Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or any associated characters or concepts. Quotes in this chapter taken directly from The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.
Summary: On the way to the Undying Lands, Billa is eaten by a time-traveling sea monster. The elves on board attack the monster in retaliation, and it escapes by swimming into the past: several decades into the past. Billa wakes up in a sweat, gasping and frightened, only to realize that she is back in her thirty-three-year old body. What on earth is she going to do?
Chapter 16
After arranging her revenge, Billa had been very careful to be extra sneaky. She had snuck away from the forge, sticking to the shadows before ducking into the post office to send her letters.
Dear Uncle Isumbras,
I made my way to Bree, and have made the most wonderful discovery. I've found a most-superior blacksmith whose work I think you will greatly admire. I'll be starting my journey back to the Shire in two days, and we should arrive 5 days hence. I would like to invite you to afternoon tea with our guests on Saturday, where you may examine the smith's workmanship for yourself. I've informed him that, should his work be sufficient, we could accommodate him in one of the Shire forges when he passes through on his journeys. I'm certain that when you see what he's done to restore your grandfather's courting pans to grandmother, you'll be just as pleased as I am.
I'll be traveling back with his party for protection, and his sister Dis will be looking after me (That was a bit of a stretch, but it would make things sound a little more respectable).
I've really enjoyed my little holiday, Uncle. Thank you for looking after things while I was gone.
Fondly, your niece Billa
.
Dear Mister Gamgee,
I'll be arriving at Bag End on Friday the fourteenth, along with a party of 8 traveling companions. In Bag End, in the blue jar on the mantle is a stash of funds that I left behind just in case. Would you please be so kind as to use those funds to arrange for my pantry to be full and fresh when I return?
I'd be ever so grateful, Mister Gamgee. You are a wonderful hobbit and I am in your debt!
Billa Baggins
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After she entrusted the letters to the post messenger, she cautiously peeked out the door. There was Thorin, and his face was white with rage. She stuffed a fist into her mouth to muffle her breathing, leaning into the shadows by the door as he passed, stomping away. She stared after him for a moment, before giggling with glee as she skipped down to the stable. She spent the day on horse-back in the hills around Bree, safely out of his reach.
That night, she had strange dreams. Thorin was standing over her, the fire in the hearth casting menacing shadows over his face. She was a little frightened, but also excited. She squirmed to get away, but couldn't move. He was glaring, looming over her, and then-
Billa bolted upright, blinking blearily. What an odd dream, she thought, rubbing her eyes. She dressed and carefully packed her things. They'd be leaving tomorrow morning, after all. She bit her lip, wondering how the trip would go. She was mostly sure that Thorin wouldn't break their deal, and she was certain that, no matter how much he wanted to, he wouldn't take his anger out on her physically. Not this Thorin, at least.
Since they were leaving tomorrow, she needed to find out when and where they were meeting, as well as check up on her pans. When she walked by the forge on her lightest, sneakiest feet, she glanced in and saw with a smirk that he was wearing a tunic today. Mission accomplished, she cheered herself, ignoring a strange pang of disappointment. Things would be back to normal in no time.
Later that evening, there was a knock on her door. She froze like a startled rabbit, sincerely hoping that it was not Thorin, before mustering her courage to answer the door.
"Mister Kili!" she cried, relieved. "Come in! How are you? I've missed you these past two days. Is everything all right?" She beckoned him into the room and he stood awkwardly by one of her chairs, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
"Miss Baggins," he began, his eyes flicking briefly up to meet hers before sinking to the floor again, "I wanted to apologize for my Uncle's actions. I don't think he meant to make you uncomfortable, and I'm sorry that he did. I've spoken with him, and I'm certain there won't be such a problem again." His feet shifted, bashfully digging a toe into the carpet. Billa thought her heart would melt at the sweetness of his gesture.
"Oh, dear Mister Kili," she wrapped her arms around him in a tight, brief hug. "Thank you ever so much for speaking for me. I know how much you admire your uncle, and to intercede on my behalf must have taken a great deal of courage. I'll trust your judgment of Mister Thorin, and I hope we can put the past behind us."
Kili smiled shyly at her, pleased at her reaction. "Uncle's finished your pans," he told her eagerly. "He sent me to show you, and to tell you we are leaving at dawn tomorrow, and we'll meet at the stables." He lifted the satchel he'd been carrying, and Billa heard the clanging of metal inside.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Show me! I'm so excited to see them."
They sat down by the fire, and Kili slowly brought each pan out while Billa oohed and aahed over them, truly impressed. They looked brand new, the embellishments of flower chains around the edges were clear and beautiful, and the walls of each pan were thick, even, and smooth. On the bottom of each pan, next to the engraving that her great great grandfather had left as his mark of craftsmanship, was Thorin's personal seal, tiny and perfect in miniature.
"Wow," Billa breathed, in awe of the workmanship. She gazed up at Kili, eyes wide, holding a pan limply in her lap. "You were right, Kili," she admitted. "These are the most beautiful pans I've ever seen, and Mister Thorin is an incredibly skillful blacksmith with the finest work I have ever had the pleasure to view."
Kili grinned at her, visibly pleased with her praise of his idol. After she reminded him of the late hour, they parted on friendly terms, each hoping that tomorrow's journey would be a positive experience for everyone.
Unfortunately, both of them knew it was highly unlikely.
