It took a week before I was fit to leave the hospital. Turned out that the injuries I had sustained in Middle Earth had followed me back to earth, plus the injuries that I had gotten from Bruce! I found this very unfair and voiced this to Gandalf. He shrugged and said something mystical about how dimensions merged when he brought me back and some other stuff that just made my head hurt thinking about and I didn't really understand him at all. The only thing that hadn't came with me was the death strike to my chest by Azog's claws and he said I should be grateful. And when he got to the part where he had been taking care of a house and a mass amount of money that guaranteed that I never had to work another day of my life from my parents, the amount alone nearly made me faint.
So instead of trying to figure out the why and how of Gandalf I focused on my injuries. Broken leg, broken wrist, and concussion I got from Middle Earth. Broken ribs, deep cuts from bullets in my un-broken arm and a stab wound in my gut were from Bruce. The gut wound apparently had missed any organs. I was pretty banged up but lucky. I knew how lucky I was and really was grateful to Gandalf. He helped me through my hospital stay, and then flew with me to a town to showed me my new house.
It was a good sized town and next door to a city. Once we got off the plane we took a taxi to my new house. I wasn't sure how to feel about a house I never knew about from my parents. Not to mention the money! After everything, the war, me dying, and losing my friends for good, I didn't want to think or do anything.
But Gandalf had other ideas when we got to my new house. It was huge! Only one story, I stared at the creamy white Victorian style house with brown trimming. It had a small lawn in the front and a wrap around porch with a porch swing next to the front door that was solid brown. I had barely paid attention on the drive but I had noticed that there was a large farm house and barn on a huge plot of land to the right and a small green cute house with a large yard and garden in the back that I could see. Other than these two houses, there was just land for five miles until you got to the town.
I stared at the house with my jaw dropped until Gandalf asked, "Would you like a look around?"
I slowly scooted out of the car and braced my crutch until I got my balance. My right arm was in a green cast and sling. My left ankle was in a blue cast. The colors were my choice and I had liked the odd look the nurse had given me. My ribs were a dull ache and luckily my head injury was healing nicely and the headaches were gone. My stomach was more of a dull pain and twinged when I moved. But I had never let pain stop me before and wasn't about to let it now.
Leaning carefully on the crutch I hobbled around the cab as Gandalf grabbed his big black suitcase and my tiny duffel bag. He watched me carefully and I ignored him with a tiny grin. We had argued through the whole five hour flight on him getting me a wheel chair and I had finally won the argument and got crutches.
Gandalf waited patiently and once I had gotten to him he lead me up the walkway to the house. He shortened his long stride so I could keep up and held out his arm as I carefully got up the three stairs to the porch but let me stubbornly make my own way without help. Gandalf took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door and waved me inside. Once inside I was the polished wood floors, the walls were soft creamy white and the inside was already furnished with matching brown colors. We walked into a living room with a large comfortable looking couch and a lazy boy recliner next to it, both facing a large flat screen.
Through the living room was a spacious dining room with a large oak table with matching chairs. Then there was a huge kitchen with a marble island and tiled walls around a black stove and the sink was painted green. On the right of the kitchen was a empty pantry. I could see the back yard through glass doors and to the right was four doors. Gandalf showed me that in the first one there was a laundry room with brand new washer and dryer, and a huge sink in the back. The next was a empty room that could be used for anything. The next was a bedroom with a large King sized bed and a oak dresser and a closet. The last room had an even bigger room with a Queen bed, tall oak dresser, and a desk in the corner. The closet was a walk in closet that I could fit a small car in.
This whole house was twice the size of the house I had grown up in! Unable to wrap my head around it I went over to the couch and carefully sat down. Gandalf sat on the other side of the couch and I asked quietly, "Why didn't they tell me about this place?"
Gandalf gently set his hand on my knee, "To keep it a secret from Bruce. But mostly your mom wasn't sure what would happen in your future. So she and your dad wanted to make sure that if you stayed here, that you would be secure. Once things ended up as they did, I was glad this was available to you."
Taking as deep a breath as my ribs would allow I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a couple more deep breaths. Once my emotions were under control I gave him a small smile, "Thank you Gandalf."
He squeezed my knee and said, "Your neighbor in the small house has been taking care of the house and yard, mostly dusting and such. Your neighbor in the farm house has been taking care of the land and keeping an eye on the place. You'll like him."
Cocking my head curiously I jumped when there was a booming knock on the door. By the time I stood, Gandalf had answered the door. The man who walked in shouldn't have been able to fit through the door, so tall and broad shouldered. He was at least over six feet tall with long hair and a beard. Although smaller than the Beorn I knew, I stared in disbelief as Beorn greeted Gandalf. He looked strange in my eyes dressed in blue jeans and a flannel shirt. I was just able to shake myself out of my stare when he turned toward me. I carefully moved around the coffee table and smiled at him, "Its nice to meet you. Thank you so much for looking after this place."
Gandalf introduced us and Beorn held out his large paw of a hand and I took it without fear and care so that I didn't fall over. Beorn looked me up and down and said in a gruff growl, "I hope whoever did this is dead. Or you tell me who did this to you and he will be."
My heart warmed at his gruff protective tone and I smiled at him, "Oh he's dead, but thanks anyway."
Beorn huffed and said, "If you need anything done with the land or need a hand with something call me. It was nice to meet you Ariana."
I barely got out, "You too." before he walked out. I smiled fondly, he wasn't much different than the Middle Earth Beorn. Then I started, realizing what that meant and glared at Gandalf, "Is there...?"
Gandalf smiled at me, eyes twinkling and said, "Possibly. You just never know who you will meet."
I saw the look of mystery he liked to wear when he knew something and wasn't going to tell me so I just let it go. By then there was another knock on the door, this time a delicate knock. Gandalf opened the door to reveal a plump beautiful woman with long red curls and dancing green eyes. I saw the stubborn chin and ready smile and instantly liked her. Gandal said, "Ah perfect timing. Ariana this is Bilba Baggins. Bilba has been taking care of the house and is your other neighbor. Bilba this is the owner, Ariana McKing."
Bilba came over with a smile and carefully shook my hand, "Nice to meet you! Any friend of Gandalf is a friend of mine."
I grinned and motioned for the couch, "Please join us. I saw your garden, it's impressive."
A blush dusted her freckled cheeks as she sat next to me and Gandalf took the chair, "Thank you! My family has always been good at growing things. I can bring you some fresh vegetables over if you'd like."
About to protest, not wanting to be a bother but the arched eyebrow look from Gandalf had me saying, "Thank you, that would be great."
She gave me a dimpled smile, "Stubborn huh? We'll get along fine."
I matched her smile and felt my insides warm slightly. Maybe, this wouldn't be so bad.
0o0
Gandalf stayed three more days, to make sure I had settled and had helped me get a laptop and order some essentials. Such as clothes that would last me until I could go shopping and he had shopped for me to get things like a toothbrush and deodorant. I couldn't thank him enough. But he just hugged me until I shut up. It was harder to not be depressed when I learned that I couldn't understand animals anymore. Gandalf thought it was because of my head injury. I felt that I was lucky that my earth sense still worked.
When Gandalf had finally left however, I felt the empty house press in around me. So I lied on the couch, laptop in hand, soda and chips in arms reach and started relearning about this world. Middle Earth was so different from this world and almost easier to live there. I appreciated the distance I had from town, the loud noises could drive me insane. It didn't take long before I relearned how to surf the web and order things online.
0o0
This went on for two months, just laying around and moping. Bilba would bring over vegetables until she realized I had just been eating them raw, too depressed to cook. So then she would bring me over meals and treats. Our friendship grew and she told me about her boyfriend. Apparently he was tall blond, gorgeous, funny, sweet, etc... I was getting more and more curious and it was so cute when she talking about him. When she finally told me his name it was like a sucker punch to the gut. Fili Durinson, I fought with myself for a week on what I thought about that and finally decided that I was glad he had found someone as sweet as Bilba.
Beorn learned that I was just cooping myself up in my house and I had a sneaking suspicion Bilba had told him. He came over and once I had opened my door he gruffly said, "Come with me."
I blinked at him and then looked down at my attire of sweatpants and tank top. I debated changing but then sighed, not feeling like I had the energy. Not even to question or argue with Beorn. Securing the crutch more securely under me arm I did ask, "Where are we going?"
He motioned after I closed the door behind us and I saw him gesturing towards his place. I did begin to frown, not sure if I could hobble that far. Beorn solved this for me by gently but firmly picking my up under my arm pits and than cradling a massive arm under my bum, and then taking my crutch from me before in my surprise I bashed him in the head with it.
With my good arm I clutched his shoulder and asked, "Is this really necessary?"
He just glanced at me and then strode towards his place. Huffing under my breath, I was glad no one could see me and decided to look around while I had the chance to be so high up. Beorns place was hugh and his drive way seemed to go on forever. There were a herd of horses on a pasture and as we got closer cats ran up to greet us with some dogs, goats and a saw a flock of chickens in a coop off to the right. His house was low but long and huge, resembling a log cabin. I felt tension leave my neck and my shoulders as Beorn carefully set me down and motioned toward a bench on his porch, "Sit."
I glared at him, set chin and he smiled, "Please."
I took my crutch from him and hobbled to the bench, sitting with a wince. I had barely gotten settled before Beorn was shoving a box of four kittens into my lap. He sat next to me with a bucket in hand full of tiny bottles of milk. Real smiles began to show as I helped Beorn feed the hungry kittens who were just opening their eyes.
By the time we were done I was the most relaxed I had been in too long. When we were done I helped Beorn gather eggs, feed the dogs and cats and finally go visit the horses. A herd of ten brown and white paint horses surrounded us. Beorn whispered lovingly to them and I cooed and rubbed any horse I could touch. My emotions spiked as memories hit me like a ton of bricks. Carefully hugging a horse that looked alarmingly like Lightfoot I buried my face into his mane as hot tears poured down my face. I'd never see Laddybuck again. So much was different, so much was not the same.
I wasn't sure how long I stood there and cried, but the horse didn't seem to mind. When I finally pulled away Beorn was standing to the side, watching me carefully as he rested a hand on one of the horses. He stood close enough for comfort but not too close as to smother me. The concern in his eyes spoke volumes. Taking a deep breath I went over to him and he gently pulled me into a hug. I didn't start crying, I think I was out of tears. But I did feel like a weight had lifted of my shoulders knowing that I wasn't alone.
0o0
Bilba brought over some cookies and insisted on going with me to get my casts off and I learned how stubborn she could get. The doctor was impressed on my healing and took off my arm and ankle cast. My ribs were healed and my cuts and bruises were fading. The doctor gave me some exercises to do for my arm and leg that would build up my strength again.
Bilba insisted then to take me out to lunch and at the same time go by her boyfriends workplace to meet him. I braced myself internally and hoped everything turned out well and I didn't burst into tears.
