Chapter 9 The Party
Letter writing wasn't a skill Maliah had much use for, being everyone she knew other than Bilbo and Gandulf were in Dale and Erebor. When she sat down to write one to her mama, she was unable to sort what should be said that would put her mind at ease. In the end, it was something Bilbo had to her which would help Maliah start and finish her letter.
"Mothers are incredible creatures, Maliah. They bare the weight of their family upon themselves from the start. Through good and bad, a mother will stand upright and defend her family until her dying breath. Her love is everything in the world, as strong and brilliant as mithril and as delicate as a flower in a storm. It is what shapes her children and can destroy armies. It is the strongest energy we know on earth, for there is no bond like that of a mother and child. And there is nothing found which is so forgiving and steadfast. There is nothing in your life she wouldn't forgive you for or ever stop loving you."
One paragraph was all she wrote, since her mama had said she was coming to the Shire. It simply said she was well and living together with Frodo and Bilbo, in a room of her own of course. Included was the first steps of courtship Frodo had already performed and her own she was in the middle of trying to figure out. The last sentence before her farewell, was a plea for a specific blossom she could grow for her One.
Capitan Faraim secured the letter into his coat when she promptly handed it to him the next morning. Before the soldiers left, each stopped and bowed before her; blessing her and her One in the name of Mahal. Bilbo and Frodo stood a distance away, watching the dwarf ritual that was not of their world. They remained there, watching the train of dwarves leave at the top of the hill while Maliah remained at the bottom; waving her people goodbye.
Bilbo took another draw from his pipe and regarded the young princess. He could tell from this distance that she was awkward in her royal duties, even accepting blessings for someone of her stature. True he hasn't seen the dwarves of Erebor in years, but he could remember back during his previous visit all the older children had already had some semblance of responsibility and presence. Even the more rambunctious ones. It would seem even from birth, Maliah's personality had already taken on traits suitable for a hobbit. She had picked up the teachings from him and Frodo on gardening and cooking quickly in the short period since her arrival. An amazing feat considering she hadn't done much of either growing up in the mountain.
Maliah waited until the last dwarf left her sight around a corner before dropping her posture and letting out a long sigh. Why must she have been born a Durin? Turning around, she spied her two favorite hobbits atop the nearest hill and waved enthusiastically. This was where she belonged, among the rolling hills, and little rivers. The world was behind her now and the world ahead. Picking up her skirts, Maliah ran towards her new family.
"Gandalf, how far away are we?"
The old wizard looked to his right at Mirari who sat next to him on the wagon. Their departure had been delayed first by Maliah's appearance and disappearance, then by a storm forcing them to wait a few days. The wagon took some damage trying to maneuver the muddy roads, the back wheel coming off at one point. An event which was humorous to Gandalf, mostly because the half elf had lost her balance and fell of her seat and into the mud. He succeeded in not laughing at her and directed the young lady to a nearby stream. He originally planned on arriving a week before the party, but now it would more than likely be the morning.
"Not far, my dear. We will rest here tonight and be there about mid-morning."
Mirari nodded and looked at the road ahead. "Do you think there will be many at Bilbo's party?"
"Oh, I can imagine so. For a hobbit, he has gained odd popularity stretching beyond the Shire." He gave her a side glance. "Are you worried?"
No reply was given and the wizard attributed it to her dwarf heritage. With the pipe in his mouth, he began to hum a song from long ago to fill in the silence.
True to his word and after an incredibly early start, they entered the Shire and Mirari noticed the disapproving looks thrown their way from the older hobbits.
"Do they not like you, Mithrandir?"
"What would make you say that?"
"They are looking at you like a disturber of the peace."
"Oh really?" Gandalf looked around and saw a Proudfoot shaking his head as they passed. "Huh."
He steered the old pony up and around the roads to Bag End, riding through the market square and the tents being erected for the festivities. Not a half hour later, and a trail of little hobbit children chasing after the cart, Gandalf reined the pony to a stop in front of a round green door. The clambering of the children must have been heard inside since the door was thrown open and Bilbo came running down the stairs with a younger hobbit behind him. Gandalf was out of the cart and kneeling to hug Bilbo in greeting along with the other one. Mirari returned her eyes to the door again and saw her cousin running out in the same fashion to greet the wizard. However, she stopped at the gate upon seeing Mirari and let out a delighted yell.
She barely had time to steady herself at the speed Maliah exited the garden and climbed the cart to hug her.
"Miri! What are you doing here?"
Settling her older cousin onto her lap, finding the humor in the situation immediately, she spared a glance at Gandalf who was whispering something to Bilbo. "Gandalf invited me to come along. I think he knew you were going to come along and cause trouble."
Maliah hugged her cousin once more. "Well I am glad you came. Oh!" She scrambled down and dragged the younger hobbit over to Mirari. "This is my One, Frodo."
The half-elf looked down at the chocolate head in surprise. "A hobbit?" From her history lessons with Lord Elrond, she knew that finding a One outside of their race was incredibly peculiar for dwarves. Apparently, their creator had more of a sense of humor than anyone thought. "How old are you Frodo?"
"33, I turned of age today."
Eyebrows raised at the answer and Mirari looked at her cousin who was looking at Frodo with doe eyes. Quite the coming of age difference between the two, considering Maliah was only ten years older than him and 22 years away from her own of age. "It is a pleasure to meet you Frodo. I believe Maliah is only the second child within our family to find her other half."
He raised his head and she saw his bright blue eyes, almost the color of her sister Anira. "It is good to meet you as well."
Bilbo came up behind the two and clamped a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Come on lad, let's get the wagon unpacked."
The children had been temporarily forgotten about and were trying to unlatch the wagon to get to the fireworks. Gandalf and Bilbo shooed them away and quickly enough, the four had all the fireworks in the hobbit hole with Mirari watching. When she had tried to help, Bilbo waved her away with a smile. The children dispersed with the promise of fireworks later that night. Maliah was upon her once again, pulling her hand towards the gate and chattering on about the enormous garden that Bilbo and Frodo had grown. Mirari caught sight of the gate sign and looked to Bilbo.
"No admittance except on official party business?"
"No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers, or distant relations. The stack of returned replies for the party was well enough."
"What about very old friends?" Gandalf asked.
Bilbo's eyes held a mischievous twinkle and he laughed.
Midday came around and night was soon upon them, requiring those who were still at Bag End to get ready. Bilbo and Gandalf had left earlier to check on the tent set up before bringing the fireworks and Frodo left a time after them, somewhat reluctantly. Maliah and Mirari were leaving about an hour before the sun set, when the festivities were in full swing. Frodo had presented her with another gift, actually two, before leaving. A new dress to match his outfit and a new pair of boots. Mirari stood back and watched as Maliah dropped her new clothes and hugged the hobbit around his waist. Frodo hugged her back with one arm, caressing her braid with the other before stepping away and leaving.
Mirari had brought along a newer gown, more suited to the birthday party, and was waiting for Maliah to return from her room. At the moment, the elf was glaring at the low door frames thankful she was just barely short enough for her head to not brush the top of the home. She had been unprepared for the enclosed home and had nearly hit her head a few times. Gandalf hadn't been so lucky and had run into the chandelier before stepping into the doorframe to a sitting room. Hearing footsteps behind her, Mirari rid her face of the scowl and looked to Maliah now at her side.
"Let's go!"
Even though she had grown up with dwarves and their noise, Mirari had lived with elves for fifteen years and had grown accustom to the quiet. Maliah tried to stay by her side, so Mirari wouldn't be lonely, but she was soon stolen away by Frodo to dance. Feeling out of place for more than one reason, she moved to the edges of the party and walked around; observing the hobbits. She nearly stumbled over one who appeared in front of her.
"Hello."
Her face blank, Mirari returned the greeting. "Good evening."
"You are Maliah's cousin, right?"
"Correct."
"Then you must like fun as well."
A simple conclusion, and not for the first time. "Depends on the type of fun."
Another hobbit popped up next to the one she was talking to, appearing older. "Well, hello. Do you like fireworks?"
Her surprise must have shown on her face for she didn't have a chance to answer.
"We were going to look at Gandalf's fireworks, wanna come?"
Having nothing to do and suddenly feeling the need to watch the two, Mirari nodded her agreement. She became amused when the two bent down and stealthily crept behind hobbit, tables, and around tents. Being a lot taller than almost everything around her, she simply walked behind them neutrally. Eventually they came to the wagon once more loaded with fireworks. The smaller hobbit scrambled onto the wagon while the other whispered instructions.
"No, no…the big one. The big one!"
She saw him grab the one that looked vaguely like a dragon and furrowed her brow. Gandalf had said something about that particular firework before on the road. The two ran off to an empty tent and Mirari bent down to look inside as the fuse was lit and they were pushing it between each other.
"You're supposed to stick it in the ground!"
"It is in the ground!"
"Outside!"
"This was your idea."
She now knew what was going to happen and was able to take a few steps away in time for the firework to launch into the sky and Mirari watched as it rocketed to the sky from her crouched position. It burst apart far above them and turned into a golden red dragon, fire breathing from its nostrils and falling back down to the ground to sweep over the crowd. Panicked voices called out and the ground shook from hobbits trying to get away from what they thought was a real dragon. Mirari could pick out Maliah's voice amid them and saw Frodo running with her to his Uncle. She watched as he threw them both to the ground and covered them with his body.
Still close to the ground, she looked on as the firecracker dragon blew overhead, causing all the hobbits to fall to the ground, before heading to the hills and exploding with a definite bang. Spectacular really. She returned her attention to the two hobbits behind her who were singed and grinning.
"That was good!"
"Let's get another one!"
Gandalf appeared behind them silently and held the ear of each one in his hands. Meridoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took...I might have known." His eyes went to her and she looked up at him innocently. With a shake of his head, he dragged the hobbits away.
The party ensued, after tables were set to right, and nearing midnight Bilbo stepped onto a stool and bowed in gratitude from the applause and others yelling 'Speech, Speech'.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks ... Grubbs, Chubbs, Burrowses, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses and Proudfoots..."
"Proudfeet!" Laughter filled the hair at the hobbit's correction and Bilbo waved his hand in dismissal.
"Proudfoots. Also, my good Sackville-Bagginses that I welcome back at last to Bag End. Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday. I am eleventy-one today! Yes, and alas ... Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits!" Tremendous outburst of applause came from every hobbit there. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"
There was scattered clapping as everyone looked at the other confused if the statement was a compliment or insult while Gandalf, Frodo, Maliah, and Mirari smiled. The air seemed to change then, but only the four noticed and only one had an idea why. A bead of sweat rolled down his brow and a hand retrieved something from his vest before both hands went behind his back.
"I have ... things to do and I have put this off for far too long. I regret to announce this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell!" He gave Frodo a look, hesitating in his movements before whispering, "Good-bye."
And vanished.
Everyone in the crowd leapt to their feet, looking at the stool where Bilbo Baggins had just been standing. Frodo and Maliah were wearing the same expressions of disbelief and Mirari looked to Gandalf with concern. The wizard stood, quietly and quickly leaving the party, heading in the direction Maliah had brought them from. Mirari had no idea what to do in this type of situation, although she had a feeling Gandalf did from his departure. In their state of shock though, she wasn't sure they even noticed the wizard had left. Viewing the party crowd and their frantic movements, Mirari decided to move the two out of range in case some of the hobbits tried to seek them out for answers. When the noise of the crown was at a din, Frodo finally spoke.
"Was this a joke?"
Mirari gaze softly at the distressed hobbit. "I'm not sure. Let's wait and see if he reappears."
True to my word, technically the First Book started in this chapter. And with any luck, the next chapter will be done within the next few days.