The Road to Middle-Earth
A fanfiction by MushrooomsPTook
Disclaimer: I own nothing. You might as well say it owns me!
A/N – If you have not reread chapter 9, please do so now. I have decided to change course just a tad and there's a significant part in Ch. 9 that ties in with this. Thanks, and enjoy!
Chapter Thirty: While I Was Sleeping
I shifted as the sun's rays came beaming down upon my sleeping form. For the first time since Bert's inn, I found I was sleeping in a bed, but it was not mine. In fact, it wasn't like any bed I had ever slept in, or could imagine myself sleeping in. The sheets were fluffy and amazingly soft, as if I were sleeping on a cloud. The feathered pillow was very plushy, and there was something heavenly by the way it smelt of lavender and earth.
A few feet away from me came the occasional sound of a page turning, and my brain instinctively told my eyes to open and face my company. But my eyes would not open and were glued shut. I knew without seeing my surroundings that I was not back at home and was in unfamiliar territory. My unresponsive eyes made me aware of the fact that I was more vulnerable than I wished to be and I whimpered at my misfortune. Only moments later, a warm hand came to rest itself on my brow, and I took in a sharp breath as I tried to find familiarity in the new touch. Was it Robin? Bert? Aslan? Surely not, I thought as I chuckled.
"Daddy?" I breathed cautiously. There was no answer, and after a time, I gave up trying to make out this mysterious person's identity, and I surrendered myself to sleep once again.
Two voices were talking, that much I was certain of. But the fogginess that weighed down on my head disabled me from focusing on their words. I lifted my head slightly, but my eyes were still refusing to open. I felt dizzy. The air here, wherever here was, was so much thicker than what I was used to, and it paralyzed me from responding to my surroundings. I wanted to know where I was, where...Alice was. What had happened? Were we still in Nottingham? Tom, Charming...where were they? I wanted to call out to the people, but all I could do was open my mouth before my head plummeted back into the pillows. The voices went silent and after a time, a person took a sip from his drink.
"Will she be all right?" asked the younger voice.
"Never fear, my lad," said the other. It was older, but there was a hoarseness in it that made it sound innocent. "She probably had a nasty shock is all and just needs time to rest. Give her time. She'll come around."
There was a moment of silence, and then, "I've never seen one up close before, Uncle. Do you suppose it's safe having them here?"
The older person cleared some nervousness out of his throat. "Of course, dear boy! Do you think I would have them stay here if it wasn't safe?"
"She's very fair," said the first voice again. There was a moment of silence and then the sudden sound of a hand slapping against skin.
"Ah! Manners, Frodo-lad! Don't touch! What has gotten into that brain of yours?"
The first voice chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, Uncle."
Frodo. Where had I heard that name before? I couldn't answer my own question before slipping back into unconsciousness.
The sound of a door shutting in the distance caused me to jolt in my sleep. I didn't bother trying to open my eyes, but lay on my back, listening to all the noise that followed. There were many cheers as one of the voices began welcoming the arrival of many more.
"Ah, Paladin and Eglantine, welcome, welcome! And hullo there, young lasses."
"Hullo, Uncle Bilbo," came the voices of young girls. Surely, I was dreaming. First Frodo and now Bilbo? "Where's young Peregrin? I haven't see the lad since he was a baby."
"He lingered behind to wait for Meriadoc," laughed a woman. Eglantine maybe? "They'll be along shortly. Ever since the two met it seems as though they can't be separated."
Bilbo laughed. "Well, let me take your coats."
The door opened again momentarily and there was another wave of greetings as new voices entered the scene.
"Uncle Bilbo!" cried a boyish voice.
The older person laughed and said, "Hullo there, Merry-lad. I see you've found a friend."
"Hi," said a small voice.
"Hullo, Peregrin. My, how you've grown. Last time I saw you, you were just a babe. How old are you now?"
"He's six, Bilbo," said the voice belonging to Merry.
"Six? Well, he's catching up to you quite fast, lad."
The child laughed. "I'm fourteen, Uncle!"
"Frodo! You're cousins are here!"
"Coming, Uncle!" the muffled voice shouted back, and I distantly heard the pitter and patter of bare feet scurrying across the floors. But as the visitors began to greet him, they all fell silent. Only another woman had drawn in a gasp of air as her voice fell into a whisper.
"Bilbo," she said, barely audible. "Who is that with Frodo?"
"Oh!" said Frodo, forfeiting his whispering voice. "This is Alice, Aunt Esmie. She's um..."
"She's visiting," Bilbo finished, and cleared his throat.
"Cousin Bilbo," said a man's voice. "I think you'd better explain yourself. What are you up to? You're not going on another adventure, are you?"
"Oh, heavens no, Saradoc! And I'll happy to provide you with some explanation. But first, let me take your coats." There was some shuffling across the floor, but the silence still remained. After a while, the door to where I slept creaked open.
"Do you think they'll understand, Uncle?" asked Frodo.
"I don't myself," Bilbo chuckled. "We'll just have to tell them what happened. Best not let your younger cousins into this room."
There was a brief pause and then, "Do you think he'll come?"
"Oh," said Bilbo. "He may yet, lad. You never know with that fellow. Here one second, gone the next. Now, Frodo-lad, why don't you get some tea on? I'm sure everyone will be up for some, hmm?"
"Yes, Uncle."
Something shifted next to me and I moaned. When the something shuffled a second time, I opened my eyes. It felt like days since I was able to see anything at all, and now as my blurry vision began to focus, I found I was staring into a pair of large, green eyes. They were smiling as they peeked back at me in wonderment from behind the mattress, and they were framed with golden curls.
"Hi," the owner of the eyes whispered. The child had a look of curiosity about him, but for some reason, my eyes felt heavier than before, and I wanted no more than to close them again, and slip into the world of sleep that had been my companion for however long.
"Hi," I replied in a mutter. The child said nothing in return, but continued to stare, his eyes widening a bit after my reply. I watched him for a while more before whispering, "goodnight". I turned on my side, my back facing him, and closed my eyes. I don't know how much time passed before I heard footsteps enter my room, and the child next to me gasped.
"Pippin!" said a voice. "You're not supposed to be in this room. You'll catch it from your parents if they find you here. Now, come along."
The next time I opened my eyes, I found that it was morning and that the thickness that lay over me disappeared, for I was less groggy, but also very hungry. I was staring up at a vaulted ceiling and the round window next to me showed a picture of large snowflakes softly falling outside. I looked to my left, first discovering that my childish companion had abandoned me, and second, seeing a wooden chair close beside the bed, upon which an open book lay. The sound of an occasional crackle drew my attention to a large fireplace across the room, where a recent fire had all but died, however, the warmth was still circulating in the air.
I sat up to get a better look at my surroundings. Upon the wooden floor was a large red carpet with yellow tassels fastened at the ends. My heart gave a leap in my chest, for a few feet beyond the carpet was a round green door that had been left ajar. Surely, this time I had to be dreaming. That or I was dead. Either way, I was really too curious and excited for my own good, and I sprung out of the bed with a squeak escaping my mouth. I walked cautiously up to the round door, extending a shaking hand out towards the brass knob. For a moment, I stood there, frozen, unsure what to do. If this was a dream and I opened the door, I felt as though I would never be able to live with myself again. Then again, if it truly was real, I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle all the emotions inside me. Maybe I would die.
You can always turn back, I said to myself. You can go back to bed and pretend this was all a dream. It's okay. "It's not okay!" I said aloud. "I'm in Bag End, for heaven's sake!" With my mind made up, I carefully opened the door, a beautiful resonating creak accompanying the action. My mouth fell open. It was more beautiful than I ever imagined. It seemed like the tunnel of the hobbit hole wound on and on, and I had to steady myself from shaking, for I knew that if I followed this tunnel long enough, it would lead to one of its occupants. I didn't know if I could handle that. I started to bite my nails, something I never did unless my nerves were telling me that they were just about shot. I turned to my right, but only found two closets. So, I turned to my left again, deciding to tread down the tunnel and fulfill what I had originally set out to do.
On and on I went, passing by two bedrooms, one of which was on my right, and was the largest of the three. I also passed by I don't know how many pantries on my left, while getting a perfect view of what I guessed was the sitting room. Of course, I wouldn't have been able to tell what kind of rooms any of these were, had I not quietly opened their doors and peeked inside. I knew it was awfully rude, especially since I had been warmly taken in as a guest without my knowing, but the temptation was just too overwhelming. I wanted to know—needed to know—what Bag End really looked like. The next room, however seemed very private, so private that I could almost hear the door saying, "keep out". I knew somehow exactly which one it was. Bilbo's study. I reached for the doorknob, but stopped. Did I really think so little about Bilbo's privacy? After all, this room above all was his most prized, and I knew if I went ahead and opened the door without his permission, I would regret it forever. On the other hand, inside this room lay all his years of wisdom, secrets, and recorded tales of Middle-earth that I would probably never find elsewhere.
I began to turn the doorknob, when a squealing laugh caused me to jump, and I pulled back my arm instantly, rubbing it guiltily as I looked around for the interruption. I crept forward cautiously until I came to another room. The Dining room. My cheeks flushed as a smile stretched upon my face and my heart started to beat faster, for behind the round archway, stood a long table and upon it sat two young children. I could only guess their identities. That is until the smaller one turned his curly head in my direction and his big green eyes sparkled. His round face was covered in red jam as he gave me a wide curious smile.
"And besides," the other boy continued, failing to notice his distracted companion. "It's Yule and there's plenty of snow. Maybe our parents will let us go out and build a snow-hobbit later, eh Pip? Pip?" When he heard no reply, the child looked down at his friend, and finding that his attention was drawn elsewhere, he turned his head in his direction. When our eyes made contact, the boy squeaked as he rose to his feet quickly, and disappeared behind the wall. The younger child, however, took another bite of his toast, eyes still fixed on me, and giggled. A hand reached from behind the archway and grabbed his wrist, yanking him out of his chair. "Pippin, hide!" The scurrying of little feet caused me to giggle as I crept forward. "Bilbo!" I heard the older child say. "Uncle Bilbo! There's a—a monster!"
"Nonsense!" came the reply of the old hobbit. "Monsters in Bag End? Whatever put such a notion into your head, lad?" The image of the child pulling Bilbo by the hand was only funnier when I saw it with my own eyes and I couldn't help but laugh. When the child pointed in my direction, followed by Bilbo's stare of surprise, my giggles subsided and I stared back at the old hobbit open-mouthed.
"Why that's no monster, Merry-lad. That is just another guest visiting."
"But," started Merry, nervously, "what is it?"
"I believe she is a human being," Bilbo said stepping out of the dining room, leaving Merry to seek comfort in his younger friend. "Are you not?" he asked as he walked slowly up to me.
I clasped my hands over my mouth in an effort to retain a scream that was building up inside me. Before me was the hobbit I had often read about, the one who accompanied thirteen dwarves to Erebor. The only hobbit to have ever faced the fiercest of dragons, Smaug. The one who riddled with the mysterious creature, Gollum, and the hobbit who kept the Ring for himself. The Ring! My eyes withdrew from the hobbit's gaze and fell to the pocket of his waistcoat.
"How do you feel, lass?" the hobbit asked gently.
"Hungry," I replied honestly. "And please call me Alayna."
Bilbo chuckled. "Very well, Alayna. I've no doubt you are. You've missed quite a few meals, having been out for three days."
"Three days? What happened to me?"
"Well, I suppose we gave you quite a shock as much as you did us. We don't see too many big folk in these parts anymore, you see. Of course, I'm used to strange folk popping up now and then, but people I usually know. N-Not that you're strange, of course!" Bilbo put up a hand defensively.
I laughed. "Well, thank you for taking me in, Mr. Baggins."
Bilbo cast me a puzzled look and I suddenly realized my error. "I beg your pardon, but have we met before?"
I shook my head instantly. "No." Not in person anyway, I added to myself.
"Hmm. Well, come and have some breakfast and meet the lads."
As I entered the dining room, Merry tightened his grip on Pippin and watched me cautiously, but the younger lad giggled and dipped his head into Merry's arm shyly, peering out occasionally to have a look at me. Now hobbit children are pretty darned cute and I had to hold myself back from giving them each a squeeze. For one thing, I knew I looked intimidating with my height. But for another, I couldn't—and wouldn't—risk wearing out my welcome.
I seated myself upon the table and looked around at all the fine decorations that framed the room so nicely. There were paintings of Bilbo's relatives hanging on all the walls, and in the corner there was a china cabinet that contained an array of fine dishes, most likely belonging to his mother, Belladonna Took. Bilbo, in the meantime, had just set a plate down before me. My mouth watered at all the delicious food: Eggs, bacon, toast with jam, a side of mushrooms, and berries topped with cream. It was a beautiful portrait of a hobbit breakfast. I set to work right away after thanking the old hobbit and he busied himself with the dishes. The hobbit children, on the other hand, kept their gazes upon me the whole time, Merry keeping Pippin's hand fastened onto his protectively. Neither of them said anything. So, having taken a sip of my coffee, I decided it was time to pry into the heads of my young companions.
"What's your name?" I asked the older one gently.
"Mewy," the younger child answered for him when Merry did not speak up.
"And yours?" I asked Pippin, trying to keep back a giggle and failing miserable. "I think we've met before, haven't we?"
"Pippy," he answered, blushing.
I glanced up when Bilbo came to collect some more dishes from the table. He gave me a slight wink, smiling, and it was most encouraging.
"Have you met my cousin?" I asked the children, trying to conceal my sudden concern as to her whereabouts. Finally, Merry seemed to relax and both he and the younger child smiled, Pippin nodding enthusiastically. "Do you know where she is?"
"She went to the market earlier with our parents and with his sisters," Merry replied finally, pointing at Pippin when he mentioned sisters.
"Sistows..." Pippin giggled, banging his fork against his empty plate. This caused the old hobbit to hurry quickly over, grabbing the fork out of Peregrin's clutching fist.
"Ah-ah-ah, Peregrin! These are not toys, lad." Having snatched up the plate along with the fork, Bilbo turned his gaze on me again. "They'll be back shortly, Miss Alayna. They went to pick up a few extra food for Yule. As it is, I'm afraid I don't have enough to fill the stomachs of all my guests, especially young Peregrin here." His eyes darted to the child, who was reaching over to grab a berry from my plate, but Bilbo snatched his hand just in time. "Now, Pippin, you've had quite enough."
Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed throughout Bag End. I felt tingles instantly run over my skin as I heard the sound of many people shuffling into the cozy hall. Alice could be heard giggling among other girlish voices.
"Uncle, we're home!" a voice called out from beyond the dining room. But as footsteps neared closer to the room, I stood from my seat and watched as a young hobbit entered. Unlike Merry and Pippin, his curls were dark and he had a fair complexion about him that made him seem almost Elvish. His piercing blue eyes found mine and they twinkled merrily.
"Ah," said Bilbo. "Frodo-lad!"
A/N – I took the liberty of copying a hobbit age system from another well-known author. You may know her as Obelia Medusa, but she's recently changed her username to Henna Gamgee. I will not copy the formula here, because I want you guys to read her stories "The Making of a Ringbearer", and it includes it there. It is her stories that inspired me to start writing my own fanfiction! But I will post what the hobbits ages currently are. The year is 2996 or 1396 by Shire-reckoning, five years before Bilbo leaves.
Hobbit Age/Human Age
Bilbo 106/82
Frodo 28/15
Sam 16/8
Merry 14/7
Pippin 6/4
Thank you, Henna Gamgee, if you are reading this!
Next Chapter – More hobbit meetings and adventures await!
Lynn-o-chan – It has indeed!
xXChaoticOrderXx – I still would have liked to see you flip a table. ;)
Of-Light-and-Shadow – This was very touching. Thank you for your kind words! :)
Diana Fay – I will miss them too. It was very hard for me to write. But don't be too sad. We may see them again. :)
goldenstarlight – I hope this chapter cheered you up some. I don't have a specific idea of how many chapters they will be in Middle-earth, but it will be relatively short compared to the rest of the story.
Seafarer – Aw, thank you for the kind review. I'm very pleased you enjoyed the chapter. :)
The White Tragic Wolf Sayana B – Wow, I can't believe you read the whole thing in like one day! Thank you for the reviews! :D
The Author in the TARDIS – Me too. :'(