Author's notes: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review.
I'm following the film mainly, because my brother has abducted my book, so I can't cross reference with my memory.
CHAPTER 2: A night to remember.
Gingerhead's POV.
The road goes ever on and on, and so does his blasted singing. Doesn't he ever shut up? It was fun at first, quite much like a lullaby, I would dare to admit. But after four hours, I am rather annoyed. We cats have rather sensitive ears, and I would appreciate some silence.
Time to get up. Are we there yet? And where are we going, in the first place? It better be someplace with food and warmth and flowers I can shred. Well, this looks promising. No humans, just some little folk. If my past lives' memory serves well, these must be hobbits. Just like cats, they value food and having a good time doing nothing. Hmm ...perhaps I won't go to the elves. Perhaps I will stay here, if it proves to be to my liking.
I glare at my servant and complain loudly. He smiles. Why on earth would he smiling? I need to be fed but, most important, I have to relieve myself. So I mew louder. Still smiling. Perhaps he's not as bright as I had thought at first. I mew again, and assault his beard. And now he's laughing. Oh, Gingerhead, admit it. This human here is a lost cause. I quit my attempts on interspecies communication and search the back of his wagon for a place to relieve myself. It is filled with big papery things, perfect for claw practice. Mental note to explore this option later. For now, I peek through a hole and see they are filled with some dark sand. Perfect! I claw through the paper and dig an even bigger hole. Ahh... at last, release.
Meanwhile, one of the short creatures has climbed on the wagon. So, it is time to check if this one has any potential of becoming my servant. I climb back front and announce my presence.
~*~
Frodo Baggins climbed on Gandalf's wagon, delighted to meet the wizard. Among pleasantries and talking over Bilbo, he heard a loud mew from the back. He turned and saw a cute orange kitten climbing to the front of the wagon.
"Gandalf, who's that little guy?" he asked in amusement.
"That's a kitten I pulled out of a stream half dead, the poor thing. Frodo, meet Smaugling. Smaugling, this is Frodo," replied Gandalf smiling.
The kitten jumped on Frodo's knees and sniffed him. Then he licked his finger, attempting a soft bite. And then he jumped on Gandalf's lap, curled, raised his back leg and started washing his privates.
Wizard and hobbit burst in laughter.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
This is hopeless. The halfling smells like food but he doesn't taste like it. How long do I have to wait to get serviced here? I am deeply disappointed. So there. See what I think of you as I clean myself up.
The hobbit is gone, and we finally stop outside what seems to be a hole in the ground. Oh, great. Another hobbit. I go inside first, as this one was kind enough to keep the door open for me. Man and hobbit are talking about mountains and other trivial stuff, while I track my way to the kitchen. At last, here's my breakfast.
I hear the halfling, I think Bilbo is his name, offering chicken leftovers to the human. Well, check again, Master Bilbo. There aren't any anymore. Same applies to the apple-pie and cream. And yes, I would also like some tea, thank you.
~*~
"Gandalf, this cat of yours has eaten half my food supply," said Bilbo, hardly believing his eyes. Gandalf appeared rather embarrassed.
"Smaugling, come over here," he said wearily and patted his hand on his lap. No response from the kitten. "My apologies, Bilbo. The poor thing must have been malnourished for days now".
Bilbo chuckled.
"No offence taken, old friend. We hobbits can appreciate a healthy appetite". The kitten got up, walked over to Bilbo and jumped on his lap purring loudly.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV
My name is not Smaugling. And yes, I have been malnourished. You are now officially off my service, and I am staying with this hobbit here. So, time to act cute.
Master Bilbo, see how innocent I look purring and chasing my tale? Don't you feel that you should protect me? Feed me and groom me until the end of your days? Oh, rats' tails! He is not falling for it. And he hands me over to the human again. Oh, well, I will try again later. At least the human's beard is soft and welcoming, a perfect place to sleep on and wipe my nether parts, if the need arises.
I wake up hours later. I stretch out and check on my new surroundings. Hey, it is a party! I can see little folk dancing, drinking and, yes, eating! I jump on the first table I find and purr loudly, mewing as I haven't been fed in ages, which is not a complete lie. We cats have a different perception of time, when it comes to food. And behold, it worked. I work my way through pies and pork ribs, while everyone comments on how cute I am. Ah, to be a cat. The whole world is at your paws with just the slightest effort.
Time to check on my servant. I find him going through his papery things. He looks at me with utter disappointment. I guess he finally found out the one that served me as a toilet. What's that look for? I told you I had to relieve myself, did I not? He pulls out another one, lights it up and ... Oh, Great Mother of all the Cats, the sky is falling on our heads! Run for your lives!
I run among huge, hairy feet, jump on tables, knock over platters of food and splash in mugs of ale, until I finally find a safe place under a carriage.
~*~
Gandalf laughed to tears when he saw the kitten running in terror as the first firework went off. It caused havoc through his wild escape, passing through dishes of food and mugs of beer, hissing and spitting, fluffed up like a bristle brush. A lot of hobbit heads turned to see what this storming menace was, thinking it was just another wizard trick. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he waved at Frodo.
"Frodo, my dear boy, please go find Smaugling. The poor thing got scared from the fireworks."
Frodo found the kitten under a carriage. It trembled, but when he tried to catch it, Gingerhead hissed and spat.
"Hey, little fellow, he said gently. "Are you afraid of the fireworks?"
At that point, back in the shadows, Merry and Pippin abducted one of Gandalf's biggest fireworks.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV
I am not coming out and, if you value your life, you will join me in here as well.
Excuse me? Fireworks?
I knew that.
I was just checking to see how long it would take you to find me, should I need any help, Gods forbid. And I can perfectly find my way back on my own, thank you.
Why on earth are you snickering? What if I am covered in cream?
~*~
Merry and Pippin set off the Dragon firework. Everyone fell on the ground in terror.
Well, not everyone.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
A dragon! It is mine! I saw it first and it is mine!
Why are these hobbits on the ground? Never mind, I will walk over them as I go dragon hunting. Oh, blast. It is just another one of the wizard's tricks.
Now I am bored. I will go sleep on his beard again.
Apparently, great things happened while I was sleeping. I wake up to find myself in the hobbit is hol-, uhm, house. Bilbo and my human talk over a ring. And the hobbit departs. Too bad, I liked him. But he drops that ring on the floor. I think I should check out what all the fuss is about.
I sniff it. Nothing. I lick it. Nothing again, apart from a faint taste of ale from the hobbit's hands. I push it with my paw and it lightly jingles on the stone floor. Not much fun, but it shines nicely. I pick it up with my teeth and take it to the human.
Here's your ring. It seems nice and shiny and probably of some value. Go out and sell it and buy me food.
Why are you staring at me like that?
~*~
Gandalf froze when he saw the ring he suspected to be the One Ring to be offered to him. Not by Bilbo, but by the kitten he had saved earlier. What kind of a test was this? Could this kitten be more than he appeared?
And then Frodo came in, and Gandalf departed to investigate further, leaving both Smaugling and the ring in the hobbit is care.
"Keep it hidden, keep it safe," he warned him.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
Wrong instructions. You should have said: 'Keep him warm, keep him fed and keep him safe'. And certainly not hidden.
He's gone.
I feel a bit sad, actually. I had started to like the big guy. Of course, I would never have him know.
So, Mr.Frodo, is there anything to eat around here?