Chapter 2
Sixteen years later, in Rivendell, I was gathering my possessions, which weren't much. Besides my small hand-full of other clothes, just my sword, armor, and archery gear. I was preparing to go to Hobbiton to see Frodo. Gandalf asked me why.
" I have already told you, Gandalf!" I said. "Frodo and I have been waiting for you to release me from my apprenticeship, so we can get married."
"You won't tell him about your ring, will you?" Gandalf asked cautiously.
The one thing that I could not tell Frodo about. That mithril ring I had come upon by accident when I was fifteen.
After I became Gandalf's apprentice, before we even went to Hobbiton, he took me to Rivendell, to see Lord Elrond. He told Gandalf and I that my ring was one of the lost Dwarven rings of power. The legend I had believed to be false had in fact been true! We were the only people who knew that I had the ring. Elrond and Gandalf forbade me to use it, or tell anyone of it. Instead they insisted upon improving my archery, and learning the art of magic and also sword fighting.
"Of course not." I said. "We need to go if we are to reach Hobbiton by Frodo and Bilbo's birthday."
So we left for Hobbiton, finally. Gandalf traveled on his wagon filled with his Fireworks, and I rode on my black horse, Aria. It took about a month to get to Hobbiton from Rivendell. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get there. I wanted to see Frodo. When we were coming around a bend in the road, Frodo appeared on a ledge.
"Your late again." He said to Gandalf. Gandalf stopped his wagon full of fireworks for Bilbo's one hundred eleventh birthday celebration.
"I'm never late." Gandalf replied. "I have always arrived precisely when I meant to."
It was quiet for a few seconds. Then the sound of two Hobbits and a wizard, suffering from uncontrollable laughter filled the air. Frodo jumped from the ledge to give Gandalf a hug.
"It's good to see you again Gandalf!" Frodo cried. "And, I'm especially glad to see you, Xandra!" Gandalf had the wagon moving again.
"How are you Xandra?" Frodo asked.
"Terrific, because I'm here, and so are you!" I said. Gandalf coughed trying to keep himself from laughing. I leaned over to Frodo."I think that we should talk later." I whispered to Frodo. He nodded.
" How's the out-side world?" Frodo asked. He was always curious of such things.
"The same as usual." Gandalf replied. "Hardly aware of the existence of Hobbits, for which I am very thankful."
We headed through the town center, then out towards Bag End. We passed a very grumpy-looking old man. Some children came running out of the fields laughing because Gandalf was back with his marvelous fireworks.
"Oh. A long expected party!" Gandalf said as we passed the party field.
"Half the Shire's been invited." Frodo said in amazement. " And Bilbo's up to something. Anyway, I'm glad your back, Gandalf." He said. Then he jumped off the wagon and I got off Aria an tied her to a near-by tree.
"And I'm glad you're back!" Frodo said, pulling me into a hug that lifted me off my feet.
"I'm glad to be back!" I said. "Guess what."
"What?" Frodo asked.
"Gandalf has released me from my apprenticeship!" I said. "He said that everything else I need to learn, I must to learn on my own."
"Good." Frodo said. " Now we can get married."
"That is good." I replied.
"Great." Frodo said. "When do you want to get married?"
"December?" I asked.
"Ok." Frodo said. " How about on the fifth of December?"
"Perfect!" I said happily.
" I have to go help set up the party now," Frodo said. " But I'll have a surprise for you at the party tonight."
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's a surprise." Frodo said. " So I can't tell you."
"Alright." I said. "Do you need help setting up the party?"
" No." Frodo said. " How about you go visit Rosie and see if you can borrow a dress."
"Good idea." I replied. " I think I'd scare people if I showed up wearing this!" I was wearing my armor, and my bow and arrows, and my sword were on my horse.
"See you tonight." Frodo said. "I know you'll like the surprise."
"Tonight then." I said. I was a little gloomy. I hadn't seen him in a while and I wanted to be with him, but I was sure I'd be with him for the rest of our lives once we were married.
So, I took Aria to a stable that she could use, and went to visit Rose Cotton. She Liked Samwise Gamgee, or Sam, Frodo's best friend and gardener. She found me a beautiful emerald green dress with slightly puffed sleeves and white trimming around the edges for me to wear.
*******************************************
The party was the biggest one of the Third Age I'll bet. There were a LOT of people there. There was food, and music, and dancing, and Merry and Pippin's favorite…beer. I still kept my staff with me. One of the first lessons I learned from Gandalf is that as a wizard I must never be without my staff; one never knows when it might be needed. When I got to the party Frodo was waiting for me.
"Now you can have your surprise." He told me. "Close your eyes."
I did. He put something into my hand. When he told me to open my eyes, there was a beautiful bracelet made from pure white flowers.
"I made it before the party so that it would not have wilted before I gave it to you." Frodo said. " It's a sign that I love you and that we are getting married. Unfortunately, the bracelet won't last forever, because it has already begun to wilt."
I took my staff and waved it around above the bracelet. Then, it seemed as though time went back, and the flowers looked in full bloom.
"Now, it will." I said.
"Good." Frodo said. Then, he kissed me. "Want to dance?"
"Why not?" I said. We danced, rested, and then danced again. When we stopped to rest, for the second time, Sam was sitting at a table with a mug of beer, and was looking at Rose Cotton. We sat down with him.
"Go on Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!" Frodo said.
"Yes. I don't think she'd mind. She's been hoping that you would all night!" I encouraged.
"Uhh… I think I'll just have another Ale." Sam said.
"Oh no you don't!" Frodo said as he took the mug away from Sam and pushed him into the dance with Rosie. Then Frodo was laughing from Sam's reaction. Complete surprise.
"That wasn't very nice." I told Frodo.
"Well, it got him to dance with her!" Frodo said between laughs. I couldn't disagree with his logic.
Later, Merry and Pippin decided to be their normal, mischievous selves. They took the Grand Finale firework for the end of the party, and shot it off from a tent. I was helping in the dish tent. Everyone started to run and scream when the firework took the form of a dragon and came swooping down on the party. It didn't hurt anyone, and exploded far on the horizon in a burst of red, yellow, and gold. I was soon relieved from duty in the dish tent when Gandalf pulled Merry and Pippin into the tent by their pointed ears, and said that they would wash ALL the dishes.
When the party was nearing an end, everyone was encouraging Bilbo to give a speech. So, he got up next to his freshly lit birthday cake and began his speech.
Bilbo welcomed all the major families that had come - most of them just wanting a good present - and there were many cheers and some silence from one remark. Then, Bilbo suddenly looked serious. As he spoke, he kept fingering something in his pocket. He continued speaking so everyone could hear.
"I regret to announce, that this is the end." Everyone stared at him strangely. "I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell." He looked at Frodo, and said: "Good-bye." And then he vanished! Frodo sat there with a look of astonishment on his face. There were gasps everywhere. I grabbed Frodo by the arm and shook him back to reality. He went up to the burrow, to see if Bilbo was there. I followed him to the gate. When he opened the door, I saw a glint of something on the floor. I felt immense fear inside me. Then Frodo got in front of it and picked it up. The fear was gone. Frodo and Gandalf talked for a few minutes, but I didn't hear what they were talking about.
I caught Gandalf as he was getting on his horse. He told me that Bilbo was going to stay with the Elves and that Bag End was officially Frodo's. He also told me he had to leave because he had to answer some questions. He reminded me not to tell Frodo about my ring, and rode off.
Frodo and I got married on December 5, as planned even though the ones we wanted to be there the most were not. It was a beautiful wedding. Although, Merry and Pippin almost got themselves killed when they nearly spilt beer all over my dress. But, I won't dwell on the wedding, because it is not a necessity to the story. The only thing to know is that we got married.
I thought I was going to live out the rest of my life in peace with Frodo in the Shire. I was very wrong.
Sixteen years later, in Rivendell, I was gathering my possessions, which weren't much. Besides my small hand-full of other clothes, just my sword, armor, and archery gear. I was preparing to go to Hobbiton to see Frodo. Gandalf asked me why.
" I have already told you, Gandalf!" I said. "Frodo and I have been waiting for you to release me from my apprenticeship, so we can get married."
"You won't tell him about your ring, will you?" Gandalf asked cautiously.
The one thing that I could not tell Frodo about. That mithril ring I had come upon by accident when I was fifteen.
After I became Gandalf's apprentice, before we even went to Hobbiton, he took me to Rivendell, to see Lord Elrond. He told Gandalf and I that my ring was one of the lost Dwarven rings of power. The legend I had believed to be false had in fact been true! We were the only people who knew that I had the ring. Elrond and Gandalf forbade me to use it, or tell anyone of it. Instead they insisted upon improving my archery, and learning the art of magic and also sword fighting.
"Of course not." I said. "We need to go if we are to reach Hobbiton by Frodo and Bilbo's birthday."
So we left for Hobbiton, finally. Gandalf traveled on his wagon filled with his Fireworks, and I rode on my black horse, Aria. It took about a month to get to Hobbiton from Rivendell. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get there. I wanted to see Frodo. When we were coming around a bend in the road, Frodo appeared on a ledge.
"Your late again." He said to Gandalf. Gandalf stopped his wagon full of fireworks for Bilbo's one hundred eleventh birthday celebration.
"I'm never late." Gandalf replied. "I have always arrived precisely when I meant to."
It was quiet for a few seconds. Then the sound of two Hobbits and a wizard, suffering from uncontrollable laughter filled the air. Frodo jumped from the ledge to give Gandalf a hug.
"It's good to see you again Gandalf!" Frodo cried. "And, I'm especially glad to see you, Xandra!" Gandalf had the wagon moving again.
"How are you Xandra?" Frodo asked.
"Terrific, because I'm here, and so are you!" I said. Gandalf coughed trying to keep himself from laughing. I leaned over to Frodo."I think that we should talk later." I whispered to Frodo. He nodded.
" How's the out-side world?" Frodo asked. He was always curious of such things.
"The same as usual." Gandalf replied. "Hardly aware of the existence of Hobbits, for which I am very thankful."
We headed through the town center, then out towards Bag End. We passed a very grumpy-looking old man. Some children came running out of the fields laughing because Gandalf was back with his marvelous fireworks.
"Oh. A long expected party!" Gandalf said as we passed the party field.
"Half the Shire's been invited." Frodo said in amazement. " And Bilbo's up to something. Anyway, I'm glad your back, Gandalf." He said. Then he jumped off the wagon and I got off Aria an tied her to a near-by tree.
"And I'm glad you're back!" Frodo said, pulling me into a hug that lifted me off my feet.
"I'm glad to be back!" I said. "Guess what."
"What?" Frodo asked.
"Gandalf has released me from my apprenticeship!" I said. "He said that everything else I need to learn, I must to learn on my own."
"Good." Frodo said. " Now we can get married."
"That is good." I replied.
"Great." Frodo said. "When do you want to get married?"
"December?" I asked.
"Ok." Frodo said. " How about on the fifth of December?"
"Perfect!" I said happily.
" I have to go help set up the party now," Frodo said. " But I'll have a surprise for you at the party tonight."
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's a surprise." Frodo said. " So I can't tell you."
"Alright." I said. "Do you need help setting up the party?"
" No." Frodo said. " How about you go visit Rosie and see if you can borrow a dress."
"Good idea." I replied. " I think I'd scare people if I showed up wearing this!" I was wearing my armor, and my bow and arrows, and my sword were on my horse.
"See you tonight." Frodo said. "I know you'll like the surprise."
"Tonight then." I said. I was a little gloomy. I hadn't seen him in a while and I wanted to be with him, but I was sure I'd be with him for the rest of our lives once we were married.
So, I took Aria to a stable that she could use, and went to visit Rose Cotton. She Liked Samwise Gamgee, or Sam, Frodo's best friend and gardener. She found me a beautiful emerald green dress with slightly puffed sleeves and white trimming around the edges for me to wear.
*******************************************
The party was the biggest one of the Third Age I'll bet. There were a LOT of people there. There was food, and music, and dancing, and Merry and Pippin's favorite…beer. I still kept my staff with me. One of the first lessons I learned from Gandalf is that as a wizard I must never be without my staff; one never knows when it might be needed. When I got to the party Frodo was waiting for me.
"Now you can have your surprise." He told me. "Close your eyes."
I did. He put something into my hand. When he told me to open my eyes, there was a beautiful bracelet made from pure white flowers.
"I made it before the party so that it would not have wilted before I gave it to you." Frodo said. " It's a sign that I love you and that we are getting married. Unfortunately, the bracelet won't last forever, because it has already begun to wilt."
I took my staff and waved it around above the bracelet. Then, it seemed as though time went back, and the flowers looked in full bloom.
"Now, it will." I said.
"Good." Frodo said. Then, he kissed me. "Want to dance?"
"Why not?" I said. We danced, rested, and then danced again. When we stopped to rest, for the second time, Sam was sitting at a table with a mug of beer, and was looking at Rose Cotton. We sat down with him.
"Go on Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!" Frodo said.
"Yes. I don't think she'd mind. She's been hoping that you would all night!" I encouraged.
"Uhh… I think I'll just have another Ale." Sam said.
"Oh no you don't!" Frodo said as he took the mug away from Sam and pushed him into the dance with Rosie. Then Frodo was laughing from Sam's reaction. Complete surprise.
"That wasn't very nice." I told Frodo.
"Well, it got him to dance with her!" Frodo said between laughs. I couldn't disagree with his logic.
Later, Merry and Pippin decided to be their normal, mischievous selves. They took the Grand Finale firework for the end of the party, and shot it off from a tent. I was helping in the dish tent. Everyone started to run and scream when the firework took the form of a dragon and came swooping down on the party. It didn't hurt anyone, and exploded far on the horizon in a burst of red, yellow, and gold. I was soon relieved from duty in the dish tent when Gandalf pulled Merry and Pippin into the tent by their pointed ears, and said that they would wash ALL the dishes.
When the party was nearing an end, everyone was encouraging Bilbo to give a speech. So, he got up next to his freshly lit birthday cake and began his speech.
Bilbo welcomed all the major families that had come - most of them just wanting a good present - and there were many cheers and some silence from one remark. Then, Bilbo suddenly looked serious. As he spoke, he kept fingering something in his pocket. He continued speaking so everyone could hear.
"I regret to announce, that this is the end." Everyone stared at him strangely. "I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell." He looked at Frodo, and said: "Good-bye." And then he vanished! Frodo sat there with a look of astonishment on his face. There were gasps everywhere. I grabbed Frodo by the arm and shook him back to reality. He went up to the burrow, to see if Bilbo was there. I followed him to the gate. When he opened the door, I saw a glint of something on the floor. I felt immense fear inside me. Then Frodo got in front of it and picked it up. The fear was gone. Frodo and Gandalf talked for a few minutes, but I didn't hear what they were talking about.
I caught Gandalf as he was getting on his horse. He told me that Bilbo was going to stay with the Elves and that Bag End was officially Frodo's. He also told me he had to leave because he had to answer some questions. He reminded me not to tell Frodo about my ring, and rode off.
Frodo and I got married on December 5, as planned even though the ones we wanted to be there the most were not. It was a beautiful wedding. Although, Merry and Pippin almost got themselves killed when they nearly spilt beer all over my dress. But, I won't dwell on the wedding, because it is not a necessity to the story. The only thing to know is that we got married.
I thought I was going to live out the rest of my life in peace with Frodo in the Shire. I was very wrong.