This chapter contains: Non-con, thoughts of suicide, mentions of suicide, character death.


Acorn

Oh, I've been pushed down into the ground
Oh, how I've been trampled down
So many feet on top of me
I can't help but sink, sink, sink

~David Crowder~

When he opened the door to see his mother standing there, Bungo wanted nothing more than to slam the door shut and bolt it tight, instead he sighed and mental prepared himself as he stood aside to let the woman in, while his mother settled in the living room. Bungo puts on the tea, and goes about cutting up the blueberry pie he had made the day before.

"Good thing Bella is out today" he thought as he plated the slices of pie.

His wife and mother did not get along, his mother thought Belladonna was too bold (even for a Took apparently, probably didn't help that Big Folks often came to Bag End), she had disapproved of both the Courting and marriage; disapproval that Bungo ignored. Belladonna thought his mother was a stuffy old hag, and that was the polite version.

After pie and tea was served, Bungo sat down, picked up and began eating his pie; waiting.

"The Breeders came to see me this morning" Laura said after taking a sip of her tea.

"Oh" said Bungo after swallowing.

The Beta wasn't surprised that the Breeders went to his mother instead of the Thain, Gerontius Took, also known as Old Took and was Belladonna's father. He was one of the few Hobbits who, while he couldn't do anything about it, disapproved of the treatment of Carriers. So the next logical step the Breeders would take would be to go to his mother, for not only were the Baggins one of the oldest and respected families, next to the Tooks (despite their adventuring ways); but his mother, Laura Baggins, was the matriarch.

"You rejected them" said Laura.

"Of course" Bungo said taking a sip of his tea, "not only is Bilbo underage, but you know my feelings on the subject"

"Your feelings have nothing to do with this" Laura said, voice tight, "its Tradition, once a Carrier has bloomed; they are given to the Breeders for the First Tasting"

"I'm not letting them near my son"

"He's not your son"

"…I beg your pardon?"

"Contrary to what your wife believes, I am not ignorant" Laura sniffed, "those kind of Carriers, can't get women pregnant, in fact they don't even get aroused like a proper Beta"

"I'm aware" Bungo said stiffly, wondering where his mother was going with this.

"Then you know that you cannot call that…person your son"

"Bilbo is my son and always be my son, despite your opinions, opinions that I care nothing for"

"And what of the rest of your family? Your friends? The whole of Hobbiton? Already there are whispers, your reputation was already questionable after you married your wife, but now it'll be in shambles"

"Let them whisper" Bungo shrugged, "and you know I care not for reputation"

"It's not natural!" Laura finally snapped.

"And that horrid thing you call Tradition is?!"

"It's accepted by the entire Shire!"

"And it's that acceptance that got Linda, your daughter killed!"

Laura's eyes flashed dangerously as she stood up to her full height.

"You will give that thing to the Breeders, or so help me—"

"You need to leave"

Both Hobbits turned to see Belladonna standing in the doorway of the living room, her normally warm and mischievous eyes were blazing with barely repressed rage.

"I said" Belladonna said softly, "you need to leave, now"

"How dare—"

"Don't make my wife repeat herself a third time mother" Bungo said.

Laura looked between her son and Belladonna, before she sniffed and grabbed her shawl, once properly on her shoulders the Hobbit made her way out.

"The Breeders will come again tomorrow" Laura paused just out the living room doorway, "I told them you wouldn't reject them again"

She left.

"How dare she come here!" Belladonna growled, once she shut, locked the door and came back to the room, "that, that maamr aln rukah!"

"Careful love, that's my mother you're insulting, and you shouldn't have been surprised" Bungo said as he cleaned up.

"I'm not, we both expected this to happen sooner or later, doesn't mean I'm happy about it" His wife huffed before leaving the room.

She entered the hall just in time to see curly hair disappear around a corner.

"Blast it all!" she thought as she followed, arriving at her son's room just as the door closed.

"Bilbo?" she called knocking on the door.

Not surprised at not getting an answer, she knocked once more in warning before opening the door and going in.

"…Oh Bilbo"

The Beta goes over and sits on the edge of the bed, gently she placed her hand on the curled up lump beneath the blankets.

"I wish you hadn't heard any of that" Belladonna sighed softly.

There is shifting underneath before green eyes peek out, "Am I really that strange?"

Belladonna's heart clenched at the hurt and confusion in the eyes and voice, her heart also flared in anger at her mother-in-law for being the cause.

"No my heart, you're not strange"

"But grandmother—"

"Is an old grumpy hag stuck in her beliefs"

Bilbo's eyes widen at his mother's words, he's never heard her say such things, his mother always had a kind word for everyone she spoke to. Then again, he had thought the same way about his grandmother.

"Listen to me" Belladonna then said, "despite what others think, there is nothing wrong with you. You are just the same as any other Carrier within Hobbiton, and everywhere else outside the border"

"Even if I'm a boy?" asked Bilbo as he emerged fully from the blankets.

His mother nodded, "Even if you're a boy"

The Tween bite his bottom lip, he had more questions, questions his mother had answers to. Looking at the Beta's expression of barely concealed anger (though not at him), he decided not to ask now, sure that he'll get his answers soon enough.

~.~

Morning had Bilbo waking up to banging.

"Baggins, open up!"

Blinking away sleep, Bilbo sits up just as his door opened.

"Father?"

"Stay in your room" Bungo said as the banging got louder.

"Baggins!"

"Don't come out until we tell you to"

"Baggins!"

The door is closed before the Tween could answer.

Bungo hurried to the door, he gets there just as his wife does, and in her hand was her sword, Cerbera. The same sword that she had obtained on her first big adventure, his wife never really told him how she came about it; and he never cared about not knowing.

Today the sword, that protected his wife, was going to protect their son.

"Better answer it, sounds like their getting impatient" Belladonna said when a particular hard bang nearly broke the door off its hinges.

Bungo opened the door, "Good morning, lovely day" the Beta smiled pleasantly at the Breeders on his doorstep.

Togo, the leader and strongest of the Breeders, narrowed his eyes at the Beta.

"Where is he?" said the Breeder.

There was only one other Breeder with Togo, named Sadoc, apparently the Breeders were not expecting any trouble from them.

"Their mistake" Belladonna thought tightening her grip on her sword.

"Don't play games with us Bungo, where is the Carrier?" Sadoc snarled when Bungo titled his head curious in answer.

"Nowhere near you lot" Belladonna answered stepping up from behind her husband.

Sadoc growled at the sight of the sword, the Beta woman merely raised a daring brow, the Breeder takes the dare, moving a step forward. Belladonna raised her sword, the sharp tip pressing against the Hobbit's throat. Sadoc froze.

"I'd advised against this" said Togo.

"So would I," said Bungo.

"He is ours"

"Our son belongs to no one"

Togo growled darkly and takes a step forward, Bungo's eyes narrowed, and his fingers curled into a fist. When the Breeder takes another step closer, Bungo takes a swing, hitting Togo in the jaw. The Breeder stumbled back in shock. Sadoc snarled, Belladonna draws back Cerbera and kicks the Breeder in the bollocks. Sadoc whimpered as he slides to his knees, hands cupping his abused Hobbithood. Belladonna then grabbed him by the hair and threw him at Togo, who had gotten over his shock and was lunging at her husband, the two collide and roll down the stone steps.

"I think we made our point" said Belladonna watching the two Breeders untangle themselves from each other and the ground, "don't you agree my love"

"I do believe we have" Bungo agreed smiling at his wife before turning his attention to the Breeders now glaring at them, "now, I will say this for the last time, leave and never come back"

They leave.

Later that afternoon, Bilbo has his first lesson in the art of the sword and dagger.

~.~

1313 S.R.

It was his fault.

His mother and father had told him to be careful, to be vigilant, but it's been a year since the Breeders had been run off for the second time. He thought they've given up, that they wouldn't have dare cross the fence, especially with little Drogo with him in the garden.

He was wrong.

Bilbo grunted when he's thrown to the ground, shivering at the surrounding laughter, quickly he gets to his feet. The Breeders have circled him, lips pulled into a cruel grins, eyes blazing with eager lust.

"Caught you, little Carrier" purred one of the Breeders.

"Think he's the same as the females?" said another.

"Heard he can't get hard"

"Does he even have a cock anymore?"

"Let's find out"

The Breeders the spoke moved toward Bilbo, he reached for the Carrier, his hand barely brushed clothing when he's jerking it back, hissing in pain; his dark eyes narrowing at the dagger in the Tween's hand, it's tip red with blood.

"Looks like the Carrier has claws" chuckled Togo.

Bilbo tightened the grip on his handle as the Breeders laughed and drew closer.

~.~

The Breeders camp, as it was called, was in the middle of Hobbiton. A fairly large area of trees and bushes surrounding a dozen or so Smials, very few dare go near the tree line, let alone enter; but their son was in there. Taken out of their backyard when they had let their guard down.

"You don't have to come Hamfast" Bungo said as he and his wife crossed the tree line, in his hand was an iron skillet. While he wasn't skilled in the art of sword and blade like his wife or a fighter in general, he knew how to handle a skillet.

Hamfast, with his rake in hand, snorted and followed. With Hobbit feet, the three make their way to the camp, there is no one at the entrance.

"Where—?"

"Do you hear that?"

The three cautiously follow the sound of shouting to a clearing of sorts, they hide behind empty barrels, and after peeking over; Belladonna and Hamfast had to grab hold of Bungo to prevent him from charging into the clearing.

Bilbo is down on the ground, his clothing had been ripped away and laid in tatters in the dirt, his body is dirty and bruised. The Carrier was on his hands and knees, making choking sounds as a Breeder shoved his cock in the Carrier's mouth.

"Hey, think he'll swallow all of it?" groaned the Breeder, speeding up his hips.

Behind the barrels, Belladonna tightened her grip on her husband, "Bungo, stick to the plan!" Belladonna whispered to him, "if you jump out now, we'll loss our chance to save Bilbo"

Bungo pulled his eyes away from the scene to his wife, after moment he nodded, eyes now calm. Belladonna returns the nod, and quickly takes out their diversion from her pockets. One was called Ground Crackers, small fireworks that Gandalf had invented and given to her as a gift, once they hit the ground they made a loud cracking sound. The other was also an invention of Gandalf called Smokers, the name telling its purpose, she handed them to Hamfast. Bungo, takes out the lighter and begins to light the first Smoker.

A muffled yelp gained their attention, a Breeder was parting Bilbo's arse cheeks, an eager look on his face.

"Get the Smokers lit, quickly!" Belladonna said as she threw the one of the Ground Crackers.

It landed and startled the Breeders.

"What the hell was that?" snarled one of the Breeders, looking around for the source.

Bungo lights up one of the Smokers.

The Smokers was thrown, it lands and purple smoke surrounded the area, the Breeders growled and snarled. They move away from Bilbo as they try to figure out what was going on. Hamfast threw the rest of the lit Smokers (the smoke in various colors). Through the confusion, Bungo and Belladonna sneak out from behind the barrels and make their way through the smoke, keeping low to the ground.

"Bilbo!"

"Mother! Father!"

"Quickly!"

By the time the smoke cleared, Bilbo was gone.

~.~

Bilbo's bruises fade, and his broken bones heal, he has nightmares (the first of many). He smiled when Drogo came over, tells his little teary-eyed cousin he's okay. He continued his training with his mother in one of the rare empty rooms, learned the art of sewing and other things of a proper Hobbit. He spends time in his father's study going over books gathered by both his father and mother over the years, he learned languages, and other things not proper of a Hobbit.

Outside Bag End there are whispers.

"A Male Carrier, have you ever heard of such a thing? And at a young age too"

"It's the Took blood, I tell you"

"It's unnatural, a male having children"

"I hear he can't even be with a woman"

1315 S.R.

"Gandalf!"

"Belladonna, lovely as ever!" Gandalf smiled.

Belladonna giggled as she let her old friend in, the Beta took the wizard's hat and staff and placed them in there appropriate place, before leading her friend to where her son and husband were.

"Oh dear!" Gandalf exclaimed when his head hit the chandelier.

"Watch your head" Belladonna said as she led him to the study, voice teasing.

Gandalf grumbled about "mischievous Tooks" as he followed.

"Gandalf!"

"Bilbo, my dear boy!"

Where he was surrounded by books and maps, the Tween got up from the floor, hugged the wizard.

"It's wonderful to see you" said Bungo as he up got to greet the wizard.

"What are you doing here?" Bilbo asked eagerly.

"I was just passing through, and thought I'd drop by and stay for a few days in the company of dear friends" Gandalf said as he went to sit down in the chair made for Big Folks.

"We're glad to have you" Bungo said.

Belladonna nodded and went to make some tea along with some small sandwiches, while Bilbo went over to where he was sitting earlier, picked up a map and brought it over to Gandalf.

"And what is this?" asked the wizard.

"It's the map you and mother used during one of your adventures" said Bilbo.

"Ah Rohan! Yes, I remember, we were visiting a friend of mine"

When Belladonna came back with tea and sandwiches it was to find both her husband and son sitting at Gandalf's feet, listening to wizard tell a tale.

~.~

"Something is not right".

Bungo glanced at the wizard sitting next to him, they were sitting outside for a before bed smoke, Belladonna and Bilbo have long since retired for the night. Gandalf's eyes stared out at the darkness, seeing more than what the rolling hills were telling.

"Whatever do you mean?" Bungo then said before taking a puff of his pipe.

"Something has changed within Hobbiton" Gandalf explained after a moment's pause, "something to do with Bilbo being a Carrier"

"Sharp as ever"

"Not as sharp as Belladonna I'm afraid, and perhaps even Bilbo"

"Woe is the day when a Hobbit is sharper than a wizard"

Gandalf chuckled before inhaling, and blowing out a small bird shape puff of smoke, Bungo watched the bird fly away into the night sky; before sighing, brief amusement gone.

"We broke tradition, and it was not taken kindly"

Gandalf frowned at that, tradition to a Hobbit was very important, even a Took kept to most of them. To break one was most definitely unheard of.

"And what happened for you and Bella to do such a thing?"

Bungo blew out a puff of smoke, and is silent. It was forbidden to speak of the Breeder and Carrier tradition to outsiders.

"Already broke one tradition" the Beta thought, as he blew out another puff of smoke, this one round in shape, lips twitching when a butterfly shaped smoke fluttered through the ring.

"What do know of Breeders?"

"Nothing beyond that it's another name for Alpha"

"Well then you will find this tale most interesting"

Gandalf listened as Bungo told him what a Breeder was, and what they did with Carriers, about the First Tasting, everything. The Wizard for the first time in a long time felt shock and horror at discovering what went beyond the green hills, of what was hidden behind smiling round faces.

"Oh, my dear Bungo" sighed Gandalf

Bungo gives him a sad smile, "Bit of an eye-opener isn't it?"

"More than I can put into words, and how is Bilbo? Now that I know the truth, I'm wondering"

"He is a well as can be" Bungo answered, "he doesn't leave the house much and never alone, still has nightmare occasionally. Bella is training him in the art of sword and dagger, and we're keeping him as occupied as possible"

"And the Breeders and other Hobbits?"

"Mother comes by every now and then to convince me to give Bilbo to the Breeders, saying doing otherwise was improper of a Baggins"

"What nonsense" Gandalf huffed, making Bungo smirk and wonder at the look on his mother's face if she heard the wizard.

"The other Hobbits for the most part whisper about us when we go out, and the Breeders…well after the incident with the First Tasting, they've kept their distance. Which is worrying, it means they are planning"

"You may be right"

Bungo raised a brow at the sudden calculating gleam in Gandalf's eyes, "What are you planning?"

"It's not a plan just yet my dear Bungo, merely a thought I must sleep on"

"For as long as I've known you, you've never had merely a thought"

"Careful dear Bungo, you're starting to sound as suspicious as Dwarf"

"As long as I don't start inheriting their table manners or Yavanna forbid destroy the plumbing, I don't mind"

~.~

"I beg your pardon?" Belladonna blinked.

"At the end of my stay here at Bag End, I will be taking you, Bungo, and Bilbo with me" Gandalf said, before taking a bite out of his sausage.

Next to him, Bilbo stared at him with big eyes, across from him, sitting next to his wife, Bungo eats his breakfast.

"Go where?" Belladonna finally asked after the surprise had worn off.

"Rivendell" the wizard answered after swallowing, "Lord Elrond will most defiantly be happy to see you again Bella, Bungo and Bilbo too, if I remember correctly the last time he seen any of you was three months after Bilbo was born"

"But—"

"And I most certainly know that he be will happy to let you stay in his home for as long as you want"

Belladonna stared at her friend calmly eating his breakfast, when it clicked she turned to her husband.

"You told him" she accused, though she didn't sound angry over the fact.

"Well, we already broke one tradition" Bungo shrugged.

"Father was right" his wife sighed, "I am a bad influence on you"

Bungo kissed her cheek, "And I love you for it"

Bilbo wrinkled his nose at the display of affection between his parents, before his brain reminded him that he was quite possibly going to see Elves, he was going on an Adventure (and away from the Breeders).

"Are we really going on an Adventure!?" he excitedly asked his parents.

Bungo chuckled at how excited his son was, while Belladonna smiled softly, while she didn't want to leave her father and siblings. She had her son to think about, her son who was in danger, right now everything was in a type of stand-still. To which it was not going to last long, and yes she had considered running before, but they wouldn't have gotten far. Though she was skilled in the art of the sword, it wouldn't be enough to defend them against a pack of Breeders. They would have been caught no doubt and Belladonna would have had to watch as the Breeders took her son away from her.

No, running was not an opinion.

With Gandalf by their side, they may have a chance at getting past the border.

"Yes" Belladonna said, "we're going on an Adventure"

Bilbo cheered.

"Wonderful!" said Gandalf, "now, I'll stay until you get all your affairs in order and we'll leave after"

Hope is with them for three days, before one morning the Baggins of Bag End wake up to a raven preached on their fence, it was for Gandalf.

"I have to go" Gandalf announced that night at supper, "alone"

The silence that falls over the table, and the way three sets of eyes looked at him, had Gandalf wincing.

"Gandalf?" Belladonna said softly.

"I've been called away, business that I'm afraid can't be put aside"

"You're leaving without us?"

Gandalf looked down at the Tween sitting down next to him, green eyes pleading with him to say no, "I'm afraid so"

Bilbo's shoulders slumped.

"I will finish my affairs as quickly as possible" the wizard reassured, "and return"

Belladonna gets up from her chair, goes over and hugged her son, who clung to her; burying his face in her chest. Her own eyes flickering with various emotions.

"I am sorry" said Gandalf, placing his head on the back of the Tween's head, inwardly cursing Saurmon for his terrible timing.

Belladonna looked at her husband, an unspoken conversation flowed between them before Bungo nodded.

"You will come back?" he asked.

"I give you my word" Gandalf promised, and a promise from a wizard is a promise kept.

The next day, before he left, Gandalf craved runes around the doorway of Bag End with his staff. The runes were magical, and anyone where tried to enter the Smial with the intent to do harm will be flung out by them. Belladonna then gave him a set of letters, asking him to get them to their destination in any way possible.

Gandalf gives her his word.

Afterwards, standing by the fence, Bilbo watched the figure cloaked in grey walk down the road, he doesn't see the wizard again for a very, very, long time.

1318 SR

Bungo and Hamfast were sitting on the Gardner's bench, smoking a pipe, their wives and children were inside having tea. When a Hobbit, a Beta cousin of Bungo's walks by, a basket in one hand.

"Good morning" she said waving with her free hand.

Hamfast and Bungo waved back and watched her go down the road.

"That's the third time she's passed our house" Hamfast said around his pipe.

Bungo made a noise of confirmation as he puffed of his pipe, his friend was correct, though it was at various degrees of time during the Baggins visit. The same Beta woman had passed the house numerous times with the same basket in hand, Bungo had also noted the fact that the two Tweens who had climbed up the apple tree facing the house earlier had yet to move.

"We're being watched" said Bungo.

Hamfast blew out a ring of smoke, "So it seems" he agreed.

Three days later, Ruby, Drogo's mother and one of the few who treated them no differently. Told the Baggins of Bag End that their mail was being read before being sent off, apparently, it's being going on since Gandalf's last visit.

1323 S.R.

The afternoon on the day Bilbo turned of age, Bungo opened the door to his brother-in-law Isengrim Took III, Thain of the Shire and his mother.

"Isengrim, wonderful to see you" Bungo greeted, "mother" he then said coldly.

"Bungo" Laura said voice equally cold, "we have some things to discuss, may we come in?"

Bungo looked at Isengrim, but the Beta's face gave away nothing, with a sigh he nodded and let them in.

"Is my sister home?" Isengrim asked when he and Laura settled into the sitting room.

"Yes, just a moment while I get her" Bungo answered leaving the room.

He goes to the study where his wife and son were, they had paused in their lessons of Iglishmêkwhen the doorbell had rung.

"Mother and your brother Isengrim are here, they say they have business to discuss with us" he informed them.

Belladonna nodded before quietly telling Bilbo to go to their room, and wait there. Bilbo nodded and quietly made his way to his parents' room.

"Alright, let's get this over with" Belladonna then said standing up.

They make their way back to the sitting room, and settled in, neither offering their guests any tea; and their guests didn't ask.

"Bilbo is thirty-three today" Isengrim said, deciding it was best to jump right in.

"If you've come to ask if we're having a party" said Bungo "then I'm sorry to say you wasted a trip"

"We haven't come here for that" Laura said, "that th—Bilbo is of age now, that means the Breeders—"

"If you dare to finish that sentence then you can leave!" Belladonna growled.

"He is of age!"

"We don't care if Bilbo gets old and wrinkled, we will not let you or anyone give him to the Breeders!" Bungo snapped at his mother.

"You have no right—"

"Settle down Laura" Isengrim piped up before turning to his sister, "we didn't come here to fight or argue, we've come here to settle on an agreement"

"What!?" said Laura surprised.

Belladonna and Bungo blinked.

"Traditional, the First Tasting takes place when the Carrier is thirty-three because when they blossom, they are of age. However, Bilbo blossomed when he was still a Tween, therefore underage"

"But he's male, that—"

"Granted, that throw everyone for a loop, but it still doesn't change anything. It also doesn't excuse the Breeders for what they did, my late father told them to wait until Bilbo was thirty-three for the First Tasting and they ignored it! And don't think he didn't know about you're little visit here the year before"

Knowing that the late Old Took had ordered the Breeders to wait until their son became of age and the order was ignored was not a surprise to Belladonna and Bungo.

"He is of age now though" Laura said after getting over her moment's shock that her visit that she tried to keep secret was known.

"Yes, and he will remain untouched until he turns fifty."

"But—"

"The Breeders broke the rules once, I will not allow them to do it again"

Belladonna bites back a grin, knowing full well what her brother was doing, buying them time. Time for them to either get the Breeders to leave their son alone (highly doubtful) or find a way out of Hobbiton (they still had some hope that Gandalf will come back soon). They may not have the full support of their fellow Hobbits, but the few they did have they were grateful for.

"Have you told the Breeders this?" Bungo then asked after a moment of surprised silence from his mother.

"I've sent them a letter requesting their presence at my office after lunch today" Isengrim answered, "I will tell them then"

"Is that wise?" Belladonna asked worriedly.

Even Laura looked at bit weary.

"I'll be fine" her brother reassured.

Belladonna nodded, even though she knew to trust her brother when he said he'll be fine, she still worried.

~.~

Togo was not happy when he was informed that Bilbo was untouchable for seventeen years, and for a moment Isengrim worried that the Breeder would ignore his order like they did his father's and go after his nephew (when they were told, it just confirmed Belladonna' and Bungo's suspicions that the Breeders were up to something), but Isengrim was firm in his decision.

"You've done it before" the Thain said, "I see no reason why things should change now".

Togo snarled.

In the end, Isengrim got the leader to agree and had all the Breeders sign a very detailed contract he had written up (one thing that Breeders had in common with their counterparts was, once a contract was signed, it would be honored).

It seemed that Bilbo was safe.

Unfortunately for the rest of Hobbiton, the Breeders turned their anger and frustration toward them, who turned their anger at the situation toward Bilbo in turned.

"How dare that thing!"

"Why doesn't Bungo and Belladonna give it to the Breeders!?Why keep the horrid creature?"

"It's not even a real Hobbit"

Bilbo heard their whispers, he, his mother, and father felt their anger. Rocks were thrown through windows spilling glass on the floor, their gardens and flowerbeds were destroyed, and hated words were painted on the door.

(And while whispered followed them when they went out, none dare do anything to Belladonna and Bungo, they still had some sense, according to Belladonna).

Broken glass was swept up, windows boarded up, gardens were regrown. Hated words were painted over, and threatening letters found in the mailbox were thrown into the burning fireplace.

Bilbo goes out a few days after the contract, he and his father are walking down to the market for errands when a rock sailed through the air, and hits Bilbo in the back of the head. The young Hobbit is bleeding and the attacker is long gone.

The Carrier doesn't go beyond his fence after that.

The Baggins of Bag End lived as best they could, hope still burning bright.

1326 S.R.

This winter is the worst anyone had ever seen, and was a blessing. With the food supply getting low, Hobbits and Breeders alike don't have time to worry about the Bilbo and his family. The so called spies who watched the Baggins of Bag Ends every move are negligent.

"The Baranduin River is freezing over" Bungo said after supper.

Sipping her tea, Belladonna raised a brow, "Interesting" she said placing her tea down on the saucer.

Bungo paused in picking up his own teacup at his wife's vague answer, not sure if the 'interesting' was for the information she was given or for the fact that her husband had made it to the river without being followed.

A year ago, Bungo discovered that along with being watched, they were being followed. Bungo had gone near the Brandywine Bridge once before; the trees around there grew the most delicious apples. The Beta was picking them when out of nowhere one of his in-laws, a Sackville, appeared and started talking to pick apples a couple feet away from him. When he returned home and told his wife this, she too shared a somewhat similar experience when she was near the main road.

They concluded that not only were they being followed, but if they tried to run, the results were probably be disastrous.

"It's been a while since we've visited Hamfast and his family" Belladonna then said.

"I'm sure they won't mind us coming by for a surprised visit tomorrow, and it'll be good for Bilbo to breathe some fresh air and stretch his legs" Bungo nodded.

Belladonna grinned.

~.~

The plan was simple enough, once the river had frozen over, Hamfast would follow them to the river. They'd -Bilbo, Belladonna, and Bungo- then make their way over. Once on the other side, they'd stay with Belladonna's relatives over there for a couple of days before heading to Bree. To which they'd wait out the rest of the winter, from there Belladonna will send a letter to an old friend who could help them get to Rivendell.

There was no guarantee that they wouldn't get caught trying to leave, but this could be their only chance, and they were going to take it.

They did not count on the Orcs.

"Hamfast, take Bilbo and run!"

Bilbo rolled to his knees and stabbed the attacking Orc in the stomach with his sword, he draws back his weapon with a jerk. He doesn't even brother watch the body fall as he turned to look at his father who was had downed another Orc with his sickle.

"I'm not leaving you!" Bilbo insisted before ducking an attack.

With a swiftness that came with practice, Bilbo cut down the attacking Orc, the body doesn't even hit the ground before he is being dragged away by Hamfast.

"Let me go! Hamfast let me go! Mother, Father!"

The last thing the Carrier sees is Orcs descending upon his parents.

~.~

A Ranger by the name of Arador and along with two others finds them huddled in what was probably home to a fox family at some point, the Rangers had been scooting for any Orcs that had survived the ambush he and his fellow Rangers had descended upon the vile creatures, and would have walked right pass them had Hamfast not sneezed.

The Rangers coaxed the shivering Hobbits out of their hiding spot, and it takes very little effort to get Hamfast to tell him that they were from Hobbiton.

"M-M-My p-parents" said Bilbo as Arador wrapped him in a warm blanket, teeth chattering, "t-the O-Orcs"

Arador glanced at the other two Rangers, one of them nodded, Arador then looked back at Bilbo.

"Where did you last see them little one?" he asked.

Bilbo told them and watched as the two Rangers leave.

"They will find them" Arador reassured, "come, let's get you two home"

Bilbo doesn't bother with correcting him, nor does he point out that the Ranger didn't say alive.

When the two Rangers returned, there is hardly anything of his parents left to bury.

1328 S.R.

They try to take him away from Bag End, they say he shouldn't be living alone now that his parents are gone, Bilbo chased them away, threatened them with his dagger. Those that did not leave, were flung out by the runes.

Bag End may not have been his home in a long time, but it has his parent's memories and he was going to protect it.

1330 S.R

Breeders surround his gate, bang at his door, yelling dark promises.

Those days he spends in his parents' room, curled up in the corner, sword in shaking hands. Praying that the door doesn't break, praying that runes stay strong, and praying they do not get in.

Long after the Breeders leave, promising to come back again, Bilbo cried for his parents.

1331 S.R.

The day he goes out to his garden to fix it, and because he cannot take the silent and dusty rooms, he is caught by a mob of Betas, and beaten.

They are scared off by Fosco Baggins, who no doubt saved him from the Betas delivering him to the Breeders. The Elder Baggins takes him inside Bag End, cleaned off blood and soothed bruises, fixed him soup and tucked him into bed with a gentle smile.

In the morning Fosco is gone.

It's a rare kindness that Bilbo holds on too desperately.

1332 S.R.

The days where Hamfast and his family come by are the best and worst, it reminds him that despite everything, he still has friends who care for him. For a moment, he can feel normal; pretend that what goes on outside his green door is nothing but a nightmare.

When the family leaves, assured by his lies of being fine and fake smile, is when the worst come. When the reminder of what he tried and failed to ignore, what he had realized the day of his parents' funeral.

Bag End is both his salvation and prison.

1334 S.R.

Sometimes, Bilbo will stare at his dagger and wondered what it will feel like pressed against his throat, or if ingesting the poisonous plants that Hamfast sometimes grew at the request of some his customers will taste bitter. Or if the chandelier with take his weight or if it will break.

Bilbo wondered a lot of things.

The memories of his parents, kept him from doing them.

Barely.

1341 S.R.

Sitting on the bench in front of Bag End was always a dangerous thing for Bilbo Baggins to do, especially dangerous now that they he had turned fifty, for the runes that had been carved into the Bag End did not extend beyond the green door, Bilbo had barely made back into the Smial when two Breeders had jumped the locked gate one Summer.

Still he risked the danger, if only because he would go mad if he stayed inside with the empty halls much longer.

After sitting down on the bench, Bilbo placed his dagger on his lap, the steel winking in the warm summer sunlight. Assured that anyone who came by with ill-intention will think twice, Bilbo lights up his pipe, and tried to enjoy his smoke. Bell stopping by to talk before going to do her errands lifts his mood a bit, and aside from seeing one of the usual spies, the Carrier is left undisturbed.

"It's breezy today" Bilbo thought after blowing a perfect smoke ring and watching it be taken by the summer wind, blowing out another ring, the Carrier goes over tonight.

There was to be a party, a celebration with food, laughter, and dancing. Yes, there will be much merriment to be had, because after tonight, the Breeders will finally have Bilbo Baggins.

Unknown to them, Bilbo Baggins will no longer be of this world when they come for him.

The Carrier began humming a song he had made up himself, one of several he created during an attempt to cure boredom one day, he thinks over what he will have for his last meal when a voice spoke.

"What a pleasant tone"

Bilbo's eyes snapped open (and when had he closed them?), hands instinctively gripping his dagger as he looked for the source of the voice. Finding it, his grip loosened and his eyes widen at the figure standing outside his gate.

Tall, dressed in grey, and with a long beard. He was leaning against a wooden staff and looking at the Hobbit from underneath the grey pointed hat that made him even taller, with twinkling eyes.

"Good morning" said the figure.

"G-Gandalf?!"


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