Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. The story and characters officially belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I do, however own my original character, Saniel. If you wish to use her for some reason, please just ask! ^-^
Aw, I'm kind of disappointed. I only got one review. I've been working really hard on this story, well over two years, I think. It may not seem like a lot right now, but I've got eighteen chapters up on this puppy so far. I really want to hear what people think of this. I'm sorry if it's not meeting the expectations of what a good story is, but really, I am trying so hard. All I ask is for some reviews. I also want to add that I give credit to Rachelle, the moderator of Seat of Kings .com, for the transcript that I used for any of the lines from the movie. Thank you so much for reading.
Darkness Calls:
Chapter 3:
The years passed slowly in the Shire and the children eventually became of age. Frodo had become of age that very day and Saniel was still a few years away by elf standards and had become a year older that same day. The young elf woman towered over the other hobbits, causing their fear of her to grow. This small fact gave her some confidence and she was no longer afraid to go anywhere alone. She and Frodo often traveled to Buckland to visit Merry and Pippin. Bilbo, in this time, had grown older as well. The old hobbit now spent most of his time in his study writing his book.
The day of Bilbo's one hundred and eleventh birthday had finally arrived. He had planned a huge party for that night. It was to be an extravagant affair, for it was a triple birthday party, Frodo's and Saniel's as well as his own. For right now, Frodo was far away from the hustle that was taking place in the field that he had dubbed Saniel's. The young hobbit sat under a tree reading a book and smoking his pipe. The sound of singing and squeaking cartwheels drew his attention. He heard the sound of Gandalf's voice, but he heard a higher silkier voice as well. Frodo smiled when he realized that Saniel had already found the wizard. Sure enough, Gandalf was riding on a mule-drawn cart with Saniel at his side. Frodo smiled as the cart drew to a stop. Crossing his arms, he peered down at Gandalf.
"You're late." He stated simply.
"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins," Gandalf said, looking up at him, "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
Saniel shook her head as the two laughed at each other. Frodo hopped onto the back of the cart and talked calmly with Gandalf. She could feel something stirring, some evil. It sent a shiver down her spine. The old wizard had noticed this, but said nothing. He smiled instead.
"Your mother has sent me some things for you on your birthday, child. One is of greater value than the rest."
"You always speak in riddles, istari." Saniel laughed. Gandalf laughed as well.
"If I told you what you wanted to know, it wouldn't be amusing, would it?"
Saniel laughed and shook her head. Frodo remained quiet. This began to worry them both.
"Bilbo's been acting a bit odd lately, more than usual. He locks himself in his study for hours and pours over old maps when he thinks I'm not watching." Frodo said with worry. Gandalf looked at him with concern. "I think he's up to something."
"Oh really?" Gandalf asked.
A grin played on Frodo's lips. "All right. Keep your secrets. I'll have you know that before you came, we Bagginses were very well thought of. We didn't have any adventures or do anything unexpected."
Gandalf looked over his pipe and spotted Saniel turning pink from trying not to laugh. He also grinned. "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a nudge out of the door."
"Well, whatever you did, you've officially been labeled a disturber of the peace."
Saniel couldn't be silent any longer. Her laughter rang through the trees like bells. Frodo found himself joining in, though he wasn't sure why. As the two of them had gotten older, Frodo began to find himself attracted to the elf that he was best friends with. There were so many things about her that he loved that he couldn't name them all. Sam had grown up as well and confessed to Frodo his love for Rosie Cotton. They would both be at Bilbo's birthday party tonight, so he would try to get them to dance. As the cart approached Bag End, Frodo turned to Gandalf.
"Gandalf, I'm glad you're back." He said, jumping off the wagon with Saniel.
"So am I, dear boy. So am I."
----
Saniel had immediately climbed a tree and swung her leg freely from the branch. Frodo sat at the foot and looked up. The afternoon sun shone on the elf's waist-length hair, causing it to shine. She had since stopped wearing the clothes of hobbits for she grew out of them too quickly. She now wore a gray tunic and leggings with knee-high brown boots. Gandalf had also brought her a bow and quiver on one of his few visits. After practicing quite a bit, Saniel was the best archer he had ever seen. She was definitely turning into the elf that she was meant to be.
Frodo sighed. He had a feeling that his days with Saniel were coming to a close. A sudden dread had been growing over him since the early morning. Frodo wasn't quite sure what it was, but it was going to change things, that much was certain. A sudden shimmering of gold hair caught his attention. Saniel, hanging by her knees from the branch, was staring at him.
"What is it, Frodo? You seem troubled."
Frodo faked a smile. "I just wish I knew what Bilbo was planning."
The elf woman didn't believe this façade, but she went along with it. "As do I. That old scoundrel is up to trickery."
Frodo laughed at his friend's attempts to cheer him up. He stood up and stretched. Saniel hung by her knees and swung gently. Frodo turned and faced the field where the party would be held.
"We'd better go and get ready for the party." He said quite loudly. Frodo heard a rustling of leaves and a loud thud. He spun around to see Saniel lying on her stomach. A laugh escaped him, earning him a glare.
"I can't help it if you talk so loudly that it scares me." Saniel said, brushing the dirt from her clothes. "I agree though. We should probably go get changed."
The elf and the hobbit made their way to Bag End. No one appeared to be home at the moment so the two entered quietly. Saniel ducked her head and entered the room that had been given to her while she stayed in Bilbo's home. Lying on the mat was a parcel that had been tied with string. Saniel read the note, which upon further inspection, was written in elvish. She unwrapped it carefully and looked at the contents.
The first gift from her mother was a silver ring with a lavender stone. The metal spiraled around the stone and formed tri-leaved flowers inside the band. Saniel was stunned to read that it was the elven Ring of Grace. She gently slipped the ring on her left index finger and continued through the package.
The second gift was a head ornament. A clear tear shaped crystal hung in the center. This gift was originally for her older sister, but she had gone into the West before she could receive it. It was the only thing that Saniel had ever owned, other than the Ring that she had just received, that was so beautiful.
The final thing that Saniel removed from the package caused her to gasp. She held up a long white gown in the failing light of the sun. A sparkling material had been laid over the dress, making it seem as though jewels had been woven into it. Saniel didn't know how to thank her mother for these things, so she prayed a silent prayer to the Valar in hopes that her mother remained safe. She stood quickly and changed into the gown and tucked her hair behind her ears, finally putting the head ornament into place. She opened the door and ducked out.
----
Frodo stood by the fire and fidgeted impatiently. He had changed into a clean shirt and put on his best vest. Saniel was taking forever to get ready. Gandalf and Bilbo had come back into the house to see if the two were ready. Frodo sighed in annoyance as something caught his eye. Light was moving around on the floor. When he turned to find the source, his breath caught in his throat. There was Saniel standing in a white shimmering gown. He suddenly felt humble and ashamed of the way he lived. She did belong among the other elves in Lothlorien. Frodo then saw Gandalf step forward.
"My dear, you look lovely. I also want to wish you a happy birthday. How old are you now? Thirty-five?"
"Yes, Mithrandir. I still have exactly two hundred years before I come of age." Saniel replied laughing.
"You look just like your mother. The Lady of Light would be proud." Gandalf said, his gaze falling upon the Ring on her finger. His smile diminished noticeably.
"What is it, Gandalf?" Frodo asked.
"Nothing. Now, shall we go?" Gandalf's smile brightened again.
He and Bilbo exited the hole and made their way down to the field. Saniel smiled down at Frodo. He offered her his hand and she took it. The two of them walked slowly to the celebration.
The musicians played lively tunes throughout the night. There was an abundance of food and ale and hobbits ready to help themselves to it. Frodo, Sam, and Saniel sat together laughing and dancing. Sam then tuned out the world as he spotted Rosie dancing. Frodo grinned as he looked in the same direction.
"Go on, Sam! Ask Rosie for a dance."
Sam sighed. "I think I'll have another ale."
"No you don't!" Frodo protested. As Sam rose to refill his mug, Frodo shoved him as Rosie danced by. He laughed as Rosie grabbed onto Sam for her partner. Oh, he would be in for it later.
Gandalf had brought fireworks with him from distant lands. He was having great fun amusing the hobbit children with magical displays of light. While he had lit a firecracker of butterflies, Merry and Pippin had snuck to his wagon and stole the biggest of the fireworks that he had to set off in secret.
A loud popping caused many to look up. Saniel saw a great orange Dragon unfold its wings as it came swooping down at them. She heard screams and murmurs run through the crowd as they began to run. She stepped out of the way and watched as the flaming beast created havoc.
Frodo was talking to Bilbo when he saw something large and a gold orange out of the corner of his eye. Horror filled his expression as he tugged on the older hobbit's coat sleeve.
"Bilbo! Bilbo, look out for the dragon!"
"Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!" Bilbo argued, being pulled to the ground. A cheer rose from the hobbits as the dragon exploded into a shower of golden sparks. "There, I told you, didn't I?"
Frodo only smiled. He stifled his laughter as he saw Gandalf holding Merry and Pippin by the ears. They had been the ones that had caused this uproar. Saniel's laughter could be heard from some distance away. Frodo turned to see her helping Rosie up and making light conversation. He was glad that Rosie could see past the rumors that people told. When everyone was settled again, Bilbo ascended a box. After quieting the crowd, he began to speak.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubs, Chubs, Boldgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots." He began.
"Proudfeet." Came a shout from the crowd, producing laughter.
Bilbo waved it off before continuing. "Today is my hundred and eleventh birthday. But, alas, elventy one years is hardly enough time to spend among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I 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." This gained murmurs from the shocked hobbits. "Well, I've got things to do. I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye."
With those last words, Bilbo disappeared from the party and that was the last that anyone saw of him in the Shire. Frodo and Saniel both gasped in surprise. Gandalf's brow furrowed and he stood immediately, following him. Frodo and Saniel looked at each other for a moment.
"How in the name of the Valar did he do that?" Saniel asked.
"I'm not sure. He's stumped me on this one." Frodo replied.
"Bilbo has definitely gotten better at pulling off—"
A gasp cut her off in mid sentence. Some force was pulling at her from Bag End. Her Ring began to react to the pull as well. A rush of power flowed over her and she had the sudden urge to go back to the hole. Before she realized what she was doing, she was running, running faster than she thought she could up the hill to Bag End. Bursting through the door, Gandalf looked at her in surprise. The surprise turned to a scowl when he saw the need in her eyes. Again, he looked at the Ring on her hand.
"Saniel?" he asked.
The elf shook her head and collapsed on a stool. "I don't know, Mithrandir. Something was pulling at me, at the Ring. I was overcome with this sense of power and then, need. Need for something I know not what."
Gandalf sighed as he looked at the Ring that lay on the floor by the front door. Saniel saw it and her eyes widened a fraction. She heard it. It sounded like it was calling to her. Shaking her head, she hid her face in her hands. The sound of footsteps reached them.
"Bilbo! Bilbo!" Frodo entered the hole. "He's gone, isn't he? He talked for so long about leaving." Stooping down, he picked up the Ring. He examined Saniel as he moved to Gandalf. The old wizard smiled.
"Bilbo's Ring. He's left you Bag End. Along with all his possessions."
Gandalf pulled an envelope from the mantle and let Frodo slide the Ring into it. Pouring hot wax onto the flap, he sealed it. "Keep it hidden somewhere out of sight."
The wizard stood and grabbed his hat and staff. He walked around through the room, heading toward the exit. Frodo followed closely after him.
"You're leaving? But you've only just arrived!" he protested.
"There are things I must see to." Gandalf told him.
"Things? What things?"
"Questions. Questions that need answering."
"I don't understand." Frodo stated, somewhat hurt.
"Neither do I, dear boy. Neither do I. Keep it secret. Keep it safe."
Gandalf turned and left, closing the door behind him. Frodo stood staring at the closed wooden green door. Looking back at Saniel, she hadn't moved from when he first saw her. She was trembling. There was something that both Saniel and Gandalf knew that he didn't and they weren't going to tell him.