Chapter 1

An Unforgettable Week

Lucy sighed as she heard a knocking at the door; Bilbo rolled his eyes as he rose from the chair next to her, walking over to the door before shouting in a way that nearly made her laugh. " No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers, or distant relations". However at the reply that followed, Lucy leapt from her chair flying to the door

"Oh Gandalf, Your back," she cried in delight.

The old grey wizard smiled at the young girl benignly, patting her on the head in a grandfatherly manner. "Lucy Baggins," he proclaimed, Dropping to one knee that he might look her in the eye. " It's good to see you. Twelve years old, who would believe it!" at this she giggled, patting herself down as Gandalf surveyed her more closely. "You've simply sprouted up, going to be taller than old Bilbo soon."

"You old joker, come in Gandalf, come in. Can't have the neighbors thinking I'm inhospitable," jested Bilbo, ushering Gandalf inside before rushing off down the hall, "Tea? Or maybe something stronger... I've a few bottles of the Old Winyard left, 1296...a very good year, almost as old as I am. It was laid down by my father. What say we open one, eh?" he called back before disappearing into the kitchen leaving Gandalf to look around Bag End. Lucy gave out a small laugh as Gandalf turned, banging his head on a light and walking into a wooden beam.

Bilbo continued to list various food options, and Gandalf examined an old map. Lucy took up her book and was just getting cozy in her armchair when Bilbo reappeared, a half eaten pork pie in his hand. "Just a tea please, Bilbo. Lucy can get it."

Lucy rose pouting slightly before hurrying off to fetch a cup of tea. They were obviously going to have an adult talk. She made her way back down the hall with the cup of tea for Gandalf. She quickly handed him a cup of tea before leaving and standing behind the door. She knew she shouldn't but Uncle Bilbo had been strange recently, quiet and withdrawn. Having an inquisitive nature Lucy found she simply had to know what was going on.

"Yes, yes...it's all inhand. All the arrangements are made." She quickly realized, it was Bilbo talking.

"Frodo and Lucy suspect something." Said Gandalf in a matter of fact tone

'Course he does," came Bilbo's indignant voice "he's a Baggins...not some block headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle! And as for Lucy, well, she might as well be a Baggins. Been brought up one and all."

There was a slight pause "You will tell them, won't you?"

"Yes, yes. Of course"

"You don't have to leave, Bilbo"

"I am old, Gandalf...I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart."

Lucy froze. She had never in her life heard Uncle Bilbo sound so tired, and weary. He was Uncle Bilbo. The one who fought dragons. He was meant to be invincible. Not like this. She was about to move away from the door when she heard Bilbo's voice again.

"I feel thin…sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday…a very long holiday and I don't expect I shall return…in fact, I mean not to." At these terrible life drained words, Lucy fled the house. In fact she ran all the way to the Party Tree before stopping and crying.

Bilbo, gone. He had taken her in when she was just a baby. He was a hundred, and it was at his birthday party. Eleven years ago that Gandalf had brought her to Bilbo. They didn't know her birthday so they celebrated it on her found day instead. That meant Bilbo, Frodo and her all shared a birthday. Made it easier to remember dates that way…. That was what uncle Bilbo always said.

Uncle Bilbo had always looked after her and Frodo. Now she would do the same. She would look after Frodo for him and Frodo, she was sure, would look after her. Having reassured herself she stood up squared her shoulders and walked back to Bag End to help with the preparations.

That Evening

Lucy smiled in delight as a firework exploded into the night sky with a loud Boom, changing into the shape of a green tree with unfolding branches and glowing flowers raining down from it only to evaporate inches away from her face. All around her was feasting and drinking. Carts of beer and wine scattered around, and tables piled high with scones and savories.

Gandalf was hurrying back and fro lighting fireworks with a blue spark that danced from his staff. Bilbo was greeting boring visitors. Frodo and Sam however were sitting alone at a table drinking ale. She quickly made her way to join them. They seemed to be having fun but Sam's eyes, she realized, kept flicking over to Rosie Cotton, supposedly the prettiest hobbit in the shire, who was sitting a small distance away.

As she slid in to the seat next to Sam she heard Frodo urging him to ask Rosie to dance, "Go on, Sam, ask Rosie to dance" she pleaded, joining Frodo.

Sam looked at the pair in a comically horrified way " I think I'll just have myself another ale." He said in an alarmed tone.

"Oh, no you don't." Laughed Frodo, pushing him into the crowd of dancers as Lucy snatched the glass away. She giggled as he pulled a face at them, before quickly finishing of Sam's beer.

She then moved on as Gandalf set off another, Particularly spectacular, firework drawing gasps of admiration from the guests. She passed Bilbo who was now telling the young hobbit children about his adventure. She could see one girl, Little Ivy Chubb's eyes growing larger and larger as the story continued. Lucy simply smiled at the little girl before passing on. There were all sorts of fireworks and they were all superb. There were fountains of butterflies that flew away into the night, and sailing ships , flying swans, a forest of silver spears that suddenly sprang into the air before falling into the water below. And then there was one last surprise. An unintentional surprise she gathered due to the look on Gandalf's face.

The lights all dimmed and a great smoke went up. Then suddenly a red and gold dragon burst out with fire pouring from his jaws. Lucy and a great deal of the hobbits screamed and ran ducking when the dragon swept over their heads. She looked up again just in time to see him shooting away, turn a somersault and burst over Bywater with a deafening boom!

At first there was a sullen silence before Bilbo leapt to his feet "That is the signal for supper!' at this the other hobbits flew up and off towards the tables. Lucy caution thrown aside as soon as she realized it was only a firework picked herself up and made her way to the table where Frodo and Bilbo were seated, along with the various relatives and close friends.

Lucy expected a pleasant feast but she dreaded the after-dinner speech. She had spent most of the day with Frodo and as far as she was aware Bilbo hadn't told him yet. Lucy had been trying to avoid thinking about what Uncle Bilbo had said but she couldn't play that she was oblivious anymore. With this in mind she quietly slipped out of her seat amidst the calls for a speech And returned to Bag End, going straight up to bed.

She was so worn out with worry and fear that she fell quickly into a fretful sleep, twisting and turning as if in a nightmare. She was so caught up in her dreams and thoughts that she didn't hear Bilbo return to Bag-End. She didn't here him arguing with Gandalf either. In fact she didn't wake until the next morning and Frodo, concerned for her well-being did not tell her of Bilbo's mysterious disappearance or of the ring. Instead he simply told her Bilbo had left shortly after the party last night and they hadn't wanted to wake her. Lucy, oblivious to the fact Frodo would ever lie, believed him and was peaceful, thinking that at least he had said good-bye and not just vanished into the night.

A few days later

Lucy had been over at the horrid Sackville-Bagginses, they had insisted she came over saying it was the least they could do after Bilbo left. As a result poor Lucy had spent a great deal of time with their repulsive son Eustace. Eustace, was the sort of boy who thought himself very grown up and called his parents, Aunt Lobelia and Uncle Otho, by their christian names. However Lucy decided it was not his fault for he had not chosen how to be brought up but it was instead his parents fault. Therefore Lucy had been as patient and nice as possible. Something it is very hard to be when the one you are being patient and nice to seems to be trying to be as awful and horrid as possible.

She was just entering the Shire when she bumped into Sam. He had a grim look on his face. "Lucy," he exclaimed " If you don't mind I'd like to escort you home. Its dark and well, there's something creepy going on. You can taste it in the air"

Lucy quickly consented. She knew what Sam meant. The pleasant evening breeze had stopped. Replaced instead with a chilly, almost sinister stillness. One that she had never felt before but that she knew was wrong.

She and Sam walked down the road in silence. They both felt that if they spoke the whole world would fall upon them. So when they reached Bag-End and found all the lights on and raised voices they were instantly worried. The voices were muffled from their position so Lucy pulled Sam into the flowerbeds under the window that they might listen.

Now to listen to another person's conversation once is bad enough, but twice is perfectly intolerable and therefore it is hardly surprising that they were caught. They might have gotten away with it but upon hearing that Frodo was leaving Lucy gave out a sharp gasp unable to stop herself. The following event happened so quickly that Lucy never quite worked out what had happened. One moment she was in the flowerbed with Sam and the next she and Sam were laying on the table with Gandalf looming over them.

"Confound it all! Lucy Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, have you been eavesdropping," Bellowed Gandalf.

Lucy and Sam both tried to answer at once. " I heard raised voices," whimpered Lucy, "We were worried about master Frodo," explained Sam.

"What did you hear?" Gandalf demanded, "Tell me."

Lucy was so shocked at the sight of Gandalf angry, at her nonetheless, that she was unable to answer leaving Sam to panic and flounder on his own. " Nothing important…that is, I heard a good deal about a ring…and a Dark Lord. And something about the end of the world, but… Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me! Don't turn me into any thing unnatural!"

"No" Inquired Gandalf clearly amused. Frodo, Lucy realized, was smiling too. Slightly more at ease she shook her head feverently, hoping Gandalf would pardon them.

"Perhaps not," he conceded " After all I've thought of a better use for you."

The two youngsters gulped, there eyes grew large, until at last Lucy summoned up the courage to speak, "What are going to make us do Gandalf," she asked in a wavering voice.

"Oh, I'm not going to make you do anything" he said smiling wryly.