The next morning, Bilbo awoke, just as he had expected to with a drake nuzzling his neck quite warmly. He glanced at his shuttered window and saw the still somewhat gray light peeking through, it was still very early, more than enough time to fashion a properly large and hearty breakfast. His stomach gave a gurgle, and as softly as he could he slid the little golden drake off his chest, tucking the blankets and pillows around her in a little sort of nest. He stood at the foot of the bed, watching her sleep for a few moments. Such an innocent and peaceful creature, it stung for a moment remembering she had the potential to kill. His brows furrowed in thought.
'She will not become a monster. She will up to her name, and have a heart filled with kindness, love and devotion. She will have a golden heart, or I shall die trying to teach her how.' Bilbo thought with determination. He turned and silently left the room, leaving the door open so she would be able to find him in Bag End when she had woken. He went to the hearth (first stirring up a small fire with some kindling) and gathered up his plate and mug from the previous night, emptying them into the sink when he had gotten to the kitchen. He cleaned them, happy to find that his plumbing was still in prime working condition. Gaffer had taken very good care of Bag End while he was away, he would have to make him and Samwise something special in thanks.
Dishes clean and put away, he brought out a few plates and pans before heading to his pantry to take inventory. He wasn't expecting much, just the basics, but he ended up seeing nothing in the pantry at all except some cobwebs and crumbs. Discouraged, he sighed and deigned that he would have to go to the market to purchase food. He was glad that he had gotten some of his share of the treasure; it would take a bit of coin to refresh his pantry to the condition it had been before the dwarfs had ransacked his home that fateful night. Not that he needed his share of the treasure to continue his life in comfort, he had plenty of his inheritance and earnings from before the adventure to live more than comfortably for the rest of his life, but it helped. He would be able to indulge in some of the more expensive items he preferred without feeling a slightest bit of guilt.
His choice made, he gathered on a clean waistcoat and buttoned it up proper. It was still early, and winter was only a few short weeks away, the fall chill a cool bite as soon as he stepped out his door. He was not unused to cold conditions because of his travels with the dwarfs, but it was still enough to cause goose-bumps and a shiver up his arms. Tucking his arms close to his body he set out to the market, where even this early some stalls would be open.
Walking amongst the wooden stalls with cloth awnings to cover their wares and potential customers, many hobbit merchants were already bustling about their business, peacefully selling their wares. He went from stall to stall first, browsing the options. After a while he settled on what he would need after making a mental list, and arranged to have the merchants package his desired items and one would loan him a cart and mule to take the items to Bag End. While he shopped, he kept his ears and eyes open. Gossip was especially important amongst hobbits, and he had been gone a great deal longer than was appropriate for a respectable hobbit such as he had been. He doubted he was so respectable anymore, but his coin and conversation was just as good to the market as it had been before he left, so he was a little more at ease than when he had set out that morning.
He had heard some disturbing gossip, however. There had been some sightings of goblins and howling in the night that hadn't been heard, at least by Bilbo, since the Fell Winter that claimed his mother. This was dangerous, the only reason there would be goblins here…Was because of the Battle of the Five Armies, when the goblins and orcs fled the battle. Had they come so far out of desperation? They would find much prey here if so; the hobbits in the Shire were not equipped to protect themselves. They had depended on the Rangers before; they may have to yet again. Some hobbits had mentioned sending notice to them already, but Bilbo would send his own request on behalf of Hobbiton and The Hill.
Bilbo resolved that he would take to carrying Sting on his hip after this – he may be seen as more of an odd hobbit than his Took cousins for it, but he'd prefer that to seeing his fellow hobbits made mincemeat of for hungry wargs and orcs. After he gathered up his purchases in the cart it was piled high with crisp white paper covered bundles, alongside one brown package tied with white string. With a hand on the mule's shoulder he gave a soft sound and the creature began to pull the laden cart. The heavy hobbit to which it belonged followed behind, making sure nothing fell out the back and so he could take his mule back when Bilbo was done.
They reached Bag End in good time, and he could see thin smoke trailing from the chimney still. Good, he hadn't been gone too long that the fire had died down. He hoped Ilaurënda was still fast asleep. On their journey she hadn't the ability to sleep much past dawn, so he hoped she would be true to her childlike nature and sleep right on through. He still had to make breakfast after all. Well, he would have to make a lot of food; raw materials only went so far. He would have to make many types of dough to cure, pies and cakes, cookies and oh! So many things he hadn't had in so long! He should make scones too, perhaps cinnamon and also cheese scones? And he would have to make brownies and bars, ooh his mouth was starting to salivate. He swallowed and composed himself. It had been a long while since he was able to indulge in the finer art of baking and cooking, he would have to spend the next few days with Ilaurënda baking! He would have to see how good of a helper she could be, if she could bother to sit still. He could only hope her curiosity and eagerness to learn would convince her to sit still and help!
The fellow hobbit helped him carry his load into the pantry of Bag End, on the floor firstly. He would organize it after the gentle-hobbit had left. They got all his purchases inside and as he waved goodbye to the fellow and his mule he shut the gate, checking his little mailbox absently (there was nothing in there, not that he had expected anything. Gaffer had checked his mail routinely and he had a nice stack in his study of mail he had received while he was away on his journey). He was reminded that he was so send a letter to Kili telling the prince he had made it safe back to the Shire. He turned to head up the steps and nearly had a heart attack as he spied Ilaurënda sitting, staring at him in the doorway. He gave a yelp, glancing around to make sure no one was watching and rushed up the steps, herding her back inside (she gave him a squawk and a nip for that).
Once inside he gave her a glower, she had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Sorry, ontaro!" she chuckled, flapping up onto his shoulder and nuzzling his ear affectionately. He smiled and gave a happy sigh.
"You must be careful, little one. You can't be seen for a while yet. I have heard there are orcs and wargs here now…That means the rangers will be here too, and they can't see you, for the Rangers are men in these parts, and that means you cannot be near them. You know why, correct?" Bilbo asked her as he began to settle his pantry into some sort of order. She had at one point hopped onto a shelf and was nibbling on a piece of pork she had asked him to slice for her. He'd done it without a second thought, busying himself with his task of refilling his pantry in an organized manner. As she worried a piece of the meat in her maw she gave his question a long thought. She gulped down her bite and looked at him seriously.
"Because men would…use me, or make me like my sire?" She asked cautiously. She was getting on very well with her words; much like a young fauntling would be progressing. One day she would become a great fountain of wisdom, a flow of riches much more worth in value than the gold that the dwarfs of Erebor coveted. Bilbo gave her a nod, smiling.
"Yes, and while your sire, Smaug the Terrible, was an impressive creature he was not the kindest. In his greed he took more than he would ever need, and earned the wrath of many. As I have told you, greed gets you nothing but an empty life and a broken heart. You know why, my dear?" Bilbo asked her, settling a big wheel of nice old cheddar next to her. She gave it a cursory sniff before gulping down another nibble of her pork.
"Because greed will blind you, and no one will love you for choosing gold over them!" she chirped merrily. Bilbo laughed, rubbing under her chin fondly.
"Yes, darling, my own love nearly did that you know. Well, not that he knows I love him, of course. But all the same, he nearly threw away my love…I only wish that I could love him still, for he repaired his grievous mistake before he lost me completely. Alas, my heart still swoons despite our distance. If only he knew and returned my affections…"Bilbo sighed, settling the last of his purchases in the pantry. He stepped back, hands on his hips, and looked at his work with a proud smile.
"Now, come on my dear, we have a lot of baking to do! Now that the pantry is filled, we need to make breakfast and all sorts of delicious treats now that Bag End is filled by its resident bachelor, plus one!" Bilbo chuckled, offering her his arm. She scrambled over to his shoulder and onto his head, shoving her face in front of his nose upside down.
"Ontaro valin?" she cooed quietly, eyes filled with concern. Bilbo frowned.
"Yes I am happy, little one. Why ever would you think I was not? I have you!" Bilbo smiled, grabbing her off his head and holding her close (but not too tight! He didn't want to hurt the dear…). She gave a purr and nuzzled his chin carefully.
"Because you don't have the one you love." She replied, a little too keenly if one were ever to ask Bilbo.
"Well little one, I love you as well, and that makes it all just dandy. Don't you worry your precious little scales over me, missy, I will be right as rain so long as you are happy. Deal, my little golden heart?" Bilbo chuckled; depositing her back onto his head (he gave a small wince as she still did not have excellent control of her claws, much like a kitten, and gripped his head a bit too hard). She gave a soft croon, meaning she was obliging but she was not happy about it. He rolled his eyes to himself as he gathered up some of the things he would need for the beginning of his first baking day.
Laurë had turned out to be an excellent assistant in his baking, she was good at watching the oven and telling him when the object inside was done to perfection, whilst he busied himself without a worry about minding the oven while he mixed batters and other delicacies. They had spent three days straight making a great variety of goods (and eating many of them as well, he noted. Ilaurënda was particularly fond of snatching up stray bits and bobs that didn't make it into their main mixture). They made cheese scones with little bits of ham diced up into cubes in them, many different types of bread (ranging from plain white to bread with nuts filled all-round the crust), a few different types of baked bars (the spice bars were his particular favorite of this group of goodies, filled with all sorts of delectable spices and some precious chocolate chunks baked in to each bar), sweet rolls glazed with honey, and several different cakes including the seed cakes that the dwarfs had devoured so viciously so many months ago. They had made much more than that, filling his house with good smells and good food. But we needn't go into much more detail, hobbits were wonderful bakers and you can be assured that whatever he and Ilaurënda made was certainly delicious!
A week or two later of peaceful, routine living with Ilaurënda, he stood talking to one merchant who had an assortment of jars of honey and wax products - when he overheard mention of one of his cousins, Drogo Baggins. Excusing himself from the merchant (and not feeling guilty for it, as he had not yet purchased anything), he approached the pair of hobbits; two lasses, one who looked to be of Took origin, and then he recognized them. Ruby Took and Marlenda Brandybuck.
"The poor dear, what will happen to him now? I think Bilbo is still gone; his parents will said they wanted him to watch after the babe…He's still off on that adventure of his, such an awful thing. Who will take care of little Frodo?" the woman asked in hushed tones to Marlenda, who had tears in the corners of her eyes. So the hobbits of the Shire had not yet gossiped about him returning, despite his venture to refill his pantry after the first day. Perhaps they had expected him to run off again and kept it hushed up, or maybe they simply were tired of talking about old bachelor Bilbo. Regardless of the reason why his return was yet unknown, he cleared his throat. Both of their heads turned and snapped in his direction. Their eyes lit up.
"Bilbo! Oh you have returned, the gossip wasn't just rumors! What a miracle, please you must come to Drogo and Primula's!" Ruby exclaimed, taking a hold of his arm firmly but gently. As concerned as he was about what they had been talking about, he trotted alongside her as she took him to his cousin's home, Marlenda hurrying behind them. He would probably learn quickly enough of the information he desired. Quickly, but not soon enough, they came upon Drogo's hole which had a sign in paper plastered on the front gate, reading; "Don't Enter" in poor, scribbled handwriting. There were a few wet spots on it – perhaps it had rained last night? He didn't smell that much moisture in the air or see rain-bearing clouds.
Ruby opened the gate and ushered Bilbo and Marlenda through before shutting it behind her. She urged them to continue to the door, knocking on it. A slightly elderly hobbit opened the door, glaring out grumpily. He looked at Ruby and then at Bilbo before opening the door and letting them in. Bilbo remembered the fellow to be the doctor of Hobbiton, a wise if grumpy hobbit from the Proudfoot family, Gamin was his name.
"I was wondering if you'd ever return, Mister Baggins. Something terrible has happened. Drogo and Primula took their little one, Frodo, out on his first fishing trip a few days ago. Frodo came back…but he's awful scared, and his parents had written a will once the goblin sightings started. They wanted you to care for the babe if anything happened to them." Gamin explained, taking Bilbo's arm from Ruby. The two lasses waited just inside the door as Bilbo was led through the hole. He could hear sniffling and coughing.
"He's been hurt something fierce too, though it doesn't look like the goblins got to him. He says he'd gone under the water when his mum and pa told him to, and when he came up again he'd heard screaming and his parents were gone. Wouldn't say how he got hurt. I sent some of the Tooks to look at the boat and it was pulled up to the shore, broken up and bloodied. There weren't anything left of them." Gamin frowned deeply. He paused in front of a door, glancing at Bilbo.
"You're his guardian now, Mister Baggins. I think he needs someone to talk to that he trusts. He won't talk to me." The older hobbit grumbled sourly. Bilbo nodded and Gamin quietly stepped back, allowing Bilbo room to open up the door. He opened it a crack at first, just ducking his head inside. The sniffles stopped, although the coughs continued, muffled behind an arm likely.
"Frodo? It's me…Bilbo. You remember old Bilbo, right?" he called softly, looking at the dark haired and blue eyed child mournfully. He spotted a bandage wrapped round his head with a spatter of red leaking through the top, and he had snot and tears running down his face.
"Oh my boy…" Bilbo gasped, opening the door and rushing to the fauntling's side. The boy cringed away from him and ducked under his sheets with a muted 'Go 'way!'
"Now lad that is no proper way to speak to someone." Bilbo said sternly, and the boy's eyes popped up over the edge of the sheets for a moment.
"Now, what has got you so frightened my lad?" Bilbo asked, while his stern tone was still present, it was softened a great deal.
"Mama and Pa were killed on the river…" the boy replied, tears beginning to fall down his cheeks. Bilbo raised a hand and smoothed back the boy's hair delicately.
"They told me to swim down the water…So I did. When I came back up I was far down cause the water'd pushed me away. I could see Mama and Pa getting eated by the monsters…Mama was screaming and Pa was yelling for them to leave her alone…I tried to scream but I got water in my mouth and started to choke…I swam to the shore and spat out the water, then ran for home. The monsters didn't follow me…so when I got home I came in and went to bed…I woke up and it wasn't a nightmare, so I went to Ruby's and she and old Gamin have been taking care of me since…" the boy explained slowly between coughing, hiccups and bursts of crying. Bilbo opened his arms and the young hobbit crawled into them, burrowing his face into Bilbo's neck. He rubbed the poor lad's back and hushed him gently; trying to soothe the shakes the boy was continuing to give.
"Ruby said Ma and Pa want you to take care of me… not them, I wanna go with you, Bilbo… Please? I don't wanna be here anymore…" Frodo hiccupped, curling into an even tighter ball of miserable fauntling.
"Of course, my dear boy, whatever you wish…Anything you wish at all." Bilbo replied, tears coming to his eyes, and he tried fiercely to prevent them dropping. He failed, and the tears fell into the black curly locks tucked under his chin. He gathered up the boy closer and over his hip, the boy's leg curled around his stomach tightly – a bit too tight but Bilbo didn't bother to mention it. He left the room, not bothering to shut the door, and was not surprised to find that Gamin had returned to the entryway with Ruby and Marlenda, talking in soft tones.
"Ruby, Marlenda dears, would you be so kind as to gather some of young master Frodo's clothing and belongings? He's going to be moving in with me today…You can spend however long you like and if you want to acquisition new things for him I will be more than happy to reimburse you in full and then some. Anything for the lad…" Bilbo requested quietly, as Frodo had fallen asleep from exhaustion after the short fit. Both lasses nodded grimly, and Gamin opened the door for Bilbo.
"I'll have some tonics and remedies sent with the lasses when they deliver his things, he's like to develop an illness after his dip into the river and being in wet clothes for an entire night, not to mention inhaling water…I would keep a close eye on him Mister Bilbo. I'll be available if you need me to come see him." Gamin mentioned gruffly, giving Bilbo a supportive pat on the back, sending him out the door.
"Thank you very much, Mister Gamin. I will keep you aware of his condition. I shall be watching him like a hawk does a field mouse." Bilbo replied stiffly. It was getting chilly out, as he had left for the market rather late in the afternoon and it was now nearing time for dinner. He supposed dinner would be delayed as he settled his new young hobbit. He hurried home rather briskly, though as smooth as he could manage with the fauntling on his hip, for he did not want to wake the dear if he didn't have to.
He quietly entered Bag End, locking the front door and heading straight for his bedroom. He would not let Frodo out of his sight until he was either done being ill, or no illness came to pass. Not to mention he wanted to be at the youngling's side should a nightmare crop up. He found Ilaurënda lying in a nest of furs he had sewn himself, soft rabbits fur made into a bowl-like shape and a soft green blanket lay over the top of it. He had gotten the furs that first day back, and sewn them up the second night and presented it to her the third day after they had baked. On their seventh day a package was left in front of his door and he opened it to find it was a plush green blanket that he had commissioned from particularly talented younger hobbit lass, who was more than happy to make the beautiful blanket. It was a soft grass green, with golden embroidery along the edges in intricate knots and weaves, and in the center was a beautifully embroidered scene of Bag End with the sun high above it. It was not a solid picture either, as the color of the blanket was the color of the grass on The Hill.
When he presented this second gift to the little drake, she had been beside herself with joy and lathered him with silly little dragon kisses, flicking her tongue all about his cheeks. She had surprised him the next day with a crudely shaped piece of bark slightly wider than two hands across and one hand tall; with lines scratched into the inside smooth side drawn in a childlike likeness of her and him sitting under the sun. Now there was no color, but Bilbo beamed at the gift all the same and set it fondly on the mantle place above the hearth, leaning back against the wall so it would not fall down and into the fire.
He withdrew himself from his memories and gently nudged her aside with one hand, just enough that he could get Frodo under the warm blankets without bothering her. Alas, she awoke and watched as he tucked in the young hobbit curiously.
"Who is he, Ontaro?" she asked quietly, bless her heart.
"He is your new cousin, little heart. He recently lost his parents, and will be coming to live with us. Now, I want you to watch him for me, and let me know when he wakes. He should not be scared to see you, so long as you purr like you tend to do and cuddle up to him very politely and warmly. He is young yet and will be more than happy to have a warm thing to snuggle with. I will be making dinner, and he should awake by the time dinner is ready. Alright, my heart?" Bilbo whispered, petting his cousin's hair – although he supposed he would call him nephew from now on. Ilaurënda gave a silent nod and curled up under one of his arms, using a wing to tug her blanket over the both of them.
"Okay, Ontaro. I'll watch him, I'll keep him safe!" she cooed in a near silent voice. Bilbo smiled and gave her a scratch behind the nubs where her horns had just began to bud, the skin splitting and releasing earth brown bone the same color as the spade upon her tail and the claws upon her fingers and toes. She had four similar nubs beginning on each underside of her lower jaw. Bilbo smiled at her and tucked her blanket in around them a bit more before heading to the kitchen.
The night passed uneventfully, as Frodo did not even wake for dinner or supper. Bilbo was a little miffed but he brought food back for Laurë and she ate at the edge of the bed while Bilbo watched Frodo. When time came for bed Frodo had still not woken. This worried Bilbo some, but the boy was probably ill, and very tired, so he let it go unmentioned as he changed into his night clothes and tucked in next to the young hobbit, with Ilaurënda on his left side and Frodo on his right, Ilaurënda's blanket thrown over all three of them.
