Chapter 2: Truths and Celebration
Bilbo
I stared at Marina until she disappeared down the hill feeling my heartbeat quicken the farther away she got.
"Something on your mind my friend?" Gandalf asked suddenly snapping me back to him as I said, "Why wasn't I aware that Los had a daughter?"
"Marina was very sick when she was little so she was kept in Rivendell while Los fought against the orcs." he said eyeing me curiously as I grabbed my pipe saying, "She's short for an elf"
"Yes well that's because she's part Hobbit." Gandalf said making me drop my pipe with a squeak as I quickly turned to Gandalf saying, "How old is she?"
"Just turned 60." Gandalf said seeing him eye me nervously as I closed my eyes saying, "Does she know who her father is?"
"No, all she knows was he lived in the shire." Gandalf said making me frown saying, "Why haven't you told me of this before?"
"Los swore not to bring it up and it wasn't my place to say anything it was hers." Gandalf said making me frown replying, "You knew though… why didn't she tell me?"
Gandalf looked sadly towards the direction Marina went replying, "All I know is Los left Marina in Rivendell when she was young once she was done defending them against the orcs and when she came back she said she never wanted me to mention it again."
I frowned closing my eyes tightly saying softly, "It was her…"
I was sitting on my bench smoking my pipe happily as it was a beautiful spring morning and most of the hobbits were out of their holes gardening. I heard footsteps running in my direction seeing Frodo frolic out of the garden laughing as he hopped over to me.
"Frodo what have I told you about stomping around in our garden?" I said but he saw the twinkle in my eye, he grew more like me every day.
"I'm sorry, after lunch can I go play with Sam please?" he asked seeing the pleading look in his eyes making me laugh replying, "Of course you can my boy."
He got off the bench as I stood up stopping for a moment turning quickly just in time to see a flash of white hair and the smell of firewood and pine invade my nose making me freeze.
"Uncle Bilbo… is everything okay?" Frodo asked worriedly walking over to me as I gave him a sad smile saying, "Sorry my boy I just thought I saw someone…"
"Someone special?" Frodo asked curiously saying, "Yes… someone very special."
I opened my eyes as Gandalf watched me quietly while I said, "What happened to her?"
"She passed… illness had been slowly taking hold of her and she died about a year ago, Marina has been in my care since." Gandalf said sadly making me frown saying, "I wish I had known… all this time she must have thought Frodo was my son, that's why she never visited."
I turned towards Gandalf saying, "You won't tell her will you?"
"It is not my place too but she should know when you're ready to talk, she's strong like her mother and quite adventurous as her father was." Gandalf said making me smile hearing a knock at the door going to it seeing Marina holding bags of goodies.
"I may have gone a bit overboard Uncle Gandalf." She said peeking her head behind the boxes as I saw the same mischievous smile I once had, she also had my eyes.
Marina
I had bought some seed cakes as well as little trinkets and gifts since Gandalf told me we were coming for Bilbo and Frodo's birthday I thought I ought to get them gifts. I began walking around the hobbit hole stopping on a lovely sketch seeing it was a picture of my mother sleeping and beside her laid a hobbit snoring against her shoulder.
"Your mother was quite beautiful, but she always hated when Ori tried to draw her." Bilbo laughed beside me as I turned to him saying, "Is that you as well Master Baggins?"
"Yes, indeed when I was much younger looking." He laughed as I looked at the picture saying, "My mother talked about your adventure and how she faced off against a dragon with you, I hope to one day be as brave as she once was."
"You are still young, I'm sure you'll have a real adventure of your own one day when you least expect it." He said thoughtfully as I smiled seeing Frodo walk in saying, "We best be getting ready the party starts soon."
I went into a guest room putting on a nice outfit before wrapping the presents I bought walking out as Gandalf waited patiently for me. Once outside Bilbo and Frodo were waiting for us as we all made our way to a large open field seeing decorations and beautiful lights all around as well as a large assortment of food and drink making my mouth water.
I listened to the music and hobbits dancing as I tried walking around them, I was still about a foot taller than most of them unlike with elves I couldn't just duck under them. I found Bilbo smoking his pipe beside Gandalf as the children were jumping up and down for the fireworks.
"Master Baggins I bought you a present for your birthday… though I wasn't sure what to get you…" I said trailing off as he laughed saying, "I'm sure whatever it is dear I'll enjoy it."
He opened it seeing a lovely maroon-colored cloak smiling at it fondly replying, "I had one just like this when I went off on my first adventure, it's perfect."
I smiled breathing a sigh of relief replying, "I'm glad you like it, it was either that or pipeweed, Uncle Gandalf said most Hobbits enjoy it."
"Both perfect choices my dear thank you." He said while I smiled seeing movement out of the corner of my eye watching feet stick out of Gandalf's cart looking back at them saying, "Excuse me."
I walked over to the cart seeing two sets of feet whispering inside of Gandalf's cart putting my hands on my hips saying, "What are you doing?"
The whispers stopped as they turned towards me seeing two hobbits around Frodo's age stare at me for a moment turning around sitting in the cart letting their feet dangle.
"Who are you?" the taller of the two asked as I crossed my arms saying, "Marina and who are you, this is Gandalf's cart."
"I'm Merry." The taller one said as the other replied, "I'm Pippin, we are just trying to get the biggest firework to let go off."
"Pippin, don't tell her, we don't know who she is." Merry whispered harshly as Pippin smiled innocently saying, "She has just told us her name."
Merry rolled his eyes saying, "Yes but she must have come with Gandalf."
His eyes widened at the realization of it putting the firework he had tucked in his hand behind him replying, "We aren't doing anything."
I rolled my eyes getting in the cart as they moved away from me while I dug around opening a large box smirking lightly moving towards them saying, "You'll want this one."
