Hobbits by nature had always been simple folk. They enjoyed fine food, warm fires, good company shared over tea, tending to their gardens, and gossip. Their lives were filled with sun and laughter as bright as the greens and flowers of their lush rolling hills, their hearts as bright as a summers day. Their eyes never needing to look beyond the boarders of the beloved shire; their contentment so wholly complete.

All respectable Hobbits had very similar goals in life. Find a partner and make a home. Surround themselves with all the comforts a home required, start a family to fill said home with love and laughter until one day they would pass peacefully with a smile. Respectable Hobbits didn't dream of eleves, dwarves, dragons or any other creature beyond their kind. They didn't relish the wind screaming past their face from the top of the tallest trees before a storm. One would never find them surrounded by maps plotting adventures into the wide world beyond them. Their blood didn't scream with longing for sights unknown and freedom.

Belladonna Took knew two things in life to be absolutely true. The first; no respectable Hobbit would eever have a pack strapped to their back filled with everything needed for an adventure. The second being; she had never wanted to be a respectable hobbit.

With a deep breath she smiled, taking the first step to the rest of her life not sparring a single glance to the rolling hills and hobbit holes behind her.

Many years and many adventures later Belladonna found herself back in the home of her long time friend Lord Elrond. She had traveled far and wide with his elvish brothers and grown to think of them as family, extremely honored to be able to call more than a few of Rivendell ' s residents friends. She had seen many amazing things in her travels but nothing ever surpassed the breath taking peace of the Elven kingdom, it's waterfalls and gentle breezes calmed her to the depths of her soul.

One night Lord Elrod met her in a court yard by her favorite fountain and told her of a vision. It was rare to be gifted with a glimpse of the future for numerous reasons. Knowing what lies ahead can be just as, if not more dangerous than not knowing at all. Like a pebble in a pond every decision has effects that spread far from the original source.

It seemed Belladonna had a much bigger role to play than she could have ever imagined in the grand scheme of the world. Ironically enough for her to play her part she would have to return to the one place she never thought she'd see again; the Shire.

A young boy raced through the grass huffing and puffing from exertion. The smell of the freshly opened flowers wafted past him leaving their sweet scent lingering in his nose as he ran. Sweat dripped from his brow as he pushed himself faster, he could not stop now.

"Bilbo it's time for diner!" called a sweet musical voice that filled him with a sense of home.

With out pausing he turned speeding off in the opposite direction and up the lane to Bag End. His began mouth watering at the alluring scent of diner as he closed the distance between himself and the (thankfully) open front door. With one final push he spurred his tingling legs to carry him faster diving through the door as if a warg were hot on his heels.

A shout of alarm rang out as he toppled to the ground with a laugh, rolling across the floor with the left over momentum.

"Goodness, Bilbo you gave me a fright!" chuckled his father removing himself from the wall he had pressed himself against in order to avoid being tackled by his son upon his entrance.

"Sorry father." Bilbo smiled covering his mouth in attempt to hide his chuckle at his father's disheveled appearance.

"One of these days my boy you will cease all of this wild gallivanting." Bungo scolded taking a long drag from his pipe as he fixed his son with one of his trademark glares.

Bilbo's face instantly fell as his father stalked forward looking the very picture of paternal annoyance.

Casting his face down towards the floor he missed the twinkle in his father's eye along with its accompanied smirk leaving unprepared for a light bop on the tip of his nose.

"But let us hope that day is many a year down the road, for you have a sea of wild days in your future my son." his father called over his shoulder bringing back a wide smile back to his son's face.

That night Belladonna smiled as her son relayed his day of adventuring to both her and her husband. Today he was battling groups of trolls in the southern fields where as yesterday he was trading riddles with an elf in the northern wood. A warmth filled her chest as her husband laughed at a sillier part of Bilbo ' s tale while still asking questions as if the event had actually transpired. Bungo Baggins was a rarity amongst Hobbits and she thanked Yavanna everyday for being able to share her life with him.

Leaving Rivendell was one of the hardest things Belladonna had ever had to do, leaving her to return home to the shire bitter and broken. After a life filled with wonder and freedom how could she survive the suffocating normalcy of hobbit life? She who had slept under the starry sky, climbed the high peaks, and danced in the clouds destined to spend the rest of her life in a hole. Even if it was a hob it hole, with no bugs or worms.

She would never know if Yavanna sent her Bungo as a blessing to ground her back to the shire or if she had always just misunderstood the life she gladly left behind all those years ago. She was still far from a respectable hobbit; not only climbing trees but teaching her son to as well, splashing in the creek with her family on a hot summer's day, and racing in the fields pretending to be a fearsome beast as her son battled to save the day. However, much to some of her relatives delight her marriage to Bungo did calm her some. Not that Bungo ever pushed her to be anythjng more than herself. Quite the opposite actually, he always made it a point to remind her it was her spark for life that drew him to her in the first place, but a hobbit wife had duties and even if she wished to be out in the field with her son she fulfilled her duties as wife with a smile on her face. For as many times as Bingo reminded her that he loved her spirit she reminded him that her love for him and their son was much stronger than her love for adventure.

Three more years passed before Belladonna received the letter that marked the start of something bigger than herself and alone in the privacy of her study she wept until there were no tears left to fall from her eyes. For her part of Fates plan was done and now it would cast it's eye to her beloved son, she only hoped it would be as kind to him as it had her. Subtly she began to prepare her son. It started by teaching him Sindarin the elven language by the fire every night before reading a story and sending him to bed. Much to Belladonna ' s surprise and delight Bilbo had an ear for languages that surpassed even her own, quickly catching on to Sindarin and mastering it with almost perfect pronunciation in much less time than she ever could have expected.

That year during the mid summer festival and wizard in a long grey cloak with a beard and pointed hat to match knocked on the door of Bag End. Bungo laughed openly as his son bounced up and down fidgeting in excitement as he listened to the stories spun by his mother's old friend. Bilbo screamed and clapped as fireworks boomed over head lighting up the sky in a way he'd never imagined. Belladonna couldn't help but return the happy and awed smile her son gave her as they rested on the hill above their home.

Tears were shed, mostly by Bilbo but some by Belladonna the eve of Gandalf ' s departure. He was one of her oldest friends and biggest allies in the world beyond the shire and though his visit brightened her heart his news and foresight brought with it a sense of urgency and fear for her son. Time was moving fast and he had still so much more to learn. With a bone crushing hug against his legs Bilbo gave Gandalf one last hug.

"Fear not young one I will see you again as soon as I can manage, this will not be the last time we meet." Gandalf chuckled before passing him a package half the size of the young hobbit with enough weight to make him stumble back a step.

"Tell your mother to show you what to do with those." he winked and with that turned to amble down the road with a cloud of Old Toby smoke following behind him.

Gandalf's gift was something out of Bilbo ' s wildest dreams. There in a wooden box, that was less of a box and more of a lightweight chest, sat numerous different types of wooden weapons. Belladonna smirked at the way her sons eyes grew wide as saucers, his shaky hand reaching out the to assure that he wasn't dreaming and the practice weapons were indeed real.

Sparring lessons began soon after, and if a hobbit found themselves walking down the lane in the mid morning or mid afternoon hours they would find Belladonna and Bilbo exchanging and dodging blows on the hill above their home. If people talked and whispered about the oddities that were Belladonna and her son they paid no mind, their were more important things in life than idle gossip but that didn't stop Bungo froom singing his wife and sons praises letting all of Hobbiton know that he relished in their behavior and would sometimes grab a wooden sword and fight along side his son, not half as well but just as excitedly, leaving some shirefolk wondering if Belladonna and Bilbo were the only mad hobbits of Bag End.

Four years later Gandalf returned true to his word. Bilbo insisted he stayed away much to long while Gandalf argued four years being barely a blink in the eye for a wizard of his age. Leading to a long and detailed season of questions and answers regarding other races and their aging processes before Bilbo relented. Gandalf stayed for a little over a month and a half spending many hours locked away with his mother in her study. Bilbo tried to listen at the door but after a nasty sting on his bottom from a light from the end of Gandalf ' s staff, he learned his lesson and spent that time practice with his daggers and swords or his other lessons.

Every night Gandalf would tell him tales of the adventures he went on with his mother and those he went on alone. On the words of the wizard's stories Bilbo found himself transported to distant lands in the company of people he could only dream of meeting in his own life. With each passing story his hunger for adventure grew, some say it must be the Tookish blood in him but Bilbo knew it was just the Belladonna in him. He was chomping at the bit to see the sites his mother had with his eyes open and not just in his dreams.

Tears were shed once more as the wizard left, albeit fewer since he was now a hobbit of 15 and half way to his majority, no longer a weeping child. Gandalf gifted him with another gift this time in the house saying it to heavy for Bilbo to carry before departing with more reassurance of future meetings. This box contained more weapons only this time instead of wood they were weapons in name and make. Elvish blades his mother said a high honor and a costly gift. If Bilbo wondered at why a young hobbit such as himself was given something worth a small fortune he never questioned, Not sure he would enjoy the answer.

The next seven years passed finding Bilbo greatly different yet remarkably similar to the boy he'd been before. He was taller, now only an inch shorter than his father leaving him to be the sixth tallest hobbit in the whole Shire. Unlike all of the other Hobbits he was less spongy and round, his middle not quite firm but having much less jiggle than most boys his age. It was hard to keep meat on his bones with His active lifestyle. Bilbo had become as good of a fighter as his mother able to parry an on coming blow as naturally as another hobbit would tend their garden. Not that Bilbo didn't have hobbit like skills but it was no secret that he was far better at scaling trees than planting them.

While most Hobbits wore light clothes and waist coats along with short breezy pants he was usually seen wearing a scandalous pair of durable leather pants and tunic with leather padding in more his more vulnerable places such as his chest and wrist. The outfit was a gift from his mother on his birthday two years past a gift he treasured greatly. Few hobbits interacted with Bilbo beyond politeness and forced pleasantries. Mad Baggins they whispered quietly, while some not so quietly as he made his way through the market. Bilbo didn't spare them any grief, some would feel lonely or outcast under such treatment but he had the unwavering support and love of two of the most spectacular parents anyone on middle earth had ever been blessed with. Where others scorned and ridiculed him Bungo and Belladonna Baggins praised their son, reassuring him in his right to be his own hobbit, never letting the nasty whispers take root in his spirit. 'He was special and meant for great things', his father would say when someone would give Bilbo a nasty look. 'He was proud to have a son who was strong enough to stay true to himself' he would reassure when the rumors spread and swirled outside of their door. Bilbo never took his parents for granted understanding that few we're luckily enough to have such a love, holding it fiercely and gifting back to them just as strongly as they gifted it to him.

That winter changed everything. It would go down in history as the Fell Winter a cursed and deadly winter, but to Bilbao it was the beginning and yet also the end of everything he held dear. Snow bustled and piled high on the hills, cold winds howled and screamed like death it's self. Wolves decended and food grew scarce. Hobbits trapped in their homes unable to leave the safety of their holes for if one ventured outside of their door if the Wolves didn't kill them the cold surely would. Weeks went by as the trio of Bag End managed as best they could far better than most if Bilbo's assumptions were correct. Because the Mad Baggins of Bag End needed far less to survive. Their stomachs easily becoming used to first three, then two, then one meal a day while other struggled goings from seven to five. Yet, even with their extra rations tragedy struck Bag End.

It started with a runny nose as the fire died down. Days passed and sniffles turned to slight coughs. Bungo tried to hide his illness but when his coughs turned to hacks and the chills wracked his body their was no more denial. The fever came swiftly leaving him trapped in bed. He feared for his wife and son more than himself. He knew there was no coming back from this and only hoped they would make it to see spring. His wife confided in him long ago on what Lord Elrond had seen that fateful night long past. His main regret was that he wouldn't wouldn't be there stand behind his son when he would need him most.

The fever rose and he grew weak, his time was at an end. Belladonna left her husband's bedside tears flowing freely down her face. She had once never been able to picture a life here for her in the shire now she couldn't picture a life anywhere with out her husband by her side. Bungo who had loved her freely and fiercely for herself, standing beside her instead of asking her to stand behind him. He was her other half, her one, her soulmate, her everlasting love and he would be gone by morning. She half walked half stumbled to her son who was curled up in his father's favorite armchair, looking so much like a lost little boy it caused her heart to break a little bit more.

Gently she pressed be hand against his head sweeping back his golden curls. His watery eyes met hers and she saw the realization in his eyes. Her son knew his father was about to pass from this world.

"Go to him, he's asking for you." she tried to whisper failing, yet her message was received as Bilbo stood tall and slowly made his way to the bedroom.

Belladonna waited until the door clicked shut behind him before collapsing into the vacated chair and sobbing into her hands.

Bilbo walked forward slowly holding his breath as his chest heaved. His father who once stood taller than and strong lay weak and gaunt in the bed before him. He couldn't say how long he stood there starring at the man who meant the world for him before his blue eyes met a dimmer yet still breathtakingly blue pair across the room.

"Come son." Bungo raped shaking Bilbao from his paralysis.

He rushed to his father's side clasping his cold hand in his two warm ones wishing his heat alone would chase away his father's chill. Later he would wonder how a body high from fever could feel so cold.

"Father," he whispered at a loss for words. "None of that now." Bungo demanded his voice stronger than a moment before, "Do not cry for me my son for I have lived a life so filled with joy."

Bilbo tried to stem the tide of his tears but he might as well have been trying to stop the oceans waves from crashing onto the shore.

"You are my greatest treasure my boy and I am so proud to call you my son. You are special beyond measure, full of life, kindess, and love. Life is hard it will try and break you but you must be strong." a cough rattled his chest and Bilbo tried to help knowing there was nothing he could do.

"Never loose yourself Bilbo, never be afraid to be who you are because you are the greatest being I have ever known. Be strong and true, brave and humble, when darkness finds you push back with your light."

Tears dripped onto the clasped hands and glistened in the candle light.

"I am sorry to leave you my son, but know that my love will follow you to the ends of the earth and back again. You will never be alone for you will always carry me with you. When hardships come know that I believe in you-" the strongest set of coughs yet claimed Bungo stopping his speech, by the time the spell passed he was barely weak enough to hold open his eyes.

Bilbo's hands shook violently shaking his father's along with his, "No, no, no, no. Not now, not yet! Please don't leave me father!" he pleaded resting his head on his father's chest burning the feeling and sound of his heart beat to be forever in his mind.

"I l-love you." Bungo gasped, his heart beat gone as his last word passed his lips, Bungo Baggins had passed from this world.

The Fell Winter finally released its hold and spring arrived in the Shire. Bungo was not the only soul lost that winter and though the sun shone bright joy was hard to find. Belladonna and Bilbo pushed on each forcing the other to take care of themselves. The first few months passed in a haze neither doing more than the bare minium of eating, bathing, and sleeping. Until one day the letter she'd been waiting thirty years for arrived. Sobering quickly she shook the haze of grief away from her mind Bungo was gone but Bilbo was here and she could not fail him.

That night she dusted and cleaned Bag End from top to bottom making sure to clean and polish the weapons which had been forgotten when the winter hit. The following morning she dragged her loudly complaining son outside into the sum for sparring practice. From that day on she watched Bilbo closely waiting for the signs that it was finally time.

The signs came slowly and then all at once. Dreams left him gasping, laughing, crying, and calling out into the night. Dreams of mountains and that which hide inside haunting his waking hours as well as his slumber. He grew agitated his blood burning under his skin, crying out for something something he couldn't name. He would sit before the fire and get lost in his mind only coming back to the present after hours had passed. Belladonna stood by his side never wavering, never faltering, forcing him to eat and sleep when needed. She never said anything about his strange new behaviors aside from reassuring her support and love.

His dreams changed pulling him deeper into himself, each day he would wake to find he'd been asleep for longer than before, until day he didn't wake at all. Belladonna forced herself to stay strong, focusing on her son's heartbeat, watching his chest rise and fall, and waited. She'd sent a letter to Lord Elrod two weeks before informing him that the time had finally come. Two days after Bilbo drifted into his slumber they arrived.

Heralded in by their cries two Eagles of Manwë gracefully landed outside of their door. Prepared Belladonna pulled Bilbo across the floor on a thick pile of blankets, he was far to large for her to attempt to carry. Carefully, she managed to get him outside running back in to grab their supplies. Four packs total, one for each her and Bilbo, one for their weapons, and the fourth for food and other essentials. Normally she would have made due with only one pack but the Eagles would be able to carry both her and Bilbo along with their supplies with out trouble.

Quickly, they were gathered up and carried into the sky. Miles raced by below them as they soared into the clouds, the wind whipped past her face and Belladonna was glad she added extra layers to Bilbo, she glanced to her right and gasped. The sight of her son's limp body wrapped in the thick blankets she carried him on held gently in the Eagle's massive Tallon caused her heart to stop, he looked dead and Belladonna had to fight the urge to vomit. He wasn't dead. He was going to be fine, she reassured herself anything but that was not an option.

Time passed; how much she would never be able to tell but tears pooled at the edge of her eyes when they finally landed. The pair of Eagles gently deposited them on the rocky cliff, both gently brushing their foreheads lightly against Bilbo before flying away into the starry night.

Silence hung heavy in the air, cold pushing in on her from every side, gathering her courage Belladonna turned to face a large cave opening.

"So you have come at last." came a voice from inside the darkness, a voice old and strong, a voice embedded with power that rocked Belladonna to her very core.

"We have been waiting a long time for you, do not linger we are running out of time." the voice demanded.

"I can not lift him," she called into the darkness, "I will need your help." she finished softly.

The only answer she received was the sound of rocks crunching in the dark accompanied by the rumbled of the mountain beneath her feet. Belladonna thought she had prepared herself for what she was about to see yet when the being who stepped into the moonlight all of the air left her lungs in a rush as if she'd been kicked by horse. There with moonbeams glistening against it's scales like a diamonds stood stood a dragon.

Belladonna clutched the handle of her sword tight enough she feared her fingers would snap from the strain, the hair on the back of her neck standing straight up and her eyes filled with fear. The dragon made a noise that sounded like a hiss and Belladonna stood firmly in front of her son second guessing her decision to bring him here.

"Step aside strong one, I will not hurt the boy." The dragon cooed gently, Belladonna's eyes met the gaze of the Dragon before her holding it, searching it.

"I am going to carry him inside there is little time to spare and much to do if he is to be saved." the dragon urged leaving her no choice but to step aside, her son's life depended on it.

The dragon carefully curled Bilbo up into one of its massive paws, Belladonna couldn't stifle to the of panic seeing her son held in the clutches of something so powerful knowing that if the dragon chose to crush Bilbo she was helpless to stop it. With a nod of its giant head the beast reentered the cave leaving Belladonna to follow in its wake.

The caves tunnel narrowed until the dragon's sides were brushing the walls, sparks flying where scale met stone. Belladonna followed quickly as she could careful to avoid the massive sweeping tail before her. Just as she began to worry that the dragon was to large to make it to their destination the tunnel opened up into a massive cavern.

Ignoring her surroundings Belladonna focused on her son as the dragon gently laid him on a massive piles of furs. Running to his side she began to check him for any sign of injury letting out the breath she'd been holding when she found none.

"How long has he slumbered?" the dragon asked from behind her.

"Two days before the Eagles arrived, three by now." she answered not taking her eyes off the rise and fall of her son's chest.

"You understand what is going to happen?" it asked.

"Yes."

"You know the risks, there is no garuentee he will make it."

"If we do nothing he will die," Belladonna snapped, "he is strong he will make it."

"Understand, this will change him, he will never again entirely be who he was before." the dragon explained slowly.

"I understand."

"Are you ready?" it asked.

Silence hung between them, the dragon waited patiently for her answer. Belladonna bent down brushing her lips across her beloved son's forehead. She had known this day was coming since before he was born, she'd had years to prepare herself for this moment yet found herself mute and afraid. She closed her eyes and her husband's voice filled her mind. 'Believe in him Bella, he is strong enough.'.

The words flowing over her like a wave of peace and hope. She turned to face the dragon with a look of strength, "I am", she answered.

"Then let us begin."