The Unexpected (COMPLETE)

One Shot

 Hawthorne leaned back against the back of her bench with a content sigh and let the smoke she had breathed in out in a perfect circle. The times where she could just relax and have a smoke have been few and far between over the past twelve years and so enjoyed it as much as possible.

All of a sudden the warm sun she had been basking in was blocked. Scrunching her face she slowly opened her eyes and saw a Tall Folk clad in gray robes and leaning on a wooden staff in front of her.

"Er, good morning."

"Hmph. What do you mean? Do you 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? Hmm?"

Hawthorne was struck speechless for a second which didn't happen often.

"Uh, well, i guess all if them at once, I suppose." She replied, gesturing with her pipe. The man hmm'd again. "May i help you?"

"That remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."

Hawthorne immediately felt panic rise in her chest. She couldn't go on an adventure! She hadn't been on one for 15 years! Besides she had too much to do here in Bag End.

"Ah, i believe you have come to the wrong place. There are no adventures to be had here. And don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures." Hawthorne stood from her bench and collected her mail to avoid looking at the man for a moment. "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner." She stepped up towards her door before pausing and turning back around. "Good morning." She said with a bow of her head and made to turn back around when he spoke again.

"To think that i should have lived to be 'good morning'ed' by Belladonna Took's daughter as if i were selling buttons at the door!"

Hawthorne became puzzled and a little bit flabbergasted. "I beg your pardon!"

"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Hawthorne Baggins."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf. And Gandalf means...me."

"Gandalf? Not Gandalf the wandering Wizard...who made such excellent fireworks? Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve." Gandalf kind of shrugged and looked around for a second as Hawthorne talked. Hawthorne let loose a little chuckle before continuing. "Ahem. No idea you were still in business."

"And where else should I be?" Hawthorne didn't respond nor did she let the wizard see the mischievous smile that appeared on lips as he had been turned away from her. Gandalf turned back to her. "Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me...even if it's only my fireworks. Yes. Well, that's decided. It'll be very good for you...and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

The mischief that had begun to fill her vanished. "What others?" Hawthorne then shook her head. "Inform the who? What? No. No. No... Wait. We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today. I suggest you try Over the Hill or Across the Water. Good morning." Hawthorne said before running up her steps and into Bags End before Gandalf could stop her.

Hawthorne locked the door behind her and took a deep breath. Maybe taking a bath would help relieve the stress that she had received from her mother's old friend that she hadn't seen since her parents passed.

After soaking for at least an hour and looking like a shriveled up prune, Hawthorne went into the pantry so that she may get started on the next meal of the day. Not seeing anything pop out at her, she turned to head towards the door when she jumped back, startled.