Like Tiny Lamps
The evening had grown dark. Where before the sky had been filled with colour, now grey pervaded it and threw everything into shadow, draining the world of colours. To Bilbo, clutching his father's hand, only the leaves in the tall trees and the grass seemed to retain their pigment in the twilight.
The woods were silent, but Bilbo knew soon it would be filled with the sounds of the night. He was not afraid; he had come on many evening walks with his father before. There was nothing to fear in the woods near Bag End.
As the darkness deepened, they wandered into the thicker parts of the wood, where the trees grew taller and closer together. Bungo Baggins' footsteps slowed, and Bilbo by his side did the same.
Bungo smiled down at his son, and put a finger to his lips. They were nearly there.
On hobbit feet, silent and sure, the pair crept softly a little further into the trees. They came to a large bush thicket, as tall as Bungo, and Bilbo knew they were there. He drew in a breath of anticipation as his father drew aside the branches.
The sight that greeted Bilbo was more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen. Tiny dots of light flickering and fluttering in the darkness, their soft glow reflected in the still water of the pond below.
Fireflies.
Bungo whispered the word so quietly Bilbo only just heard it; it caressed his cheek like the soft wind that blew, pulling and tugging at his shirt. He stared out at the bugs, hovering in the still air like tiny lamps; captivated. Their simple beauty, beacons of light in the black of the night... Bilbo was entranced, and so caught up was he in watching their dance through the rushes and the leaves and the shadow that he didn't notice his father's gentle hand on his shoulder.
'We'd best get back now, lad,' Bungo breathed into Bilbo's ear. 'Your mother'll kill me if you're not home soon.' Belladonna Took was not famed for her patience.
With a last look back at the clearing, glowing in the light of the fireflies, Bilbo turned and followed his father home; the dots of light imprinted on his eyelids until long after they left the clearing behind.
A/N: I hope you liked this! I know it's very short and... well, kind of pointless, but the image of a young Bilbo watching fireflies just popped into my head the other night and... you know me and fluff! I really do hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought!