Chapter Text
She stood in front of the mirror, her back straight and her eyes hard as they inspected each and every visible bruise and cut on her body, inevitably drawn to the dark and violent handprints that stretched around her neck. The dress she was wearing covered a lot of her wounds but... even the lightest bruises upon her body would send a clear enough message to anyone who was looking and, after the events of last week, there would be a great number of people looking.
Her hands trembled and Belba gazed longingly at the winter scarf on her bed for a moment, it would conceal the worst of it and allow her some measure of privacy, before exhaling shakily and giving the mirror a fierce glare.
"You will not feel ashamed Belba Baggins. You are not the one who should feel shame." she said, her voice stern.
She smoothed her skirt out, gathered her pipe, settled down outside on her garden bench and, ignoring her slightly trembling hands, began to puff out smoke rings. Her nerves had only just began to calm when she noticed a familiar figure coming up the hill towards her and she startled, quickly running inside to grab the scarf that she had left just upon the bed, wrapped it around her neck and scampered outside to greet the guest now standing at her fence.
"Good morning, Gandalf." she attempted to chirp happily, though she was slightly out of breath from her flustered dash.
His eyes widened at the sight of her in front of her door, immediately drawn to the marks visible on her face and narrowing suspiciously upon the sight of the scarf.
"Do you mean to wish me a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I wish it or not? Or perhaps that you feel good on this particular morning? Something I doubt considering your state." he looked at her sadly, "However did you end up so battered, Belba?"
She considered for a moment before responding pertly, "I mean the sun is bright and it is a good morning to be out and about... but not necessarily a good morn to be accosted and questioned by old friends."
His eyes widened and he gave a startled chuckle, "It is good to see that whatever it was has not dampened your spirit though I doubt anything could dampen the spirit of a Took."
Belba's eyes darkened, "Yes, well, none of this tells me why you are here Gandalf."
"I have not had the chance to see you since your wedding and I decided to stop by whilst I am here. You see," he said, his eyes twinkling merrily, "I am looking for someone to share in an adventure."
She startled and gasped "An adventure?"
He hummed, "I don't imagine you know anybody west of Bree who might be interested? It is most splendid adventure."
Belba scoffed, "None of these fools would even consider it. They'd be too worried that they might be made late for dinner to even leave the Shire."
"Ahhh. If only you were not married, things would have been much simpler then." he sighed and began to turn away, "Well, I must be off then, it seems as if I have very little time to find a very important companion."
Something heavy settled in Belba's throat as she watched him start to turn away and she fisted her hands in her skirts.
"Wait..." she croaked then gathered her resolve, "I am no longer married."
"My condolences. It is a shame for one to die so young." He said, his voice grave, knowing that Hobbits married for life and that only her husband's death could have released her from her marriage.
"No condolences are needed," she said, her voice quavering, "He deserved his death."
His brow furrowed and upon looking at her face again he immediately understood everything that she was trying to tell him. Hobbits treasured all life and, for her to be pleased by his death, told him that he had committed her a grave wrong. She knew that with such knowledge of their culture it would be easy for Gandalf to make a guess of her circumstances.
"Ah." he said, a brief look of consternation upon his face before he forced it into a grin, "Well then, that's decided. I shall inform the others."
"Oh," she said, a bit surprised that he would drop the matter so easily, Gandalf was well known for being nosy, "Well. May I ask who the others are?"
"You may." He said graciously, his eyes twinkling.
Belba rolled her eyes, "None of that nonsense, now. Tell me who they are."
"A company of Dwarfs. Thirteen to be exact and all of them shall be here... by dinnertime, I daresay. Best start preparing their dinner now, my dear. Dwarfs eat almost as much as hobbits." Gandalf watched with amusement as this revelation sent Belba into a panic, her mouth gaping and her hands fluttering about nervously.
"Oh my, oh dear, thirteen. All expecting dinner! Only a day to prepare! I shan't have time to clean the smial. I shall have to hurry. I - What?! Whatever are you doing to my door?! It was just painted!"
"Simply a mark so that they know where to go to." He said, finishing the rune with a final stroke, ignoring the forlorn expression on Belba's face as she looked over the mark.
"Just painted..." she murmured mournfully.
He turned to leave but paused as something occurred to him and he looked back at the flustered hobbit.
"It may be best that you cut your hair a bit shorter, my dear, I don't think it would be wise to have waist length hair whilst on the journey we are undertaking."
She looked at him suspiciously, speaking only as he began to walk away "I know you, Gandalf and I know your ways. What is the true reason?"
"Why, Mister Baggins, whatever are you implying?" he called over his shoulder as he left.
It was only after she had returned inside that she realized just what he had said.
'Oh.' she thought, 'Mister Baggins. I see.'