A/n: I will finish this chapter tonight! Not tomorrow.. Tonight! I have a glass of milk, rice cakes, good music playing, and all the books I need for reference. I'm psyched…lets go!
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Frodo and Lirima were sitting at the base of a tall willow tree next to a small waterfall. They had been revisiting old memories and places, and reliving old adventures. Now Lirima was telling Frodo of all the places she had been.
"What was the sea like?"
"Tina aear, sila ve gil beleg."
"And Cirdan?"
"He was.. When you first see him the first thing you notice about him is his height. He's almost a full head taller than I, and then you see his eyes. He's very wise and noble of course, then there's a hidden strength that you can't see, but you can sense somehow."
"I think old Bilbo would have liked to see him again. I still can't believe that he is going to be eleventy-one. He hasn't changed much, has he?" Frodo was talking to himself more than he was talking to Lirima. He sat looking at the water for a while then he seemed to rouse himself out of his thoughts. "What do you have planned?"
"You will know soon enough."
"Well then, I shall just have to wait, unless I can get it out of Gandalf. What do you say we go down to the Green Dragon and grab an ale? Merry and Pippin are sure to be there."
" I might come later Frodo, I would like to see Bilbo before the party."
"Of course, do you know the way the back?"
"Yes, thank you." Lirima stood up and brushed her ankle long skirt off, then ran off in the direction towards Bag End. Frodo smiled to himself, it was nice to see her again, and they had gotten along so well in the past. 'I do hope I see more of her.' Frodo stood up and brushed himself off.
"Well then to the Green Dragon for me!" Frodo walked in the opposite direction, whistling the walking song as he went.
Gandalf strode up to the small gate that barely reached past his knee. He chuckled as he read a sign that said, 'No admittance except on party business'. Pushing open the gate he walked up to the door and knocked on it with his staff.
"NO THANK YOU! I don't want any more well wishers, visitors, or distant relations!"
"And what about very old friends?" The door suddenly opened, revealing a hobbit, small as they all were, with gray hair that still had streaks of brown in it, and a young face for his eleventy-one years.
"Gandalf?"
"Bilbo Baggins…"
"My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo walked forward and gave Gandalf a hug. Then Gandalf held Bilbo at arms length to look at him.
" One hundred and eleven years old! Well now… who would believe it? You haven't aged a day…." Bilbo suddenly remembered his manners, and practically ran back inside, motioning for Gandalf to follow.
"Well come on! Come in! Would you like some tea? Or perhaps something stronger! I still have some of the Old Winyards left. 1296, a very good year! Almost as old as I am! My Father put it down. What say we open one?" Bilbo was running around the hole, taking Gandalf's hat and staff and putting them away, then dashing into the kitchen, reappearing again, always in a different place.
"Tea is fine thank you." Gandalf backed up and bumped into the chandelier. After steadying it he turned to walk into the next room but hit his head on the archway.
"We were expecting you quite some time ago! But one can't keep you from coming and going! Let's see, what have we got here? Ah! I can make you some eggs if you want!" Bilbo game hustling in the room with a plate of food, expecting to see Gandalf sitting in a chair but instead, finding the room empty. "Gandalf?"
"Just tea, thank you." Just then there was a loud banging at the door and a horrid screeching voice.
"BILBO! BILBO BAGGINS! I KNOW YOU"RE IN THERE!" Gandalf's face showed a flicker of fear for a second when he realized who the voice belonged to. The dreaded shrew, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. Bilbo had hidden himself behind the wall out of sight from the windows.
"Tell her I'm not here!" he mouthed to Gandalf. Now even Gandalf, who was not afraid of orcs or trolls, was afraid of Lobelia. He had to gather his courage. With a deep breath he swung open the door. Unfortunately, it was at the same time that Lobelia was starting to pound on it. So instead of knocking on the door, she hit Gandalf right in his stomach.
"Madam, do you mind?" Lobelia looked up at Gandalf and frowned.
"Where's Bilbo?" she said with a glare in her eyes.
"He stepped out, went for a walk." Gandalf was scared to death, but he couldn't let it show.
"Well Mr. Gandalf, you make sure you tell him that cousin Lobelia was here!"
"I will do that, good day!" Lobelia gave a curt nod, turned sharply, and stalked away. Gandalf watched her yell at Sam Gamgee who had accidentally dropped his gardening tools in her path.
"Can't you see where I'm walking? Rude! Inconsiderate lad!" Sam looked very scared and picked up his tools as fast as he could, then ran over to Bag End.
"Good day Sam-lad! Don't mind Lobelia! She's upset because she can't find Bilbo!" Gandalf turned inside to Bilbo.
"Well, what was that about?"
"I don't know, all these relatives hanging on the bell! They never give me a moments peace! I want to see mountains again Gandalf, and find someplace quiet where I can finish my book…"
"Bilbo…"
"Yes?"
"The tea is done."
"Oh! Right! Tea!" Bilbo bustled over, took the kettle off the fire, and poured some for Gandalf.
"You mean to follow through with our plan then?"
"Yes, yes, everything is in order."
" Frodo suspects something.."
"Of course he does! He's a Baggins! We pick up on things very quickly you know!"
"Yes, I know. Frodo is very fond of you, you will tell him won't you?"
"I know, he'd come with me if I wanted him to. But I can't take him out of the shire. I feel old Gandalf, I know I don't look it, but I can feel it. I feel spread thin, sort of like, butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday, and I don't think I shall return. In fact, I mean not to." Gandalf looked at Bilbo with concern, he wondered what could cause this. Bilbo noticed the look and changed the subject.
"But come now! You promised you'd bring our elf friend with you! Where is she?"
"When I last saw her, she was heading off with Frodo to revisit some of their old haunts."
"Ha! Frodo has nothing but talked of your coming for a month! He has millions of ideas of things to do while you are here. I think he would like both of you to take up a permanent residence here." There was another knock on the door, but this one was lighter and higher up. Bilbo jumped,
"Lobelia! She's back!"
"No Bilbo, I think that would be our elf friend as you put it." Bilbo's face relaxed and he ran over to the door and threw it open.
"Lirima! My dear girl!"
"Hello Bilbo! It's so good to see you again!" Lirima knelt down and gave Bilbo a warm hug.
"Why, you hardly look a day over 50."
"So I keep hearing! Come on in! have some tea with Gandalf and I! Here, let me take your cloak." Lirima was better skilled than Gandalf when it came to maneuvering around the hobbit-hole.
"Sit down! Tell me, how is your uncle?"
"Elrond? Well, I haven't seen him for over 10 years. But things never change much in Rivendell, so as far as I know he's doing very well."
"Good, good! Glad to hear it! We were just talking of Frodo."
"Why haven't you told him about your plan yet? He's very worried about you."
"Yes, well, he'll know tonight. But let's sit by the fire, and talk of old times!"
Two hours passed by, and it was starting to get dark.
"Well Bilbo, Frodo asked me if I would go to the Green Dragon and I told him- "
"Of course! Go ahead have a good time! I'll see you both tonight!"
"Alright goodbye Gandalf, goodbye Bilbo!" Lirima ducked walking out of the room, grabbed her cloak and headed out the door.
"Well Gandalf, what do you say we take up our pipes outside?"
"I have not heard a more welcome suggestion for weeks."
Gandalf and Bilbo were reclining on the top of Bag End smoking. There were lights in the field across from the hobbit hole, and a big sign that said 'Happy birthday Bilbo and Frodo.' All it needed was the party guests.
"Ah Toby, the finest weed in the south-farthing!" Bilbo blew a smoke ring. Gandalf looked at the ring thoughtfully for a moment and then blew a smoke ship that flew threw Bilbo's ring.
"Gandalf my old friend, this will be a night to remember…"
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Tina aear, sila ve gil beleg. ~ The sea sparkles, shines as a great star.
A/N: Thanx for all the reviews! When you review it encourages me. I like to know people are reading my stories. So even if you just say you're reading it, please review!
