~ The Offer
Chapter 1
It was peaceful, bright and sunny day in the kingdom. Of course that was normal. Gandalf could not remember a time when the Shire was not in a sunny and bright state. His visits these days were growing rare for he was busy with problems that needed to be attended to as a wizard. Though he always missed the Shire kingdom.
The beautiful sight of the flowers that you could see everywhere, kids running around playing happily without a care in the world, the mouth watering scent of pie or other pastries on the window still of hobbit houses, the polite and good mannerd locals that were always up for a chat and the cheery chirps of birds that lived in the healthy wild life of the Shire.
Yes, nothing has changed, he thought with a smile forming on his lips.
His eyes trailed over the houses of the locals to the firm structure of small buildings inside bigger hills of craftsmen and blacksmiths to the market were numerous food and delicasies were being sold or baught to the tall watch tower that reached to the sky and then landed on the center of the entire Shire kingdom. The royal castle.
That was where he needed to go. The reason he was here was in there. Passing by a few locals who waved at him -which he happily returned- but looked rather nervous. Probably because he was not considerd a good person to be seen around here mainly because it would mean something bad was going to happen. He was known to be a distruptor of peace but it paid off for the fireworks he made.
A few years ago, he rememberd coming here more oftenly. The locals didn't know it but this was were he came to relax, to heal before he went back into the dark world of men, dwarves, orcs etc. The Shire was a place like no other. It was one of a kind and he saught to protect it. That was why rangers were there, to watch over the borders of the kingdom of hobbits.
The Shire kingdom was special because it was content. It had no need for power or the desire for gold and other valuable solid object. No, they care not for any of those unlike the greedy man and dwarves. They cared for good food, good company and a good home. And they valued good manners as well. Hobbits were known for their hospitality.
A couple of children came running up to him and surrounded him, pulling his robe and asking if he could show them some of his fireworks or other cool magic tricks. He had to refused softly though because of the mission he was trying to focus on but those pleading eyes won him over enough to promise he would show them a few tricks later. They cheered and continued their game. He sighed but looked fondly at the fauntlings.
You can never resist the pleading eyes of a hobbit fauntling much less a dozen of them gatherd around you.
Anyway the Shire was different, hobbits were different. They weren't greedy, rude or people who just stood by and did nothing. They may look no use in the battle field but the world didn't know much about the race of hobbits, just that they were people who didn't like to go outside their homes, perferd a peacful lifestyle and ate a lot but if you had been in the Shire or worked as a ranger, you would know that was not the entire truth.
As he walked through the path leading to the castle, he noticed something coming his way. As it grew closer he recognized what it was. A pack of castle bounders. They rode on animals the were a mix breed of wolves and wargs, they rode on saddles and wore speacial armor with their weapones seathed and their huge feet bear. There were about a whole pack of them, they rode in two lines with one -who was obviously the captain- leading the two lines.
They saw Gandalf and began to ride slowly and eventualy stopped infront of him. The captain took off her helmet and smiled brightly at the old wizard. She was about his hieght now that she sat on her warg-wolf like ride. She had spicey brown hair tighed up into a high curly ponytail, her elf-like ears exposed openly, deep blue eyes that were hard and weary but were gentle when they looked at him, her feet bear, big and had spicey brown hair to match, she had a scar on her left cheek and wore red armor that only coverd her chest, stomache, waist and shoulders.
Her spear was seathed on her back looking so scarily sharp the wizard tried not to step a few inches back but gave the female captain a warm smile.
"Sylvia! My dear, how do you fair?"
Said hobbit slid down from her saddle and wrapped her small arms around her old freind but despite them being small Gandalf felt like he was getting squeezed a little hard. She had muscular arms that were exposed and could be seen clearly in daylight.
"I fair well old freind, how about you?" She pulled away "How were the adventures? Old age isn't getting to you right?" She teased.
Gandalf huffed but the fondness in his eyes showed he was not in the slightest bit offended.
"I fair well Captain Sylvia, the adventures were good and no, old age may never get to me and you should get used to it" he said chuckling in the end.
Sylvia joined in and said "Oh please, no need with the captain thing! What brings you to the Shire kingdom? I do hope you are here to visit"
Gandalf sighed, he had hoped so too but business is business and he needed to do this. No matter how hard and risky it might he. The company needed their fourteenth member and he had the responsibility of choosing that member.
"Sadly no, I am here to see him" he said seriously and almost in a hush tone.
The smile on Sylvia's face faded "Oh dear, is something the matter?" She asked though hiding the worry and replaced it with a suspicious expression.
Gandalf shook his head "I can't answer questions here Lady Sylvia, do you mind escorting me to the castle?"
She nodded looking worried but tried to show a faint smile "Certainly, come" she said and got on her ride and patted the spot behind her looking at the grey wizard.
Gandalf got on the warg-wolf like thing and it did not even look fazed of the new addition of weigh on its back. Sylvia petted its head amd stroked it fur affectionatley.
"Come on Kiki, let's head back to the castle" she said sweetly and 'Kiki' purred and turned around.
They rode back towards the castle followed by the other bounders. The closer they got to the castle, the bigger it got. The walls shined brightly under the rays of the sun and stood firmly on the lush green ground. Elegant and strong, that was what it looked like.
"It seems the kingdom has not changed since I last visited" he said sounding nostalgic as he gazed at the place they were heading and closing in fast.
The creatures they rode on were fast and from how it moved intelligent as it manuverd its way through the road and some boulders on the way. The ones behind them maintained perfect formation and looked in perfect ease following the one infront of them.
Sylvia nodded her head "Yes, we have been in total peace in these long long years but..." she trailed off her eyes darkening.
Gandalf narrowed his eyes, frowning he asked "But? But what Lady Sylvia?"
She hesitated, she had a thoughtful look for a moment as if wondering if she really should tell him and then she focused her attention on the path infront of her.
"I'll tell you once we get to the castle" she mutterd to him.
That did not help Gandalf from feeling worried as she was. They road to the destined place in silence. The wind and the creatures they rode on made the only sounds.
When they made it to the castle Gandalf got off of the ride and gazed at the brilliant architecture of the place. It was brilliant and grand like any castle should be but there were no statues -hobbit people were too modest for that- but the flowers blooming were enough to be marveled at. The size of the place was equivalent to that of a giant mansion and if you compare that to a hobbit's size it would definitely be considerd huge. He could actually go in there and not need to crouch down!
He, along with Lady Sylvia went up the steps to the large doors of the castle that was gaurded by two knights on white armor with golden edges and held polished lances in one hand and a sword seathed on their waists.
They had helmets on the were made of iorn and had a T shape hole to see and breath through.
"Let us pass you two" Sylvia orderd.
The two hobbit knights pushed the door open and stepped aside to let them pass. They bowed respectfuly to the two of them. Gandalf could see they weren't that old and had unruly cruly brown hair sticking out of their helmets.
The two walked in and faced -even to someone with the same hieght as his- wide room which was suitable to have balls held in. There was a stair case leading up to the second floor. A red carpet was strewn underneath their feet and went up the stairs. The floor looked newly mopped and waxed, shined, the vases polished, the wooden furniture and pointings in the room showed no speck of dust on them, the chandelere above them also radiated with cleanliness.
Everything looked as if it was cleaned five times before being left alone then after a few hours cleaned once again. Gandalf had to chuckle, hobbits. They were obsessed with keeping things neat, organized and presentable which meant even a single speck of dust was unacceptable. And they thought other races were ridiculouse or exaggerated.
Then they noticed someone descending down from the stair case. It was an adult male hobbit. Dressed in a fine silk coat, lined with bronze hemming, he wore no jewelry except a golden ring on his left index finger and a bronze medallion chained to his hip. His earthly brown eyes never left the two as he came down. He had the distinguished looks and air around him.
"My Lord Saradoc" Gandalf greeted bowing "You look well"
"I am and so are you by the looks of it" he said and bowed respectfuly "It seems one can not have a break of his adventures" he added heartily.
"It seems"
Saradoc glanced at Sylvia who returned the glance with a grimace and the worry was seen evidently in the brown eyes of the male hobbit. He immediately hid it when he turned to Gandalf.
"I see you have something urgent to accomplish, may I ask what?" He asked politely.
"I seek for a meeting with the king of the Shire" he said and for a moment there, they knew they saw regret in the old wizard's eyes.
The two hobbits shared a quick look at each other before Saradoc nodded and gestured them to follow him. They climbed up the stair case and they heard the giant oak doors behind them close shut. They passed through a long narrow hall way and would often see a servant cleaning or passing by, if there were any slackers they would instantly start doing something when they caught a glimpse of Saradoc near the area.
"Sire would be in the middle of his afternoon tea, I would never disturb him at this time but if it is an emergancy..." Saradoc trailed off brushing away the light brown locks from his hair.
"Thank you for your sacrifice, it really is important" Gandalf said giving the brunette a grateful look.
"It's fine Gandalf, sire likes some company during his tea time" Sylvia assured him as she walked next to Saradoc.
They arrived in front of large round like door made of heavy oak wood and gaurded by two knights who looked much older and buffer than the other two at the entrance. Saradoc said something to them in a language Gandalf recognized as the hobbit's mother tongue.
He understood the language and spoke it fluently as he had stayed in the kingdom from tome to time. It turns out that what Saradoc said was some password.
"Keep thy courage in thou's heart and may thy brandish good manners and our values"
The gaurds nodded and pushed open the heavy door easily. Saradoc walked in head held high and Gandalf and Sylvia followed after him. They heard the door shut behind them and faced a wide tunnel, sunlight was shining at the end of the tunnel and he could smell flowers from here to the end of the tunnel. The tunnel was made of bricks and Saradoc kept walking towards the end of the tunnel followed by Sylvia and then Gandalf.
When they reached the end and came out the tunnel their eyes met the sight of a large beautiful garden filled with flowers of variouse colors and kinds. There was a patch of soil in there that had vegetables growing looking in perfect health and condition. The grass was as just as green as the grass in the other garden's in the Shire. Birds flew by along with some butterflies.
In the middle of the breath taking garden was a small table and someone sitting on a porch smoking on a pipe and blowing out some smoke rings. Warm tea was set on the table along with a few buiscuts that looked freshly baked. The man on the porch didn't seem to notice them as they stood there. He was gazing at the blue sky above them looking almost in a trance. His back was facing them so his face was not shown. His golden brown curly hair and the brilliantly made crown made of oak wood and weaved in vines.
Saradoc spoke first "Sire" he called.
The king of the Shire turned his head to see them after he heard Saradoc called him. His face contorted with surprise when his eyes spotted the old grey wizard. He got up from his porch and faced the three .
"Gandalf? Gandalf the wandering wizard?!" He splutterd.
Gandalf bowed deeply with respect "Your majesty" he smiled proudly "It seems I haven't been totaly forgotten, of course I do have quite memoriable characteristic-"
"-the one who made such excellent fireworks!" The king said excitedly.
There was a pause of silence between the four in the garden, the birds seemed to have went quiet as silence reigned the garden for the moment. The quietness ended when there was a sound of snickering and giggling coming from the two hobbits who tried their best to cover their amusement but their shaking shoulders gave it all away.
The king stared at his two subjects in confusion as to why they were reacting like this. Gandalf merely stared at the king of hobbits trying to believe he really did just recognize him for his fireworks and not that he was the person who visited the Shire the most and was an old freind of his mother.
Sylvia was covering her mouth to hide her huge grin and hugged her aching stomache, her giggling was still very audiable. Saradoc looked the other way to also hide the grin on his mouth that also threatend to let out a fit of laughter that he was trying to hide. His shoulders were shaking and his snickering was the only thing he didn't bother to hide.
"Well at least you rememberd me for something" Gandalf huffed pulling out his pipe "Even if it is just my fireworks"
"What brings you here Master Gandalf?" The king asked curiously.
"Ah that, well I have an offer to propose" the old wizard answerd and litted his pipe before saying "An offer for you, Bilbo Baggins, king of the Shire, son of Belladonna Took and Bungo Baggins"