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The Gift of Kindness	By : LadyLaran Category: Lord of the Rings Movies > Hobbit, The Views: 2019 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer – I do not own “the Hobbit” nor do I make money from this story.

Chapter List
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Author’s Note – It’s been a while since I focused on this story. To be honest, it’s been sitting for quite some time. I’d work on a paragraph here and there, but I’d get distracted by other things. For some reason, the urge to work on it tonight hit and I managed to finish the chapter so I could post it. I’m sorry it’s short, but hopefully it’ll help push things in the right direction.

Disclaimer – I do not own “the Hobbit” nor do I make money from the story. I’m just having fun playing with various concepts.

Chapter Three – The Journey Begins

Preparing for the journey had taken a lot of foresight in regards to what to pack as well as ensuring her home would not have molding food in it when she returned. Camilla made sure everything was handled, employing Bell Gamgee to dust her home twice a week as well as ensuring the smial was aired out when word arrived Camilla was returning home. Bell had tried to negotiate her salary down, but the younger hobbit refused to hear of it. It was a lot of work for a matron who had fauntlings to take up her time, and the maiden refused to allow the other to accept anything but what was offered. The wraig ddoeth knew how much time it took to keep a smial the size of Bag End clean, and she was absolutely set on making sure Bell was paid what was owed for this task.

Once those arrangements had been handled, Camilla had turned her attention to packing and had packed warmer clothes as well as garments that would weather traveling well. She made sure to pack the basics of her ritual equipment and herbs, having a feeling she might need them, and she ensured they were placed carefully in her packs. The wraig ddoeth could not risk damaging them considering some of it was rather difficult to replace if lost or broken. Despite what she had heard about the talents of dwarves with their crafts, she wasn’t sure if her equipment would be something they could duplicate. She did make a mental note to look into it since she knew it would be difficult to replace her ritual pieces with hobbit make once she was finally at the location where the plans of the Merched were fulfilled.

Her mother’s bedroll had been cleaned and aired out before being placed within the leather that would keep it dry if it rained while they were traveling. She’d ensured to pack her traveling dishes as well as other items she would need for the journey. The hobbit had also remember to pack enough crafting materials to keep her hands busy when they made camp. She remembered her mother embroidering or crocheting during the rambles they’d taken together or her papa carving at night as well whenever he joined them; the idea of not having something to keep her hands busy was something she couldn’t abide.

All too soon and yet, not soon enough, the time for their departure had arrived. Camilla had gone to her grandfather’s smial the day before and had spent time with her family there, getting to know her new companions for the journey too. Her aunt had met her there as well, pack full but not too heavy, and Donnamira looked eager to begin their journey.

The morning of their departure, dawn was rising with a hint of the fair weather to come and Camilla had silently thanked the Merched for their gift of good weather for traveling. If it would hold, it would make their journey to the Blue Mountains a lot easier.

After a short breakfast, the small company met outside to make their farewells. Both Donnamira and Camilla had made sure to dress in trousers and sturdy attire, and Adamanta just smiled as she eyed her daughter and granddaughter. There was a look of both pride and love as she beheld the two in front of her.

“Blessings to you both,” the elder wraig ddoeth said to them as she embraced both of her girls. “This journey will teach you two so much, and I know you will return to me safely.”

“I’ll keep a good eye on her, Mamau,” Donnamira promised, hugging her mother back tightly.

“I know you will, ferch annwyl, and I know that you’ll enjoy yourself while away,” Adamanta told her. “Just make sure to keep your wits while traveling. I know the dwarves will keep you both safe, but remember what you’ve been taught.”

“I shall,” she promised, stepping back to let her niece have a few moments with her grandmother before the pair turned to face the dwarves.

“We’re ready,” Donnamira told them, guiding her niece to the pony that Rúni was holding in place for her.

Camilla mounted the piebald pony, settling comfortably as her pack was tied off to one of the ponies being used for supplies. Thanks to her training, riding was not unfamiliar to her but it had been a while so she was grateful she’d packed something to help with the stiff muscles she would have later. Once she was as comfortable as she was going to get, she thanked the dwarf and waited as everyone got mounted.

Balin led the small group away from Took’s smial, and Camilla settled in to ride beside her aunt. The older woman looked pleased to be on an adventure, and she was grateful Donnamira had agreed to come with her.

“I think this will be good for both of us,” the matron told her niece. “Merched above, I love my husband but there are times I could cheerfully strangle him.”

Camilla laughed softly at that. Uncle Hugo was a good hobbit and loved her aunt a great deal, but there were times when he just couldn’t seem to keep up with the Took stubbornness and other traits the family was known for.

“I’m surprised he agreed to watch over Jago and Jessamine,” she said, smiling.

“He did protest a bit, but he knows Mamau will keep an eye on things,” Donnamira answered. “Truthfully, he needs to spend time with them. He gets so caught up with work, and I worry he’ll miss out on their childhood.”

“They’re good faunts, and he does love them,” she reassured her aunt. “This will be good for all three of them, I think.”

“I don’t disagree,” she nodded. “I just wonder what kind of mess I’ll be coming home to.”

“Knowing Nain? That smial will be spotless when you get home,” Camilla giggled. “She won’t let them get away with being lazy while you’re gone.”

“Very true,” she laughed. “Mamau will make sure of it. I often wondered how she kept our home so clean while we were growing up. So many faunts make for chaos. I have a hard time keeping things tidy with just a husband and two faunts; she had so many while we were small.”

Camilla nodded, knowing what her aunt was talking about.

“I’m always in awe of Bell Gamgee; she has so many fauntlings running around, and her home is spotless. I count myself lucky when I don’t make too much of a mess throughout the day!”

“Some matrons have the knack,” Donnamira agreed. “I think it’s safe to say you and I don’t have it.”

Both hobbits laughed, unaware of the attention they were drawing from their dwarven companions. Their joy at being together and conversing while traveling made the dwarrow smile, anticipating what things would be like once they arrived at their destination in the Blue Mountains.

“So, tell me what your soul’s equal is like,” the older hobbit said, speaking in their native tongue so as not to give away any information her niece wanted to keep quiet.

The younger was quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts so that she could answer her aunt without sounding like a vapid tween mooning over her first infatuation.

“He stood about a head taller than me,” she said softly. “His hair was a rich shade of blond that mirrored sunlight in some aspects, and his eyes were a very deep blue. He had a deep voice with a slight accent to it. He was very intelligent, and he listened to what I had to say without making me feel that he was humoring me. We spoke for hours that night, and it seemed like we would never run out of things to discuss.”

“Was he built like our companions?”

“Not as heavy but definitely strong,” Camilla answered, eyes holding a distant expression while she reviewed the image of her soul’s equal in her mind. “He moved like a dancer, full of grace.”

Donnamira smiled to herself, listening to her niece. She was definitely infatuated with the missing dwarf, and she couldn’t wait to meet him herself. Camilla was not one to fall for another easily so this dwarf had to be something special, especially since the Valar had crafted him for the wraig ddoeth.

“I look forward to meeting him, nith. I hope he will be everything you need.”

“The Valar created both of us so I must put my trust in the Merched; they would not bind us together if we were not well matched,” she answered quietly.

“True enough, nith,” she murmured. “However, living in a culture and home that are alien to your own can be difficult. I hope he will do everything he can to ensure you are happy since he will be drawing you from our beloved Shire to live under stone.”

Camilla drew in a deep breath, contemplating her words. She knew her aunt was right to be concerned. The cultural differences could be a serious problem, but she had faith in the Merched. It would take work, but she would do her best to ensure the relationship went well and thrived. She just hoped that he would be willing for such a thing. She wasn’t sure how dwarves went about relationships where one person wasn’t a dwarf.

“What if the other dwarves will not accept this,” she asked her aunt, turning troubled blue eyes to the matron.

“Then he will find a way to ensure you both are happy,” Donnamira assured her. “If not, you’ll drag him back to the Shire where everyone will accept your relationship. Hopefully, his people are sensible and will not protest a soul-fated match such as yours.”

“I hope you’re right, modryb. I don’t know if I could handle finding him and then losing him,” she admitted. “I know the Merched grew me to be strong, but that is a loss that would break anyone’s strength.”

“Merched and Valar willing, it will be a loss you will never have to face,” she reassured her niece. “Your tad survived your mother’s loss, remember?”

“He survived long enough to ensure my training was complete,” Camilla said with a sigh. “Otherwise, I’m not sure he would have lasted as long as he did. He knew Nain Adamanta and Nain Laura were not close enough to finish my education. The Merched sustained him so he wouldn’t succumb to the broken bond.”

“Well do I know it,” Donnamira answered. “We were all worried after Belladonna passed; Bungo had a great deal more strength to him than most would suspect. As far as your future bond, we just have to hope and pray that everything goes well and that he’s strong enough to fight through anyone who might try to halt your bond.”

Camilla looked quietly at the horizon, feeling the draw towards the mountains they were riding to. She hoped her aunt was right and prayed that her bonded would be strong enough. She prayed that she would be able to be what her soul’s equal needed.

Author’s End Note – Translation time! Nain means grandmother, mamau means mother, ferch annwyl means beloved daughter, wraig ddoeth means wise woman, nith means niece, merched means ladies, modryb means aunt. This is short, but I’m hoping it’ll be enough to get the muses running again. I can’t believe I left it for so long. Please let me know what you think; see you all next chapter! ~Laran
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The Gift of Kindness