I slipped out of the door and the Dwarves followed quietly, hauling their packs. The began walking down Bagshot Row towards the main road. That could be very bad. I stopped.
"NO! Not that way. Do you really want to everyone in Hobbiton to see you leave? There are a few unsavory characters even in this little haven of simplicity. Come with me. We'll go out the back." I led them back inside the gate, over The Hill, and across The Water. We arrived in Bywater at about 8:30. The market was bustling even at this early hour. Stalls were overflowing with everything from food, to jewelry, clothes, books, and other little trinkets. The blacksmith, bakers, and the apothecaries were opening their doors wide.
"Gather supplies. We leave at 10:00." Thorin went to pay for the ponies. Dwalin took The Company's weapons to be sharpened.
"Well, who's willing to walk around with me?" Fili and Kili each linked their arms with mine. Balin followed closely. We weaved in and out of the stalls looking at all the little trinkets. We came to a stall full of sewing supplies and clothes. I picked up a sewing kit and gave it to Kili to hold. I walked over to the clothes. Fili and Kili raised their eyebrows.
"I want to get something to remember the Shire by. You know, in case I don't come back. Ooh, what about this hat?" I placed it on my head and twirled in front of the stall's small mirror. It was straw and a dark chocolate brown. I paid for the hat and sewing supplies and walked away.
"What do you think?" The Company applauded and I bowed dramatically. "Wait, it'll fall off! I KNOW! I can sew a ribbon to it. That way it won't fall off!" I made a mental note to do so as soon as we made camp that night.
"My darling, can you show me where the apothecary is?" Oin cleared his throat.
"Of course. It's right over here."
"What?" Oin waved his ear trumpet.
"Just follow me, Oin." Soon Oin was the happiest person in Middle Earth buying up feverfew, peppermint, thyme, chamomile, bandages, and other medical supplies. As Oin inspected a bottle of lemongrass oil, Thorin opened the door to the shop.
"Oin, Bella, there you are. We need to leave soon."
"Hold on just a minute laddie. I'll pay for these medical supplies and be out directly." Oin turned back to the hobbit at the counter. Thorin motioned for me to follow him.
"I want you to close your eyes. Don't open them until I tell you." I shut my eyes, took a step forward, and promptly tripped over the door step. Thorin caught my wrist. I had never noticed how warm his hand was. He helped me stand and led me out the door and down the road. He stopped and let go of my hand.
"Open your eyes." I did so to see Thorin leading a pony towards me. She was the most beautiful pony in the world. She was white as snow covered mountain tops and splashed with gray spots. My mouth dropped to the cobblestones underfoot.
"You can touch her." I reached out and put a hand on this beautiful creature's muzzle. She was so soft.
"Thorin, she's so perfect. Thank you. What's her name?" I looked up at him.
"What do you think her name should be?" I scrunched my nose thoughtfully.
"Margaret. I think it's a beautiful name for a beautiful creature."
"What should we name the other ponies?"
"Myrtle, Minty, Marigold, Misty, Daisy, Bunty, Betsy, Biscuit, Benny, Alice, Bessie, Anna, Harriet, John, and Henry. I think those will be good names. Which pony will you be riding?"
"Do you see the brown pony eating the grass on the side of the road? Which one is that one?"
"John."
"Ah. Would you like me to help you mount?"
"Um... I think that I can manage. But thank you all the same." I attempted to mount the pony, but I slipped and fell. Thorin caught me and lifted me like I was nothing into Margaret's saddle.
"Now, you will need to direct her with the reins. Never let go." he moved my hands to the leather reins.
"I won't."
"Oi! Thorin! Do you need a moment alone with our burglar?" Dwalin was chuckling from his horse. I hadn't even realized we had been staring at each other. Thorin dropped my hand and turned to Dwalin and the rest of the Company.
"I do not! If any of you have anything to say, I suggest you keep quiet! Let's go." he swung himself onto John the Pony and the Company began trotting off down the road.
"What about waiting for Bilbo? Or Gandalf?" Thorin halted.
"No need to worry my dear, I'm here. As for your brother on the other hand, well..." Gandalf had mounted Daisy silently.
"If he is not here, we will leave him behind." Thorin turned his pony and trotted away.
"Wait, what about a bet?" Every single eye in The Company turned to me. Thorin halted and listened.
"Lass, a bet? Are you joking?" Dwalin scoffed.
"No. I am not. I bet Bilbo will show up." Dwarves began whispering.
"Very well. Who bets on the Hobbit?" Thorin called down the line.
"I will." Gandalf nodded.
"I will." Balin smiled at me.
"I will" Kili stuck his tongue out at his brother.
"I do." By the end of the side-choosing, only Gandalf, Balin, Kili, Bofur, and myself had bet on Bilbo.
As we set off down the road following Thorin, I turned back and had one last look towards Bag End. We were going through a beautiful forest with a moss covered floor, when the unthinkable happened. I turned and there was Bilbo, contract in hand, running as fast as he could go.
I straightened up and smiled. He ran up to Balin, who was near me.
"I've signed it." Balin scrutinized the document carefully with a monocle.
"Everything appears to be in order. Mister Baggins, welcome to The Company of Thorin Oakenshield."
"Give him a pony." Thorin turned and began trotting away.
"No, no, I'll be fine. I'm sure I can keep up quite well on foot. I've been on my share of walking holidays. I even got as far as, uh, Frogmorton once." Fili and Kili grabbed his shoulders and lifted him onto Myrtle's back.
"I've been farther than that, Bilbo."
"And exactly how far have you been?"
"Where would be the fun in telling you? Nowhere that I can see." I turned and nearly fell off my pony laughing. Bilbo looked ridiculous. He had the same look of disgust and reluctance holding the reigns of a pony as he had back when I was a small hobbit girl of about 10. I had just learned how to throw a tea party, courtesy of our mother. I had tried to make her sweetbread from memory and failed. However I was completely insistent that Bilbo try a slice. It had gone about as well as expected. But Bilbo riding a pony was even worse.
"BELLADONNA!" Thorin's voice carried from the front of the train like thunder. I sheepishly rode up to him.
"Yes?" He tossed an elaborately decorated money pouch into my hands.
"You won the bet." he had gone ahead too fast for me to return it. It was probably all the money he had with him in the world, judging by the weight. I slipped it into my bag and trotted back to Bilbo and Gandalf.
YOU ARE READING
The Shire's Deadly Flower
Fanfiction"He looked rugged and dangerous. He looked like a king." The sister of Bilbo Baggins has been raised to be a high society hobbit woman all her life. However, she has been learning of the outside world just as long. She is particularly interested in...
