Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Acknowledgements: To TooLazyToLogin for giving me the original idea for this series. To DoctorWhovian18, for her ideas on pranking, ideas on other things about the story, her advice and helpfulness, and the list go on. To LOTCR, for her ideas for this story. I'd also like to thank ValueMyHeart for reviewing, following, and favoriting this story. To all my readers who are favoriting, following, and reviewing this story. And I'd also like to thank Frodo and the hobbits for their help with this story as well. Yes, that sounds crazy to the normal readers, but I'm still thanking Frodo and his friends anyway.
I'm skipping ahead in time. I know, this story is slower, but this is where the story wanted to go. So, we're heading for Yule now. Okay, LOTCR's idea for Frodo doing something with his parents during the Christmas holidays sort of came up in this chapter. While it's not the same idea, it's still presentable. Also, I know there were some readers who caught the name change in the previous chapter. As you can see, that's been fixed and my pen name remains the same. I'm terribly sorry to those readers who caught that.
Yule came faster than Frodo foresaw. Yes, Frodo had the ability of foresight, mainly in his dreams, yet it was small, like a stream about to turn into a river. On the days before Yule, Bilbo enlightened Frodo and Aria with tales of his adventures. These always intrigued Frodo, as he longed to meet Elves, Dwarves and see the Lonely Mountain for himself. Frodo would even take Aria and his friends, if only Sam, Merry, Pippin and Fredegar weren't born yet in the Shire. Maybe Aria was his best chance of getting an adventure. That choice likely seemed possible.
On the third day of Yule, Frodo walked out into Bag End's garden. There he saw the Gaffer, or Hamfast Gamgee, working on tending the soil. Frodo always felt intimidated by Gaffer, yet he knew the Gaffer meant well. Frodo stopped upon hearing the Gaffer speak to him:
"Mr. Frodo, how goes your time at Bag End? I trust the family is doing well," said Gaffer.
"Quite. My parents arrived not two days ago. They're heading back to Buckland when Yule is finished," said Frodo, cheerful.
"I see you've brought a lady friend. Must be that time is nearing. Did your father tell you about…"
Frodo interrupted, not wanting to delve into the subject, "Yes, quite a great deal of it already. Why do you ask?"
"No reason, other than I would be prepared and ready to start courting," said Gaffer.
"I think I can handle myself fine. Thank you for asking," said Frodo, feeling offended.
Gaffer told him, "There's no need to raise your voice. You're higher status than I am. You should have manners by now. Where is that, by the way?"
Frodo paused. Maybe he was speaking out of turn. "I am sorry. Good luck with your gardening." He darted off back inside Bag End, closing the door softly after him.
Frodo's parents and Bilbo were still asleep, as was Aria. He did not want to wake them, and yet he felt the need to get to the main events of Yule. He knew this would be another time for gift-giving and Frodo had his gifts all planned out. Usually, before the sun was up, Bilbo would be found in his study, writing his book. Today, it was more relaxation than anything. However Frodo was too excited and, instead of Aria, the first hobbit that came to mind, he wanted to wake up Bilbo.
Springing into Bilbo's bedroom – now all the rooms in Bag End had king-sized hobbit beds, but that's beside the point – Frodo leapt onto Bilbo's bed and shook the elderly hobbit. Bilbo groaned and huffed for a time until he remembered what he had to do that day. Unlike Frodo, who was ready to start the day, Bilbo moved slowly out of bed and into the bathroom before Frodo could do anything else. Frodo felt like a five-year-old, as if his younger childhood self was coming out due to the holidays. Well, it was a time for merriment and feasting. Frodo couldn't miss that for anything.
Bilbo told the lad after finishing up in the bathroom, "Frodo, my lad, why don't you do your Uncle Bilbo a favor and wake the others?"
"Won't they be mad at me? Aria likes her sleep," admitted Frodo.
Bilbo whispered, "Don't tell them it was from me, all right? You're a good lad. I'm sure you'll come up with something."
Frodo was out of his wits. Bilbo was being mischievous? While he didn't approve of lying, being mischievous was something Frodo was good at. His parents and Aria would perhaps think it was him forcing them to get up in the morning. Yes, Aria he could handle, but his parents were another story altogether. Still, making up his mind, Frodo snuck into the guest room his parents were using. Quietly, Frodo woke them up.
The truth slipped out on its own. "Bilbo wanted me to let you know it is time to get up."
Primula, sleepy-eyed, told her husband, "Drogo wake up. Bilbo's got something to show up."
"Is it time for breakfast?" asked Drogo, groggy but alert just now.
As Primula got to a sitting position, she asked Frodo, "Frodo, where's Aria?"
"She's still asleep," said Frodo.
"Darling, why don't you wake her?" asked Primula.
Drogo, being mischievous himself at the moment, told Frodo, "And don't tell her it was from us."
"Oh Drogo," said Primula, glaring at her husband.
"All right," said Frodo, feeling more mischievous towards Aria at that moment.
Arriving at the door to the Aria's room, Frodo pressed his hand on the door, making it go silent as he entered the room. The room was huge, but then they all were. Each bed had different covers and bed spreads, as well as various large potted plants, bookcases, dressers, the same wardrobe that Frodo used – and so it seemed Aria did too – in one corner, and to Frodo's surprise a small writing desk was also found in the room. The writing desk, Frodo suspected, must have come from the Authors' House. Frodo did not want to disturb her… wait, he was still mischievous and still a hobbit boy; scaring girls was what he craved.
Making sure to keep his feet silent, Frodo used his hand magic to make several dozen earthworms appear on Aria's bed, even on top of her. The moment Aria woke up, she tried to scream but found she could not. It was all too much. Frodo laughed a little; that is, until he saw how unnerved Aria had become. Using his hand magic fast, Frodo made the earthworms disappear; only the earthworms didn't disappear in Aria's mind. Aria just lay in bed, frozen with fear and terrified to get out of bed. She finally managed to turn over on one side, not saying two words to Frodo.
Frodo tried to move, but found he could not. He didn't think the prank was too terrible, and yet Aria was shivering in fear that the earthworms might return. Primula arrived and did her best to coax Aria to get out of bed. Much to Frodo's greater concern, Aria wept in Primula's arms. Gathering his courage, Frodo approached Aria and sat down on the bed, only to catch Aria's venomous glare at him. As Frodo did his best to caress Aria's arm, even though she was tried to jerk away from him, Primula also gave Frodo a glare as she made sure Aria wouldn't squirm.
"Frodo, apologize to this sweet girl," said Primula.
Frodo blurted, "I'm terribly sorry, Aria. I thought it was a harmless prank, but I can see how affected you were by it. I won't do it again. I promise. Please don't be mad at me. I want us to be friends. Please understand that you were about to sleep in."
"You call that fair?" asked Aria. "You could have just come in here, nicely, instead of pulling that kind of prank on me."
"I know. I hope you can forgive me," said Frodo. He gave her a look that made Aria's heart melt.
How could she treat Frodo so harshly? Aria nodded, telling him with kindness, "I forgive you. Please don't pull certain pranks on me. I mean, I won't stop you from pranking, but there are certain things that terrify me: spiders, snakes, worms."
"Aria, we use worms for fishing," said Primula.
"The fish can have them. I just don't want to touch them," said Aria.
Frodo held back a chuckle. "I understand. Can you fish?"
Aria nodded, growing excited. "Yes. I just don't want to touch the worms."
"I got that," said Frodo, a little chipper now.
Primula ended her part in the conversation. Pulling away from Aria, Primula told the two children, "Well, if everything's all right now, Frodo, Aria, meet us in the dining room for breakfast. Bilbo's making it especially for us. I'll help out later with lunch, tea, and dinner."
As soon as Primula left, Aria admitted to Frodo, "I'm not used to six or seven meals a day. I usually eat three meals plus a snack."
"What kind of a hobbit are you?" asked Frodo, teasing her.
Aria knew he was teasing.
o-o-o
Shortly after breakfast, the Yuletide continued with more gifts for Frodo and Aria, but also between Drogo, Primula and Bilbo. One of the gifts Frodo received from his parents was a book on how to create proper spells. Frodo was grateful for the gift and promised to use it wisely. Once again, Aria had few gifts, but they were spread out for the Yuledays, so she at least felt better about the occasion.
After the gift unwrapping, everyone went their separate ways. Bilbo, along with Primula prepared for luncheon, while Drogo puffed his pipe in the parlor. Frodo stared at all his gifts until his father told him to put them away, which Frodo nearly did. Then his father insisted that he and Frodo's mother bring his gifts home with them. Frodo nodded in agreement, but decided to take at least one gift back with him to Hogwarts. This turned out to be the book on creating spells. True, Frodo was a beginner with spells; still, he knew this book would come in handy later.
As he encouraged Aria to come with him to his room, Frodo entered his bedroom and set the book in his trunk; it was the last of his gifts to be brought into his room. Aria waited until Frodo had something to say. Frodo started at once:
"I can do hand magic without saying two words," said Frodo.
"Can you?" asked Aria, curious.
Frodo nodded. The second he flicked his hand, a blue ribbon tied itself onto the bottom of Aria's hair and quite tight. Aria tried pulling off the ribbon, but found she could not. Frodo merely chuckled in delight. He didn't normally do anything for girls, but this seemed the occasion to do something kind.
"Well, now you look decent," said Frodo.
Aria blushed in embarrassment. The last thing she wanted was to be fussed with. "Thank… you, I guess."
Frodo grinned; it was a shy grin, but it still sent its message. He asked Aria, "So, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Games, reading… yeah," said Aria, hesitant.
"Sounds like your to-do list," said Frodo.
"I don't treat it that way, no," said Aria, shaking her head.
Frodo grinned. "Aria, I know what a to-do list is." He repeated, "What do you like to do for fun?"
Aria paused for a long while. This wasn't the sort of question she was used to being asked, and it stumped her. She didn't have any response or excuse to back her up.
Frodo knew what they could do. "You want to take a walk with me?"
"Sure," said Aria, feeling some relief.
"Great. Let's go," said Frodo, taking Aria's hand. As they entered the Entrance Hall, Frodo called to his family, "Aria and I are going for a quick walk."
Primula came out of the kitchen. "How far?"
"Just to see Gaffer," said Frodo.
"All right," said Primula. "I'll let you know, or Bilbo will, when lunch is ready."
"Don't wander too far, kids," said Drogo, almost in encouragement for Frodo to walk longer than he planned.
Frodo chuckled at that. "I will, Papa." He opened the door and allowed Aria to leave Bag End first. In a few quick strides, Frodo closed the door behind him. He led Aria down the stone steps.
Passing the gate, once Frodo had closed it, he and Aria walked down the road. Their minds were filled with thoughts of how lunch would soon be coming their way.
That's when Aria managed to keep them both off the subject: "I want to travel, see the sights and explore new things. I do that a lot in video games."
"What's that?" asked Frodo, intrigued.
Aria paused. She didn't know how to answer. "I'm not sure if I can describe a video game. You'll have to see it for yourself sometime."
"I would like that very much. Thank you for asking," said Frodo.
Aria gazed at Frodo now. Did she even ask him… maybe she did in the sentence? Whatever. "So what do you like to do for fun, besides the obvious pranking and getting into mischief?"
"Oh," said Frodo, staring absentmindedly at his feet. He gave a quick, but cheerful answer, "Well, I love mushrooms and… I've been getting into Maggot's farm to steal them."
"Steal?" asked Aria, a little too loud.
Frodo shushed her. Lowering his voice, Frodo inquired, "Yes, stealing mushrooms. It's fun."
"I don't think stealing is fun," said Aria, timidly.
"Only if you don't get caught," said Frodo, grinning mischievously.
Aria gave a quizzical brow. Perhaps she asked the wrong question.
Their thoughts were interrupted when Frodo spoke to Mrs. Gamgee, who asked their business. Frodo relayed to her, "Where's Hamfast – the Gaffer?"
"He's in the garden," said Mrs. Gamgee.
"Thank you," said Frodo. He told Aria, "Race you back to Bag End?"
"What? Frodo–" but Aria spoke too soon. She tried catching up to Frodo, but she was too slow. While Frodo made it to the gate, Aria felt like she was a sore loser. She was used to losing and was not a very good runner. Even after reaching the gate, Aria had to stop and rest, just as Frodo raced up the stone steps and straight into the garden.
Frodo asked Gaffer, "Still working? You know its Yule, right?"
"I'm only keeping the soil moist, but… I should stop. The harvest is done for this year and my business should be focused at home with my wife, rather than getting this blasted soil… I'm doing extra work!" complained Gaffer, standing upright. He spoke in a calmer voice, "But extra work is what makes a garden successful. What are you doin'?"
"I came to see you," said Frodo.
"Yea? Well, I'm done for the day. I won't have to work on the garden again until the end of Yule," said Gaffer. "Tell Mr. Bilbo that his garden will be ready before spring."
"But doesn't the seeds need to be planted sometime during spring?" asked Frodo. He wasn't used to asking these questions.
"Yes, but for a gardener, it has to be sometime at the start of March. I should speak to Mrs. Gamgee. Good luck with your Yule feasting," said Gaffer, taking his gardener's tools and heading down the hill.
Mrs. Gamgee promptly told him, "I told you that you didn't need to work on the garden today. What drove you to it, Gaffer?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, I don't rightly know," said Gaffer, feeling stressed himself. He closed the door to his hobbit-hole after him.
Frodo spun around and, finding Aria sitting on the bench, joined her. He scooted in awful close to her, and said, "The Gaffer, I don't know why, was busy this morning working in the garden. The harvest is past. I don't see what he was doing there in the first place. He said he was tending the soil… whatever that means." However, he got no response from Aria and almost dead silence, except for her breathing. Facing her, Frodo placed his hand over hers, making Aria and himself uncomfortable.
Frodo and Aria's breathing turned heavy, leaving neither one knowing what to do. Frodo moved his hand off of Aria's hand awful fast upon hearing his mother calling them about something. Whirling around to face her, Frodo asked, hoping to get a clearer response:
"What?"
"Come inside. Lunch is ready," said Primula, from the open window.
"Okay!" called Frodo, returning his gaze to Aria. "Shall we?"
Aria nodded in quick procession. As Frodo stood up, so did Aria. The two children made their way to the front green door, which Frodo opened for Aria, but not before Frodo was nearly pulled inside by his father. After excusing themselves, Frodo gestured towards the Entrance Hall, giving Aria the hint to go in. Drogo closed the door after they were all inside Bag End.
Now I'm not sure if I should stay in Yule or move ahead of time. Let me know in your reviews what you think, my fellow readers. Okay, bye! :)