Author's Note: I don't know if anyone has ever done this. So the summary: Frodo Baggins has a dilemma. His friends (and their wives) have left him their children for the night because they wanted to go out to spend time with each other. Now, it's nearing bedtime and he has one problem: what sort of story will he tell? Okay, for the record, the story Frodo is about to make is a complete fiction story, so there are not so many exact facts in it. Like Frodo, I would be making it up as I go along (although, I'm not really because I already know how it will go).
Chapter 1
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It was a short time since the Ring was destroyed, and all seemed well. Frodo has gone back to his home in Bag End and has enjoyed his serene life there. Of course, now and then he would imagine himself back in the days when he ventured with his good friends all over Middle-earth. However, everything is mellow, and, almost perfect.
He sat on his favorite chair in front of the fireplace, with his eyes closed. In a distance, he heard the hooves of a pony. He instantly opened his eyes and realized that he must have dozed off when he noticed a book on lap. The hooves were growing nearer and nearer. At last, he heard a call from outside.
"Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo! Master Samwise and Rose Gardner are here with their three children!"
The voice belonged to Olo Bolger, a young hobbit who occasionally helped Frodo around Bag End. Frodo quickly got up from his chair and went to the door. He opened it and found that Olo Bolger was helping Rose out of the pony carriage. Sam was setting his children down from it. Frodo smiled and got out of the house to greet Sam.
"My Sam, how are you?" he said, as he gave Sam a hug. He took one look at the three hobbit-children and whistled. "My, my, you three are growing like tree sprouts during springtime."
The three beamed up to him. They were Elanor, Frodo, and Rose Gardner. All had resemblance of their father, but Elanor and Rose's eyes were of their mother.
"Hullo, Uncle Frodo," greeted Elanor. "Are you going to tell us a story of old?"
But before Frodo could answer, Rose, their mother, said sternly, "Oh, no, no stories or tales of adventures that would give these kids nightmares, Frodo Baggins. I have told Sam already of his bedtimes stories for the children and now I am telling you. No adventure stories."
Again, before Frodo could say anything, another pony carriage had pulled up and out came Peregrin Took and his wife, Diamond. Jumping out of the carriage without assistance of Olo was Faramir Took, their son. He was quite like his father, both in looks and character.
"Unky Frodo, Unky Frodo!" shouted Faramir, wrapping his little arms around Frodo's middle.
"Hullo, to you too, Faramir," gasped Frodo. The little hobbit-child seemed to take the wind out of him. He did not notice that Meriadoc Brandybuck and his wife were also in the same carriage as the Tooks.
"Good evening, Cousin Frodo," greeted Merry, slightly bowing.
Frodo grinned. "Hullo, Merry, Pippin, Estella, and Diamond. I see you all look dressed up indeed. Where, may I ask, are all of you going tonight?"
"Well, the wife and I are going on a romantic boat ride down the River, but, first, a dinner for two on the banks," said Merry, holding Estella's hand. Estella blushed and smiled. Sam, however, shivered at the thought of the ride down the River. He still disliked it after all these years.
"How I wish to tell you, cousin, but it is a surprise for my Diamond," winked Pippin.
"Ah, as I, Mr. Frodo, my Rose does not know of what surprises I have in store for her," grinned Sam.
"Well, if that is so, I would suggest for all of you to get going. You all wouldn't want to be late for whatever it is you have planned," said Frodo. He turned to Olo and instructed, "Take the children inside, Olo. They might catch sickness standing out here in a cold night."
Olo nodded and led the children inside the house. Frodo turned back to his friends. "Well, anything else I should know before any of you leave? About the children, I mean."
"Let's
see," said Rose, thinking for a moment.
"Ah, you know that Frodo does not like wheat bread, only
white. Elanor is allergic to cheddar so
please don't feed her that. Oh, yes,
bedtime is eight o'clock and no later than that. Well, that's all I think, have a good night!"
"All right, no wheat bread for
Frodo and no cheddar for Elanor.
Pippin, anything for the little Faramir?"
"No more sugar for him tonight,
Frodo," said Diamond, with her eyes narrowed. Pippin shifted uncomfortably beside her. "Please, because he will not sleep all
night. Remember his bedtime and please
tell him to brush his teeth but not with honey."
"All right," chuckled Frodo. "Go on, all of you and have fun! Be sure to pick up these children tomorrow morning or I don't think you would be seeing them after that!"
Waving after them, Frodo watched his friends get inside their carriages and leave Bag End. He watched them until they disappeared out of his sight. Sighing, he walked back to his house. Fits of giggle greeted him as he entered. Olo and the children were busy tickling and playing with each other.
"Well, this is a start of a very interesting night," Frodo said to himself.
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