Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of the characters, or places, or anything in all of Middle Earth and beyond. The only thing that I have claim to is Anyanka (Anya) cause she is merely the product of my strange imagination. If you want to use her, then you have to ask first. So don't sue me, I make no profit from writing this--all I get are the warm fuzzies when people review.
A/N- Okay, like I said before, I had been planning to make the party scene one chapter, but it got too long, and I didn't want ya'll to have to read that much in one sitting. Bilbo's speech is mostly from the book, but I had to make some additions and changes that should be fairly obvious. Anyway, this is the second half of chapter 4. Enjoy.
Chapter 5- Farewells
While Bilbo and the twins were getting away from the Sackville-Baggins, two younger hobbits hid in a tent near the edge of the party with their prize. While one steadied the firework, the other knelt down to light it.
"Done," he said, jumping up. His friend looked at him in surprise.
"You were supposed to stick it in the ground," he hissed, shoving the firework toward his friend.
"It is in the ground," the other hissed back, shoving the firework away.
"Outside."
"This was your idea!" Suddenly, the firework took off, taking the tent with it and sending the two hobbits to the ground, covered in soot.
The firework shot up into the night sky, exploding into an incredibly life-like golden dragon. At least, it was life-like to the hobbits, most of whom had never seen a dragon. The firework dragon turned and began to fly back over the party, sending all of the hobbits running and screaming.
Frodo and Anya turned to see what everyone was panicking about. Spotting the dragon, Frodo grabbed Anya's hand and went racing off to find Bilbo.
"Bilbo, watch out for the dragon!" Frodo cried as the twins came up behind the old hobbit. They each got on a side of him and tried to hurry him along in the midst of screaming and panicking hobbits.
"Dragon? Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!" Bilbo argued. Even as he was protesting, Frodo turned and saw the dragon sweeping down as though it were going to gobble up the excited hobbits. Frodo quickly dove to the ground, pulling Anya and Bilbo with him. Most all of the hobbits around them did the same. They all laid on the ground for a moment, watching as the firework dragon flew over them and then exploded over Bywater. All of the hobbits began to stand and cheer, laughing at their own fright.
The two hobbits that had set off the firework stood smiling, still covered in soot.
"That was good," one said.
"Let's get another one," the other agreed. However, before they could move, Gandalf came up behind them and grabbed each of them by one of their pointy ears.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck. And Peregrin Took. I might have known," the wizard said, before taking the two off to punish them for their trick.
As the two hobbits washed dishes (under Gandalf's close supervision) the other hobbits began to call for a speech from Bilbo, as that was customary for the occasion. Bilbo stood up on an upturned barrel and waited for some of the noise to die down before beginning.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins, and my dear Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Burrowses, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses, and Proudfoots."
"Proudfeet!" shouted an old hobbit from the crowd, who was, of course, a Proudfoot. People laughed as Bilbo simply waved him off before continuing.
"Proudfoots. Also my good Sackville-Bagginses that I welcome back at last to Bag End." At this Frodo and Anya exchanged a look that seemed to say, 'Who is this man and what has he done with our uncle?'
"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday: I am eleventy-one today! I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am." Cheers went up from the crowd. Some, supposing that he was done, struck up a little music and began to dance. Bilbo grabbed the horn from one of the nearby Took children and let out three loud toots, immediately bringing everyone else into silence again.
"I shall not keep you long. I have called you all together for a Purpose. Indeed, for Three 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. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
"Secondly, to celebrate my birthday. I should say: OUR birthday. For it is, of course, also the birthday of my niece and nephew, Frodo and Anyanka. They are coming of age and into their inheritance today.
"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 and could only say 'thag you very buch'. I now repeat it more correctly: Thank you very much for coming to my little party.
"Thirdly and finally, I wish to make and ANNOUNCEMENT. 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. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Good-bye." As Bilbo said the last part, he locked eyes with Frodo and then Anya. As soon as he said good-bye, he disappeared into thin air. Unknown to the hobbits, he had slipped on his magic ring, which he had carried with him for many years, and which turned him invisible. He then raced back to Bag End, but wasn't fast enough, for Gandalf was there when he arrived.
While many of the hobbits were wondering around calling for Bilbo, the old hobbit was up in his hole preparing to leave. Finally, most everyone settled down, deciding that it was merely a joke, most likely achieved with the help of Gandalf, seeing as how the wizard had disappeared soon after Bilbo had.
Frodo and Anya sat on their bench for several moments in silence. Everything that had been transpiring with their uncle the past several weeks made sense now.
"He probably went back to Bag End," Anya said quietly. Frodo nodded his agreement. But then, someone began to call for more ale, and they both realized that they still had obligations to be fulfilled. They stood together, each torn between staying with their guests and racing back to Bag End to find their beloved uncle.
"I'll go and order more rounds for everyone. You try and calm everyone down," Frodo instructed to his sister. Anya nodded slowly.
"Right."
"Anni," Frodo called softly. She looked up at him, the worry still clear in her eyes. "It'll be alright." Anya smiled at him, a sad, soft smile, before straightening her shoulders and smoothing back her hair. Then she simply nodded at him and turned to perform her duties as hostess. Frodo watched her for a moment, then headed off in the opposite direction to fulfill his own responsibilities.
It took much longer than either twin had suspected, but as soon as they were able the two were racing back to Bag End.
"Bilbo!" Frodo called, as he opened the door to their home. He stopped suddenly, and Anya nearly plowed into his back. She watched as her brother stooped to pick up Bilbo's ring off of the floor. Then they noticed Gandalf sitting by the fire, smoking his pipe.
"He's gone, hasn't he?" Frodo asked quietly, walking over the where the wizard sat. Anya followed in her brother's footsteps, slowly absorbing what was happening. "He talked so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it." There was still no response from the wizard, who had not even acknowledged their presence in the hole.
"Gandalf?" Anya said softly. It was then that Gandalf looked up, noticing Frodo standing beside his chair, the ring in his hand.
"Bilbo's ring," he said with a sad smile. "He's gone to stay with the Elves. He's left you Bag End." With this, Gandalf held out an envelope, with Frodo put the ring into. Gandalf quickly closed it and sealed it. "Along with all his possessions." He handed the envelope back to Frodo. "The ring is yours now." Frodo took it, a questioning look on his face. Anya stood next to him looking equally puzzled, only growing more puzzled at Gandalf's next words. "Put it somewhere out of sight."
The wizard quickly rose from his chair and gathered his things, obviously preparing to leave.
"Where are you going?" Frodo asked.
"There are some things that I must see too," Gandalf answered.
"What things?" Anya asked, following her brother as they followed Gandalf to the door.
"Questions. Questions that need answering," the wizard replied darkly.
"But you've only just arrived," Anya protested. She exchanged a confused look with her twin, neither one of them understanding what was going on.
"I don't understand," Frodo said bluntly. Gandalf turned to face them.
"Neither do I." Gandalf stepped toward them, alternating his gaze between the two. "Keep it secret," he said to Frodo, then switched his gaze to Anya.
"Keep it safe." With that, he turned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.
Anya and Frodo could only stare at each other in confusion, and then looked down at the envelope still in Frodo's hand, wondering why such a small trinket had caused the wizard to urge such caution.
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A/N- Okay then, what do you think? Yes, yes, I am very much aware that most of the dialog is straight from the movie; I did that on purpose. But now, it's time for you to press that pretty little blue button in the corner and tell me what you think of this chapter! Cause the more reviews I get, the sooner I can pay my muse, and the sooner she will keep the inspiration flowing. Which basically all boils down to mean the sooner I update. Although I will say this: after the next couple of chapters, the worst will be over, and then I can really start having fun. Anyway, please review, and remember that flamers will be used to light birthday candles!