Author's Note (2014): This story was originally posted in 2008 (6 years ago!) I'm so sorry it took me so long to finish. Chapters 1 is identical to how it was, with the exception of this note, a few grammatical fixes, and the last few lines were moved to Chapter 2. Chapter 2 is slightly tweaked, with the order shifted around (originally, it took place on Frodo's birthday, before the party. Now it takes place the day before). The rest is entirely new! Also, I apologize in advance for the lack of Pippin in this story (I wanted to include him, but he was just too young (2 in hobbit years) to have a big part in this story). Next time, I'll be sure not to make that mistake! So I hope you enjoy:

Frodo blinked at the sunlight as it crept in through his nice round window. He yawned groggily before sitting up. He sat there peacefully for a moment, letting a smile play across his face before he jumped up and hurried to his dresser.

Today was a special day. Or rather, tomorrow was a special day, for it was his, as well as his uncle Bilbo's, birthday. He was going to be 24 years old. He was, as children often are, excited about the upcoming day. His uncle had planned the most wonderful party last year and had assured him to expect nothing less this coming one. It didn't actually matter to Frodo, who would choose to spend time with the same small group of friends whether a hundred hobbits or twenty showed up, but he was excited all the same.

He was still fondly recalling memories of last year's celebration (which he recalled had included dishes of roasted mushrooms and a giant chocolate cake with a dragon carved into the icing) when he walked into the kitchen to find his uncle making tea.

"Hello Frodo, my lad." Bilbo smiled as he pulled out a chair. "Come have a seat!"

"Thank you, Uncle Bilbo." Frodo replied, obliging.

The old hobbit handed him a cup of tea and a plate of eggs and toast before turning back to the kettle. "I have a lot to do today, as you very well know. I'll be in my study. Try not to bother me too much, unless it's important."

Frodo nodded through a mouthful of toast. Bilbo patted his head fondly then turned from the room. A moment later, his voice floated down the hall, "Oh, and another thing! Asking for help finding a book is not important! Not today at least."

Frodo laughed and waved back in acknowledgement. He'd bugged his uncle too many times the past few days (well, years) asking for help finding a book about dragons, or wizards, or elves or the like. But today he had other things to occupy his mind. He finished his breakfast quickly and was out the door in nearly no time.

Where to today? He wondered as he walked down the path that led to and, in this case, from Bag End.

Just as he was settling on one of his favorite trees no too far off, he noticed the gardener's son, Samwise, hard at work.

Frodo smiled, as the lad happened to be a friend of his. Though he was almost twice Sam's age, the two of them had managed to play many exciting games together. "Hello Sam!"

His shout startled the poor hobbit so much that he dropped his tools. When he saw it was Frodo, his face instantly took on a smile and he began to wave furiously. "Oh! Hello Mr. Frodo, Sir!"

Frodo returned the wave and walked over to him, trying hard to keep from laughing at his enthusiasm. He bent down to help his friend pick up the tools that lay scattered at his feet. "What are all these for?"

"Why, they're for gardenin' Mr. Frodo!" Sam chuckled. "Don't you know gardenin' tools when you see 'em?"

Frodo laughed. "Apparently not." He helped Sam pick up the tools until the dirt path was clear again. He stared at it with a frown.

"What's wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked, suddenly worried.

Frodo shook his head. "Nothing. It's just a shame you have to work today, is all. I was hoping we could continue our adventure."

"You mean the one with Mr. Bilbo and the dwarves?" Sam asked excitedly.

"Exactly." Both Frodo and Sam had heard Bilbo tell the tale countless of times, and Frodo often recreated it in his own mind, imagining himself at Bilbo's side or as his Uncle himself. Just last week, he had let Sam in on the game, and they had been playing it ever since. "We must still escape the forest of Mirkwood."

Sam nodded eagerly. "I wish I could, sir," he said honestly. "But how 'bout later? I reckon me Gaffer won't be happy if I go runnin' off before I'm finished here."

"Well, we couldn't have that." Frodo put on a show of looking deeply thoughtful for the younger hobbit. When he heard Sam suppress a giggle, as he had hoped, he snapped his fingers and shouted, "I got it! How about I help? Then you should be finished in no time!"

"Help, Mr. Frodo, Sir?" Sam shook his head. "Oh, no, sir. Thank ye very much for offerin' but I couldn't let ye do that."

He returned to trimming the flowers and Frodo sighed. "Well, then I'll just sit here until you're finished. We can plan out the rest of our game."

Sam gave him a smile before turning back to the flowers.

"You can be one of the dwarves." Frodo announced. "And I'll be Bilbo. You fell asleep and were captured by horrible spiders, and it's up to me to rescue you."

"Oooh!" Sam cried. "I don't much like this part."

"Neither do I, Sam, but we can't get out until we face the spiders," Frodo said. "Now, once you finish with that bush, go lie over there and imagine you are tangled up in a spider web. It'll only take a moment."

"Why do I 'ave to be the one in the web?" Sam grumbled, but did as he was told.

Frodo frowned. "Because that's how the story goes. Perhaps one day we can switch, and you can rescue me from the spiders."

Sam smiled at the thought then shook his head. "No, I don't think I'd be much good at that. You're 'lots better at fightin' them off."

Frodo returned his smile. "Thank you. How about once I rescue you, I teach you to fend them off yourself?"

"Oh, would you, Sir?"

Frodo nodded. "Now, lie there and don't move until I rescue you. You're tied up and surrounded by spiders, don't forget."

Sam obliged. Together the two young lads played beneath the warm autumn sun well into the afternoon, until Sam's father came and collected his son, leaving Frodo once more to his thoughts.

Original Author's Note: This was my way of passing the time while having the flu (or something very much like it) in a dorm room :( not fun. There is one more chapter I've already started on, and after that, if there is interest, I will try to continue once I am (hopefully) fully recovered.