Amara Baggins

Meeting the Thain

Amara awoke and got up to cook a feast fit for a royal hobbit. Hobbits love their food and, if there anyone between food and hobbit, the hobbits could be creatively vicious. Bilbo awoke shortly later and started tea and another barrel of ale for the dwarves. Gandalf had stayed at the local inn and would be joining them to meet the Thain. There were many things that should be known about the Thain. One, Bilbo and Amara were his youngest and favorite grandchildren, so he was very protective of them after the deaths and Bungo and Belladona. Two, Belladona had been his favorite daughter, and when Belladona died it was like the Shire and Hobbiton lost its light in mourning. Three, the Thain hates Gandalf and blames him for the death of his beloved daughter and son in law. Four, the Thain was a Took through and through that believed adventuring and being outgoing was in their Took blood, so if Bilbo and Amara wished to go he wouldn't stop them. Amara prepared her attire to meet with her grandfather. She dressed in a deep forest green dress that went to her ankles and her hair in a braid that looked like a Celtic knot. Once she was fully prepared she went about fixing breakfast. Belladona taught both her children about many cultures and Elrond reinforced said teachings over the years. One of the cultures they learned was the braids of a dwarf and were even taught some by a merchant by the name Garon (Gair-on) son of Faron (Fair-on) whom was a dwarf. The two siblings wore braids that signified they had mastered two weapons each, the death of their father and mother, and they had fought in battle before and won. Amara cooked quietly but noticed when Thorin came in and knew that he watched her cook.
"It is rude to stare, king or no. I know that dwarves are taught manners especially royalty." Amara said calling him out which made Thorin grimace
"I would like to apologize." Thorin stated
"If this apology was sincere it would have actions following the statement. Did you decide to apologize before or after you found out our grandfather was Thain or king as I know that is what your culture would call him?" Amara asked never stopping her cooking or looking at him
Thorin had to fight not to blush. He simply bowed his head in admitting he was wrong.
"Hobbits do not understand royalty because everything we do is so family oriented that the Thain is grandfather to us all. We are not weak little creatures, King Thorin, to be placed under your boot. As a show of respect towards you and your company, we are allowing you to meet with the Thain and present your case for you getting our help, but if you threaten him like you did Bilbo you will all be killed alongside Gandalf." Amara stated calmly and coldly before passing him an ale and shooing him out her kitchen
Thorin was extremely surprised by how that went. Amara was calm and diplomatic but made clear that a threat to her family would not be tolerated and the punishment would be death. Thorin sat at the table outside and drank his ale. Balin came in alongside Dwalin and sat at the table drinking a cup of tea while Dwalin had an ale. The rest meandered outside while Bilbo and Amara served out breakfast. The company thanked them and began lively conversations waiting on when to meet the Thain. Once breakfast was done and everything cleaned up they left the Shire. The company of dwarves looked around at the peaceful town of Hobbiton and began to notice a few oddities. One, Amara drew children to her like flies to honey. The children had surrounded the company but they noticed two older children stuck to Amara's side talking in whispers. The children that had surrounded the dwarves backed off after a couple seconds and Amara seemed to be caught in a giggling fit while Bilbo looked horrified and turned to Amara before glancing at the children.
"Come on, Bilbo. If they didn't notice then they deserve what they get isn't that what Aunt Cordelia Took taught us?" Amara said cheekily
"Didn't father teach us a time and a place?" Bilbo countered
Amara rolled her eyes and nodded at the children whom the dwarves now noticed held all their stuff including their boots. The children swarmed them again and everything was back where it was taken from. Nori seemed to be in shock that children not only stole from him but also put it back in the same exact position in a faster time than him. Amara giggled before leading them to town hall. There in an office sat the Thain. The Thain was a pepper haired hobbit that wore a suit on similar occasions as this. The Thain came with three advisors whom Amara felt were old hobbits who had nothing better to do. The advisors of the Thain had been pushing for him to force her to marry and tie herself to Hobbiton since she came of age not 5 years prior. Luckily she was favored by the Thain. When standing before the Thain Bilbo and the dwarves bowed and Amara curtsey in greeting. The Thain clicked his tongue and waved his hand at the formality. He held his arms out and hugged Bilbo and Amara with a laugh.
"How are my favorite grandchildren?" The Thain said
"We are doing well, grandfather. We bring to you dwarves and their leader to discuss help they need." Bilbo said formally
Thorin having learned his lesson came forward and began his pitch for bringing the Baggins ne Took siblings with him. Everything was going smoothly until Gandalf came crashing in. Gandalf strode in as if he couldn't feel the tension and the glares. The once warm gaze, as Thorin explained what he needed Bilbo and Amara for to the Thain, turned cold and hard as stone.
"Hello, Isumbras Took." Gandalf said
"Wizard, I see you've returned to Hobbiton." Isumbras, the Thain, said
"Yes we were in need of a couple of hobbits for an adventure." Gandalf said with a twinkle in his eye and smiling
Isumbras was at first willing to help Thorin and the dwarves because he felt bad for them, but now that Gandalf showed up, the dwarves realized they might not get their hobbits. Balin stepped forward when he realized that Gandalf was going to cost them everything.
"My lord Thain, may I ask what is your reservation against Lord Bilbo and Lady Amara joining us on our journey? From what I gather they seem capable in a fight and very intelligent." Balin inquired
"Hmm do you have any young ones you love dearly, master dwarf? Ones you have seen hurt so deeply before that you worried that they could possibly take their own lives for the greatness of that pain." Isumbras asked in return as he ignored Gandalf's presence, which seemed to annoy Gandalf
"No I have luckily never been in such a position." Balin said
"Let me tell you a tale then."
"Grandfather-" Bilbo and Amara protested
"You wish to go on this adventure then they need to realize what they are asking me to trust them with." Isumbras said and reached out and held their hands as both looked at the ground
"20 years ago just before winter set in my daughter Belladona and her family went to Bree to trade some vegetables at the local market there. They were scheduled to come back on time before snow came in but had heard of wargs in the area. While at Bree they met Gandalf here whom assured them that he would travel with them back so Belladona took her family to a little cottage on the edge of the woods where they had been staying for the last two months. They waited a week for Gandalf's return but he never showed so they packed to make the journey on their own. Unfortunately they never made it out the cottage door. Orcs and wargs burst in and began to attack my daughter and her family. Bungo was brought down first but Belladona went toe to toe with the leader alongside her daughter, Amara. The orc was large and white with a sword for a right hand. Though the two fought valiantly but Belladona was eventually brought down but not before Amara took her sword across his face. The white orcs warg proceeded to attempt to tear Amara apart with his claws but Bilbo had used his conkers to bash away at an eye making the warg release his sister. Belladona and Bungo with the last of their strength laid together and said their goodbyes to their beloved children. They shortly after joined Yavanna's garden. Bilbo held his sister praying that she would not join them, to not leave him alone. She was bleeding out. Eventually rangers whom had met up with Gandalf saw the smoke and came running but were far too late. The rangers were able to save Amara and treat Bilbo before taking them back to Bree to recover for the winter. Both returned back to Hobbiton that Spring. Belladona and Bungo had been brought back and buried long before they arrived. Bilbo and Amara were barely out of childhood when they became orphans. Hobbits come of age at 33. Bilbo was 35 and Amara 20. Amara was silent for years after her parents death. The tragedy changed them. I am protective of them, Master dwarf. If I were to agree to this venture of your journey, can you say your watch over them like they were one of your dwarves?" Isumbras finished
Balin looked horror struck by the tale and stopped himself from glaring at Gandalf.
"I will watch over them as if they were my own, Thain, of this I will swear." Balin said gravely knowing that they would not get what they needed else wise
Thorin seemed thunderstruck when he heard their story. He realized that if the story was anything to go off of Azog was very much alive. Thorin had much to think on and Gandalf merely stood there with a dark frown on his face but the hobbits would be coming on the journey with them.
"Within three days you may leave on your journey, all matters shall be taken care of by then please enjoy all the resources that Hobbiton has to offer. Hobbiton has a blacksmith building on the edge of town run by one of our local merchants that comes through once every few months. Please use it to refresh your equipment." Isumbras said and dismissed them before giving Bilbo and Amara one last hug
Bilbo and Amara were now officially apart of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield.