Later that morning, Bilbo Baggins had put up posters around the Shire.
The posters read:
'There is a dance being held in the Green Dragon this evening. It is the same dance that comes every ten years. For those of you who do not know, the tradition is that everyone must come with a dance partner, or a date, as you might like to call them. It is also tradition for girls to ask boys, and not vice versa. We hope to see most of you there tonight.'
The dance soon became the big talk around the village. Lyra, Toni, Marieke, Lizzie, Mel and Rosie were sitting out on one of the grassy hills, discussing it.
"I'm going to ask Merry," announced Lyra, feeling confident.
"I think he'll definitely go with you after earlier this morning," answered Rosie. "It certainly surprised us all."
"Yeah, I thought that you hated him," added Lizzie. "And then when you kissed him I was thinking, what are you doing, you freakoid?"
"I surprised myself as well," laughed Lyra. "But Merry was definitely the most surprised. So who are you guys asking?"
"I'm asking Frodo, duh!" said Mel.
"Well, I promised I'd ask Sam to the next dance, so that's what I'm going to do," said Rosie. "And I think he's really sweet anyway."
"Do you think Bilbo will mind if Lizzie and me go together?" asked Marieke. "Cos I don't really want to ask a boy."
"Nah, he won't mind," replied Rosie. "You guys can't help it."
"That's good then," said Lizzie, grinning at Marieke.
"I don't know who to ask," said Toni.
"Duh! Ask Pippin," suggested Mel.
"But he'll laugh," said Toni.
"No he won't," answered Marieke. "He won't have anyone to go with otherwise."
"But . . ." Toni was trying to think of another excuse. "He'll think I like him."
"You do," corrected Lyra.
"No I don't," denied Toni.
"Yes you do," grinned Lyra. "Why did you hug him last night? And why were you crying before?"
"Err . . . OK, maybe I do think he's good looking . . . and he has a good personality. And . . ." started Toni.
"OK, OK, that's enough reasons," laughed Lyra.
"So maybe I do like him then," admitted Toni.
"Good, you can ask him to the dance then," finished Lyra.
"But . . ." started Toni.
"No buts!" cried Lyra. "The subject's closed."
And Lyra stuffed her fingers in her ears and hummed loudly, so that she wouldn't be able to hear. Everyone else just laughed.
~*~
Not long after, they girls had decided to support each other and all ask the boys at the same time. Thankfully when they found the boys, they were all together. Mel decided to go first.
"Hey Frodo," she called. "Wanna come to the dance with me tonight?"
"Sure!" grinned Frodo enthusiastically.
"I did promise you Sam, so do you wanna go with me?" asked Rosie.
"Yes please," said Sam. "Thanks for asking."
"No problem," smiled Rosie.
"You up for it, Merry?" enquired Lyra.
"Yep," grinned Merry.
Lyra gave Toni a little nudge, who was now looking ready to die on the spot.
"Erm, wanna go with me Pippin?" Toni asked, her face on fire.
"Err, OK," replied Pippin, looking slightly surprised.
"Well everything's settled then," said Lyra. "Come on, girls."
"Is that all you came here for?" asked Frodo.
"Yeah, pretty much," said Lyra. "See you all later."
~*~
Later that evening, the ten hobbits were at the Green Dragon, waiting. All the tables and chairs had been moved to the walls, so that there was enough space in the middle for everyone to dance. They'd gotten there early and had to wait for everyone else to arrive. When others started to come in, they split off into their pairs looking slightly nervous. A group of about five or six hobbits came in, all carrying instruments which they started to set up in the corner.
"I wonder where Bilbo is," said Frodo thoughtfully. "I hope he's coming."
"Well he put the posters up, so he should come," concluded Mel.
Not long after, the hobbits with the instruments started up a fast cheery song. Several people got up to dance in the empty area in the middle of the room. As soon as the music started, Merry, Pippin, Lyra, Toni, Sam, Rosie, Mel and Frodo all got up to dance.
"I hate this song," moaned Marieke. "It's so cheesy."
"That's why I like it," said Lizzie, pretending to start dancing. She knew it would embarrass Marieke.
"Don't!" hissed Marieke.
"Aw, I'm only kidding," grinned Lizzie, flopping into a chair and offering the one next to her to Marieke. Marieke politely declined.
"I'm just gonna go get some drinks first," said Marieke. "But save the seat for me."
"OK," said Lizzie.
Lizzie watched Marieke head over to the bar, and then turned her attention to the others dancing. She saw Rosie amongst them and beckoned her over.
"Aren't you on duty today then?" asked Lizzie.
"No, I've got a break because of the whole dance thing," replied Rosie. "They've got some old people serving the drinks tonight, since they can't dance properly without breaking their hip or some other bone."
Lizzie started laughing. Rosie then went back over to dance with Sam, and just after, Marieke came back with the drinks. Marieke and Lizzie sat together with their drinks, chatting comfortably.
Later on, the cheery music stopped playing and the band started playing a slow romantic song. Marieke and Lizzie both burst out laughing because as soon as the music changed, some of the more hyperactive hobbits sat down, including Toni and Pippin. Marieke and Lizzie got up to dance – Marieke was finally pleased that the cheesy music had stopped. Mel and Frodo stayed up to dance to the slow song, and so did Rosie and Sam, and Merry and Lyra.
~*~
The dance finished very late that night. A group of hobbits voluntarily stayed back to help clean up. Apart from Merry, Pippin, Lyra and Toni, who were forced to stay. Marieke, Lizzie, Rosie and Sam were cleaning and tidying the tables, Mel and Frodo were wiping the bar, Merry and Pippin were washing up, and Lyra and Toni were supposed to be sweeping the floor. Instead they were having swordfights with the brooms.
"Guys, cut it out!" snapped Lizzie, as one of the brooms hit the table for the third time, knocking over a thankfully empty mug.
"Sorry," grumbled Lyra and Toni, starting to sweep up properly.
"Finally," Mel muttered to Frodo.
"Oh by the way, Toni," grinned Marieke. "Thanks."
"Yeah, thank you," smirked Lizzie.
Lyra was blank for a moment until she realised what they were thanking Toni for. Toni just looked completely bewildered. It took everyone about half an hour to clean up properly. After, they all went back to their houses for a well-deserved sleep.
~*~
The next afternoon, they were all sitting down by the river together. They'd all started going around together in their large group of ten.
"Hey, what's that?" asked Pippin, pointing to something on the river's edge.
"What's what?" replied Merry, looking in.
"That," said Pippin, pointing.
Everyone leant over to see what he was looking at. Pippin stuck his hand in the river and pulled out what looked like a rusty pair of metal bracelets joined together with a chain. But both bangles were open, with part hanging open on a sort of hinge. They looked similar to handcuffs.
"What is it?" asked Lyra.
"Let me see!" demanded Toni.
Pippin handed the handcuffs over to Toni. She put her hand in one of the hoops and was trying to figure out how to shut it.
"Don't play with it," warned Mel.
"Stop it," said Marieke.
Marieke tried to take the handcuffs off Toni, unwisely putting her hand in the other hoop.
"Don't put your hand in!" cried Lyra.
Lyra tried to grab Marieke's hand out, but she knocked her hand against the hinged part and accidentally snapped it shut.
"Lyra!" cried Marieke.
"Oops," said Lyra.
"Oh, so that's how you shut it," said Toni, shutting the other one around her own hand.
"Someone please tell me she didn't do that," said Marieke weakly.
"OK, she didn't do that," said Pippin helpfully.
"That doesn't help!" snapped Marieke.
"Why did you have to play around with it?" Lyra asked Toni. "Why do you always have to play around with stuff?"
"Dunno, just curious," replied Toni. She didn't seem to have realised that she was now bound to Marieke for what could be a very long time.
"Come on! We'll go and find Bilbo. He'll know what to do," said Marieke, walking off and dragging Toni with her.
"Ow!" cried Toni. "Why don't you just take it off?"
"Because I can't!" snapped Marieke. "It won't open."
"Are you sure?" asked Toni, trying to tug hers off. "Uh oh."
Marieke said nothing and pulled Toni along to Bilbo's house. Unfortunately, Bilbo wasn't able to help. They went back to the others at the river, with Marieke feeling extremely annoyed.
"Did he get them off?" asked Sam.
Marieke held up her hand, showing that the handcuffs were still on.
"He couldn't use any keys because they don't have a lock," said Marieke. "And he was trying all these tools, but they wouldn't work."
"So he tried everything?" prompted Mel.
"Yep," said Marieke sadly.
"Maybe it was some sort of spell," suggested Lizzie.
"Yeah right. Open sesame," joked Toni.
To everyone's surprise, both hoops of the handcuffs snapped open. Toni and Marieke snatched their hands out quickly. Merry picked the handcuffs up by the chain and threw them back into the river.
"And they stay in there," said Merry. "Everyone agree?"
They all nodded quickly.
'There is a dance being held in the Green Dragon this evening. It is the same dance that comes every ten years. For those of you who do not know, the tradition is that everyone must come with a dance partner, or a date, as you might like to call them. It is also tradition for girls to ask boys, and not vice versa. We hope to see most of you there tonight.'
The dance soon became the big talk around the village. Lyra, Toni, Marieke, Lizzie, Mel and Rosie were sitting out on one of the grassy hills, discussing it.
"I'm going to ask Merry," announced Lyra, feeling confident.
"I think he'll definitely go with you after earlier this morning," answered Rosie. "It certainly surprised us all."
"Yeah, I thought that you hated him," added Lizzie. "And then when you kissed him I was thinking, what are you doing, you freakoid?"
"I surprised myself as well," laughed Lyra. "But Merry was definitely the most surprised. So who are you guys asking?"
"I'm asking Frodo, duh!" said Mel.
"Well, I promised I'd ask Sam to the next dance, so that's what I'm going to do," said Rosie. "And I think he's really sweet anyway."
"Do you think Bilbo will mind if Lizzie and me go together?" asked Marieke. "Cos I don't really want to ask a boy."
"Nah, he won't mind," replied Rosie. "You guys can't help it."
"That's good then," said Lizzie, grinning at Marieke.
"I don't know who to ask," said Toni.
"Duh! Ask Pippin," suggested Mel.
"But he'll laugh," said Toni.
"No he won't," answered Marieke. "He won't have anyone to go with otherwise."
"But . . ." Toni was trying to think of another excuse. "He'll think I like him."
"You do," corrected Lyra.
"No I don't," denied Toni.
"Yes you do," grinned Lyra. "Why did you hug him last night? And why were you crying before?"
"Err . . . OK, maybe I do think he's good looking . . . and he has a good personality. And . . ." started Toni.
"OK, OK, that's enough reasons," laughed Lyra.
"So maybe I do like him then," admitted Toni.
"Good, you can ask him to the dance then," finished Lyra.
"But . . ." started Toni.
"No buts!" cried Lyra. "The subject's closed."
And Lyra stuffed her fingers in her ears and hummed loudly, so that she wouldn't be able to hear. Everyone else just laughed.
~*~
Not long after, they girls had decided to support each other and all ask the boys at the same time. Thankfully when they found the boys, they were all together. Mel decided to go first.
"Hey Frodo," she called. "Wanna come to the dance with me tonight?"
"Sure!" grinned Frodo enthusiastically.
"I did promise you Sam, so do you wanna go with me?" asked Rosie.
"Yes please," said Sam. "Thanks for asking."
"No problem," smiled Rosie.
"You up for it, Merry?" enquired Lyra.
"Yep," grinned Merry.
Lyra gave Toni a little nudge, who was now looking ready to die on the spot.
"Erm, wanna go with me Pippin?" Toni asked, her face on fire.
"Err, OK," replied Pippin, looking slightly surprised.
"Well everything's settled then," said Lyra. "Come on, girls."
"Is that all you came here for?" asked Frodo.
"Yeah, pretty much," said Lyra. "See you all later."
~*~
Later that evening, the ten hobbits were at the Green Dragon, waiting. All the tables and chairs had been moved to the walls, so that there was enough space in the middle for everyone to dance. They'd gotten there early and had to wait for everyone else to arrive. When others started to come in, they split off into their pairs looking slightly nervous. A group of about five or six hobbits came in, all carrying instruments which they started to set up in the corner.
"I wonder where Bilbo is," said Frodo thoughtfully. "I hope he's coming."
"Well he put the posters up, so he should come," concluded Mel.
Not long after, the hobbits with the instruments started up a fast cheery song. Several people got up to dance in the empty area in the middle of the room. As soon as the music started, Merry, Pippin, Lyra, Toni, Sam, Rosie, Mel and Frodo all got up to dance.
"I hate this song," moaned Marieke. "It's so cheesy."
"That's why I like it," said Lizzie, pretending to start dancing. She knew it would embarrass Marieke.
"Don't!" hissed Marieke.
"Aw, I'm only kidding," grinned Lizzie, flopping into a chair and offering the one next to her to Marieke. Marieke politely declined.
"I'm just gonna go get some drinks first," said Marieke. "But save the seat for me."
"OK," said Lizzie.
Lizzie watched Marieke head over to the bar, and then turned her attention to the others dancing. She saw Rosie amongst them and beckoned her over.
"Aren't you on duty today then?" asked Lizzie.
"No, I've got a break because of the whole dance thing," replied Rosie. "They've got some old people serving the drinks tonight, since they can't dance properly without breaking their hip or some other bone."
Lizzie started laughing. Rosie then went back over to dance with Sam, and just after, Marieke came back with the drinks. Marieke and Lizzie sat together with their drinks, chatting comfortably.
Later on, the cheery music stopped playing and the band started playing a slow romantic song. Marieke and Lizzie both burst out laughing because as soon as the music changed, some of the more hyperactive hobbits sat down, including Toni and Pippin. Marieke and Lizzie got up to dance – Marieke was finally pleased that the cheesy music had stopped. Mel and Frodo stayed up to dance to the slow song, and so did Rosie and Sam, and Merry and Lyra.
~*~
The dance finished very late that night. A group of hobbits voluntarily stayed back to help clean up. Apart from Merry, Pippin, Lyra and Toni, who were forced to stay. Marieke, Lizzie, Rosie and Sam were cleaning and tidying the tables, Mel and Frodo were wiping the bar, Merry and Pippin were washing up, and Lyra and Toni were supposed to be sweeping the floor. Instead they were having swordfights with the brooms.
"Guys, cut it out!" snapped Lizzie, as one of the brooms hit the table for the third time, knocking over a thankfully empty mug.
"Sorry," grumbled Lyra and Toni, starting to sweep up properly.
"Finally," Mel muttered to Frodo.
"Oh by the way, Toni," grinned Marieke. "Thanks."
"Yeah, thank you," smirked Lizzie.
Lyra was blank for a moment until she realised what they were thanking Toni for. Toni just looked completely bewildered. It took everyone about half an hour to clean up properly. After, they all went back to their houses for a well-deserved sleep.
~*~
The next afternoon, they were all sitting down by the river together. They'd all started going around together in their large group of ten.
"Hey, what's that?" asked Pippin, pointing to something on the river's edge.
"What's what?" replied Merry, looking in.
"That," said Pippin, pointing.
Everyone leant over to see what he was looking at. Pippin stuck his hand in the river and pulled out what looked like a rusty pair of metal bracelets joined together with a chain. But both bangles were open, with part hanging open on a sort of hinge. They looked similar to handcuffs.
"What is it?" asked Lyra.
"Let me see!" demanded Toni.
Pippin handed the handcuffs over to Toni. She put her hand in one of the hoops and was trying to figure out how to shut it.
"Don't play with it," warned Mel.
"Stop it," said Marieke.
Marieke tried to take the handcuffs off Toni, unwisely putting her hand in the other hoop.
"Don't put your hand in!" cried Lyra.
Lyra tried to grab Marieke's hand out, but she knocked her hand against the hinged part and accidentally snapped it shut.
"Lyra!" cried Marieke.
"Oops," said Lyra.
"Oh, so that's how you shut it," said Toni, shutting the other one around her own hand.
"Someone please tell me she didn't do that," said Marieke weakly.
"OK, she didn't do that," said Pippin helpfully.
"That doesn't help!" snapped Marieke.
"Why did you have to play around with it?" Lyra asked Toni. "Why do you always have to play around with stuff?"
"Dunno, just curious," replied Toni. She didn't seem to have realised that she was now bound to Marieke for what could be a very long time.
"Come on! We'll go and find Bilbo. He'll know what to do," said Marieke, walking off and dragging Toni with her.
"Ow!" cried Toni. "Why don't you just take it off?"
"Because I can't!" snapped Marieke. "It won't open."
"Are you sure?" asked Toni, trying to tug hers off. "Uh oh."
Marieke said nothing and pulled Toni along to Bilbo's house. Unfortunately, Bilbo wasn't able to help. They went back to the others at the river, with Marieke feeling extremely annoyed.
"Did he get them off?" asked Sam.
Marieke held up her hand, showing that the handcuffs were still on.
"He couldn't use any keys because they don't have a lock," said Marieke. "And he was trying all these tools, but they wouldn't work."
"So he tried everything?" prompted Mel.
"Yep," said Marieke sadly.
"Maybe it was some sort of spell," suggested Lizzie.
"Yeah right. Open sesame," joked Toni.
To everyone's surprise, both hoops of the handcuffs snapped open. Toni and Marieke snatched their hands out quickly. Merry picked the handcuffs up by the chain and threw them back into the river.
"And they stay in there," said Merry. "Everyone agree?"
They all nodded quickly.