Chapter Seven:
Bella, Thorin and Feydra had finally made it to Hobbiton, Bella leading them down the familiar path to her favorite cousins home. Walking up to the bright yellow door, Bella stepped forward to ring the bell, Thorin standing behind her with Feydra at his side. He side eye the warg a little, still not fully trusting, but said and did nothing lest he anger his One. The door finally opened to reveal a male hobbit with dark hair and brown eyes.
"Bella!" He said jovially and pulled Bella into a hug. Thorin had to bite down his jealousy, reminding himself that they were kin.
"Oh Drogo, it's so good to see you!" Bella replied and returned his hug. They broke apart and Drogo noticed the dwarf with his cousin.
"Hello there." He said respectfully.
"Drogo, let me introduce you to Thorin Oakenshield." Bella said to him. "He is my Heart Song." At this, Drogo went wide eyed as he looked back and forth to Bella and Thorin. He finally broke out into a smile and took Thorin's hand, shaking it eagerly.
"By Jove, how wonderful. It's a pleasure to meet you Mister Oakenshield." Thorin did not know how to react to his eagerness, but he smiled anyway and returned the handshake. Once their hands separated, he placed his hand on his heart and bowed his head.
"Thorin Oakenshield, at your service." He said to him as was proper dwarven greeting. Drogo returned the bow and smiled.
"Oh where are my manners, come in, come in." He beckoned them in. "Yes, you too Feydra!" Feydra yipped and followed behind them. "I should let you know, you're not the only cousin to visit, Bella."
They all walked into the sitting room to see that another two of Bella's cousins had been there along with their children and their spouses.
"Cousin Bella!" They exclaimed and moved to hug her.
"Oh Barnabus! Lisa!" She smiled and hugged them back. "Oh Miriam, you look lovely." She said to the women next to Cousin Barnabus. "Odo, it's so good to see you." After greeting the adults the children made themselves known as well.
"Auntie Bella!" All 17 of the children there hugged and kissed her.
"Oh, hello fauntlings! My, look how big you've all gotten!" She doted on each of them one by one and held the smallest one on her hip.
"Whoa! Who's the big man?" The little one on her hip said, pointing to Thorin who stayed back with Feydra.
"Now Roland, it's rude to point." Bella scolded lightly, smiling at him and gently tapping his nose, causing the boy to giggle. Bella turned to her cousins and garnered the attention of her nieces and nephews. "Everyone, I would like you all to meet my friend." She beckoned him into the room.
"Thorin Oakenshield, at your service." He bowed his head, smiling at all the children who looked up at him in awe.
"Barnabus Baggins, at yours, Master Oakenshield." Giving a curtsy.
"Miriam Baggins nee Proudfoot, at your service."
"Lisa Brandybuck nee Baggins, at your service as well, Master Oakenshield."
"Odo Brandybuck, at your service."
"Children, your turn." Bella encouraged. "Everyone in line and introduce yourself, just like your parents did.." They scrambled about standing in a straight line, organizing themselves oldest to youngest. Thorin smiled, seeing all the children. Each of them with the same dark curly hair, but a mix of green and blue eyes amongst all of them.
"Oliver Baggins, at your service."
"Elisa Brandybuck, at your service."
"Isolde Brandybuck, at your service."
"Carac Brandybuck, at your service."
"Tristan Baggins, at your service."
"Maudie Baggins, at your service."
"Bronwyth Brandybuck, at your service."
"Otto Baggins,"
"And Rollo Baggins,"
"At your service." Twin boys.
"Sabine Baggins, at your service."
"Ingrid Brandybuck, at your service."
"Idla Brandybuck, at your service."
"Neven Baggins, at your service."
"Bayard Brandybuck, at your service."
"Lancel Baggins, at your service."
"Rylie Brandybuck, at your service."
"Roland Brandybuck. Hi!" He waved eagerly.
The adults chuckled at his display and Thorin smiled.
"Very good, children." Drogo praised everyone.
"Alright everyone, why don't you all play with Feydra in the yard while us grownups talk." At Bella's words, the children cheered and gathered around Feydra who seemed to preen at the attention. Bella set Roland on Feydra back to ride, the little fauntling giggling and snuggling into the wargs back. The oldest of the two children led everyone outside to the front yard, where everyone had a clear view to make sure the children behaved and were safe.
"They seem to hold your warg in high regard, Bella." Thorin said to her.
"Oh yes, they all love her. She's been playing with them since they all learned to toddle. Feydra can keep up with them, going as far as running around with them and playing. They never fail to get tired though, they've been known to take naps in the yard after playing with Feydra. She lays with them to make sure no one bothers them." Bella
"Come, sit." He beckoned Bella and Thorin to the other couch as he poured them tea as well. "What brings you here, cousin? I do believe it's more than just introducing your Heart Song, to us." Drogo commented. This caused the other adults to gasp.
"Congratulations Bella!" Miriam and Lisa exclaimed elated for her.
"Thank you. And yes, you are correct. I have a favor to ask of you, Drogo. And maybe to you all as well."
"What can we do for you, Bella?" Barnabus asked her, taking a sip of his tea.
"I ask that you all look after my smial. I have been asked by Thorin here and Gandalf the Grey to take part in an adventure." She told them all.
"Of course we will, Bella. Anything for family." Lisa said right away, the others agreeing as well.
"I must ask, will this adventure be dangerous?" Miriam asked, nervous for Bella. Thorin nodded regrettably.
"Unfortunately it will, but I will look after Bella's safety. It is not only my duty as the leader of the company, but my duty to her as she is my One." He said strongly. The other smiled at this, reassured in the fact that Bella will be looked after.
"I am glad." Drogo said. "I know Bella can look after herself, but knowing that she also has someone to watch after her puts me at peace."
"You do know you must speak to grandfather about your quest." Lisa said to her. Bella nodded at this.
"Yes I know. But that will also spark some teasing from Thorin who has it in his head that Grandfather is technically a king and I am a princess." Bella said, rolling her eyes.
"By all right, Bella, you are." He chuckled. The others laughed at their antics, seeing that Bella and Thorin were already smitten with each other.
"Was there anything you needed us to do while you were gone?" Barnabus asked. Bella's face began to scrunch and her mood soured.
"Make sure that wretched Lobelia Sackville-Baggins does not go anywhere near my home. I won't have her get her claws into anything in my smial." At this, Drogo, Miriam, Barnabus, Lisa and Odo laughed heartily.
"Oh you can count on us, cousin." Lisa said to her.
"If you need to, one of you are welcome to stay in my smial if it means she stays out. I will give you the key."
"We can stay there. We'll make sure your house is safe and clean." Barnabus told her, Miriam agreeing.
"Thank you, I'll have Hamfast give it to you. Which reminds me, we must be going so that I can speak to him about maintaining my garden. And then afterwards, we must see grandfather." Bella said standing. The other five hobbits led Bella and Thorin out, saying their farewell to Bella and Thorin, saying it was lovely to meet Thorin and wishing them luck on their quest.
Stepping out of the smial, Bella and Thorin were greeted at the sight of Feydra rolling on her back in the grass and the children following along, laughter and giggles filling the group as well as chuffing from Feydra. Bella and Thorin smiled at the children as Lisa and Miriam stepped out to call them in.
"Children, it's time to come inside, say goodbye to Bella, Mister Thorin, and Feydra!" Lisa shouted out. A collection of grumbles of disappointment was heard throughout the children, but they relented. The children hugged Feydra goodbye as well as gave farewell kissed to Bella, and bowing to Thorin who returned the gesture with a smile.
Waving bye to the hobbits and their children, Bella and Thorin began the walk to Took Land, still smiling.
"Sorry about all that excitement. I had no idea more of my family would be at Drogo's home." Bella said to him.
"It is quite alright, Bella." Thorin said, still smiling as he remembered each of the smiling children's faces. "It was lovely to meet your family." He said to her, causing her to smile wider.
The walk to Took Land was made in comfortable silence, both deep in thought. Bella's thought were about how much she loved her family and how she would miss them on her journey. Thorin's thoughts wandered to whether he would have a pebble or two with Bella if she accepted him, and whether his and Bella's child would look like them. He shook the thought from his mind as it was too early to be thinking about such things, they hadn't even talked about a courtship, let alone children.
After finally making it to Took Land, Thorin could see how different it was to Hobbiton. Yes there were children running about and playing, but instead of playing with kites and wagons, these children had wooden swords and their own little helms. There was even a father and a son practicing archery a little ways away. And in another part of the area, there was a hobbit man teaching a group of fauntlings how to braid a net.
Bella led him over to large hobbit hole with hobbits going in and out.
"This is the Great Hall of Tookborough, this is where my grandfather usually is during the day handling business affairs. Follow me, I know exactly where he would be." Bella led him into the Great Hall, they passed by hobbits who greeted Bella with a simple "Hello Bella!"
Finally coming into an open doorway, Bella led him to it and Thorin peered in to see that it was an office and there sat a old hobbit at the desk, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose as he peered over whatever he needed to read, a writing wail in his hand.
"Grandfather!" Bella exclaimed to him. The older hobbit looked up and smiled brightly, standing up and walking around the desk.
"Oh Bella! My dear!" He said jovially and gather her into a hug. Thorin smiled at the display and gave them a moment to embrace. "Oh my dear, do visit an old man more often." He teased her, pouting lightly.
"Grandfather, I just visited you last week." She replied laughing.
"Oh, you got me." The laughed together and hugged once again. The Thain noticed Thorin behind her and pulled back. "And it seems you have company." Thorin stepped forward and bowed to him with his hand on his heart.
"Thorin Oakenshield, at your service, Lord Thain." He greeted him regally.
"Ooh! Lord Thain," he said to Bella, nudging her. "I like the sound of that." Bella laughed and shook her head at her grandfathers antics. "Gerontius Took, at your service, Master Oakenshield. You may call me Old Took." He said to him. "And how do you, Master Dwarf, know my beloved granddaughter, may I ask?" He raised an eyebrow.
"He is a fried of Gandalf the Grey, grandfather, and-" She paused, beginning to blush and smiled at Thorin brightly. "He is my Heart Song." At this Old Took let out a hearty laugh and smiled.
"Well, bless me, this is marvelous news!" He stepped up to Thorin and shook his hand. "Welcome to the family, Master Oakenshield."
"Thank you, Old Took. And if I am to call you Old Took, may I insist you call me Thorin." He told him, grateful that none of Bella's family showed any negative thoughts to him. He worried that their different races would complicate things for Bella. That was not the case thankfully.
"Well Thorin, I trust you will treat my granddaughter respectfully?" He asked him.
"Old Took, I have only just met her yesterday night and already she is more precious to me than any jewel in the world." Thorin said, looking at Bella, causing her breath to catch in her throat as she saw in his eyes that he meant every word.
"Good, good. Because she means just the same to me." Old Took said, smiling as he took Bella's hand in his own and smiled. "Now, what brings my granddaughter and her Heart Song to this old hobbit?"
"Gandalf the Grey and I have asked Bella to join in our quest. She signed a contract last night offering her services and is now a valuable member of my company." Thorin told him honestly. Old Took raised an eyebrow at this.
"An adventure of your own, Bella. How exciting! And am I permitted to know what this quest is for?" Old Took asked. Bella turned to Thorin with a questioning gaze, not knowing if he would tell him. Dwarves are after all a secretive race.
"Yes sir. Myself, Gandalf, and my company with Bella are setting off to reclaim my homeland of Erebor." Said Thorin.
"Ah, the Lonely Mountain. Yes, I have heard the tales." Old Took said, stroking his chin in thought as he moved to sit back down at his desk. Bella and Thorin sat at the chairs before the desk. "And I have also heard the tales of Smaug." He paused looking at Thorin. "What is Bella's role in this quest?"
"She is to be our burglar. Her role is to sneak into the mountain to find what is called the Arkenstone, the Kings jewel. It is the birth right of my people and bloodline. Once Bella's finds it and I have it in my possession, the dwarves of the Iron Hills and the Blue Mountains will recognize me formally as king and aid me in defeating the dragon once and for all."
"So Bella is to sneak past a dragon to find a jewel." Old Took said in thought.
"I can do it, grandfather." Bella said determined.
"I do not doubt that, my dear. But will you risk waking the dragon?" Old Took asked.
"I will not wake him." Bella declared. "I will find the Arkenstone and help the dwarves reclaim their home." Thorin turned to her as she said this, and a warmth erupted in his heart at her words.
Old Took smiled at her determination. Standing up, he went to stand before Bella who stood up as well. Placing his hands on his shoulder, he looked into her eyes.
"You are so like your mother." He said to her. Old Took proceeded to hug Bella to him, knowing that he will miss his granddaughter dearly on his quest.
They conversed more about what else the quest will entail as well as about Feydra's place in it too, after all wherever Bella goes, Feydra goes too. Suddenly, Old Took hopped up from his seat.
"Ah, before I forget. You'll need these for your quest." He led them to his book case where he opened a cabinet beside it. He pulled out a large case and set it down on a nearby table. Opening it revealed a set of daggers as well as a bow and quiver of arrows. The daggers had been forged with care, not only were they elegant looking, but Thorin could tell just by looking at them that they were perfectly balanced. And the bow was also carved beautifully, wrapped leather for the had rest.
"Mother's bow." Bella said reverently. Tears began to form in her eyes. "I thought it lost in the Fell Winter."
Old Took lifted it out of the case and handed it to her, Bella held in in her hands gently. Her fingers wrapped around it and she shut her eyes, remembering when her mother would teach her to shoot arrows with this very bow.
"She would have wanted you to have it, and with you going on a quest you will definitely be needing it." Old Took said to her. "I trust there is someone in the company who will help her hone this skill." He inquired to Thorin.
Thorin nodded his head, "Indeed, my nephew is proficient in archery and will teach her." Old Took nodded at this, satisfied with his answer.
"When do you leave?" He asked them.
"Tomorrow morning. We make for Bree first and then head off." Bella told him, having discussed part of the journey with Thorin and Balin during breakfast.
"Then may the Green Mother watch over you on your journey. I wish you both luck." Old Took hugged Bella once again, neither of them able to hold back the few tears that fell. He shook Thorin's hand once again. "Watch over her for me."
"With my life, Old Took, I promise."
After bidding Old Took farewell, they proceeded on their final errand of meeting with Hamfast Gamgee and then headed back to Bag End to prepare for their journey in the morning.
