring that broke his fall.
" Stupid little Hobbit you are so ungrateful and are the rude one out of us both. I have given you this nice warm bed, fed you and you repay me by throwing it back in my face. If I want to touch your ears I will touch your ears."
She then proceeded to flip Bilbo onto his stomach and push her knee into his back. Forcing the poor Hobbit to be facedown and effectively subdued. He began kicking out but like earlier it didn't do any good. The girl was just to big build and strong, he couldn't shake her off.
Instantly Bilbo let out a hiss as he could feel the girls finger slide alone the outside of his right ear. Each time getting more and more forceful until he could feel her nail dig into his skin. She scratched the pointed tip of his ear before grabbing and twisting it outwards. The Hobbit couldn't help let out a pained gasp as it felt like a shock of electric shot through him. The paralysis had taken over his limbs making it nearly impossible to move. No matter how hard he tried. Soon Hildegard had moved onto his left ear where she repeated the same action but this time going a bit further. Moving from the tip , the scratching got even more intense. When she again began to scratch the area between ear and hair.
" You have such funny big ears for such a small creature. Can you move or twitch them like other animals can?"
By now Bilbo 's face was scrunched up in pain and sucking air through his teeth. " No I cannot wiggle my ears but what you are doing now is causing me a lot a pain. Please will you stop." He spat out the last few words.
" I will stop when I want to stop. You remember you were very rude to me" was the response Bilbo got while also feeling the scratching get even more erratic. The Hobbit could no longer hold back a scream. His back arched as the constant pulsating pain wrapped around his body.
" BUT I WASN'T BEING RUDE I WAS TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. HOBBITS EARS ARE SENSITIVE AND CAUSE US GREAT PAIN WHEN TOUCHED TO MUCH. JUST STOP PLEASE!"
Ignoring the Hobbit pleas Hildegard became fascinated when the skin underneath her nails started to rip away and blood began to seep through. Though she didn't let up moving onto the other ear and repeat the same action. Again flesh tore away like soap allowing fresh blood to flow freely from the wounds. Coating Bilbo's ears, hair and run down his neck.
The Hobbit underneath her was howling in between his gasps. His body was shaking uncontrollably but yet he didn't lash out despite the pain she had caused him. 'This was interesting'. Looking down at her blood soaked fingers she smiled. 'It is as if he is frozen.'
" I have a fantastic idea. I think it is about time you have your ears pierced. Push up your cute factor to ultimate levels." Hildegard got of off Bilbo and walked over to the bedside table near to her bed. The Hobbit was writhing on the floor not quite catching everything that the girl had just said. Slowing his breathing down he tried to calm himself and focus through the pain he had just endured.
" That reminds me I haven't even given you a name yet." The girl said with her back still turned to him.
" I don't need a name I have one already. Bilbo Baggins." He wheezed out in response.
Hildegard turned and began walking back to him. Now having collected what she was searching for. "Bilbo...It's nice I guess but not a name you will be keeping. Keonie is a lot more fitting and suits you better."
Now looking directly at the girl the Hobbit couldn't hold back a scowl " You cannot just go and change my name."
"Ummm...yes I can you are my properly. And I can choose what you will be called." The girl laughed back.
Your dad kidnapped me, brought me here against my will. Took me away from my friends along with my freedom. Even gave orders for me to be stripped of my clothes. And now you want to strip away the name too. It was chosen by my parents when I was born. You have no rights to change it." Bilbo by now found himself practically shouting. " I will not answer too it."
At this point Hildegard was charging, swung swiftly forward and grabbed the rope around his throat. " You will answer to the name I have given you or I will slice the letters onto your chest...understand!"
Bilbo didn't flinch as the larger girl draw her face to his. Looking at her right in the eyes defiantly and unblinking. He didn't want to back down or show weakness. Especially when she was trying to rip his own name away from him. Not when it held so much importance. One of the most treasured gift his parents ever gave him. It was held the same amount of preciousness as it did them giving him life and their undying love. Even from the heavens he always felt it in his heart.
The larger girl gave Bilbo's throat a firm squeeze, emitting an immediate choke from the smaller creature before letting go. Allowing the Hobbit to drop back to the floor coughing.
" No matter what you want I am your owner and I decide every aspect of your life from now on. Speaking of which and like I was saying before Keonie. I am now going to be piercing your ears. So I suggest you hold still and let me get on with the procedure."
Bilbo's eyes went wide as again today Hildegard made her move. Thrashing and kicking out with his bound feet the Hobbit did everything in his power to escape her grasp. Screaming repeatedly at the top of his lungs he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He remembered earlier he agreed with himself he would think logically and strategically. But how could he right now? This brat was not only hurting him physically but emotionally. He knew he would regret it but the anger inside of him was to great. He just couldn't stop his emotions get the best of him.
" NO STAY AWAY FROM ME" The outburst only resulted in a swift kick to the side of his ribs. Allowing Hildegard time to take her place and sit on top of the dazed Hobbit's back once again. Taking out a long piece of cloth she then proceeded to tie it around his head, effectively covering his mouth.
" Something to bite down on and to make sure you don't bite me" the large girl said while reaching and pulling out a large metal needle from her pocket. Along with two yellow gold hooped earrings. She looked closely at the ear, deciding where she was going to make the first piercing.
Bilbo shook his head rapidly from side to side, screaming through the gag. Trying in vain to delay the inevitable. Only to feel the rope around his neck tighten and the small amount of oxygen he could get through his nose was cut off. Stopping him in his tracks and now muffled shouts were replaced with frantic gurgling.
" If you don't stop I will keep choking you until you yield. Than I will repeat over and over again until you realise I am the one in control." She let go of the rope allowing Bilbo to breathe. But quickly leaned forward and placed her right elbow into the back of his neck. And balancing her arm and wrist over his head successfully pinning him completely to the floor. With her free left hand she reached over and grabbed the large needle and passed it into the hand that was pinning the Hobbit. Hildegard's left hand then went back to grabbing the smaller creature already wounded ear and held it out to the side.
Within seconds the needle was plunged into the flesh of his antihelix. Ripping through the cartilage and tearing apart all the nerves in the puncture sight. Blood soon followed and ooooze in large amounts out of the hole. Coating the metal needle and everything surrounding area of the wound in red. White hot pain shot throughout the poor Hobbit's body. Emitting a high pitch wail that even the gag couldn't muffle.
Unlike Men, Elves, Dwarfs and many others. Hobbits ears were full off over sensitive nerve ending that linked into the core of his being. It was how Hobbits were able to identify small changes in the weather. Being able to pick up minuscule temperature fluctuations in the atmosphere. It helped them indicate the changes in seasons before most other species. This was a useful survival trick but as proven in this moment came at a tremendous price.
Feeling the needle push harder tears began to fall from Bilbo's eyes. His head spinning and stomach wanting to expel all the food he had eaten not long before. The gag caused a huge chance he would choke on his own vomit.
But then the metal ceased being pushed in further as it finally came through the other side. Though there was no chance to compose himself. The screaming began again as the needle was forcefully yanked back out and the gold hoop replaced it. With a click of metal, it was now in place and the weight on his neck lifted.
Bilbo finally took in a large input of air. He could feel the hot sweat streaming down his face and his body convulsing after the huge strain it just underwent. Laying there quietly for a moment all he could hear was nothing but his own laboured wheezing and pounding heart. He let his eyes begin to close knowing that he was loosing consciousness.
" Fantastic one down one to go."
The Hobbit's eyes shot open as panic began to well up all over again. 'She can't be serious?!' He didn't have time to react further as the weight returned and the muffled wailing echoed through the room once more.
Quick note I wanted to give Bilbo ultra sensitive ears. Giving the sense that if people mess with them it can hurt Hobbits a lot. Also making the skin around them so fragile it can easily be cut give it another reason for them to hate their ears being touched. I know in a lot of fanfics it's Hobbits feet that are sensitive. But with this being Bilbo treated as a pet. Many who scratch or pet usually do it behind their ears. I wanted to play around with this simple action could actually cause Bilbo pain.
Also with the name I was thinking long and hard as to if Hildegard would just keep Bilbo's name as is or change it. But to me and with her spoilt, controlling personality, I thought she would change it. There is no real reason why I picked the name Keonie. I just heard it once and feel in love with it XD