There and Back Again: An Entirely Different Story

Chapter Three

A/N: THE WORDS IN ITALICS ARE KHUZDUL.

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The next day, Ruby spent the entire morning cleaning Bag End. She diligently swept the floor, cleaned the windows, washed the dishes, polished the silverware and organized the furniture.

By the time she was done, the hobbit-hole was spotless. When noon came, she ate a well-awaited lunch, for she only had breakfast this morning.

After Ruby ate, she proceeded to cook dinner for tonight. She slaved away for five hours. She stuffed the turkey, mixed the sauce, sautéd the the vegetables with beef, made stew and baked many desserts. Once she put the poultry in the oven, she looked out the window.

It was nearing sunset. Ruby rushed to clean the dishes once more and waited foe the poultry to cook.

Once all the chores were done, she went to her room to changr clothes and look presentable. A few minutes later, she.heard the doorbell ring. Bilba rushed to get the door, expecting Gandalf.

Instead, she saw Othello. Ruby mentally groaned and said, "What are you doing here, Othello?"

"I think I have the right to walk into my house without being questioned." He replied in a snobby voice.

"Othello, I have guests coming and the last time I checked, you're not invited."

"And who are these guests?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"It's none of you're business!"

"I MADE THIS MY BUSINESS! THIS HOUSE WILL BE MINE AND YOU WILL ANSWER MY QUESTION!"

"FOR THE LAST TIME, WE ARE NOT MARRIED YET, NOR DO I WANT TO BE! NOW GET OUT OF MY HOME!"

SMACK!

Ruby held her stinging cheek, where Othello had slapped her. Too shocked to move, Ruby just stood there, forgetting every single thing her Mother has taught her about defense.

Othello took advantage of this and pinned her against the door.

"You will follow my orders, you little disobeying female. Maybe I should teach you some manners!"

Othello raised his fist and punched Ruby in the face. He landed the blow on the cheek that was already red from his slap. He raised his fist to repeat the gesture, but suddenly, he was lifted to the air by his collar.

Ruby looked at her savior and stifled a gasp. He looked like a warrior dwarf, just like what her mother used to tell her about her adventures.

"Are you alright, lass?" The dwarf asked.

Not entirely recovering from her shock, Ruby accidentally slipped into Khuzdul. "I'm fine, not much damage done."

The dwarf looked at her, surprised. He rose an eyebrow at her before turning back to the terrified hobbit in his hands.

"Not very tough now that you've found someone your own size, aren't you?" He growled. "Don't you dare even THINK about doing that again, or you'll regret it. Understood?"

Othello stiffly nodded. The dwarf loosened his grip on him and dropped him on the ground.

Othello quickly got up, and ran as fast as he could.

  The dwarf turned to Ruby. "You're the burglar, I presume?"

  "Yes, I am." She replied, almost recovering from her shock.

"The wizard never told us you can speak our language."

This seemed to snap her out of her reverie.

"Where are my manners? Please come in." She said to dwarf, closing the door behind them. "Thank you, by the way. What's your name?"

"Oh!" The dwarf bowed at her. "Dwalin, at your service."

"Ruby Baggins, at yours." She replied. "Where are the others?"

Before Dwalin could reply, another ring was heard at the door.

"I'll get it! Excuse me, Master Dwalin." Ruby said. She rushed off to open the door yet again.

"Balin, at your service!" The kindly dwarf greeted.

"Please place your weapons on that table, Master Balin," she said as the dwarf walked in.

"Thank you, lass." he said, before going to the living room to meet his brother.

Before Ruby could offer the brothers something to drink, the doorbell rang two times. When she opened the door, she found two young dwarves, one blonde and one brunette.

"Fili - " said the blonde dwarf.

" - and Kili - " said the brunette dwarf.

" - at your service!" they both said, with a bow.

"And to you and your family!" Ruby replied.

"Look Fili," said Kili. "Dwalin and Balin are here already! Let us join the throng!"

Ruby laughed. They were so enthusiastic! Before she could close the door, five more dwarves entered, bowing. Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin and Gloin were their names.

Thank goodness, Ruby thought as she saw Ori. Not all of them are men.

Which turned out to be exactly what Ori thought as she saw the hobbit. She went over to Ruby and the two started to have a lively conversation about weapons.

After Ruby has served all of her guests drinks, a loud knock was heard at the door. She winced, sure that it would leave a mark on the door. She opened the door, and came tumbling in dwarves, four of them! With Gandalf behind them.

Ruby, amused, helped the dwarves off the floor. Gandalf said, "Let me introduce Bifur, Bofur, Bombur and especially Thorin!"

"At your service!" Bifur, Bofur and Bombur said.

Ruby didn't hear them. She was too busy staring at Thorin. Dear Eru, he looked just like him! From the body build, even from the clothes he wore! But his eyes. Oh Aule, it was like looking into the eyes of her beloved dead godfather.

Bilba looked away from Thorin and blinked back her tears. She missed her godfather so much! She couldn't help but think it was her fault he died. No, she should stop thinking about that.  The guests shouldn't see their hostess cry in front of them. Especially not Thorin Oakenshield, rightful King Under the Mountain.

Bilba gave a small curtsy and said to Thorin, "Ruby Baggins, at your service, your Majesty."

Thorin, pleased with the recognition, gave her a nod. So this is the hobbit, he thought to himself. She looks more like a barmaid than a burglar.

"Welcome, dear guests!" Ruby said, turning to the other dwarves. "Dinner will be served in ten minutes!"

She rushed to the kitchen to get the dishes. However, as she looked at the number of platters she had to carry back to the dining room, she stared. She didn't realise that she cooked this many! After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and started to balance the platters on her arms, shoulders and head. Those exercises where her godfather made her balance on one leg on top of a meter-high pole while throwing stuff at her to carry finally paid off.

As she entered the dining room, the dwarves were a little startled at the amount of platters their hostess was carrying all at once.

Once the platters were set on the table, a magnificent feast was beheld front of them.

All the male dwarves (except Thorin, though he was mildly impressed) drooled shamelessly.

"What are you waiting for? Dig in!" Ruby said to her guests. "Just make sure you don't get food on the floor."