After many years of not writing I suddenly found myself with inspiration again. I blame Valandhir and her awesome 'The Raven's Blade' series, though I should be grateful to her because she gallantly offered to proofread for me even flu-struck. Thanks for the support and comments, Valandhir, don't know if I would be posting this without them!

Chapter 1:

It was quiet in the little nook of the library where Bilbo Baggins had hidden himself with only uncle Hildibrand's book for company. Not that said uncle knew that his nephew was in possession of his prized book. It had been gifted to him by Lord Elrond himself, or so Bilbo was told, when his uncle's adventuring took him all the way to Rivendell. However Bilbo believed that desperate times called for desperate measures and was willing to bear his uncle's anger, if only he could find the answer.

The ancient text was written in the language of the elves, Sindarin, which was taught to him by his mother for as long as he could remember. Though Bungo frowned at his wife when he caught one of their lessons, he never stopped them either for which Bilbo was now grateful as he could skim the pages quickly. He wouldn't let his mother down, he would find a cure.

The Creeping illness is what the hobbits called it, for it slowly but surely took hold of its victim starting with fatigue that lingered for weeks on end. Which was when the coughing started, steadily growing worse over the course of two weeks and after that the fever gripped the body. From that moment on it was a matter of time before the body was spent and gave up the fight. Some hobbits died the day the fever set in, while others lasted far longer. Great-Aunt Lily Goodbody still lived, Bilbo reminded himself, and she had fallen with the fever three weeks ago.

No one had been quite prepared for yet another trouble to rise so quickly, this illness taking them all by surprise after all that had happened recently. Hobbits had been far too worried about the dangers of the Fell Winter, the cold, the wolves and the hunger. Once spring had finally come and the lands grew warmer plans were tentatively made to return to their homes, but these were soon thwarted once the Creeping had set in.

After the first hobbits with a cough became feverish and died soon after, people started taking notice and panic set in. Those with coughs were shunned by those who were still healthy and though the healers did their best, it was acknowledged that once the coughing started one's days were numbered.

Even though the sick were shunned, none dared to leave the Great Smials either, too afraid of not being near the healers. Some may look down on the Tooks for all living together, but the convenience of having access to all the commodities offered was too great.

Belladonna Baggins had started coughing two days ago and Bibo's world had shattered. Afraid for his son's health, Bungo had sent Bilbo away from the rooms the family shared in the Smials. Now Bilbo had to share a room with his dreadful cousins Sigismond and Flambard, which explained why he hid in the library as much as he could.

For all that they were Tooks his cousins reminded him more of Loathsome Longo, his most hated Baggins relation. His cousins were just as full of themselves as Longo, who Bilbo refused to call uncle seeing as he was only eight years older than Bilbo. Longo loved to cause Bilbo problems and often tattled when Bilbo did something 'improper' like the time when he had caught Bilbo climbing the Party Tree.

Bilbo still remembered the family-meeting that had been held when he was 15 years old where all his Baggins-relatives in Hobbiton had sat him down and explained that as a Baggins he shouldn't take part in improper activities such as tree climbing. Longo had done nothing but send him gleeful looks which Bilbo greatly desired to wipe of Longo's face, preferably with his fists. Seeing as that would be 'improper' as well Bilbo restrained himself, knowing he would only be in more trouble if he did.

His cousins were not as bad as Longo, as Tooks they were far more adventurous, but they liked to play pranks for which they let Bilbo take the fall. Which caused Longo to tattle on him again and bring more frowns to his Baggins relatives. Truly, living in the great Smials with both Took and Baggins families was becoming very problematic for Bilbo.

If not for his cousin Adalgrim Took he would have been miserable. Bilbo revered his older Took cousins Fortinbras and Adagrim, who were 12 and 10 years older than him. Both were swift, smart and strong hobbits of many talents and even better for Bilbo, they never seemed to mind when Bilbo tagged along with them.

Adalgrim had been furious when he wasn't allowed to join the Bounders to defend the Shire while Forinbras could. The two years that separated the cousins never seemed to be bothersome before, but here Adalgrim was, stuck in the Smials because he'd been 31 and not yet of age. At 33 Fortinbras was allowed to join the Bounders, under protest of his mother, for she feared for his life. It was only when Belladonna offered to take him under her wing that Rosa Took, formerly Rosa Baggins relented. The friendship between the two women had grown over the years when Rosa became a part of the Took-family, in fact it was Rosa who had introduced Belladonna to Bungo all those years ago.

It was against the wishes of her husband that Belladonna had joined the Bounders, Bilbo had heard them yelling at each other after which a grim-faced Bungo exited their rooms. His Baggins relatives had clucked and complained against such a disgrace, but muttering amongst themselves that they should have expected no better from a Took for they had never truly accepted Belladonna into the family. Not that any complaint came to the ears of any Took, they were guests in the Great Smials after all.

Bilbo, though worried for his mother's safety, couldn't have been more proud however. Watching her go out to fight the wolves and come back with naught but a few bruises made him wish he was older himself. Fortinbras spoke to him and Adalgrim of Belladonna's battle prowess, she had killed four wolves in their first skirmish which had greatly impressed those who had forgotten that she was Took before she became Baggins.

Lonely without his closest companion, Adalgrim had taken to teaching Bilbo everything he knew about surviving in the wild. Bilbo had always excelled in hobbit-skills like hiding and sneaking around quietly, but was surprised to see how games such as conkers and rock-throwing could be used for defense.

The skill that Bilbo took to the quickest however surprised him. Never before had he even held a bow before, but in a short period of time he seemed to be able to wield a bow without problems. Bilbo wouldn't say that he quite mastered the skill yet, but Adalgrim insisted that he was a far better shot than both him and Fortinbras. When she heard of this Belladonna beamed at her son, making him blush, while Bungo frowned and encouraged Bilbo to spend more time studying.

Hearing voices Bilbo pressed further into his hiding place. Two healers settled at a table with steaming bowls of stew and started to eat while still holding a conversation.

"It was a matter of time." Said Healer Proudfoot. "Old Lily may have been one of the most stubborn hobbits I've ever seen, but even she couldn't hang on forever."

Healer Boffin clucked his tongue. "What a tragedy for the Baggins family, losing both Lily and Largo on the same day. Largo only got the fever a few hours before too. I say that he followed his sister into death, inseparable in their youth they were."

Only clapping his hand over his mouth saved Bilbo from being discovered as a gasp escaped him. Dead? Both Great-Aunt Lily and Great-Uncle Largo? He hadn't even heard that Largo had been ill and now he was gone too.

"Lily's children were inconsolable, losing her so soon after their father was a harsh blow to them." Healer Proudfoot was quiet as he drank from his goblet. "There's no logic to the Creeping at all, I would expect the old and very young to fall ill, but even strong hobbits like Belladonna Baggins and Falco Cotton have caught it."

"Nothing else but to wait it out I suppose that…" Bilbo never found out what Healer Boffin was going to say because one of the servants came to collect the healers because little Posy Chubbs had taken a turn for the worse.

Even more determined Bilbo continued his research. Great-Aunt Lily was like the healers said old and Belladonna was strong. If Lily Goodbody could hang on to life for three weeks than his mother could last even longer. She had to!

Turning the page Bilbo skimmed the text until he recognized more and more of the key-phrases he deemed important, like 'fatigue', 'cough' and 'fever'.

His breath caught, could it really be… it was… it looked like the same illness, at least the symptoms were very similar. No it had to be the same illness and there was a cure. A list of ingredients needed was written down in the neat elven script, below which the way these ingredients needed to be prepared could be found.

Bilbo shouted in joy, he'd done it, he'd found a cure for the Creeping! He quickly copied the passage on a scrap of paper, not minding that his shaking hands ruined his handwriting and caused some letters to blot in his haste. He had to tell the healers and his father and well everyone, never before had Bilbo run as fast as he did at that moment.

He just couldn't understand it, why wouldn't they do something? Bilbo felt the tears gather in his eyes and wiped them away quickly as he angrily paced back and forth in the same library where just earlier he'd made his wonderful discovery.

When Bilbo found his father and explained what he had found Bungo had taken it on himself to bring the information to the heads of all families presently inhabiting the Great Smials, who quickly assembled a council.

Bilbo as the finder of the information was asked present his findings before his elders which he proudly did. Though grandfather Took frowned a bit when Bilbo explained where he got the information from, Bilbo could see the gleam of pride in his grandfather's eyes too.

Once finished with his presentation he handed over Hildibrand's book and his notes, that were in Westron for not many could read Sindarin, so the council could see for themselves, which is where things started to fall apart. Though some ingredients were known to the council, some were not.

Halfred Greenhand, the best gardener in Hobbiton known for his great knowledge of all things that grow from the earth and caretaker of the gardens of Bag End, was summoned to identify these unknown plants. "Now this one," pointing at the first unknown "is a fancy name for Feverfew, which grows in many gardens and is easily found and so is this second one, which is just Willowbark. This one however, the Astragalus grows only in the mountains and I've never heard of any plant or herb called Athelas."

No longer needing him Halfred was dismissed by the council with a warning not to speak of why he was called to anyone. The hobbit had nodded and swiftly left leaving the members of the council to deliberate on what to do.

Their decision was not to speak of this so-called cure to anyone, seeing as how there were ingredients that were both unknown and out of reach. "No use in spreading false hope." Gerontius Took said. Mungo Baggins added to it that it would be impossible to assemble a cure seeing as how "No proper hobbit would ever venture as far out of the Shire." He'd said this before he remembered that he was in the presence of the Thain of Tookland himself, who glared at Mungo for his words.

Bilbo had loudly protested against the decision and while his father and grandfather Baggins had frowned at his outburst, grandfather Took put his hand on Bilbo's shoulder and tried to comfort him. "It's not the end yet lad, I will send a message to Gandalf to see what he has to say about this."

"Gandalf could be anywhere by now!" Bilbo exclaimed. "After spring arrived he disappeared into the Old Forrest, Fortinbras said so."

"You're right, Gandalf has moved onto other matters for now." Gerontius agreed "But that doesn't mean that some of the Rangers don't have the means to get a message to him."

Shaking his head Bilbo disagreed. "That could take weeks and weeks the Rangers left the Shire once the most dire of dangers ended. Who knows where they are right now? Besides, mother may not have enough time for a message to reach Gandalf and for him to react to it." It wasn't fair, Bilbo thought, here he'd found a way to save his mother and everyone else and nobody would act!

"My Belladonna is the strongest lass I know." Gerontius answered "She will hang on long enough for Gandalf to come with a cure, I'm sure of it. Now you, Bilbo Baggins, must give me your word that you will not speak of this cure to anyone. It would break many hearts to hear of a cure while it is for now out of our reach. Will you make this promise to me grandson?"

Bilbo had nodded, for what else could he do? Though disagreeing with the council's inaction, he didn't want to hurt anyone and grandfather Took was correct in saying that false hope would break hearts.

His father had guided him from the room, hugged his son before sending him to his room while he returned to Belladonna. Before he left Bilbo paused. "Will you tell mother?" For a moment Bungo hesitated before shaking his head. "Better not lad, she just has to focus on herself and I know that she would go out herself if given the chance. Now please it's very late, just go to bed and let your elders deal with these matters."

Not in the mood to sleep yet Bilbo found himself pacing in the currently unused library. Let my elders deal with it, bah, Bilbo scoffed. If they were actually dealing with anything I would let them do so. He took the piece of paper on which he'd copied the information he'd found before the council and added the information given by Halfred.

His father was right about one thing, his mother would not sit around and do nothing. Belladonna Baggins wouldn't let a silly cough stop her from going out to find the cure, unknown ingredients in far places or not. She would… a thought began to form in Bilbo's mind.

Maybe Belladonna couldn't go out, but he could. He could go to the mountains to find the Astragalus plant, gather as much of that and the other ingredients as he could and come back. By that time Gandalf would be here, tell them about this Athelas plant and there would still be time for his mother to be cured.

Decision made Bilbo started to write a list of items that he'd need for the journey, starting with a map from the library which he carefully studied before he folded it and hid it under his shirt. Quietly entering the room he shared with his cousins he grabbed the pack he'd used for the journey from Hobbiton to the Great Smials and rolled up his blanket to take with him.

Sneaking through the kitchen he added three waterskins, a loaf of bread, some cakes, cheese and some dried meats to his growing stash. Also a few empty bags to place the herbs in so were added as well as a small kitchen knife that Bilbo put in an easily accessed side-pocket. A lantern, some candles and flint were added as well.

The training halls were close and Bilbo selected the bow he used for practice and a quiver with 25 arrows. He wouldn't be unprotected and if needed he could shoot some birds to eat. Adalgrim said he was a great shot didn't he? Bilbo hesitated before creeping into his parents room.

Fortinbras had often spoken of how 'Aunt Belladonna's Awesome Ax' had saved their lives when the wolves and goblins came to close for their bows to be of use. Surely mother wouldn't mind? Bilbo felt like a burglar when he took hold of the ax and placed it on his belt, like he'd seen his mother do many times.

Taking a last look at his reason for leaving Bilbo turned and made his way to the entrance of the Smials. Tiptoeing past the Bolger-lad supposed to be on watch but who was asleep Bilbo was finally outside. If he set a fast pace, he could reach Hobbiton by morning. Halfred said that Feverfew grew in many gardens and Bilbo knew for a fact that the Belladonna plant could be found in the gardens of Bag End. His father had arranged for it himself when he finished building Bag End.

He'd gather those first, maybe gather some more food as well and make way to Lake Evendim. Bilbo had been there once with his mother on one of their adventures and he remembered a great willow tree that stood at the edge of the lake as well as brushes filled with Elderberries, another ingredient needed.

Nodding to himself Bilbo blessed his good vision as the full moon was bright enough for him to go without a lantern for the night and set off on his quest.