Chapter Text
Anna curled around her armchair, engrossed in reading her favorite book, with one of her feet resting on top of the metal rail that keeps her carpeted floor safe from the coals of her fireplace. The flames tickling the soles of her feet but not really bothering her, though a stranger would say otherwise and would even try to drag her back thinking that the flames were hurting her. But it wasn’t.
She never knew the pain of burning or any pain at all, not as other hobbits or any creature do. Once, when she was a child, and oh what a curious child she’d been, she hovered her hand on top of the torch that illuminated the rooms in their home. Frowning when she wasn’t feeling anything, she lowered her hand even more ‘til her skin came in contact with the flame, but it didn’t hurt her. She just stared in fascination as the skin the flame connected to became covered in black soot. She stayed like that, just watching the flame dance beneath her hand, until she heard a scream and her hand was snatched away by her mother’s hand.
Oh how furious her mother’s been with her that day that she took down all the torches and ranted to her husband to build another way to light their home. She chuckled at the memory as she closed her book and stood to make herself some tea, passing by the lamps her father made to keep her mother from worrying about the safety of their child. She felt a pang in her chest as she thought about them, she tried not to dwell on sad thoughts but it’s hard. Everything reminded her of them. She may not feel physical pain but this pain she knew all too well.
She sat outside, having done her tea, and gazed at the rising sun, closing her eyes and smiling as it’s first rays touched her face. She sighed in content as she felt the sun’s warmth on her face.
Then all of a sudden the warmth was gone, she scrunched her face in confusion and opened her eyes.
There, in front of her, stood an old and tall man with long grey beard holding a wooden staff, wearing grey robes and a pointy hat. He looked at her with kind eyes and a warm smile as if he knew her, even though she doesn’t. Or does she just not remember?
“Good morning?” Anna greeted the strange old man.
“What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or, perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning, or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?”
Anna blinked, not really knowing what to answer to that. “All of them at once, I suppose?”
The old man looked at her in disapproval. Something in that look jolted her memory then she remembered the stranger in front of her. All her previous suspicions fall away as she recognized the face of her mother’s dear friend.
“Gandalf! Oh how lovely it is to see you again. Though, I’m afraid mother’s not here to give you your package of pipe-weeds since she’s... gone.” Anna looked down, feeling the weight of her emotions press down on her again.
“I’ve heard about Belladonna’s passing. I am sorry I wasn’t there to properly say goodbye,” he answered softly, grief flashing in his eyes. “But I did not come here to dig up sad memories Annabella Baggins, I came here in search of creating new and happy ones at best. I’m looking for someone to share in an adventure!”
“You-you don’t mean me, do you?” Anna squeaked, eyes going wide.
“Why of course I am asking you, my dear Anna. Who else would be better suited for the journey than none other than Belladonna Took’s own daughter,” he smiled at her warmly. “And I do remember your mother’s tales of how her daughter loved to run around the forest and explore, much like she had when she was young.”
Anna frowned. “But I haven’t done that since I was a child, and besides who would look after the house if I’m not here. I’m afraid my cousin Lobelia would truly take my silver spoons if I’m not there to protect it.”
Disappointment once again flashed in Gandalf’s eyes as he frowned at the hobbit who’s clearly making up excuses not to go. “I am not asking you to agree right away, but to merely lend an ear. I think it would do you some good to exercise some change in your life.”
“I-I’ll think about it,” Anna answered while getting up, her voice a little strained. It satiated the wizard though, enough to stand up straight and smile brightly at her, the disappointment suddenly wiped away from his face.
“Well then, I’m off for now, my dear Anna,” he tipped his pointy hat at her and walked away, but not before turning back around. “Oh and would you kindly prepare some food for our companions. I’m afraid that they are starved from their journey to get here.”
Her eyes widened once again, as she sputtered. “Co-companions?! But… but…”
When she looked up the wizard was gone. Oh confound it all! She didn’t even know how many of these ‘companions’ Gandalf talked about. It made her furious but giddy at the same time.
It was a long time since she felt the rush of adventure. How fond she was of her time in the forest near her home, even though she never really travelled far she still remembered the joy she had just running and jumping over the trees, the joy of finding lost treasures (mostly some weird shaped rocks and sticks, but treasure nonetheless for her), and the way her heart raced at the thought of encountering all manner of creatures on her way. She also remembered fondly how happy her mother’s been whenever she’d come home with another strange bauble from the forest, and how her father would display each one on the shelf he made just for her treasures.
How she longed to have them again, to see their smiling faces as she brings back what manner of treasure she’d find if she said yes to Gandalf’s adventure. It made her smile sadly as she stepped inside her home once again.
But there’s no use dwelling on painful memories. She had food to prepare, and she knew that her parents may not be here but she would be sure to make her guests feel the warmth and hospitality her parents would give them if they were.
***
She hummed quietly as she cooked a handful of sausages, her mind at ease with the knowledge of having guests. Hours pass by and by the time she hears the first knock on her door she’d prepared at least a banquet that’ll feed almost a whole village. She’d also arranged her dining room to accommodate more than ten people, with some extra chairs on the corner if there’s more.
She wiped her hands from her apron and headed to her front door, opening it. In front of stood a tall, bald, and muscular dwarf with strange tattoos on his head. He bowed as he saw her.
“Dwalin, at your service.”
Not expecting a dwarf of all people to knock on her door, she thought it would be Men since Gandalf’s one. But it appears she was wrong… and took too long at staring as she heard an impatient cough from the dwarf.
“Oh, sorry!” She squeaked. “Annabella Baggins, at yours.”
He walked past her, coming inside and looking around. “Which way, laddie? Is it down here?”
Anna scrunched her eyebrows together. Did he just call her laddie?!
“Is what down where?”
The dwarf took off his coat and tossed it at her, making her squeak again at almost falling down because of the large coat that suddenly tackled her head. She sputtered indignantly as she quickly yanked the coat off her face and wrapped it around her arms.
“That was incredibly rude, master dwarf,” she harrumphed but it seemed that the dwarf already left her to find what he’s looking for. She rolled her eyes and followed his loud footsteps.
“Ah, here it is, supper!” The dwarf, Dwalin, didn’t even hesitate to ask for permission to eat the food, he just started right away. Sitting down heavily on one of the chairs, grabbing a large piece of ham, and ripping straight to it.
Anna sighed, hanging the dwarfs coat on her coat hangers then proceeded to sit down on the chairs at the side, knowing that the dwarf wasn’t exactly keen on talking seeing as he’s gobbing up a ton of food. She grabbed a piece of bread and watched Dwalin eat as she waited for Gandalf or another party member to arrive.
True to her word, another knock deigned her door and she went and opened it to be greeted by an older dwarf with white hair and beard. He gave her a low bow, “Balin, at your service.”
“Good evening,” Anna smiled though a bit strained.
“Yes, yes, it is. Though, I think it might rain later. Am I late?”
“Late for what?” But it seemed that her question wouldn’t get an answer as Balin got a look at her first guest.
“Oh! Evening brother!”
A large smile graced Dwalin’s face, making him look more friendly than when she first met him. “By my beard, you are shorter and wider than last we met,” Dwalin regarded his older brother as he approached him.
“Wider, not shorter. But sharp enough for the both of us.”
The two shared a chuckle, then Anna hears a loud SMACK as the two headbutted each other, then laughing again as they head to the dining room once more to continue eating. By Aulë dwarves really were quite rambunctious aren’t they! Anna thought as she followed the two.
Not a moment later there were knocks on her door for the third time. She groaned and opened the door again . This time two young looking dwarves greeted her. One with long blond hair and a short beard with two small braids on two ends, and the other one with long black hair and an equally short beard without braids.
“Fili,” the blond one speaks.
“And Kili,” then the dark haired one.
Both dipped low and gave her a bow. “At your service.”
“You must be Mr. Boggins!” Kili started.
Anna rolled her eyes, and internally groaned as frustration started to settle in her face. “Ugh, just come in. Food’s there.” She points to where the two other dwarves were eating and laughing quite loudly.
The two dwarves pushed their way in without so much as a thank you, and dumping their swords into Anna’s hands. “Careful with these. We just had them sharpened,” the blond one spoke.
She felt her blood boil at the rudeness of these dwarves. But instead of lashing out, she closed her eyes and counted to ten. Like her mother taught her.
“Remember Anna, whenever you’re feeling angry just close your eyes and count to ten,” her mother smiled at her, while stroking her silver hair. “No use in letting them get to you. Plus, let me tell you a secret,” her mother leaned closer, her smile getting wider. “It bothers them when their words don’t affect you. Now, remember my advice and sooner than later they’ll be the ones that’ll be fuming in anger.”
Anna sighed, the last of her frustrations seemingly gone for the time being.
But then the dark haired dwarf scraped his boots on the edge of her mother’s glory box, making her eye twitch. No, no. She thought, chastising herself. They’ll be gone the sooner this meeting’s over. Just have to clean that up later.
“Fili, Kili, come on, food’s right here!” Dwalin enters the hallway and beckons Fili and Kili forward.
“Mr. Dwalin!” Kili exclaimed, looking genuinely happy to see the muscular dwarf. Guess this is the first time they saw each other since a long time.
The two brothers followed Dwalin into the dining room, Anna silently trailing behind them. They both grabbed themselves a chair and also started to dig in. Cheerful chatter engulfs the room as they catch up with one another while drinking some of Anna’s wine and chowing down on her food.
“Uh, how many are we still expecting?” Anna decided to ask when the chatter died down a bit.
Balin wiped his beard from the grease of the ham. “Not many.”
But the doorbell ringing for the fourth time gave her another answer. She grumbled when she got up and answered it again. And eight dwarves came tumbling down in front of her, with Gandalf standing behind them looking a bit sheepish. At least he had the decency to look sheepish.
“Gandalf.” She sighed when she saw him.
The other eight scrambled to get up and went straight inside without even an introduction.
“Is this the company you spoke of? ‘Cause the lot are truly and confoundingly rude!” She hissed at him, feeling the warmth in her chest blossom. She was truly and literally exhaling smoke from her nose.
“Calm yourself, Master Baggins. And a word of advice,” Gandalf whispered the last part as he stepped inside her home. “You would do well to hide your ‘other part’ to the party. I’m afraid they don’t mix well with drakes, especially with their history with one in particular.”
“So I am to hide my true nature, while also hiding the fact that I’m a girl,” Anna raised her eyebrows at that. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that they call me ‘laddie’ or ‘Mr’ as if I look the part!”
Gandalf smiled ruefully. “I forgot how quick witted you are,” he chuckled. “It’ll be for the best if they think you are male. I’m afraid their stubborn nature wouldn’t permit them to conscript a woman in their quest.”
“You don’t even know if I’ll agree to it,” Anna huffed, but Gandalf just chuckled at her once again, his eyes sparkling.
A while later, after sitting down and continuing in eating her piece of bread with Gandalf sitting beside, she learned the names of the eight dwarves from him. There was Oin, the dwarf holding some ear horn (from what it looks like); Gloin, his younger brother; Dori, the dwarf with short white hair full of intricate braids and an equally short beard; Nori, the one with the star shaped hair; Ori, their younger brother; Bifur, the strange dwarf with the axe embedded in his head who had trouble speaking Westron; Bofur, the dwarf who’s always in a cheery mood; and Bombur, their rotund brother who had a strange liking to Anna’s wheels of cheese. How he’ll manage to eat that is beyond me. She thought.
“We appear to be one dwarf short,” Gandalf as he finished counting them down.
“He is late, is all. He travelled North to a meeting of our kin. He will come,” Dwalin answered him gruffly, just as Dori approaches Gandalf, glass of wine in hand.
“As you requested, a glass of red wine. It’s got a fruity bouquet.”
“Ah, cheers.” And he downed the glass in one gulp.
The festivities went on as the dwarves helped themselves to what Anna prepared and when the food wasn’t enough they took to raiding her pantry. She sat by Gandalf not daring to move, or risk having a beat down with the dwarves as they empty her rations for the winter. So she ended up grumbling in her spot as she watched them laughing merrily as Bofur tosses a bread to Bombur and he catches it with his mouth.
“My dear Anna, what on earth is the matter?” Gandalf looked at her with concern.
“What’s the matter? I am surrounded by dwarves!” She hissed lowly, while massaging her temples. “What are they even doing here?”
They watch as Kili and Fili had an impromptu tug of war with one of her chained sausages. “They’re quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them.”
“I just want them to leave,” she groaned. “They’re making such a mess, it’ll be weeks since I scrub out any traces of red wine on my carpets. They’ve pillaged the pantry, and I’m not even going to tell you what they’ve done to the bathroom, they’ve all but destroyed the plumbing!”
Suddenly, a tap on Anna’s shoulder made her whip her head around, her eyes blazing at the interruption. Ori’s eyes widen at her look. “I-I’m sorry, I ha-hate to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?”
Anna’s eyes soften. “Oh! I’m sorry, I’ll take care of it.”
Ori was just about to hand the plate to her but a hand quickly snatched the plate from his hand. “Nonsense, we are the guests, we’ll clean after ourselves,” Fili says as he tosses the plate to his brother.
Anna watched, horrified, as her precious dishes and utensils were thrown from dwarf to dwarf. Then she hears a rhythmic drumming on the other room making her shove past Ori and back into the dining room where Oin and Bofur were drumming on the table with her utensils. Her utensils!
“Could you please not do that? You’ll blunt them!”
“Oooh, you hear that, lads? He says we’ll blunt the knives,” Bofur smirked.
Suddenly, Kili started singing, in beat with the bagning utensils. Then, every dwarf started to follow along, some even used her things to use as a makeshift instrument. Anna rushed around her house following the flying dishes and utensils, making sure that they won’t smash or break, until she came back to the dining room where every dish and every utensils where stacked neatly on top of the table, all of them sparkly clean and not a single scratch on them. The party circled around the table, laughing merrily while she leaned on the wall and sighed in relief. At least she won’t need to repair anything from her kitchen, just the bathroom.
A loud booming knock breaks the party’s merriment. Anna noticed how everyone suddenly became quiet, their previous joyous faces were a bit strained and wary.
“He is here.”