Reflections On What Matters Most

Summary

Gandalf arrives in the Shire looking for a burglar, but instead, he finds two. One of which is not going to put up with his games and schemes. She does not hold her tongue when what she views as an insult is being given to her and her brother.

A/N: I'm tempted to pair Bellrose with Nori. Bilbo will be with an OC, but I'm undecided if he should remain in Erebor with Bellrose. Thoughts? I hope you like this new story idea.

I : Bilbo Ambushed and a Hobbit Lass

Bilbo was working in the memorial Garden for his parents while his twin sister was in the kitchen cooking. Usually, Rosie did not cook without reason, but sometimes, she had these sudden bursts of intuition that they needed to be prepared for something. She had been cooking for the past five hours. The flowers in the garden were doing well, and the scents of his father's favorite Lily of the Valley, and his mother's favorite carnations soothed him as his hands dug into the soft earth to remove the unwanted plants.

"There you are Bilbo Baggins. You have been one hobbit difficult to find," he heard behind him. Turning, he knew who it was and he wasn't thrilled at seeing the wizard.

"Grey one. What can I do for you?" Bilbo asked trying to remain polite. Gandalf was confused at how Belladonna's child greeted him, but he didn't let it show.

"I am looking for one to share an adventure," he said causing Bilbo to pale at the thought of leaving his home after his mother passed on to Lady Yavanna's Gardens. He hastily stood and made his way to the door, panicking.

"No. Adventures are nasty things that make you late for dinner. Try the Tooks and Brandybucks. Good morning," Bilbo said before closing the door.

"To think I lived to be good morninged by Belladonna Tooks, son!" Gandalf exclaimed. He scratched a symbol onto the door and made his way down the road of Hobbiton.

Later that evening, Bellrose was pulling out the large dining room table they used for parties and laid out a feast. She made sure she was properly dressed in a floor-length dress that had an ethereal-looking dress, her mother had purchased for her at her coming-of-age party. The embroidery wraps around the neckline and waist of the dress. The dress was created by combining flowing georgette and soft rayon, which enabled the dress to drape perfectly on Bellrose's body. The sleeves were off-the-shoulder and it had the Tree of Life embroidered at the waist. Bellrose loved it. She had Bilbo get dressed appropriately, and she answered the door just as a knock sounded.

"Merry meet. I am Bellrose Took Baggins. Please come in, place your weapons in the closet, and remove your boots. You are welcome to our table Master Dwarf," she greeted and she could see he was stunned. Bellrose was saddened that he looked so stunned at being treated with respect.

"Dwalin. At your service," he greeted as he did as directed by the lady of the house. He knew better than to disrespect a Dam, no matter the race. As the first of their guests made himself at home, Bellrose pinned a note to the lamppost on the front gate. It may have been raining, but it was a relatively warm night, so Bellrose left the door open as she made her way inside after lighting the other lampposts that lit up the walkway to Bag End.

It wasn't long before Bag End was filled to the brim with a company of members of the Dwarrow race and a wizard. Bellrose noticed they were missing one member. "Master Balin, it seems we are missing one of your members," she observed from the barstool. "He's meeting with kin. He'll be here, my dear," Balin said as he sat down smiling. He knew who this young lady was. He saved her a year before her maturity, and in exchange, Bellrose requested that he teach her to defend herself. She hated feeling vulnerable.

There was a part of her life, that she kept secret from Bilbo, knowing that he would disapprove, and stop her from making any more trips out of the Shire. It wasn't because he did not want her to know survival skills, but due to how their parents were murdered during the Fell Winter. He wanted her safe, but what he fails to realize, is that it is a dangerous world, and the Shire wouldn't always remain peaceful. It seemed like Bilbo had forgotten that the Fell Winter happened in the Shire.

A little over an hour later, Bellrose noticed another dwarf walking into the dining room. She was stunned. She had never known his true name, but he was the dwarf who trained her how to use a sword correctly. "Master Underwill. May I know your true name now?" she jested causing him to chuckle.

"I am Thorin II Oakenshield. Son of Thrain. Son of Thor. Exiled King Under the Mountain," he introduced himself. The lass was the only one he trained after his sister-sons. "It is a pleasure seeing you again, Bell," he said as he sat down.

"Rosie. How do you know Thorin?" Bilbo asked not knowing it was rude to address Thorin as he had without permission causing everyone to look nervously at Thorin as he ground his teeth.

"Brother dear. I love you, but it is rude to address royalty by their given name without permission," she gently scolded causing Bilbo to blush and apologize. "Master Oakenshield trained me how to use the sword mama was gifted by Lord Elrond. I was attacked by bandits a year before my maturity and was saved by Balin. I asked him to teach me what he knew and he hired Master Oakenshield to finish that training," Bellrose explained.

"Why did you not tell me?" he asked a little angry. "Because I knew you would stop me from learning what I needed. And yes, I know it isn't because you wouldn't want me knowing survival skills, but due to what happened to Mama and Papa," Bellrose explained as she quickly got up and hugged him when he got such a heartbreaking expression.

"I am sorry you felt you couldn't come to me, sister," he said hugging her close. The Company looked on with smiles as they viewed the touching scene between brother and sister. Thorin couldn't help but think of Dis.

"Not to interrupt, but how did the meeting go in Ered Luin?" Dwalin asked his brother-in-arms. "They will not join us," Thorin said. "He said that this mission is ours and ours alone," he said causing many to frown.

"What mission?" Bilbo asked as he released his sister. "Erebor," Bellrose stated with absolute certainty. "How did you know?" Nori asked the beautiful Dam. "I am a scribe. I make it a habit to learn about every corner of the land. Your people have always called to me for some reason. I was drawn to learn everything I could about what happened. I have yet to find out why that is," she explained.

"Why do you need a Hobbit on this journey?" Bilbo asked. "We need someone that Dragons have never come across. Someone small and easily hidden to get the Arkenstone," Thorin explained causing Bellrose's eyes to widen in shock.

"But we have never stolen anything in our lives," Bilbo stated causing Bellrose to shift nervously hiding behind Nori causing him to smirk. "Bellrose Took Baggins! What did you do?" Bilbo asked shaking his head.

"I was in Bree where I met Master Oakensheild, and noticed men go up to his room, and they came out with coin he earned, along with weapons, so I stole them back, and told Nori, and he told Dwalin. Those men were never seen again," Bellrose explained peeking over Nori's shoulder.

"That was dangerous!" Bilbo exclaimed standing from his chair causing the Company to stand in front of Bellrose. She smiled shaking her head. "It is alright. Bilbo would never hurt me," she said causing them to shake their heads and didn't move from their position in front of her. Bilbo seeing how well the Dwarrow were protecting Rose, even from him, calmed down knowing that his sister had another family to take care of her when he couldn't.

"How did you come to know the Company, sister?" Bilbo asked making Gandalf listen in inerest. That was something he had been wondering himself. "Óin, Glóin, Balin, and Dwalin, I met on my travels. I did not get to know them as much as I would have wanted, but they became very dear friends of mine. They are who I write to daily. They helped me get in touch with Princess Dís a while ago. Ori, Dori, and Nori I met separately. Ori I met in a library in Bree. Dori and I met at a tea shop, and of course, I noticed Nori was keeping an eye and ear out for trouble around Bree as Master Oakenshield was in the Inn. Fíli, Kíli, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur I met tonight. When I visited the Blue Mountains for a meeting with Princess Dís for a trade arrangement, of course, I was informed I was to bring the matter to her brother, and at the time, I did not know that Master Oakenshield was her brother, and of course, he was in Bree," Rose explained.

"What is it you do?" Balin asked as it sounded as if Miss Baggins had the same profession as he had. "I am a scribe, but I am the granddaughter of the Thain, and none of my cousins nor Bilbo wanted to learn how to get in touch with the other countries and Kingdoms, as it required a great deal of traveling. I am the go-between for our lands and the free people of Middle Earth. I write contracts, negotiate, and arrange for supplies to be sent to and from the Shire to all other countries and Kingdoms," she explained proudly.

"You do?" Bilbo asked ashamed that he knew so little of his sister's life. "Bilbo, I have a pony and wagon. I am gone for sometimes two years at a time. What did you think I was doing? Blessed the Green Lady, I am the most successful hobbit maiden. That is why I will not accept courting offers. They want everything that I have earned," Rose explained. The Dwarrow grumbled when they heard that. No one was going to take advantage of the hobbit lass.

"You're going on this adventure, aren't you?" Bilbo asked his sister taken aback when an expression of rage appeared on Rose's face. "Who said this was an adventure?" she asked through clenched teeth making Bilbo glance nervously at the wizard causing Rose to swing her head toward the wizard in question.

"Listen, Wizard! This is not a game. This is not an adventure to amuse yourself with. These Dwarrow are trying to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. I am sickened that you could take this journey lightly. If you keep up this behavior, I will report you to the council, and I swear upon Lady Yavanna that you will be forever banned from the Shire. I am the granddaughter of the Thain. Bilbo may not want anything to do with what that entitles after what happened that fowl winter, but I can assure you, I am," Bellrose Took Baggins declared causing Thorin and the Company to smile at the loyalty this lass had just shone them.

Gandalf was stunned that such a small, seemingly defenseless creature had the gall to question him. But he couldn't help but admire the courage it took to do something like that. He also knew that Bellrose would stand by what she promised, and he didn't dare push her. She was the daughter of his dearly departed friend, and Belladonna Took Baggins was true to her word, something Bellrose seemed to have inherited.

Later the night when the Company settled down for a rest, Bellrose was pinning a letter to her grandfather.

Dearest Grandfather

Gerontius Took

Thain of the Shire

My dearest grandfather, Bilbo, and I are leaving to help the sons of Durin reclaim their home. They are the sons of Aulë, the husband of our Green Lady, Yavanna. Our siblings have not thrived as our parents would have wanted. It is our duty to take care of each other. Please, reach out to Lady Dis in the Blue Mountains. They cannot grow the plant life needed to survive, nor are they having any luck with livestock. I am hoping that Durin folk can find refuge here in the Shire.

Bag End is a large home, so the family members of those we are traveling with will be staying in Bag End until Erebor is reclaimed. Now, I know you have been training me to take up the family business, and this will help with that. There's only so much book learning I can absorb. I need some hands-on training, and this will help. I will keep in touch as often as I can. After Erebor is reclaimed, I will open trade arrangements with the King Under the Mountain, Thorin II Oakenshield.

I love the Shire dearly, and I will miss you and the rest of the family, but I felt the call of my Heartsong, so I will not be returning. I will visit, and come to celebrations, but my place is with him, and making a home for us. I have contacted Master Greenhand, and he has promised to pack up my belongings and store them until I send for them. Please, keep my business and inheritance accounts safe.

Sincerely,

Your Granddaughter

Bellrose Took Baggins

Her grandfather did not know about what she did for a business outside of what he had been training her for, and it would stay like that for the time being. Bellrose made sure she had everything ready for the trip and packed up what she did not want to leave behind in the Shire, before getting a few hours of sleep.