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 27

After they returned from the market, Billa packed a large lunch into a basket, and rode down to the forge to feed Thorin. He'd been working particularly hard to finish the order of swords and shields for the Thain, and Billa had hardly seen him.

As her pony came nearer to the forge, she could hear the sound of his hammer pounding, but also the sound of his rich, deep voice singing in time as he worked. Enchanted, she carefully dismounted and crept silently closer. She'd never heard him sing anything so cheerful before. Knowing Thorin, it was probably a battle-chant about beheading his enemies. He was singing in Khuzdul, so she couldn't really tell what he was singing, but he sounded cheerful and that was enough for Billa.

She peeked through the doorway, and there he was, hammering away. He was even smiling! Billa grinned at the sight. Perhaps it was just the fact that his people were going to be warm and safe this winter, but Billa had never seen Thorin so light-hearted as he had been these past few weeks. It was a relief to see that her plans were working and that the lives of her dwarves were already improving.

After several weeks of staying with her, Thorin's and Dwalin's cheeks were a little fuller, and there were no shadows under their eyes. She hadn't noticed the difference until more dwarves had arrived, and she'd seen their hollow cheeks in comparison. She watched more closely now, and exulted at every minor improvement she saw.

Nori's demeanor was slightly less suspicious and a little kinder. Each time he came to report to her, he smiled a little more often.

Bifur could frequently be seen picking flowers, even learning how to weave them from brave little fauntlings who dared to approach him. He had won them over quickly, and was soon seen weaving flower crowns for the little ones, and even wearing the ones they made for him. He looked so pleased that none of the other dwarves dared to say a word.

Bombur had relaxed around her, accepting her help and exchanging recipes with her. He was interested in hobbit cooking, and was willing to teach her a little about dwarven cooking. They laughed often as they talked.

Bofur was still a little cautious, but that might be just because he was heading up the work crews and had little time to spare. Still, all of the dwarves looked a little bit plumper and a little less hunted, and that was enough for now.

Thorin finished his song and the sword, and Billa knocked on the door frame just as he was wiping his hands on his smock. She had made that smock when she first overheard him complain about the heat in the forge. He had never taken his tunic off after her prank on him, and Billa felt a little guilty. So, she made him a smock that kept his chest covered but at least left his arms and back free. She thought it was better than nothing, and he thought it was better than a tunic, and so he wore it faithfully. It still bared his back to her, but she was getting better at being able to think and converse through the haze of confusion in which his bare body always seemed to leave her.

Thorin smiled as he saw her.

"Billa! Come in. I've just finished the last of the swords for your Uncle. What do you think of them?" he asked, pleased with himself. Billa grinned, setting down her basket and picking up one of his swords.

"Bring one outside with me," she challenged, "And we'll see how you and your work hold up against a real hobbit lass." He snorted, but took picked up a sword as well and followed her outside.

"This 'real hobbit lass' is going to be smushed like a bug," he told her smugly, and she narrowed her eyes at him. Dwalin hadn't trained her with a sword in this lifetime, but she remembered the rough training she had received on the Quest. It was more than Thorin expected her to have, at least. She knew she wouldn't win, but she wanted to at least give him a good smack.

She fumbled and dropped her sword at the very beginning, knowing he would underestimate her. However, instead of brutally trouncing her like he had on the quest, he started off slowly and gave her plenty of time to block his swings and guess where he was aiming. It was a sweet gesture, and she smiled at him. Instead of bursting into motion and smacking him with her sword before running away, like she had originally thought of doing, she took the lesson he offered and they spent a happy hour working together in the sun.

Afterwards, sweating and hot, they took the picnic basket down to the nearby stream and dipped their feet in the water as they ate a late lunch.

"Your feet are so funny looking," Billa teased him. This was the first time since he'd been staying with her that she'd ever seen him without socks or boots on. "The boots are so weird and square, and the woolly sock-hats for your feet are hilarious, but your feet are just so funny looking. I've never seen them close up," she said. He snorted at her teasing, but drew his now-pruny feet out of the cool stream and angled them towards her, wiggling his toes at her.

"By all means, your highness," he said, his voice dry, "feel free to examine my royal feet at your leisure." She laughed at him, but returned the favor. He stroked her foot hair gently while she inspected his toes.

"I liked the swords," Billa told him suddenly as she petted the top of his feet absently. "They feel balanced and easy in my hands. You did fine work," she said, smiling, and he smiled gently back. "I'm sure the shields will take longer to finish, but we should probably agree on a fair trade so we can get supplies sent off to Ered Luin before there's snow on the roads," she said, and he nodded, his smile fading.

"I should take the supplies back myself," he said, and Billa's heart sank a little. Of course he'd have to go, she reminded herself. He's the king, and he has to look out for all of his people, not just the ones here.

"I'll be sad to see you go, my friend," she told him honestly, "But I understand why you have to. What do you consider fair trade for the swords?"

"I'm torn between taking the blankets we discussed or the grain," he said, and she hmmmed.

"Well," she said pragmatically, "You are a man of your word. We will get the shields in the spring, so we may as well pay you in full now," she said.

Thorin made to argue but she pinched his foot warningly. He raised an eyebrow at her and she pinched it again. "Watch yourself, Oakenshield," she said playfully. "I've got your toes here, and I'm not afraid to hold them hostage until you meet my demands!" she threatened him, wiggling one of his toes with her fingers. He huffed at her silliness.

"Dwarves don't do it that way," he told her gruffly. "Payment is only rendered when the services have been provided in full."

Billa gently flicked one of his toes. "Then why did you take that coin purse in Bree?" she asked him indignantly.

He smirked at her. "Because you threw it at my head, you little she-devil." Billa huffed and put her nose in the air, turning her head away from him.

"That's no way to speak to a princess," she said loftily, and then squeaked when he pinched her pinky toe. She tugged her feet back, glaring at him reproachfully.

"Are you or are you not a man of honor, Thorin Oakenshield?" she said sternly.

He raised his eyebrow incredulously, about to take offense. "You know I am," he growled.

"Well then," Billa said, shrugging dismissively, her ire gone as soon as it had come, "you will take the full payment of blankets and grain when you go back to Ered Luin, and we will expect you sometime next year with the shields," she said. "You have assured me that you are a man of your word, and I believe it to be true. Therefore, I know we will get the shields we need eventually, and I feel no compunction about paying you in full."

He started to protest again, and she drew a sly, curious finger down the length of his foot, from toes to heel. He jerked his foot back, toes curling.

"Don't do that," he warned her. Delighted by his strange reaction, she did it again. He tried to pull his foot away, but she held on firmly, grinning.

"Why does it do that?" she asked, excited. "What does it feel like?"

"Give your feet over here and I'll show you exactly what it feels like," he grumbled at her. "My feet are ticklish," he admitted.

Billa's head tilted to the side like a confused puppy. "Ticklish? On your feet?" After a moment of bemusement, she started laughing, throwing her head back. Thorin glared at her when she tumbled onto her back, still laughing. "Whoever heard," she wheezed, clutching her stomach, "of ticklish feet? Feet! Oh, your feet are so silly!"

Thorin growled grumpily, his dignity wounded, and proceeded to ignore her until Dwalin came to fetch them for afternoon tea.