Chapter Four

Two years later

The Shire

Two years had went by, as Bernadette and Bilbo lived peacefully in their home. Bernadette, however though, had missed Thorin terribly. She had just became close with him, but she felt forced to leave because of this strong disapproval of the dwarves at her arrival and her courtship with the dwarf leader. Bilbo took notice of Bernadette's sadness. "My dearest sister, what is troubling you?" asked the hobbit. "Bilbo, there is something I need to tell you. Don't get angry with me." said Bernadette. "What is it?" asked Bilbo. "During my stay in Ered Luin, I fell in love with a dwarf king. And he offered his hand in courtship with me and I accepted it." said Bernadette.

"Bernadette, how could you? You barely knew him! Dwarves don't make very good partners, in fact, I'm glad you came home when you did." said Bilbo. "Are you saying you disapprove of me courting a dwarf?!" snapped Bernadette hotly. "Yes." said Bilbo.

"Why? Tell me why you disapprove of me with a dwarf!" snapped Bernadette. "Bernadette, you're a hobbit. Hobbits have no business with those in the outside world, and the dwarves feel the same way. That's why it wouldn't work for a dwarf and a hobbit." said Bilbo. "I cannot believe I'm hearing this. You of all people. I thought you would be happy for me! I guess you're not!" yelled Bernadette. "Now, Bernadette.." began Bilbo. But Bernadette ran to her room, and she slammed her door. Bilbo sat in his arm chair and sighed. I hope this day won't get any worse, Bilbo thought, as he stood up to step outside to check his mail and smoke his pipe.

But apparently, he thought too soon. Gandalf approached him, and he spoken to him about adventures and quests. Bilbo angrily told the wizard he don't do adventures, and he politely sent the wizard away, and he marched back inside the home. By the time he entered, he saw Bernadette sitting down at the dining room table sipping a cup of tea. "No longer angry with me?" asked Bilbo. "I'm still angry with you. Who was outside?" asked Bernadette. "It was Gandalf, asking if I would go on an adventure. I sent him away of course." said Bilbo.

Bernadette nodded.

"Look Bernie, I know you are angry with me from last night. But can we just let it go?" asked Bilbo. "No." said Bernadette. "Bernadette, please." said Bilbo. "Fine." said Bernadette, a slight smile appear on her lips. "You know I wouldn't stay at me at you for long." said Bernadette, and she hugged her brother. Later on, evening came. Bilbo finished cooking supper for himself and Bernadette. But no sooner as they started eating, the doorbell rang. "I wonder who could that be?" asked Bernadette. "Gandalf most likely." mumbled Bilbo, as he went to answer the door.

But it wasn't Gandalf. It was a bald headed dwarf, with tattoos, and a dark green cloak. "Dwalin, at your service!" said the dwarf, and he bowed. As he entered, Bilbo looked at him. "Excuse me, do I know you?" asked Bilbo. "No." said Dwalin, as he entered the dining room. "DWALIN?!" exclaimed Bernadette standing up, recognizing the dwarf. "You two know each other?" asked Bilbo. "Yes, we know each other!" smiled Bernadette. And the dwarf hugged her. "Why did you leave us? You left us without saying good bye. What happened?" asked Dwalin, as they sat down. Bilbo served the dwarf food.

Bernadette explained the situation to Dwalin.

"Dwalin, I was not wanted there, plain and simple. Your people disapproved of me being there, so there was no point in me staying." said Bernadette. "Bernadette, we took care of the problem. Thorin told them all off. Everyone there changed their feelings towards you. And as for Estelle and her father, they had been banished from Ered Luin, and was forced to move out." said Dwalin. "Oh! Oh! I felt so stupid." said Bernadette sadly. "When you left us, it torn Thorin to pieces. He loved you, Bernadette." said Dwalin kindly. "Oh my goodness." said Bernadette softly.

"We searched high and low for you, and we never found you, and we just gave up. Now two years, when we came here to go on our a quest, we didn't expect to see you here." said Dwalin. "I don't know how Thorin is going to react when he arrives." said Bernadette. "I highly suggest to be prepared for a tongue lashing." said Dwalin. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, Dwalin. I had enough of that from Bilbo." said Bernadette. Dwalin laughed. Suddenly, the door bell rang again. "That will be the door!" said Dwalin. Bilbo went to answer it. And it was Balin who arrived next.

After Balin and Dwalin greeted each other, and Balin noticed Bernadette, was also in the room. "Miss Baggins! Its been a long time!" beamed Balin, and he embraced the hobbit woman. "Balin, I apologize for leaving all of you the way I did. Its just the way I got treated by the other dwarves, and all the gossip. It hurt badly. I felt like I wasn't needed there, so I left." said Bernadette sadly. "Your really had us all worried, Miss Baggins. But it is Thorin who truly is hurt by your disappearance, Bernadette. He truly loved you. He frantically looked everywhere for you." said Balin, as they walked back into the dining area.

"I really didn't mean to upset anyone, especially Thorin." said Bernadette. "I know. It really isn't your fault, Bernadette." said Balin. It wasn't too long that many of the other dwarves arrived. "Miss Boggins!" chirped Kili running to Bernadette. "Uncle had been obsessed for the past couple years looking for you, Bernadette. You really shouldn't let other opinions intervene the love for our Uncle." said Fili, and he hugged Bernadette. "I'm not looking forward to seeing him. I already felt bad for leaving the way I did, Fee." said Bernadette. "I know. It was the situation, it wasn't your fault, Miss Baggins." said Fili.

"Now lets eat!" grinned Bofur.

Fili introduces the rest of the company to Bernadette because she never met the rest of them before, and they are delighted to meet her. Bernadette sat and watched the dwarves sat, eat and talked merrily, while she noticed her poor brother getting terribly upset and frustrated. "You need m help, Bilbo?" asked Bernadette standing up. "Yes. Please do." said Bilbo, grumpily. "Don't worry, I'll go to the market first thing in the morning and get more food." whispered Bernadette. "How can you tolerate these kind of people?" said Bilbo. "Bilbo, they're dwarves. That's how they live." said Bernadette. Bilbo rolled his eyes.

Suddenly, after the dwarves finished eating, they started making music with the forks and knives. "Oh please don't! You'll blunt them!" shouted Bilbo. "Did you hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives!" cheered Bofur, playfully, and the dwarves begin singing and dancing. Bernadette tried not to laugh at their antics, but she did anyway. Bilbo gave his sister a hard glare, when he noticed her laughing, and she quickly covered her mouth. Suddenly, Fili came up behind Bernadette and danced with her. "Hey! That's my sister you're dancing with! You leave her alone!" yelled Bilbo hotly.

"Oh, Bilbo please!" said Bernadette, as she continued dancing with Fili.

The song quickly came to an end, when there a was knock on the door. "He's here." said Gandalf. Bernadette stood up straight. She knew whom exactly the wizard was speaking of. She followed the other dwarves in the foyer of Bilbo's home, as she watched Bilbo opening the door. There, stood Thorin Oakenshield, the dwarf whom she left behind, without saying a word too. She felt nervous, as he entered the room, and he spoken to Gandalf. Suddenly Gandalf introduces Bilbo to the dwarf leader.

Bernadette tried to back away, but she couldn't. The dwarves were blocking her escape route. "So tell me hobbit, you have any skills in fighting? What is your weapon of choice? Axe or sword?" asked Thorin, as he walked around Bilbo. "Well, I have some skills in conkers, but I fear that is irrelevant." said Bilbo. "I thought as much! He's more like a grocer, than a burglar!" smirked Thorin. Anger clouded over Bernadette. Nobody speaks of her brother that way, no matter who they were. "Also let me introduce you to his sister, Bernadette Baggins, who also will be joining us." smiled Gandalf.

Damn it, Gandalf! Bernadette's mind reeled. "Bernadette!" exclaimed Thorin softly "Thorin." said Bernadette, as they two looked at each other in awkward silence.

"You left me without saying a word, why Bernadette?" said Thorin. "I-I!" stammered Bernadette. "This is a bad idea." scowled Thorin, and he glared at Gandalf. Bernadette's eyes widened in shock. "Gandalf, its bad enough we have one hobbit coming with us, but two? And the second being a woman at that?! What are you trying to pull wizard?!" snapped Thorin. Bernadette couldn't believe she is hearing this words from Thorin. This wasn't the Thorin she remembered. He went from kind, loving, kingly and strong, to a bitter, angry, cold dwarf.

And not to mention the rude comment he made about her brother, that angered her as well. "Thorin, trust me on this. You need these two to help you on this quest. If you can't accept the fact, they're going, you're stuck doing this quest yourself." said Gandalf. "Bernadette won't be coming with us and that's final." snarled Thorin, and he turned away, joining the others in the dining hall. Bernadette bolted out of the front door, weeping. "Bernadette!" called out Bilbo. "Just leave her be, Bilbo." said Gandalf, placing his hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Bilbo scowled. Now he wanted to give Thorin a piece of his mind.

Bilbo angrily marched into the dining area. "Thorin, I don't mind you talking rude to me, but when it comes to my sister, that is where your crossing the line!" said Bilbo, hotly.

But Thorin ignored Bilbo. "And another thing, keep away from her." said Bilbo. Thorin darted an angry glance at the hobbit. "Your request is granted, Halfling." snarled Thorin. But his angered turned into sadness after a while. "Lets get the meeting started, shall we?" said Gandalf. Meanwhile, outside Bernadette wept heavily. She felt like she had been stabbed in the chest with many daggers. Thorin really had changed over the past two years. But partially it was her fault for leaving him without saying good bye or even a note. She wouldn't blame him for being angry over that, but what hurt her the worse was the rest of the things he said.

Especially about her and Bilbo both.