AN: Ok, from this point on, all of you who have already read the original version please tell me if you think this one's any better. I won't continue it if it's not – I have too much work to do before school starts ;).
Enjoy!
:The Star of Narulin V2:
-The Shire-
A page ruffled beneath the boughs of a great oak tree as a soft breeze danced between the foliage. The bright-eyed hobbit beneath the tree studied the tome in his lap intently as he turned another page. A stray leaf skittered across his book and he absently brushed a strand of hair of his face, but froze when something caught his attention.
Over the trees came a pair of voices rising towards him in song. His head lifted and he rose to his feet as a grin crept to his lips. His hobbit feet suddenly kicked up as he hurried towards the voices. Their song grew louder as he grew nearer:
'The road goes ever on and on,
Down to the door where it began,
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow it if I can…'
Leaves scattered around his feet and he dodged between several other trees before he nearly fell onto the road at the edge of the wood. A cart and horse rolled towards him with two passengers; a wizened man who sat at the front of the cart – adorned in a gray cloak and crooked gray hat – and a young girl was seated behind him, facing the road they had come by. She wore a cloak of deep green and her deep brown hair sat tied behind her head. Had it not been for her human size, she would have been perfectly adorned in the clothes of the Shire. But their voices faded as they drew upon the hobbit. He folded his arms slowly as the cart came to a halt.
"You're late" the hobbit informed them seriously.
The old man raised his eyes towards the halfling as the girl behind him turned her head, "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins," he said slowly, "Nor is he early – he arrives precisely when he means to!"
Frodo cocked his head at the wizard's tone, but the old man held his gaze seriously. The girl in the back of the cart glanced between the two, but smiled when she noticed their facades failing and grins breaking out on their faces. In the next moment, laughter broke out between them and the hobbit leapt onto the cart.
"It's wonderful to see you Gandalf!" he cried and turned to the girl in the back, "And Ayla, you've come too!"
She smiled, "We heard there were a couple of hobbits having a birthday party of great remembrance," she said and tousled his hair playfully, "Happy birthday to you, Frodo – and to your uncle Bilbo as well!" she added with another smile.
Gandalf moved aside to let the halfling sit beside him, "You didn't think we'd miss you're Uncle Bilbo's party, did you?" he winked knowingly and hitched the reigns. The pony snorted and began once more down the road. As they traveled, Ayla hummed quietly to herself the tune she and Gandalf had been singing earlier.
"So how is the old rascal?" Gandalf asked the hobbit beside him as her hum trailed off, "I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence – spared not expense for anything, I heard; even bringing complimentary gifts from Rivendell and the dwarves."
Frodo smiled weakly, "You know Bilbo, he's got the whole place in an uproar," he said as the cart turned onto a path in an open field.
"That should please him," the wizard said with a grin and chuckled.
"Half the Shire's been invited," Frodo continued as they passed over a bridge near Sandyman's mill, "And the rest of them are turning up anyway!"
A small burst of laughter carried between the trio as they rode through the market square. The cart rattled up a hill beyond the market, and Ayla held tight to the baggage in the back of the cart to keep all of it from falling out onto the road. Rolling hills rose up around them; decked with lush and verdant greens. The hobbit at the head of the cart frowned suddenly and gazed out absently in front of him.
"To tell you the truth," he said quietly, "Bilbo's been acting a bit odd lately – I mean, more than usual. He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours and hours pouring over old maps when he thinks I'm not looking…" he paused and thought for a moment. His brow furrowed, "He's up to something…"
Ayla caught the queer look in Gandalf's eyes at the halfling's words. But the wizard must have been silent a moment too long, because Frodo turned his gaze on him inquisitively and quirked his brow.
"All right then, keep your secrets," he said.
Gandalf mumbled something inaudible and Ayla tried to suppress a smile.
"…But I know you had something to do with it," Frodo added with a questioning look. This time, Ayla let out a small laugh at the wizard's flustered expression, "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of…"
"Oh, really," Gandalf said absently as he turned down a new road.
"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected," he said matter-of-factly, and from behind him, Ayla laughed.
"What a boring family you come from!" she teased.
Gandalf shifted the reigns in his hands, "And if you're referring to the incident with the dragon…I was barely involved," he insisted, "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."
The hobbit laughed, "Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."
He looked like was about to protest, when he caught the looks of some rather perturbed-looking hobbits along the side of the road. The wizard quickly averted his gaze from the leering halflings. It was then that the sound of hobbit children came pouring from over the hills.
The raced down the hills to the road, "Gandalf!" they cried, "Fireworks? Gandalf?"
The wizard pretended not to notice them, but both Ayla and Frodo could tell it was becoming too difficult, even for him, to resist their innocent cries. But before Gandalf could protest, the girl in the back of the cart searched her pocket and withdrew a flint. A spark caught between the stones, and in an explosion of light and sound, several fireworks erupted from the cart and the hobbit children cheered. Gandalf glanced a wary eye back towards her, but she merely smiled as both Frodo and the wizard broke out into laughter. The hobbit rose from his seat and leaned slightly out of the cart, with a smile along his face.
"Gandalf…Ayla," he said, "I'm glad you're back."
As he hopped from the cart, the girl waved to him and the wizard smiled; placing a pipe gently between his lips.
"So am I, dear boy…so am I," he said softly.
As the halfling disappeared into the fields, Ayla took his place next to the wizard and smiled wearily over the Shire's hillsides, "So Gandalf…" she said, "How long am I to stay this time?"
It wasn't a bitter question – as the wizard had expected – but instead it was almost pleasant, as if she was happy to be back in the Shire. Despite her size, she had nearly become a part of hobbit life; she had taken to their customs and joined in their celebrations, and had made herself a family among strangers. He sighed with a silent relief, "As long as it is seen fit," he replied, "Elrond felt as though you had stayed too long in Rivendell…besides, the Shire is far from any known enemy and there are those keeping a close eye on the borders – those we can trust."
She nodded absently at his words, but the wizard noticed – out of a small corner of his eyes – her left hand move to cover her right. Gandalf hitched the reigns before he reached into his pocket and withdrew a pair of riding gloves.
"Perhaps you would feel a tad safer with these on," he said and handed them to her with a wink and a smile. She took them slowly before slipping them over her hands. A glint of white caught the wizard's eyes, but he ignored it; its white glow had become all too familiar to him by now. Ahead of them, the familiar sight of Bag-End came into view at the top of a knoll, and as they drew closer, Ayla noticed a sign hanging from the front gate reading 'No admittance – except on party business'.
Gandalf reigned the pony and the cart halted in front of the hobbit hole. The wizard left the cart and Ayla followed behind him. He ignored the sign on the gate and pushed it open. As it closed, the sign knocked against the fence and the wizard tapped the round door heavily with his staff.
From within, a voice shouted back at them: "No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!" Bilbo's voice called.
The wizard smiled at the girl beside him before turning back to the door, "And what about some very old friends?" he replied.
Suddenly, rapid shuffling could be heard from within, and the door flung open. The old hobbit stood in the foyer and stared in disbelief, "Gandalf?"
"Bilbo Baggins," he greeted with a smile. The hobbit rushed forward and embraced the wizard warmly.
"My dear Gandalf!" he cried, and when he noticed the girl behind him, he smiled once more, "And Ayla! My, you've grown so much since the last time I've seen you! Ah, only a jest my dear girl! You haven't changed a bit – have you come for another stay?"
She nodded and withdrew a small pouch from her pocket; handing it to the old hobbit, "Yes, and Lord Elrond sends his regards and birthday wishes," she said with a smile.
Bilbo took the pouch and sniffed it, before letting out a cry of delight, "Ahah! The old elf-lord knows me all too well! Gandalf, you and I will have to try a bit of this later; I'm sure you brought your pipe?" he laughed again and pocketed the pouch of tobacco.
Gandalf smiled and studied Bilbo carefully, "One hundred and eleventy years old," he said and paused curiously – almost suspiciously, "You haven't aged a day…" he paused a moment more before he laughed and the hobbit merrily lead them both inside.
"Come in! Come in!" he cried, "Welcome, welcome! Ayla – you remember where you're room is, right? Go on, make yourself at home!" it was lucky that, from Bilbo's last adventure, he had saved enough money to make an addition to Bag End with an extra human-sized room – one he lent to Ayla during her stays at the Shire. As she ducked beneath the arches to the back of the house, Bilbo continued his greetings with Gandalf.
"Tea?" he asked the wizard, "Or perhaps something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the Old Wineyard left. Twelve ninety-six – a very good year!" he took the wizard's hat and cloak and hung them on a nearby rack, "Almost as old as I am!" he laughed, "Let's say we open one?"
"Just tea, thank you" he told the hobbit as Bilbo disappeared into a corridor.
"If you insist – what about you, Ayla?" he heard the Halfling call to the back of the house.
"Tea is fine, thank you Bilbo," she called as she returned to the foyer with Gandalf. It was lucky that she was shorter than the wizard, seeing as though he was nearly doubled over beneath the ceiling. They ducked into the hobbit's study. At least Ayla was able to duck – the wizard managed to strike his head against a low-hanging beam. He nursed his head gingerly and Ayla headed to the back of the study towards the kitchen.
"Would you like some help?" she asked the hobbit as he scrambled about the room.
He glanced her way briefly, "Ah, yes!" he said breathlessly, "I was just looking for something you two could eat – you must be hungry after your journey," he ducked into a cupboard briefly, "You two caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid; I was expecting you two next week. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle…oh, there's some cheese here – oh no, that won't do. Er…" the hobbit shifted through the cabinetry as Ayla filled his teapot in the basin beneath the window. She was surprised, when she glanced around the room, to find that it was strangely unkempt – even for Bilbo. And as the hobbit gathered the few bundles of food he had lying about, she realized just how little food he had kept.
"Bilbo...are you planning on going somewhere?" she wondered quietly.
"Eh?" He said absently, "Why would you say that?"
Despite is absent-minded disposition, Ayla noticed the uneasiness in his voice and she frowned, "You just don't seem to have many supplies…"
"Nonsense!" he cut her off, "Frodo and I just haven't been into town lately, that's all – Ah! Here we are, I've got some leftover sponge cake!" he pulled a misshapen pastry from a cupboard and placed it on the table. He moved towards the doorway into the study, "Gandalf, I can make you some eggs if you like—"
Bilbo stopped short as he peered into the room, and found that the wizard was missing.
"Oh, Gandalf?"
"Just tea, thank you," The wizard said again, and the hobbit jumped as the old man materialized behind him. Bilbo caught his breath as Gandalf sat at the table and Ayla poured the tea into the cup before him. The wizard nodded in thanks as she filled the remaining cups and returned the teapot to its place near the fire. Bilbo joined them at the table as he helped himself to a piece of cake.
"Well, you two don't mind if I eat, do you?" he asked with his mouth already filled with food.
"Not at all," Gandalf told him with a smile.
But the hobbit was caught mid-chew as several harsh knocks came from the front door. Bilbo sputtered and choked as a shrill, muffled voice called his name from beyond.
"I'm not at home!" he whispered insistently to his companions. The Halfling silently rose and crept towards the open window and peered into the garden. Ayla noticed a look of panic come to his face as the knocking went silent and the back of two hobbits were seen returning to the road.
"It's the Sackville-Bagginses!" he whispered in dismay, "They're after the house. They've never forgiven me for living this long! I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace!"
He sighed heavily as he returned to the kitchen and stared longingly out the window. Gandalf watched him carefully in silence as he tried to make himself comfortable at the hobbit-sized table.
"I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!" he murmured and sighed once more, "…And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book…"
The wizard cleared his throat briefly and turned to the girl beside him, "Ah, Ayla, why don't you go see if they need any assistance with the party decorations, hm? I get the feeling Peregrin and Meriadoc might up to their old mischief, as it were…"
She eyed him suspiciously, knowing full well he was attempting to get rid of her, but said nothing of it. The girl rose from the table and smiled to them in farewell before heading outside.
As the front door clicked shut, Gandalf watched as his hobbit friend wearily sat across from him.
"So you mean to go through with your plan, then," he told the old Halfling.
"Yes, yes," he replied off-handedly, "It's all in hand. All the arrangements are made," he said and sipped absently from his teacup.
"Frodo suspects something – and Ayla too, as it appears," the wizard continued.
Bilbo glanced up sharply, "Of course he does. He's a Baggins, isn't he? Not some block-head Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!"
But the old man smiled gently, "You will tell him, won't you?"
"Yes, yes…"
"He's very fond of you."
The old hobbit paused for a moment, and sighed, "I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him," he murmured with an added chuckle, "Yet, I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire: the woods, the fields…little rivers…"
He trailed off and seemed to stare vacantly into space.
"I'm old, Gandalf," he said quietly, "I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart."
Gandalf's gaze shifted suddenly as he watched the hobbit slip his hand within his waistcoat pocket. Within, it seemed as though his fingers began to fidget with something, and the wizard frowned slightly.
"I feel thin – sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread…" he sunk wearily into his chair, "I need a holiday – a very long holiday – and I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to!"
The wizard watched him a moment longer. After a brief pause, it was as though new life had sprung into the hobbit's weary body and Bilbo smiled.
"But first…I think we shall celebrate with a long-expected party."
