a/n: Okay, I'm trying to make it more original from now on. To anybody reading the story, please review!!!

Chapter Four

While his uncle and Gandalf were talking and almost everybody in Hobbiton was preparing the big party, Frodo was walking along one of the small paths, trying to find a quiet place without anybody disturbing him.

Suddenly somebody came his way - a hobbit lass. When she was near enough for Frodo to see her face, his face lit up and he walked faster towards her. Meanwhile Pearl Took had also seen her distant cousin Frodo Baggins and now tried to hide her overjoy. Being the oldest of the children of Paladin Took - with 26 years - her parents wanted her to be married in seven years. In the eyes of her family, Frodo definatly would be a great husband, being the heir of Bilbo and all that. In her eyes, Frodo was just the most handsome Hobbit in the whole Shire.

"Pearl!" Frodo exclaimed as soon as reaching his secret crush. "What a pleasure to see you." His smile only widened when she turned a light shade of red and answered: "It's also great to see you, Frodo. And happy birthday to you!" Frodo chuckled at that. "I think you are the only one besides my uncle and Sam Gamgee to remember that today is also my birthday." "And your coming of age, too!" Pearl went on. "But I guess that an eleventy-first birthday is just something more spectaculare", Frodo said and continued: "Are you going anywhere special or do you have time for a little walk with me. `Cause I'm trying to get away from all that party business." Pearl smiled and nodded: "Yes, sure!" Then she fingered around in one of the pockets of her dress and found a small box. "I don't know if it is all right to give you a present already now but ...", she said and handed Frodo the box. Frodo grinned and answered: "I', always all right with people giving me presents." Then he gave Pearl his arm and he went on: "What about the two of us going down to the creek and I'm opening my present there?" Pearl nodded and arm in arm the two young hobbits walked to the litte river, making it's way through the Shire near Hobbiton.

After they had reached the water, Frodo laid down his coat and the two of them sat down on it. Frodo took the box into his hands again and shook it. "I don't think you gonna find out what it is from shaking it", Pearl said laughing. For a moment Frodo was drawn to her face and would have almost forgotten his good manners but then he took a deep breath and answered: "Yes, probably not but one can always try." Then he opened the box which revealed a paper roll. Frodo unrolled it and saw that there was a poem on it. Suddenly Pearl took the paper from him and started: "Upon the hearth the fire is red, beneath the roof there is a bed; but not yet weary are our feet, still round the corner we may meet a sudden tree or standing stone that none have seen but we alone. Tree and flowers and leaf and grass, let them pass! Let them pass! Hill and water under sky, pass them by! Pass them by!" She made a break and Frodo cheered quietly. "My father taught the powem to me - it's my favorite", Pearl said. "It's beautiful", Frodo said and just wanted to contiune when they head the voice of Eglantine Took, the mother of Pearl: "Pearl! Child, where are you?" Then she saw the two hobbits and coming towards them, said: "Frodo, a pleasure to see you. pearl, we still have to get ready for the party!"

When mother and daughter had passed out of his sight, Frodo laid down with the image of a laughing Pearl in front of his closed eyes and her reciting the poem in his ears.

a/n: I know that in the book Frodo was taught that poem by Bilbo but whatever!