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Happy Thursday Folks!
Now, let's peek in on our new hobbits and find out a little more about them, and where they have been.
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Chapter 31
~X~
By the time the hobbit's ponies had been located, the wagons righted and the wounded patched up well enough for travel, it was well past sundown. Fili knew it would be impossible to send word to Erebor until morning, since the ravens take roost at dusk, and all of his warriors were too exhausted to send on a late night ride back with a message. Yet it was decided that the company of dwarves and hobbits should at least press on a little bit towards the mountain, wishing to distance themselves from the bloody fields of battle. The carcasses of the slain orcs were still burning brightly as they moved on, not one of weary dwarves glancing backwards, or feeling an ounce of pity.
When they came to a slight bend in the river, offering them a pleasant spot to make camp, Fili called the company to halt. The hobbits had made room in their wagons of supplies for those too wounded to walk or ride, and tents for these brave soldiers were the first to be erected. Once everyone was settled in, and meals had been cared for, the small group of hobbits, three dwarves, and one wizard all sat around the fire to talk. Fili and the others were then introduced to the rest of Bilbo's party.
"This is Hamfast Gamgee, he might still be a bit on the young side, but he is shaping up to be the best farmer the Shire has ever seen," he said, gesturing towards a stout looking male that appeared to be half his age.
"Ah, now, Mister Bilbo, don't you go making me out to be more than I am." Hamfast said with blush. "A simple gardener is all I claim to be, and I'll not aspire to be more. But I was right delighted to be asked to come on this journey, and look forward to helping you fine dwarves to plant your crops come spring."
"And we are equally pleased to have you, young Hamfast," Fili nodded, already liking the easy going lad.
The other hobbits who claimed to be farmers were named Olo Grub, Ted and Carl Cotton, who were brothers, and three Took cousins by the name of Robin, Will and Andy. The last was called Toby Hornblower, but he quickly assured the dwarves that he was not the famous hobbit who had first cultivated the much loved pipeweed, only named after his ancestor Tobold, from Longbottom in the South Farthing. He did however assure them that he had brought plenty of seed for planting the coveted blend of pipeweed, something that brought wide smiles to Kili and Fili's faces. The final three were brothers; Freddy, Rufus, and Hugo Bolger, and they were the blacksmiths, all eager to learn the art of forging at the hand of the dwarves. In total, if he included Bilbo and little Frodo, Fili tallied there would be seventeen guests from the Shire wintering in Erebor, and he eagerly looked forward to every moment. Already the group of hobbits were proving to be most entertaining, epically the audacious Bergie Bracegirdle, who had managed to set Dwalin on his ear, a feat very rarely accomplished.
"When we requested that Bilbo bring farmers to Erebor, we did not know there would be any children among you," Fili commented, looking over to where Drogo and Primula sat with their drowsy son, Frodo. "Not that we are complaining," he was quick to add when they appeared a bit concerned. "It would appear that Frodo is just about the same age as my own lad, Flinn. I am sure they will become very fine friends while you are here."
"Yes, Fili," Bilbo interjected. "Do tell us about this wife and son of yours. And when did all this come about, for I received no word from your uncle about you taking a bride."
"Indeed! I too was left in the dark," Gandalf commented, puffing on his pipe as he studied the dwarf prince with discerning eyes. "And here I thought Thorin and I were on rather good terms, yet to hear of such things only after the fact, well that is a bit offensive."
"It…it was a rather rushed afair, and kept secret for reasons I am not presently at liberty to discuss," Fili told them, doing his best to remain evasive, while attempting to soothe any ruffled feathers. His fingers unconsciously went to the small pocket in his vest, touching the satin ribbon hidden there. "Yet, her name is Sier, and I am sure you will all get along famously. My son, who is a little over four and a half, is called Flinn."
"Ahhh, named after your father, it would seem," Gandalf nodded in approval, knowing the parentage of the two princes well.
"Yes, he was," Fili confirmed, impressed that the old wizard knew that. "When we are safely back in Erebor, and perhaps over a tankard of ale and a good pipe, I will tell you the rest. But for now, that is all I am free to relate." Fili was still ashamed of how he had been tricked and used by the wicked Bina, yet he knew he could trust both Bilbo and Gandalf with his life, as well as his reptuation. Besides, he had a few questions for the wise old wizard, thinking perhaps he knew more about the elixir that had been used on him, as well as its long term effects. After all, Gandalf had been around a lot longer than Oin, and he fully intended to ply him with questions. "But what of you, Bilbo?" he spoke up, wishing to divert the subject away from his complicated marriage. "Has any pretty hobbit lass caught your eye since your return?"
Bilbo, who had been happily puffing on his pipe, coughed and sputtered at Fili's question.
"Well, I…um…no," he managed to get out, before clearing his throat a few times and regaining his composure. "And I have you dwarves to thank, in some part, for that."
"Why?" Kili asked in shock, not liking the idea that he was somehow to blame…well, for anything. "What did we do?"
"Before you came and dragged me off on your crazy adventure, I was a wholly respectable hobbit," he informed them. "Never did anything out of the ordinary or unexpected. But since I got back, I have been labeled odd, and a disturber of the peace. Making folk eye me with caution, as if I will suddenly sprout wings and a second head!"
"So now no female will even look at you as a potential mate?" Fili asked, feeling a bit guilty for that.
"Nope, not a one," Bilbo said, though for some reason he did not seem too upset about that.
"Oh, hogwash!" Bergie broke in. "Yes, Bilbo's reputation might have got a bit tarnished, due to his traipsing off into the wild with a group of dwarves, but you would be surprised at what the lure of some nice shiny gold can do to sparkle him back up. I know of a few lasses who would like you to look in their directions, Bilbo Baggins."
"Yes, and it is those ladies that I would not wish to get within a mile of!" he laughed, enjoying her teasing. "Now, if a fine lass, such as yourself, were to ever pay me more than the usual attention, then I might sit up and take notice," Bilbo stated, giving her a sly grin as he continued their playful banter. "But alas, you are far too good a woman for me, Bergamot Bracegirdle. Besides…I think we are more closely related than would be proper to wed."
"Story of my life…all the good ones are either taken, or somehow related to me," Bergie laughed, causing the rest in the group to follow suit. Everyone, that is, except Dwalin, who for some strange reason was now giving Bilbo a withering glare.
"So, who among you is to be the foreman for this grand agricultural project Thorin has planned?" Fili asked, looking around at the pleasant faced hobbits.
"That would be me," Marigold spoke up, shocking the three dwarves.
"You?" Kili asked, looking a bit taken back by this, but then he quickly righted himself. "Not that there is anything wrong with that…it is just that…well, you surprised us is all."
"I am sure I did," she laughed. "And in truth, it was a bit of a shock to me as well, but there you have it. You see, it was originally to have been my brother, Saradoc, who was coming to spearhead the project. He and I have always had a love for growing things, and even started our own business together back home. When the idea was presented to us by Mister Bilbo, we two worked day and night, drawing up the designs for the irrigation system, perfecting the planting layout, and picking out which crops would bring the best yield. Together we figured everything out, down to the most minute detail. But apparently, no matter how hard you try, there is always something you just can't plan for."
"And what is that?" Fili asked, hoping that nothing bad had happened to her brother.
"Love!" Marigold chuckled. "Only a few weeks shy of coming on this journey, my brother fell head over heels in love. And apparently Esmerelda Took decided it was in his best interest to stay in the Shire, in order to properly court her…and he did not have the heart to disagree."
"Ahhh, I see," Fili laughed. "As we dwarves say, the heart cannot be denied when you find your one."
"Seemingly not for my brother at least," Marigold nodded. "And since I was the only other one familiar enough with all the plans, I volunteered to come in his place. I do hope your king will not take offense at having a female foreman assigned to the project. We will, after all, have to work rather closely in order to get this project off the ground."
"Our uncle has learned to appreciate the skill and ingenuity of the Shire folk, thanks to Bilbo," Fili assured her. "I am sure he will focus on your qualifications, and not your gender." And while he said this with an air of confidence, the crown prince found that he was not all that sure. What would Thorin think about this brave little lass, one who could shoot an arrow almost as well as Kili, was not afraid of a fight, and seemed to have a quick wit to go with her lovely appearance. It would be interesting to watch, that was for sure. He then looked over at Bergie, who was, surprise, surprise, staring directly at Dwalin. "And are you too a master gardener, Miss Bracegirdle, here to assist your niece in the planting?"
"Me?" she asked, almost startled by his question. "Not a chance. I barely know how to pot a petunia! My contribution to this project is preservation. I am along to show you all how to go about stocking up the food you grow for the winter months, how to make it last, and the best ways to use your overstock."
"Bergie is a master at canning, drying, and a dozen other methods of keeping food safe and edible for long periods of time," Bilbo informed them proudly. "Not to mention…brewing!"
"Brewing? As in ale?" Dwalin spoke up, his eyes alight with interest.
"You bet your brass buttons!" Bergie laughed. "One of the best ways to put your leftover grains to good use, is to make liquor out of it! If it's got a bit of sugar, it can ferment, if it can ferment, it can be made into alcohol. And if it has been made into alcohol, I can make sure it is delicious!"
"Well, Miss Bergie…I can tell that you and the dwarves of Erebor are going to get along just fine," Kili laughed.
"Yet that is not the only reason I came along on this journey," she informed them. "I'm also here to watch over my niece, else her poor parents would never have let her cross the Brandywine Bridge, let alone come all the way to the Lonely Mountain! Primula has a respectable husband to look after her, but a single lassie going on a journey across Middle Earth? That is downright unheard of!"
"Oh, Aunt Bergie," Marigold chided, sounding a bit embarrassed. "You make it sound like I am a child who needs a nursemaid! I am fully grown, having reached my maturity several years past, and I have been able to defend myself quite adequately since I was quite young. I think you were just looking for any excuse to go on an adventure without getting labeled as a rabble-rouser like Mister Bilbo."
"Now, both of you stop that," Drogo broke in, laughing at the two of them. "You will give my dear cousin a complex, thinking that the whole Shire is eyeing him suspiciously."
"Oh, but they are!" Bilbo was quick to assure him, his eyes dancing with a merry twinkle. "You should hear the rumors! It is said I meet in secret with elves, that I have dozens of tunnels under Bag End filled with dwarf gold, and that I entertain wizards – which I gladly admit to doing any chance I get," he added, giving Gandalf a wink. "If Saradoc had not agreed to watch over Bag End for me, in recompense for backing out at the last minute, I am sure those Sackville-Baggins would be pushing to have me declared dead once again and already moved in!"
"Well, if they dare to spread any such unfounded gossip about you in my presence, Mister Bilbo," Hamfast spoke up in his defense. "They will be getting an earful, and perhaps a swift kick in the backside!"
"And I appreciate your support Hamfast," Bilbo told him with great sincerity. "Though I am sure Bell Goodchild was not happy that I asked you to leave her, and the Shire, for almost a full year."
The young hobbit blushed a bit at this, looking away and clearing his throat a bit before answering.
"Well, begging your pardon, Mister Bilbo, but you see, this trip is what just might make it possible for me to claim Bell's hand for my own," he explained. "Her father, Horgath Goodchild, says that unless I can prove that I am able to provide for her, he will not consent to us courting. And with the gold that was promised to each of us who came along, well, I think it just might be enough to change his mind about me."
"Horgath is a fool if he does not see your worth straight off, Hamfast Gamgee," Marigold spoke up, reaching over to pat the red faced hobbit on the shoulder. "And as a good friend of Bell's, I can tell you that should you ask for her hand, there is no way she would ever let her father deny you…gold or no gold."
"Either way," Fili broke in, wanting to put the poor hobbit's mind at ease. "We will just have to make sure that we fill your pockets with the treasures of Erebor when you head home, insuring that the hand of the lass will be yours. But first we need to get you all to the mountain! Thorin has been beside himself with worry over you all, not having heard a word from you since you arrived in Rivendell."
"No word since then?" Bilbo gasped. "But we sent a message to Erebor when we arrived at Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood." He then gave Gandalf a nervous look. "Or, at least we thought we did."
"Hmmmm," the elderly wizard hummed in thought. "It would appear that someone might have been derelict in their duties." When the three dwarves looked up at him with a questioning stare, he elaborated. "I came to Mirkwood on my own errand, accompanied by our old friend Radagast the Brown. It was to him that we assigned the task of sending word about the hobbits and their progress. He left the woodland realm by another way, while I chose to continue on with Bilbo, but it would seem that the forgetful wizard failed to send our message. He has become rather scatterbrained as of late."
"And the elves had just gifted him with that bag of mushrooms at his parting," Bilbo reminded Gandalf with a shake of his head. He then turned to the dwarves. "We are terribly sorry if we caused Thorin any undue concern. I am sure he already has enough on his mind, that the last thing he needs to worry about is a pack of hobbits."
"Oh, he became quite used to doing that on our journey," Dwalin laughed, recalling all the mishaps and accidents their smallest company member seemed to have along the way. "But you proved to us all, that there was more to you than meets the eye."
"That he did!" Kili laughed, quickly launching into a few of the lesser known stories of their journey that the other hobbits might not have heard. Much to the consternation of Bilbo himself.
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After a short night, one that still felt like a lifetime to Fili, dawn came, and with it the ravens. Standing off a ways from the group, the crown prince of Erebor called one to him, conveying his instructions to the feathered messenger. The dispatch the raven would carry would tell his king of their victory in battle, as well as their imminent return. He felt his heart lighten as he watched the black corvid take wing and fly towards the mountain. He only wished that he too could travel as such speeds, desiring nothing more than to be back with his wife and son. Once more he took out the small blue ribbon, wrapping it around his fingers as he thought of Sier.
"I will be home soon, my lady wife," he whispered. "And nothing will entice me to leave you again."
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Sier was still in bed, being well past the hour when she would normally rise and start the day. But she just did not have the heart to do so, for what was the point if Fili was still away? Flinn had spent the remainder of the evening with Thorin, finding comfort in the reassuring presence of his king and uncle, yet returned to their quarters worn out and uncharacteristically sullen. Sier knew that he was just as worried about his father as she was, but she did her best to hide her fears from her son. It would not do to have them both an emotional mess, fearing the worst, yet not wishing to say such things out loud.
Flinn had asked to sleep with her, and she had been glad for the company. Sharing a bed with Fili had originally taken some getting used to, the two of them tiptoeing around each other, while doing all they could to remain on their own sides and not touch. Yet now, with him gone, the entire room seemed empty and lonely, as if he alone had given life to the chamber.
She looked down at the still sleeping dwarfling and ran her fingers lightly through his hair, doing her best not to wake him. Four and a half years ago she had considered raising him on her own, of never telling Fili that he had a son, yet now…now she could not even imagine him not there. In less than two months, Fili had become such an integral part of their lives, weaving his way into their family… and her heart. Oh, what was she going to do? She loved him so deeply, she could feel it in her bones, and yet if he did not feel the same way about her, it would all be pointless. Still…had he not often acted in a way that gave her hope? That perhaps he might indeed be the one Mahal had destined for her…and she for him? But if that was the case, why had he not said anything? Why would he hold back if he had begun to awaken, and share the same feelings she know recognized as true and abiding love?
Sier hated speculating, and she was done with denying her feelings. It was time to set things straight, and hang the rest! What was the worst that could happen? Sure, he could laugh in her face…tell her she was being ridiculous, or possibly even insist they quit sharing a bed, if that was now her feelings on the matter. But even that could not feel worse than not knowing at all…right?
Hadn't Dis said that she had run to her Flinn and embraced him in front of all at his return from patrol, announcing to everyone - including him - the depth of her feelings? She could only pray that she too would get the chance to demonstrate such a thing to Fili…and soon.
But no matter what he might say, she would tell him the truth, speak her mind…or let her lips do the talking for her! She was done hiding, she was finished with sacrificing her own desires! And besides, in all the old stories and songs, martyrs usually ended up with nothing…or dead! Well, not her!
She was just about to rouse her son and suggest they go make some breakfast, when there came a loud and insistent pounding on her outer chamber door, causing her jump at the sound. Flinn too was instantly awake, his wide eyes filled with dread as he grasped at his mother for security. Not sure what to say, for she herself was now gripped with an almost paralyzing fear, Sier leapt from the bed and grabbed hold of her son, the two of them racing for the door anxiously. Not even bothering to check to see who it was, she flung it open, hoping against hope that it was good news on the other side.
"They are coming home!" Dis cried, her face alight with joy as she breezed into the room. "Thorin just received word from Fili that the battle has been won, there were no casualties, and the hobbits are safe!"
"Oh, thank Mahal," Sier whispered, sinking to the floor as her legs gave way and the tears began to fall. Dis reached down and scooped up Flinn, allowing his mother a moment to process the happy news.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, giving the miniature version of her own son a big smile. "Your adad is on his way back to Erebor as we speak. He will be home in time for Durin's Day!"
"Yaaayyyyyy!" he cried, throwing his arms around his N'anad as he gave her a big hug.
"We need to get busy then," Sier suddenly realized, standing up as she smoothed down her bed-ruffled hair. "If they will be arriving just before the celebration, we will need to be ready. There will be wounded to tend, hobbits to house, and so many things that will need to be seen to at the last minute, if we plan on beginning the festivities on time!"
"Spoken like a true princess of Erebor," Dis smiled, seeing that all her training had not been in vain. "Now, you two need to get dressed, and then we shall get to work!"
As Sier raced back into her room, pulling the happy dwarfling behind her, she couldn't wipe the huge smile off her face. Fili was safe! Fili was coming home! And when he did…he was in for a very big surprise!
Yippeeee, the return to Erebor is next! How WILL Sier react? How will Fili?
What will everyone think of the hobbits? And before you ask, everyone's ages are right except for Frodo...I fudged on him a little bit.
How is everyone liking Bergie and Dwalin?
Will Durin's Day be all that everyone has been hoping for?
Tune in tomorrow and find out!
Guest Reviews:
mjean: did you see your line?
enilorac44: Nope, you are not reading too much into that at all. I think Bergie has made herself pretty clear on the subject, ha ha. And from the leg swinging thing, I take it that you were pleased with the chapter? ha ha.
Laura En Eryn: And yes, I AM the writer...so I say YES to BOTH kinds of action! ha ha. We just might have to wait till our couple is lone for the other kind, hee hee.
Guest H: Frodo is pretty cute...NOT as adorable as Flinn, but they will play well off each other. Look out Erebor...you are in for some MAJOR adorableness. The mountain might not survive. As for Kili...no. You are not right. I want him to stay sweet, innocent and my go-to fun guy. He has no time for romance. ha ha.
Guest F: Awwww, that would be a wonderful scene! Guess you will have to wait and see what I got planned for THAT. ha ha. Flinn and Frodo will be twice as adorable now. Cuteness to the MAX! Thanks for the well wishes in writing. I just can't seem to find the time during the week, too much work, life and family to deal with. So while I am plodding away, I look forward to the weekends to get the lion's share of my chapters finished. Thanks though!