Fireworks exploded above us while I sat beside Gandalf, who was far too pleased with himself for his spectacular display lighting up the night sky. The laughter of delighted children filled the Shire. I could hear Bilbo a few feet away holding a group of young hobbits in rapture with stories of his adventures.

"And then POOF! They all turned to stone!" Bilbo exclaimed with a wide grin.

The gasps and giggles of startled hobbits made me laugh with them, but the smile faded as I strained my mind to remember my past. Trying to remember if I had laughed like that as a child. I couldn't remember my old life; nothing before Gandalf had found me years ago on the outskirts of the Weather Hills.

I could remember Gandalf looking at me with questioning and kind eyes, his voice filled with confusion, "An elf? So far from home? No… A peredhil! What is your name, my child?"

All I could do was shake my head. I had no idea who I was or where I was. The only clue was a silver bracelet on my wrist engraved with a name: Eleniel. Gandalf rescued me and took me to Rivendell, the closest elven realm where Lord Elrond lived. It was Gandalf's hope that the elven Lord would be able to use his elven ability to read my future.

"Without her knowing her past, I cannot see her future. With her past hidden from her, so is her future from me." Elrond was disheartened that he was unable to offer his assistance and sought the help of Lady Galadriel, grandmother to his daughter, Arwen.

Lady Galadriel's ability was to read minds and it was Lord Elrond and Gandalf's hope that she could see that which was hidden from even myself. To her surprise, she could not read my mind at all. Together, Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel surmised that perhaps my elven ability- for even peredhil had abilities- was to be hidden from other's powers or sight.

Unfortunately, neither of them knew who I was. They both offered me places within their houses, as I was kin to them in someway, whether we knew the precise lineage I came from or not. And I did make homes with both houses, but I thoroughly enjoyed traveling and Gandalf had been all too happy to allow me to join him. It was traveling with Gandalf that had allowed me to make friends across Middle Earth; Bilbo and Frodo among them.

The Shire was one of my favorite places. It was always filled with happiness and laughter, peace and tranquility; almost like it was hidden away from the rest of Middle Earth.

I shook my head of all the ill thoughts and returned my attention back to Bilbo's birthday party as Bilbo sat down beside me. "I'm so happy that you could be here, my dear." He smiled through a puff of smoke from his pipe.

"I wouldn't miss an opportunity to visit the Shire and I certainly wouldn't miss your birthday!"

Bilbo turned and looked at me with a raised eyebrow, "You truly like the Shire and Hobbiton that much?"

"Of course! Why do you ask? Is it so hard to believe?"

With a gentle shrug, he turned back towards the ongoing party around us. "No. I suppose not. Perhaps I have just been here longer than you and find that it grows almost too quiet."

A grin spread across my face, "Yearning for more adventures?"

"Perhaps." He puffed on his pipe. "Or maybe just a change of scenery." He waved his hand dismissing the topic, "Nevermind me." He got up and headed away towards another hobbit waving for his attention.

Gandalf returned with a wide grin of amusement, "Oh, my dear, you should go and dance! Very enjoyable!"

I was about to reply when a giant flame suddenly burst forth from a tent, forming the shape of a dragon. Everywhere around me hobbits ran for cover or dove on the ground, shielding their heads as they all believed that the dragon was real. While most were too busy cowering in fear, Gandalf went right into the burnt tent and took the culprits by their ears. Mary and Pippin were known troublemakers, but this time their gleeful trick had them caught. As the dragon took flight to the sky, it burst into a spray of sparkling colors and the hobbits all cheered; except for Mary and Pippin.

I giggled at the sight of the two troublemakers, their soot covered faces only added to their hair all astray from the firework's explosion. They had been punished to dish duty while Gandalf oversaw their work, and with it being such a huge celebration, there were plenty of dishes to keep the two out of trouble for a while.

Eventually the party seemed to somber down. The music became softer and slower and the mood seemed to calm drastically. It slipped into a near silence until a single hobbit began for Bilbo to give a speech, soon the whole number of hobbits were chanting for the birthday boy to give his speech. Bilbo did not disappoint, he walked up on to the raised dias and started giving his thanks for everyones' attendance and how he was glad to have known them all. After a while his words changed and his voice fell, no longer holding the same cheerful vibrate from before.

I turned to Gandalf and noticed that even his expression had changed. He was no longer smiling at his small friend. While I pondered what Bilbo was trying to say, a sudden sensation filled me and before my very eyes he disappeared.

My mouth hung open in shock, not wanting to believe what I had just witnessed. The sensation filled me and blazed through my body. It wasn't fear, or terror, but it wasn't pleasant either. It was more like an overwhelming sense of foreboding. Something wasn't right.

Gandalf was quickly on his feet, turning to stop me from following, "Stay here with Frodo!" He ordered as he hurried away.

Frodo glanced my way and I shrugged. Everyone seemed to quickly get over the amazing trick they had just seen and the party quickly resumed. The music started again as did the dancing, while others returned to eating and drinking. The night carried on, parents departed to take their tired wee ones home to bed.

I grew anxious as I waited for Gandalf to return and eventually Frodo approached me, "Should we go and see where they've gone?"

I nodded and the two of us departed the party. The excited Frodo ran ahead of me and I was left behind and quickly distracted by a woman holding her little girl. I stopped and admired the sweet young girl, commenting on how adorable she was as she shyly buried her grinning face against her mother's neck.

Gandalf startled me as he appeared behind me with his hand landing on my shoulder. "It's time to go, my dear."

I started following after him as he quickened his pace, "Can we not stay a bit longer?"

Gandalf stopped as we reached our horses, turning to face me as he tried to hide his worry, "Please, child, do as I ask. I want you to head to Rivendell with all haste."

"Rivendell? Why?"

He flashed me a stern look and I quickly nodded. Something was very wrong, but he wasn't telling me anything. He gave me an order and as always I would listen. He handed me the reins of my horse. "With all haste, do you understand?"

"Yes."

He embraced me briefly, "I will meet you there as soon as I can."

Without another word, I climbed atop my horse and nudged it into a trot. I headed to Bree for lodgings for the night.