Author's Note: Bluebell Baggins is the younger sister by about ten years to Bilbo. She is a lot more childish and naïve in comparison. Her love interest will be Thorin Oakenshield and I have a separate storyline to add with the journey. Enjoy
She never really prided herself on her intellect. When it came down to it, she never had much to spare other than her mature jokes or her constant theories that would make Bilbo groan in distress. That didn't very much count for intellect either, but it showed off more of her mind other than her want(or desperation as Bilbo often put it) for adventure and close minded naïve-ness for welcoming in any creature that walked and talked and needed help. Bilbo was at the end of his rope with Bluebell, and she was sure if it wasn't for him loving her so much, she'd be out the door with only a blanket and a loaf of bread.
And of course, they didn't start off with just each other. In fact, it had originally started out with Bungo and Belladonna Took-Baggins with their only son, Bilbo. They weren't a much respected family at first, due to Belladonna's constant adventures outside of her home and all of the tales she'd tell to anyone who would listen, but the only one who seemed to do so was Bungo, a very respected Hobbit from a very respected family. But he always loved Belladonna's stories, so he listened, and as cliché as it sounded, they fell in love.
As a token of that love, Bungo had built her Bag End and soon enough Belladonna responded with her own gift of Bilbo, their rambunctious and adventurous faunt who, at first, had taken after his mother, but as time passed they could tell his Baggins side would dominate. Then Bluebell was born, about ten years after Bilbo, with a very big Baggins aura around her. She, at first, had been proper, quiet, and very respectful, but then she turned ten when Bilbo was twenty and their parents died after an accident Bilbo still doesn't mention because only he knew what truly happened to them, but he did not want to burden his baby sister with such a sad thing.
But when it had happened, Bluebell had changed. She didn't want to think of the pain or the mourning. She didn't want to imagine her parents six feet under. And after another bedtime story of Bilbo's of one of Belladonna's adventures, Bluebell realized the one thing that made her happy was the thought of leaving Bag End and exploring what Middle-Earth had to provide. And the thinking went into acting on it, often trying to 'run away' so she could do her adventuring, but Bilbo always seemed to stop her, pulling her right back home telling her he could not trust her outside of Bag End because her place was here. Her parents wouldn't want her lost and alone without Bilbo there to aid her.
It always made her a little mad that he said stuff like that. After all, back when he was younger, he thought the same as her. He wanted to travel to the places Belladonna did. But then he had to take responsibility for his sister and completely changed. Bluebell had no responsibility, so she didn't feel that Baggins side biting at her any longer. All she felt now was that want he had, that need she acted on. Bluebell wanted a chance.
But she never got that.
Until now.
Bluebell was always the one to go on marketplace runs, due to the fact that was the farthest she could ever get away from home without someone snitching her out to Bilbo and him running to come retrieve her from trying to escape. Nobody liked Bluebell Baggins, and that was because she was all of a Took, becoming a spitting image of her mother, who looked near to exact of her appearance. Bluebell seemed to inherit everything from her.
Anyway, she was holding a small basket, weaved carefully by one of the neighbors who enjoyed Bilbo's company for afternoon tea. It was full to the brim with a loaf of bread, onions, tomatoes, as well as a bottle of brandy she managed to sneak inside it. She wasn't always a thief, but if Bilbo could just expand his horizons away from only red wine, perhaps she wouldn't have to resort to this. Also, the thrill of stealing was what she supposed the thrill of exploring was like.
Smiling, she approached the counter up front where Rosemary worked, one of the many female Hobbits who disliked Bluebell for her constant 'Took atmosphere'. Rosemary's face slightly grimaced as she approached, Bluebell giving a calm smile. Bilbo often told her if they knew they got to her, they'd be satisfied. Bluebell refused to give them that pleasure.
"Hello, Rose," Bluebell greeted kindly, her brown eyes boring into Rosemary's green. "Just the bread, onions, and tomatoes, please."
"I can see your caretaker hasn't arrived with you," Rosemary bit, peeking into Bell's basket. Bluebell had cleverly hid the brandy at the very bottom. Despite having done this every single time she comes, Rosemary thought her too cowardly to even try. "Is Bilbo aware you're here or should I call for him?" She was the main one who constantly told Bilbo she was trying to escape. Bluebell originally suspected it was because she had feelings for her brother, but then she realized it was all just out of spite.
After all, her personality wasn't the only thing that was so un-Hobbit like. In fact, her body type seemed completely different, too. While most Hobbit women were round with big curves and a head of short, well-kept hair, Bluebell grow up more slender, due to her running and attempts of escape. Her feet were still large and furred, but her clothes seemed more boyish. She preferred things that were easier to move around in, but Bilbo always told her it was because she knew if she could run away fully, she'd only be able to do it in trousers. And her hair, dark brown like Belladonna's, was long and always messy, to the point Bilbo just sits her down to try and brush it himself, but it never seems to work.
"No, Bilbo knows I'm here," Bell grinned. "Here's some coins. Keep the change, looks like you need it." Winking, Bluebell took her basket and left the market, humming merrily to herself while Rosemary glared a hole into the back of her head. She needn't care what she thought of her. In Bluebell's opinion, the only person who truly mattered to her was Bilbo.
And so Bluebell had taken off up the hill where hers and Bilbo's shared home resided. He was expecting her soon, considering she had taken a bit longer than necessary since she strayed near a pond where she saw ducks, which were as big as her entire leg due to her small Hobbit size, floating around as they communicated with each other, fluffing up their feathers and dipping their heads beneath the waters. Bluebell had watched them in immense interest.
She fished around in her basket while she walked, making sure her brandy was still inside. Feeling the cool, full bottle, she looked back up with a smile that slowly itched into a frown. She saw her home in the far distance, but she saw someone leaving it who simply didn't belong. This person was extremely tall, probably around the height of elves and man. He wore a grey cloak and pointed hat that seemed to touch the sky. He was leaving, using his intricate staff to guide him as he did so.
Bluebell quickened her pace, suddenly worried. What if this person just killed Bilbo and left? Was her brother alright? She was now in a full on sprint, finally getting to the house after jumping over the fence. Her groceries jumbled as she ran, opening the door quickly, missing the rune that was etched into it as she called out desperately, "BILBO? BILBO!"
"Bell?"
Bluebell sighed in relief, her heart slowly going back to its normal pace. Seeing her brother appear before her eyes, slightly disheveled with a pipe in his hand, Bluebell quickly threw her arms around him in an embrace.
"I'm sorry, I just saw someone leaving and I thought the worst, who was that?" Bluebell demanded, finally releasing him so she could look him in the eyes. "He was no Hobbit. I could see that much." She moved to place the basket on the dining table and turned back to him, seeing him stand unevenly on either feet.
"Well...that was Gandalf the Grey, you know, that wizard that made those lovely fireworks on your fourth birthday?" he started, his voice a bit squeaky. Bluebell could tell he was trying to hide something, but she nodded for him to go on. "He approached, saying he was looking for someone to join him on an adventure. I know he purposely came here with the intention of choosing..."
Bluebell's eyes widened.
"Was he coming for me?" she asked, her hands falling to her sides.
Bilbo stumbled over his big feet, trying to walk away after giving such a brief description. He didn't look at her. "No, he was looking for me. He did mention you, however, but he told me it'd be best if I attend the journey because I have a...more equipped mind, as he put it." He said it slowly, as if he was trying to keep Bluebell's feelings at bay, but that didn't help.
"So...a wizard comes up to speak with you about a journey, and he doesn't realize that there's a genuine Hobbit who also lives here who would love to go on an adventure?" she asked incredulously. "I don't understand. So...you're going? You're going to just leave me here and do the exact thing I've wanted to do for forever?"
Bilbo huffed, his shoulders sagging as he turned to face her. "I refused, Bell, I don't want adventures happening under this roof! It'd be good for the both of us to just remain here. Now...thank you for getting groceries. I shall make dinner and we will have forgotten all about this by then, I'm sure of it." Nodding firmly, he patted his sister's shoulder before walking past her toward the kitchen, taking the basket with him along the way. Bluebell remained there, however, her head dipping beneath her shoulders as she frowned. She felt hurt. Her mind wasn't equipped enough for a journey? What was that supposed to mean?
Her brother, who turned his nose up at just the mention of something so scathing, was invited and she wasn't? What was Bluebell supposed to make of that?
"Bell, stop stealing alcohol!" Bilbo called from the kitchen, his tone fatherly. Bluebell cursed. She forgot she had hidden the bottle in the basket.