Chapter Five:
After Bella fainted and Thorin caught, he proceeded to bring her to her living room. He laid her down on the couch and made sure to support her head. Oin had followed after him to check on her, being the healer of the company. Thorin stepped back, but made sure to stay nearby in case Bella needed her.
"She'll be alright, laddie. She just fainted is all. Let's give her a minute, and when she wakes up we'll give her a cup of tea to help the nerves." Oin told him and stepped away, most likely to have Dori make the tea. Thorin grabbed a blanket from a box by the fireplace and covered Bella with is, pulling a chair close to the couch to sit beside her.
Thorin took this time to admire her properly without the interference of the company. Her hair was the color of wheat, but there were streaks of what could be mistaken for strings of gold. She had freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks as numerous as the stars in the sky. And he knew very well that her eyes could rival any jewel he had seen in his lifetime.
He sat up straight when Dori walked into the room with a tray that was laden with a mug, a tea pot, the necessary items to sweeten tea, and even a small bowl of stew and some bread.
"She didn't finish her dinner, so I figured I would bring her a bowl. Poor dear, she was so busy cooking for us all that she skipped five of the seven meals a hobbit should eat." Dori tutted. Thorin's heart dropped at this and turned back to the sleeping lady of the house. Seven meals? A hobbit ate seven meals, and she skipped five of them. Valar, he had barely known her a day and already he worries for her and her wellbeing.
Dori took the time to make sure she was covered well by the blanket and that her pillow was supporting her properly. It was endearing to see Dori fuss over someone who wasn't his brothers. After their mother and father was killed after Smaug took over Erebor, Dori who had only just hit maturity at the time took up the mantle of raising his younger brothers. Especially Ori who had only just been born. After Dori left the room, Feydra walked into the living room and sat on her haunches at the end of the couch where Bella's feet lay. She leaned forward and rest her head on Bella's stomach, huffing lightly. She side eyed Thorin who tensed when she walked in.
Thorin eyed the warg cautiously. Warg's, in his experience, were always a something to fear, because behind one was many along with a a few orcs. He could never forget what the orcs had done to him, his kin, and his people. It will haunt him to the end of his days. But he would not betray his One's trust by harming her companion.
A deep sigh broke him out of his thoughts as he turned to see Bella stirring. Her eyelids fluttered opened to reveal those precious jewels for eyes she possesses, and once they made eye contact, she smiled softly at him.
"What happened?" She asked, sitting up slowly with his help.
"You signed the contract and fainted a moment later. Whether from the shock or from the fact that you skipped five meals today, I don't know." Thorin told her honestly, this caused her to shut her eyes tightly and duck her head in shame.
"I was hoping you wouldn't find out about that." She told him as she pet Feydra's head. The warg licked her hand in response and continued to rest her head on her lap. "I was so focused on helping you and your company, I had neglected my own wellbeing. Forgive me."
"It's alright, Miss Bella. But now you must eat, and drink your tea." He placed the bowl into her hand and sat there, watching her. Bella took this as a sign to eat, knowing he would not leave her be until he was satisfied that she had eaten and drunk her tea.
Gandalf had walked into the living room and saw her eating, this causing him to sigh in relief.
"Oh, my dear, you never cease to give me any more grey hairs, and that is saying something." He joked to her to lighten the mood. It worked as her laughter rung through the room like a tinkling bell. "You gave us quite the scare when you fainted. Never skip that many meals again, Bella. And don't mind Bofur, he tends to forget to think before he speaks."
"It's quite alright, Gandalf. I'm feeling much better now." By now, Bella had finished her stew and drunk all her tea. She stood up slowly, Feydra watching her in case she needed to catch her if she fell again, Thorin doing the same. "Now, I believe I need to prepare sleeping arrangements for everyone."
Bella walked back into the dining room to see that everyone had been waiting in there, a collective sigh of relief was heard through the room as soon as they all saw her.
"Now Gandalf mentioned that you do not mind sharing rooms, but I want to make sure with you as well." She asked them.
"We do not mind lass. All of us are kin in some way or another, and we have been traveling for a while, so sharing is no matter to us." Balin had told her. "Do you need any help?" Balin, Dori and Oin stepped forward to help.
"Yes please, if you'll follow me to the linen closet and I'll show you all the guest rooms. I'll let you all handle who sleeps where." Bella led them down a separate hall where there were nine doors, taking them straight for the door at the very end of the hall. It opened to reveal blankets, sheets as well as extra pillows. She pulled them out and proceeded to hand them to the three dwarves behind her, all who were eager to help her. Especially Oin who had also come along as an opportunity to keep an eye on her wellbeing.
"I have these eight guest rooms all ready for everyone. Each one has a bed and mattress in a window nook. My father was very thorough when building Bag End as a marital gift for my mother. So guests are well taken care of. She opened each of the doors for them and proceeded to leave the needed amount of blankets and sheets for each room. "If any of you need anymore blankets or pillows, feel free to go through the closet. My room is just down the hall from my sitting room if you need anything."
After each room was equipped with linens, the dwarves began to decide who would be sharing which room. It seemed each family had the opportunity to share the room; the Ri's all together, the sons of Fundin in one, and so on and so forth. Thorin would be sharing a room with Fili and Kili, who turned out to be his sisters sons.
Now that rooms were decided, it was now the time to relax in the sitting room. Everyone there had produced a pipe and began smoking. Bella sat down in the opposite living room sipping another cup of tea with Feydra laying at her feet, feasting on some of the leftover meats from supper. Thorin stepped into the room and inclined his head to her when Bella noticed him.
"I never got the chance to say it, but welcome Miss Belladonna Baggins the Second to the company of Thorin Oakenshield in the quest to reclaim Erebor." He said to her, his voice carrying a regal tone to it. She smiled brightly and inclined her head back to him.
"Thank you, Master Thorin for having me in your company. I only hope I can be of use to you." She told him.
"I have asked Dwalin to help you in any training you may need for this journey. He would also like to assess your skills with you swordstaff. I admit, I too am curious. I've yet to see a warrior use a swordstaff, yet I have had several opportunities to commission some for passing warriors during my time as a blacksmith."
"Well, I guess I'll have to give you all a show then." She told him confidently. He smiled and nodded to her.
"We leave in two days, I trust that'll be enough time to set your affairs in order as well as find someone to manage your home."
She paused for a moment, she had not thought she would have the time to set her affairs in order. She had intended to just leave a package and a note for her cousin Drogo and be done with it.
"Thank you, it shouldn't take me too long. I will talk to my cousin about watching my home and leave instructions for my gardener as well. If it was not mentioned as well, Feydra will be coming with me. Where I go, she goes. She refuses to leave my side." She told him resolutely. She would not leave her friend here alone. And even if she did, Feydra led follow her to the ends of Middle Earth.
"I thought as much." Thorin nodded. He still eyed Feydra with suspicion, but he kept his contempt to himself. "I only hope she does not eat the ponies." He joked lightly and watched as Bella giggled behind her hand while Feydra huffed at him.
"Oh trust me, she doesn't like horse." She joked back, making his chuckle.
"I shall leave to your thoughts. Let us know if you need any help tomorrow." He bowed out and left her alone. She smiled to herself, glad to know that her Heart Song was so considerate. Albeit their initial meeting started off as a bit of a mess, but she could see he kept a guard up to protect himself and his kin.
Before her thoughts could race further about her Heart Song, she heard it, the low hum of a song. She knew right away that that heavy timber beginning the song was Thorin. Her heart started to flutter faster than a hummingbird could fly as she heard him sing.
"Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day"
And so she heard one by one, the rest of the company joining the song.
"To find our long forgotten gold
The pines were roaring on the heights
The winds were moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The tree like torches blazed with light"
They were singing of their lost home, she realized. This caused tears to fall down her face once again. To live so long with their home, and to finally have the hope of reclaiming it. She would help them. She must.
