Chapter Two: A Long Awaited Meeting

Two Years Later...

I was in an open field as I was training Bilbo with two wooden swords, at the moment I was teaching him swordplay like in Jedi lightsaber training. I could sense the amount of eyes on us as I swung the wooden blades with ease and Bilbo countered against my attack, as if I had been doing this my whole life instead of the past two years. I had forged many good friendships with the Shire-folk but the strongest friendship I forged was that with Bilbo Baggins.

We bonded over tending to the garden, literature and during my training practice where I would have him always assist me in various moves that I made sure he ended up learning. Thanks to all the training Bilbo was a decent swordsman, though not nearly enough as I would like but still enough to hold his own in a hunt/fight. And this also helped him gain more muscles than the any of the other male hobbit, which in turn also had him catch the eyes of several young single hobbit ladies and had them swooning.

During these last two years, I have settled into the Shire very well and I have become a valued member of the Shire community. I began working multiple types of jobs: Healer, teacher, blacksmith, farmhand, barmaid and hunter. My work changes depending on the seasons and situation.

In the spring and summer, I use both my skills and magic to work as a farm-hand as well as barmaid and blacksmith. On farms, I work in helping farmers with their crops and livestock. In the forge, I repair many farming tools and kitchen pots and pans for many hobbit wives as well as made a few little trinkets to sell at the market. And in the evenings, I would spend a few of hours at The Green Dragon waiting on tables and serving drinks as a barmaid.

During the fall, I work mostly as a hunter. Hunting for all kinds of wild meat to preserve for the winter, I would even make all kinds of meat jerky of some of my kills during hunts. I often sold the furs or hides to the local leather workshop.

I worked as a teacher for the little hobbits during the spring, summer and fall seasons, teaching more advance reading/writing/maths and basic hand crafts to occupy them during the winter.

During the winter, I worked more as a healer than anything else, I took the time to teach a few of the hobbit women a few healing treatments they could do themselves, as I have told them that I didn't plan to stay in the Shire forever. I even taught them a few preserving recipes I remembered in my past that they and their families ended up loving for the winter months. I also taught them a few other recipes that were big hits in my world that were quick and simple enough for larger hobbit families to make in large portions.

I even became stronger and more skills in my magic, after spending the last two years recalling ever spell/ritual/item/potion from every movie/tv show/anime I could recall. But thanks to the fact that my IPad was still working and (somehow) connected to my world's internet, I was able to research even more. I even managed to replicate a lot of magical items that I believed would be beneficially for my future.

I had many friends and lived contently, but I also knew that tonight was the day that Gandalf and the company would arrive to recruit Bilbo. I remembered seeing Bilbo so startled yesterday after a visit from Gandalf and knowing what I did I took that time to tell Bilbo the truth.

Flashback:

One Week Ago...

I was getting ready to go out and train before I heard the front door open and closed just as fast, I got up and walked down the hallways before seeing Bilbo leaning over to look out of the window in the parlour room.

"Bilbo?" I approached and tapped his shoulder causing him to jolt and spin around before looking at me in shock. "Woah, calm down. What's got you so spooked all of a sudden?" I asked as I held me hands up in a surrender position.

"It's nothing." Bilbo said as he walked over to his chair, I then walked over and stood over him while looking down at him with my arms crossed and a disapproving look on my face.

"Bilbo, I know you're lying to me. Don't make me use my magic to extract the truth from you... again." I said as I raised one of my hands, and seconds later a orb of magical light appeared in hand.

"Alright fine." Bilbo said after a few mintues, remembering the last time he tried to keep a secret from me. "Do you remember all those stories about a grey wizard that used to bring the most excellent fireworks?"

"The same one Old Took used to have on Midsummer's Eve? Yeah, I remember."

"Well, he just showed up at the gate and said he was looking for someone to share in an adventure."

I then realised what was going on, the time has come for my mission to begin. Not realising that my facial expression had changed to a more worried expression, Bilbo could tell that I was worried about something.

"Amara? What's wrong?" Bilbo asked.

I looked down at the kind hobbit that had sheltered me for the last two years, I had spent the last two years lying to him just to wait for the right moment to tell him the truth. I sighed as I then looked at Bilbo and said. "Bilbo... there's something I have to tell you."

I sat down by the fireplace and began to explain to Bilbo.

How I was from a different world... how I was chosen by Yavanna and Aule to be their champion and was given a mission... how I came to have my powers and about how my immortality works... everything. I even told him about this quest, but I didn't go into full detail about every little choice that is made as that would alter the events too much, it could even stop Bilbo from going on this quest or even surviving it.

Once I was done, I sat in silence as I watched Bilbo slowly processing all the information he had just received. I was nervous as I watched Bilbo lean forward and placed his hands, he looked so confused and overwhelmed by the sudden situation that he now found himself in.

"So all this time... you were waiting for this to happen?" Bilbo asked with a sigh in his voice.

It broke my heart to see him for confused, and it was all because I wasn't honest to him in the beginning. "Yes, I am sorry for lying to you but I couldn't tell you about my mission until the time came." I bowed my head in an apology.

"And you're saying that I am destined to go off on an adventure to help these dwarves reclaim their home from a dragon?" Bilbo asked, I nodded as a sign of confirmation before Bilbo then asked. "Will I come back alive from this adventure?" I nodded again.

"Yes you will, and you'll have so many tales to tell when you do and many strong friendships that will be with you for the rest of your days. It's actually the reason why I have had you train with me in swordplay and such since I arrived here, I wanted you prepare you for what you will face on this journey."

I watched as Bilbo looked over at the fireplace, his eyes seemed deep in thought. I knew that he was thinking about his choices: Whether he was willing to go on this journey or not and if it was really worth it or not. I sat quietly in my seat as I watch him, feeling so nervous on what his answer would be.

Even though I was here to change the fate of Thorin and his nephews, I was never told to prevent Bilbo from going on the journey in the first place or alter the future (In 60 years or so from now) too much that the fellowship would never come to be.

I looked over at Bilbo as he sat up and sighed before turning to look at me. "Would it be possible for you to give me a bit more training until they arrive?" Bilbo asked before he then explained the reason behind his request. "I want to be able to do my part for the company."

To say that I was over the moon would be an understatement, I had half expect him to ask me to leave or tell me that he would solidly refuse the very notion of going on such a dangerous journey that would lead him so far away from the Shire. A part of the world that was all that he knew and loved ever so much.

"Promise you won't complain about it, like you did when I first started training you?" I asked teasingly as I stared at him with doubt.

"Promise." Bilbo replied with a chuckle in his voice.

"Well then..." I stood up and pulled out two wooden swords from my item box before tossing one to Bilbo, whom caught it rather clumsily before looking up at me. "Let's get started." I smiled down at the awed hobbit...

End of Flashback

And here we are now, I swiftly swung my training sword in many aggressive attacks at my Hobbit opponent who was blocking all of my attacks quite well.

"Come on Bilbo, counter." I said as I swung my wooden blade towards Bilbo, who dodged the attack before swiftly move to attack. However, I soon had the tip of my wooden blade at his throat, causing Bilbo to freeze in his tracks.

I lowered the blade, finishing our training for the day after a good six hours. My body has changed over the two years, gone was the slightly chubby nerdy girl with a pixie cut and here stands a toned athletic swordswoman/mage with long dark red waves put up in a messy bun. Even now I didn't recognise myself from my previous look, I was more confident and capable than I ever was in my world.

"That's it for today, Bilbo." I panted as Bilbo fell to the ground with a groan, chuckling I pulled out two energy potions from my item box and handed one to Bilbo.

Bilbo sat up as he took the potion from me and pulled off the cork. "I almost had you that time." He said panting before chugging down the potion, Bilbo then gasped as he handed the empty bottle back to me as I finished my potion.

"Not even close, but you have gotten a lot better in your training." I said with a laugh while slipping the two empty bottles back into my item box, looking down at the state of the two of us I smiled. "Hold on a sec." I raised my hand with a quick wave, all the sweat and grime of out training session had vanished and we looked like we were fresh and clean as if from a bath.

Bilbo looked down and chuckled as he returned his gaze to me. "I'll never get used to you doing that."

I giggled as I knew that my magic was still able to surprise him even after two years, as it did with many other Shire-folk who are not used to seeing such raw power on a somewhat daily basis.

As I looked up at the sky I saw that it was nearing dusk and both Bilbo and I knew that tonight the company would arrive tonight for supper. "We better get back to Bag-End and begin cooking supper for our guest." I said as I packed the two wooden training swords into my item box, Bilbo nodded as we both walked back to Bag-End. Talking about what meals we needed to cook and how much of them.

000

After four hours of cooking non-stop with Bilbo, preparing the dining room table for the company and a quick meal for ourselves, it was finally dark outside and I knew that it was nearing supper-time which was when I knew the company would arrive. I turned to Bilbo as we cleaned the final dirty dish in the kitchen after our meal, I had placed a time-bubble around the dining room table to keep the food nice and fresh until it is eaten.

Most of the food that was cooked I had used a new skill that I had seen in an anime before I died in my world called: Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skills, the skill I gained was the Online Grocer skill but unlike the anime I could only use it for a short period of time before it disappeared forever. I used the online grocer to buy and stock up on all the things that I wouldn't get here, and when the online grocer was gone I figured out how to replicate everything using magic.

Thanks to this I would never run out of anything that I bought.

Ding Ding Ding

I turned to look through the parlour room to the front door, I then turned to looked at Bilbo who looked like he was as nervous as I was and didn't know what to do.

"That'll be Dwalin. Remember what I told you." I said calmly, Bilbo took a deep breath and made his way to the door and I made my way to the dining room to check on everything. After a few minutes I turned around to be greeted by the lurking figure of Dwalin, and to me he was even more intimidating than Peter Jackson portrait in his movies.

"Dwalin, at your service." Dwalin said as he bowed low, I quickly snapped out of my stupour and bowed slightly with one over my heart.

"Amara Harvelle, at yours and your family's, Master Dwalin." I greeted before standing up straight and motioned to the dining room. "Please help yourself, there's plenty."

Dwalin then walked passed me with his usual glare and sat at the table, looking over the feast before him in awe. I recall hearing that life was hard for the dwarves after Smaug took Erebor and drove the dwarves out into the wilderness.

I walked up and asked. "Ale, mead or wine?"

"Ale, please." Dwalin grumbled but I could hear him. I poured him a mug of ale and placed it next to his meal as he began scarffing down on my cooking, I could see the pleasure hiding in his murderous glare. Bilbo stood by the hallway before...

Ding Ding Ding

The sound of the doorbell ring once again, I turned to look at Bilbo as he nodded his head in a silent agreement, "Please excuse me." Bilbo said and made his way to the door once again. I smiled as I pinched a few bites of the served food before Bilbo returned to the dining room with Balin.

Balin entered the dining room and saw me before introducing himself. "Balin, at your service."

"Amara Harvelle, at yours." I greeted him back before motioning to the table and Dwalin. "Please join us."

"Thank you." Balin then turned and noticed his brother. "Evening brother."

'Youch, I'm getting a headache just watching them do that.' I thought as Bilbo returned with two more dwarves that I recognised as Thorin's nephews: Fili and Kili, two of the people I was sent here to save.

"Young Master Dwarves, please take a seat and help yourselves to food and drink."

With that, Fili and Kili took their seast and began to help themselves to the food and drink before the sound of the doorbell once again reached both mine and Bilbo's ears. I turned to Bilbo and nodded once more before he left to answer the door.

An hour later we had almost the entire company save for Thorin sitting in the dining room and feasting away, I smiled as I remembered seeing this scene in the movie and how happy and carefree they are now would not last long as we venture through Middle-Earth towards Erebor and face all those harsh trials and tribulations.

I turned and made my way to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea, soon enough Bilbo joined me as soon as the kettle had finished boiling.

"This is going much better than you thought, huh Bilbo?" I asked as I dished out two steaming tea cups on the kitchen table.

"All thanks to you, Amara. I don't think I would have my sanity intact if you weren't here." Bilbo sighed as he took the tea I offered and took a sip.

I giggled to myself as I mumbled. "So true." We sat in peace for a soild ten minutes before we could hear the sound of the dwarves having a belching contest which ends in cheers and laughter.

Soon enough the dwarves began to pile on through the kitchen before Gandalf then approached asking. "My dear Bilbo, might I enquire as to who this young lady may be?" He turned his gaze to me, I could feel the powerful magical energy eminating from this man but it was much different to my own.

"I'm Amara Harvelle, at your service Gandalf the Grey." I greeted with a short bow of my head before Bilbo had a chance to speak, I refuse to curtsy as I veiwed myself as warrior and not a lady. "It is an honour to meet the one the Shire-folks talk so fondly of his fireworks." I smiled sweetly, putting on my naive helpless village girl act.

"And if you don't mind my asking, Miss Harvelle. How did you come to be here in the Shire?" Gandalf asked, looking at me with a look that was a combination of curiosity and caution, as if he were not sure what to make of me.

I sighed as I remembered the story I had told Bilbo at first, and began to explain. "I ran away from home when I was 16, because I feared for my life. Bilbo found me when I passed out from exhaustion and hunger, and he brought me here where he offered to take care of me until I came of-age."

I turned to Bilbo who was standing near us, him looking my way with a brother-ly smile as I turned back to look at the elderly wizard. Whom looked a bit confused, not that I would blame him if I was in his shoes.

"And how long ago was this?"

"Two years ago." Bilbo answered before one of the dwarves, Ori, approached our little group while holding his plate in his hand.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?"

I smiled as I couldn't help but see how adorable Ori was, "Leave it to me, Master Ori." I said as I raised my hand and then snapped my fingers before all the dishes began to the fly out of the dining room and into the kitchen. Where the sink was already filled with hot bubbly water, I focused as I used both water and wind magic to clean the dishes before stacking them back in the cabinet where they all belonged safely.

I turned to see Bilbo smile happily as he was glad his mother's 100-year-old dishes were safe and cleaned without any problems, the dwarves and Gandalf on the other hand were stunned as they watched me.

"You're a witch!?" Dwalin snarled angrily as he glared at me with hate and distrust in his eyes.

"I actually use the term 'Mage', which is refers to all magic users regardless of gender. But yes, I am a magic-user and a rather powerful one too so I've been told. It's also the reason why I left my home." I explained before bowing my head in sadness as Bilbo ran to hug me like a protective older brother that I have come so view him as.

I turned back to the dwarves as they were all gathered in the kitchen to listen.

"What do mean by that, Lass?" Bofur asked me in curiosity as all the dwarves were just as curious, I was about to answer his question when suddenly...

BANG BANG BANG

The whole room went quiet as everyone's gaze turned to the direction of the knocks, everyone knew who it was as Gandalf then said in the husky old voice:

"He is here."