"Bellarosa Baggins!"
Bella winced, cringing as everyone drew to a startled halt. She was in trouble now. She turned to see her irate twin brother staring at her with his hands on his hips and a very un-Baggins-like scowl on his face. Oh, yes. Bilbo Baggins was mad. Maybe she should have given better thought as to how to handle the whole situation.
Bella tended to the many flowers and vegetables in the garden. While her Took side made many things difficult to settle down to, the garden was where her Baggins side ruled. Where she was a disaster waiting to happen in embroidery and knitting, tending to plants and cooking brought a peace almost as good as traveling to Bree. She even managed to make folks believe she was a half-decent hobbit.
She glanced over to Bilbo as he sat, enjoying the morning sun and smoking his pipe. He would be leaving shortly to attend some business that would take him away for the night and until lunch tomorrow. He could have left directly after breakfast, but since she had just returned from Bree two days ago, he had decided to let themselves enjoy each other's company until elevensies.
She was about to turn to her flowers again when a tall figure appeared on the path. He, of course it was a he with that gray beard that reached all the way to his belt, was clad in a gray robe. A gray-blue hat sat atop his gray head and hardly bobbed at all despite the man holding a weathered staff.
She hesitantly returned to her flowers, though she kept a wary eye on the man. Although he would more than likely pass on by, there was something about him that seemed very familiar.
She smiled as she caught sight of a perfect smoke ring floating up from Bilbo's mouth. She then stared in awe as a mere breath from the stranger transformed it into a little smoke moth. She giggled as it flew straight toward her brother's face.
He opened his eyes just in time to see it before it dissipated across his nose. He sent a half-reprimanding look her way as she continued to chuckle. And then he caught sight of the stranger as well, turning toward him. "Good morning," he greeted politely.
"What do you mean?" the stranger asked, causing Bilbo to stare in confusion. "Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not?"
Bella pressed the back of her soil covered hand over her lips in an attempt to hold in her laughter. She never would have dreamed of doing this to befuddle her brother. This only served to make her like this familiar stranger all the more. Especially as he continued.
"Or, perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?"
She burst out laughing, barely noticing Bilbo's offended expression. "I doubt he even considered it, good sir," she said, rocking on her heels. "He tends to follow the traditional for tradition's sake."
"That is not so," Bilbo countered, wagging his pipe at her. "I . . . I meant all of those at once." He then clamped his mouth shut around his pipe, his teeth softly clinking. Now he was scowling without scowling. A talent developed from dealing with the Sackville-Bagginses.
Bella stood and came to the gate as she wiped her hands on her apron. "Can we help you, sir?"
"That remains to be seen," the man said with a small smile. "I am looking for someone to share in an adventure."
Bella's entire being thrummed at those words. Apparently it was starting to take more to appease her Tookish side.
"An adventure?" Bilbo scoffed. "Now, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interests in adventures. Well," he amended, glancing at Bella, "there may be one or two exceptions. But by most, adventures are considered nasty, disturbing, and uncomfortable things. Always making you late for dinner."
He shifted uncomfortably before standing. "Do we have any letters, sister?"
Bella turned and opened their little box. She discovered a small stack, and started sorting through them upon pulling them out. Naturally most were addressed to Bilbo. A couple were addressed to both of them. She could only imagine what her few letters were. More suitors that she had no interest in. Maybe she'd get lucky and have an invitation to a Took or Brandybuck gathering, eager to hear about her recent trip into Bree.
But just now, she could hardly give the envelopes a cursory glance. The stranger's presence was starting to become unsettling. It was as though he was studying them, or trying to piece together a puzzle of which they were the key pieces.
"Good morning," Bilbo said in dismissal. Apparently he wasn't feeling much better and was heading inside.
Bella gave a parting nod before falling into step a little after Bilbo when–
"To think that I should live to be 'good morning-ed' by Belladonna's two children, as if I was selling buttons at the door," the stranger said.
Bella whirled round. How did this man know their mother? "Beg your pardon?" she asked, her Baggins side coming out strong.
"Both of you have changed," he said, "and not entirely for the better, Bilbo and Bella Baggins."
"I'm not Miss Baggins, I'm Bella."
"I'm sorry," Bilbo said, "do we know you?"
"Well, you know my name, although you may have forgotten I belong to it," he answered with a chuckle. "I am Gandalf! And Gandalf means . . . ."
Bella leaped forward with a laugh. "Gandalf!" She threw her arms around his neck, recognizing the wizard's deep, rich laughter as he spun round to keep his balance. Though their first meeting was now fuzzy, she could still recall the good humor with which he joined in hers and Bilbo's game. As Gandalf set her down, she snagged his hat, cheekily pulling it onto her own head. Even when she tipped it back it was wishing to settle on her nose.
Gandalf laughed with her, lightly tapping her nose. "You always had a fondness for my hat, Miss Baggins."
"Bella," she corrected with a laugh.
"Gandalf?" Bilbo ventured. "Gandalf, the wandering wizard who made such excellent fireworks?" He laughed, an old twinkle coming back to his eyes, a twinkle Bella was starting to doubt she'd ever see again. "Old Took used to have you come do them on Midsummer's Eve." He laughed, a carefree laugh he hardly ever used anymore.
And then the Baggins returned. Bilbo cleared his throat, saying, "Well, I didn't know that you were still in business."
"And where else should I be?" Gandalf asked.
Bilbo muttered something that Bella couldn't make out, even if it was something intelligent. She was currently trying to figure out a good question for the wizard since she had claimed his hat. It was a childish game, but she wanted to grasp this remnant of that carefree time while she could.
"Well, I am pleased to see that you remember me," Gandalf said. "Even if it is only my fireworks." He gave a decisive nod. "It's decided then. It will be very good for you and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."
Bilbo stiffened, the spark definitely disappearing once again. "Inform the who? What?" he spluttered. Then firmly, "No. No. No! Wait. We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today. I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water. Good morning." With that he scurried inside.
Bella sighed, slowly removing the wizard's hat. She had hoped, but it was in vain.
"What of you, Miss Bella?" Gandalf asked.
She bit her lip before shaking her head. "I promised Bilbo I wouldn't go adventuring until he was ready to join me. I would love to join you but . . . not without Bilbo." She gave the wizard his hat back before turning to go back through the gate.
"No elvish secret you wish to know?" Gandalf asked.
She shook her head. Then paused. "What would your adventure hold? For certain?"
Gandalf smiled, a light twinkle in his eye as he put his hat back on. "Dwarves, a dragon, danger, excitement, fear. Perhaps even a few elves and goblins."
She slowly nodded. Maybe she could create a story for her younger cousins. "Thank you, Gandalf." She smiled then scurried up and in after her brother. She was startled to see Bilbo waiting for her directly inside.
He hurriedly tugged her in before closing the door and bolting it. He then collapsed with his back against it.
"What was that about?" she demanded.
"I-I don't know," Bilbo confessed, leaning over to peek out the door's side window.
Bella caught the sound of a faint scratching, but when she joined her brother's gaze out the window, the wizard was on his way again. She returned her gaze to her brother as he flopped back again, drawing deep breaths. "You act as though you received a fright," she said.
"Perhaps," he said quietly, "I'm scared of what I was for a moment out there." He turned his brown gaze on her, his warm orbs indeed chilled by some trace of fear. "I've been a proper Baggins for so long, I forgot what it was like to let my Tookish blood show. Can you even imagine what that feels like? To suddenly be such a different person so abruptly you don't know where it came from?"
Bella considered it for a moment. "Rather disconcerting, at least," she admitted.
Bilbo nodded. He then leaned his head back against the door. "Who would have thought that I would come to fear myself?"
Bella gently pulled her brother into her arms. "Baby steps brother. If you want to welcome your other side back a bit, maybe you'd like to join me halfway to Bree next time I travel?"
Bilbo chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. "Should have known you'd latch onto that single moment. Very well, I won't stuff it down as I was intending. I did promise you to try bringing that side of me back."
"I'll warn you though," Bella warned with a smile, "it may be sooner than usual. That wizard has managed to coax my wanderlust back a little earlier."
"Ey! At least let me have a week to get used to the idea," Bilbo protested.
Bella laughed. "I'll make sure your day pack is ready for your teeny tiny baby steps today."
It was right after elevensies when Bilbo set off, small travel pack on his back, and walking stick in his hand. Bella hugged him, wished him safe "adventuring." To which he lightly pinched her nose but still chuckled. Then Bella watched him from their door until he disappeared around the bend.
Bella spent the rest of the day making sure the house was in proper order. Usually it wasn't much, but she still had some washing from her trip to Bree. Once her travel clothes and blankets had been laundered and hung to dry, she made sure that everything was neat and tidy. She also took out her knives and gave them a brief polish.
She had taken to carrying the weapons during her trips after she had a close scrape with some ruffians on the road. It was only thanks to a nearby ranger that she had escaped unscathed. It was hardly a minute after the excitement had died down, and the ranger was escorting her to Bree, that she asked the man to help her select a pair of knives and learn the basics of defense. That had been the only time she spent a month in Bree, making sure she sent a note to Bilbo to assure him of her safety. It had taken that month to satisfy her teachers that she had the forms right so that she could continue practicing them after she left Bree. Ever after that, her trips to Bree also included new lessons and practice sessions.
Most importantly, it paid off. She had only one rough run-in after that and she had been skilled enough that she sent the men running and licking their wounds. Afterwards, the rangers told her that rumors were running rampant about a hobbit ranger who disguised himself as a female traveler so as to catch ruffians unawares. It was a tale that sent even her brother chortling.
It was after polishing her knives and having afternoon tea that she decided that she was hungry for a fish dinner. She checked on her fluttering laundry, decided it wouldn't hurt to leave them until she returned from market, and headed down the road with her basket.
As always the market was bustling. Not in the crowded, claustrophobic way that sent her Took blood racing with a thrill of danger down her spine like in Bree. It was the closeness of neighbors and peace, a nice change of pace that made her feel safe.
"Bellarosa Baggins."
She cringed. Well, almost safe. "Good evening, Lobelia," she said.
"Have you seen my son's letter to you?" Mrs. Sackville Baggins asked.
"Yes," Bella answered. "All six of them."
"Is that all you have to say on the matter?" her cousin demanded.
"Lobelia, I have more suitors by mail to consider," she said wearily. "Your son is not my only option. Also, are you sure that your son wants to try handling a Tookish old maid like me?" She half-snorted. "If you think marriage is going to settle me down, you are very much mistaken. Also, I am not going to be one of the pawns you use to steal away Bilbo's and my home. Our father built it for our mother. And I can assure you that it won't be until pigs fly, a blue sun shines in a green sky, and the entire Baggins clan decimated that we will allow a Sackville-Baggins to dwell under our roof. Good day, Mrs. Sackville-Baggins."
Bella then expertly wove through the crowd to avoid the sour-faced, gawking woman. She most certainly was not looking to settle down any time soon. Any man she courted would have to understand that. Being willing to join her on her adventures would be a bonus. The only way she would truly settle was if she ever carried children, but even then, as soon as they were old enough to travel, she'd probably be off again.
She made her purchase at the fish stand then made to return home. She was just crossing the bridge out of the market when a glance back showed her a familiar pointed hat. She turned, half-descending the bridge to meet the wizard again . . . and the hat was nothing more than a blanket topping a load of wool. She pouted lightly as she turned back toward home. After a run-in with Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, she could have used a talk with the rascally wizard.
Author's Note: Well, the adventure has been offered, but shall it be taken? Any thoughts from my lovely readers?
I don't suppose it will be too much of a spoiler to reveal that certain visitors will come calling next chapter. Any theories of how Bella will react? Or how some of the dwarves may react to Bella?