Donnabelle

Summary: AU what if story. What if 'Bilbo Baggins' was more than what she appeared, and had a far tougher life than any dwarf (or Gandalf) suspected… and she still chose to follow the dwarves on their quest for Erebor. Fem Bilbo.

Genre: Romance, Adventure, AU (Movie-verse for characterisation of most major characters, book-verse for most ages – bar Bilbo. If an event in the movie (mainly from AUJ) happens in my story, I'm not going to rehash it, unless I've changed something).

Plot Bunny: for those that want to know where this story idea came from, it actually came from watching the extended version of An Unexpected Journey where we meet a young, seemingly black haired, bright blue eyed, Bilbo Baggins (aged 4), and later, we get a considerably different brown haired, blue-grey eyed Bilbo (aged 50) that goes on an adventure with the dwarves. In my mind, the differences between these two ages left me puzzled (I know time changes people, but usually not that much! Eye colour is constant after a child's first birthday I think) and this is my way of explaining it. And if any of you want to write along a similar vein, all that I worked with is that Bilbo is a changling, similar to Mystique from the X-Men franchise, or something similar where he could change his appearance slightly. How would that affect the story of The Hobbit?

AN: languages

"Westron" (Common tounge)

/Elvish/ (Mostly Sindarin)

~Iglishmek~ (Dwarvish sign language)

~Khuzdul~ (Dwarvish spoken language)

Most of the time, I will indicate what language is being used the first time I use it, but this is a good reminder at the start of the story. All rights belong to PJ and JRRT.

Characters: Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, Fíli, Kíli, Dwalin, Company, Gandalf, others

Prologue

"Gandalf," the dwarf at the door said by way of greeting. He straightened his shoulders as the grey wizard stepped aside from the open door to allow the regal dwarf entry to Donnabelle 'Bilbo' Baggins' smial. "I thought you said this place was easy to find. I lost my way. Twice." The dwarf spotted Dwalin, Dori and Ori beside the door as he entered. Nodding briefly to his brother-in-arms, Thorin almost ignored the other two in favour of talking to Gandalf. He reached up and unclasped his outer cloak just as he continued; "I wouldn't have found it at all if it hadn't been for that mark on the door."

"Mark?" Donnabelle complained. "There is no mark on my door. I had it painted a week ago."

Thorin raised his eyebrow at the fussy little thing that had appeared from behind Dwalin to berate the wizard. As of yet, the hobbit hadn't looked in his direction.

"There is a mark, I put it there myself," Gandalf returned calmly. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company…" Donnabelle turned to the dwarf Gandalf was introducing and almost took a step backward as the wizard finished; "Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin gave a brief nod, handing his cloak behind him to Kíli. "So, this is the Halfling." The hobbit in question looked offended at the term 'Halfling' that, if said by an outsider, was offensive to any hobbit. The regal dwarf ignored the dark look sent his way and began to circle his host. "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Excuse me?" Donnabelle growled out, trying not to take offence at both the insult to her race, and to her gender. Not that she could really blame the dwarf for assuming she was male. Most, if not all, of her present company knew her name to be 'Bilbo' (a decisively male name, if they were asked), and for good reason. The only person she thought may have known her actual name would have been Gandalf, and then she highly doubted the wizard actually knew. The reason for her legal name – for that is what Donnabelle thought of her name of 'Bilbo Baggins' – was for her safety. She was born with the rare gift of the Tooks: she had the 'gift' to change most of her physical features (save her ears) to resemble anyone else. And currently, she appeared (and sounded) as though she was a male hobbit.

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"

The hobbit frowned at the question. "I do have some skill with a skillet, if you must know, and I'm not afraid to use it."

Thorin snorted, and looked slightly back at his company. "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." He moved to head off out of the welcoming hall when the hobbit spoke up.

"Are you trying to offend me, Master Thorin? Because you are doing a mighty fine job of that. Obviously you know nothing of hobbits." She glowered at the gathered dwarves before returning her attention to the dwarf that had angered her the most since Dwalin first graced her doorway. "If I catch any of you calling me a Halfling again (I am not half of anything), you will live to regret it."

"Why?" Kíli chortled. "I thought that's what you called yourselves." The young dark-haired prince cowered slightly as Donnabelle narrowed her crystalline blue-grey eyes at him.

"Would you like me to call you a stone-heart?" Silence met her query. She knew perfectly well that no dwarf liked being called a stone-heart outside of friendly family insults.

"Nice way to insult your guests," Gandalf cut in, before any of the dwarves could act on their anger.

"I meant no offence," Donnabelle said sweetly. "I know that term is only used amongst dwarves; it's the same with Halfling." The dwarves nodded their acceptance of her apology, realising that they had unwittingly insulted her by calling her something only her relatives could. And it was only then that Gandalf realised how put out the little hobbit was with the company he'd brought to her door when she turned to face him. "My guests Gandalf? As I recall, I only invited you for dinner tonight. You mentioned nothing about hosting dwarves, or providing bedding, as I only assume you are all staying the night?"

Thorin looked toward Dwalin and raised an eyebrow. Perhaps his first impression of the hobbit was wrong: if she was able to stand up to both him and Gandalf within the space of a few minutes, then she must have a spine. Dwalin smirked slightly and nodded, seemingly thinking along the same lines as his king.

"If it isn't too much trouble, Master Baggins," Thorin cut in, before the hobbit could fume further at the wizard.