Deep

By Sistine Chapel

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Right, so…what's up? Anyways, thanks for all who reviewed. And I don't own Tolkien; I mean Tolkien's works! Ok, Bye!

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Bilbo raised his mug of beer and said, "My dear People!" Many hobbits raised their glass and cried, "Hear, hear!"

Deep saw that Bilbo had one hand waving in the air and the other fiddling with something in his trouser-pocket. She felt a strong shiver down her spine. 'The Ring,' she thought.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins," he began again; "and my dear Tooks and Branybucks, and Grubbs, and Chubbs, and Burrowses, and Hornblowers, and Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses and Proudfoots…" And of course there was that old Proudfoot that made that funny remark about Proudfeet. The hobbits got a good chuckle; even Bilbo giggled a bit.   

"Proudfoots," repeated Bilbo. "Also my good Sackville-Bagginses that I welcome back to Bag End." Deep saw that the Sackville-Bagginses stuck their noses in the air and turned their heads away when he said that.

"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday: I am eleventy-one today!"

"Hurray! Hurray! Many happy Returns!" they shouted and began to beat on the tables. Everyone began to settle down again when Deep yelled out like a drunken person, "BILBO BIRNG DOWN DA HOUSE!" Everyone, of course, stared at the odd girl. She blushed and slowly melted back into her seat and picked up Pippin and put him in her lap. "Sorry," she mumbled. 'A little slow there Deep,' she thought to herself. 

Bilbo glared at her and began again, "I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am." Everyone cheered. People cried yes, and of course one smart guy who said no. Children began to play with their instruments that they have received as party favors. Also surprisingly Miss Melilot Branybuck and Master Everard Took jumped up on one of the tables and began to perform the Springle-ring dance. You see, hobbits liked things short and obvious; so they assumed Bilbo was done with his speech.

But of course, he wasn't; Deep saw the cross look on his face. She stood up on her chair with Pippin in her arms and yelled, "HEY YOU GUYS! BILBO AIN'T DONE YET! SIT BACK DOWN!!!! " Everyone grew quiet.

Bilbo smiled at Deep and said, "Thank you my dear. I shall not keep you long. I have called you all for a Purpose. " Everyone grew really silent now. It was even quiet enough to drop a pin to the ground and hear it. "Indeed, for 3 Purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that eleventy-one years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits."  Tremendous outburst of approval.

"I don't know half of you as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment. Mostly everyone had confused expressions upon their faces. Deep's heart was pounding so hard by this time it woke up little Pippin. But she didn't notice that, her eyes' were on Bilbo.

"Secondly, to celebrate my birthday. I should say: OUR birthday. For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew, Frodo. He comes of age and into his inheritance today." The Sackville-Bagginses scowled, and wondered what was meant by 'coming into his inheritance.'

"Together we score one hundred and forty-four. Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total: One Gross, if I may use the expression. It is also, if I may be allowed to refer to ancient history, the anniversary of my arrival by barrel at Esgaroth on the Long Lake; though the fact that it was my birthday slipped my memory on that occasion. I was only fifty-one then, and birthdays did not seem so important. The banquet was very splendid, however, though I had a bad cold at the time, I remember, and could only say 'thang you very buch.' I now repeat it more correctly: Thank you very much for coming to my little party. " Everyone was getting bored, except Deep. Her eyes were wide as big as an owl. 'This is going to be one of the last times I am ever going to see Bilbo!' and that thought made Deep's eyes water.

"Thirdly and finally," he said, "I wish to make an ANNOUCEMENT." Bilbo spoke it so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who still could. Deep jumped out of her seat and stood right in front of Bilbo. Her looked at her and smiled sadly. 'So she knows' he thought.

"I regret to announce that- though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you- this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!"

"BILBO!!!" Deep shouted, but it was too late. Bilbo vanished and blinding white light took his place.

Of course, the hobbits were all confused and talking at once. Deep stood there dumbfounded until she felt something tug the hem of her dress. She looked down and saw little Pippin staring at her with his big brown eyes and asking, "Deep, is Bilbo coming back?" Deep was silent for a moment and shook her head and said softly, "No Pippin, he is not coming back."

          "Ok, I will go tell Mama," and with that Pippin scurried away. After Pippin left, Deep began to feel tears roll down her face. She would have ran off to the house and try to catch Bilbo, but the hobbits needed more beer.

          Of course, all of the hobbits were laughing; thinking it was another one of crazy old Bilbo's bad jokes. The hobbits talked for an hour and decided to was best to go home. They thanked Frodo for an overall pleasant evening.

          When all of the guests left, Frodo came up behind her and chuckled softly, "Deep, did you see the faces on everyone when Bilbo disappeared with his ring!" Deep finally turned around and faced Frodo. Frodo noticed the tears running freely down Deep's cheeks. "Oh, Deep." And he gave her a hug. "He isn't coming back! Bilbo isn't coming back!" She cried and sank to the grass. He was shocked at this bit of information and sighed.  Frodo then frowned over Deep's sobbing and leveled his face to hers. He cupped her chin and smiled. She stopped crying and wiped her tears.

          "Sorry," Deep said meekly. "No need to be," Frodo said. He looked over toward Bag End and said to Deep, "Lets go home Deep; it has been a long day. Maybe Gandalf is there." Like a true gentlehobbit, Frodo offered his hand to Deep. And together, hand in hand, they walked home.

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Wow, what a sweet ending, I think. Well, let me know what you think. Hey, it is a part of your constitutional rights!