BOOM! A firework exploded into the night sky high above Hobbiton. It was in
the shape of a great green tree with unfolding branches and glowing flowers
raining down from the branches, evaporating just about the up-turned faces
of the delighted party-goers. There were one hundred and forty four
Hobbits, everyone all feasting and drinking. Carts of beer and wine were
scattered about, and the tables were piled high with steaming scones and
savories. Rosie, Frodo and I were dancing with the other Hobbits to a
lively tune, laughing and singing. Gandalf was hurrying about, lighting
fireworks with a blue spark that danced magically from his staff, while
Bilbo greeted visitors.
I noticed Sam sitting at a table drinking ale. Once in a while, his brown eyes would flick our way – Rosie's way. Smilingly, I gave Frodo a friendly nudge. He grinned at me, and skipped over to Sam, dropping onto the bench beside him.
"Go on, Sam, ask Rosie for a dance."
Sam looked horrified. "I think I'll just have myself another drink," he started to get up.
"Oh no you don't!" Frodo stopped him and thrust him into the middle of the dancers. I joined Frodo at the table, both of us laughing at Sam's horrified face.
Frodo passed me a mug of ale, his blue eyes twinkling merrily, and took a big swig from his mug as well as we watched Sam dance with Rosie and the others.
All of a sudden, there was a tremendous boom and a rocket blasted upward from the pavilion beside us. I jumped, startled. It zoomed over the party, where it burst apart, forming the shape of a great red golden dragon. Fire gushed from its flaming nostrils as it turned back and flew low towards us. I stood up in alarm. The crowd around us was panicking, but Bilbo still seemed oblivious to the impending danger.
"Bilbo! Watch out for the dragon!!" Frodo called out.
"Dragon? Nonsense... hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"
Frodo hurriedly pulled Bilbo to the ground. I ducked as well, gasping, just in time as the dragon roared by overhead. Everyone dove to the ground. Tables were overturned, tents collapsed, food flew everywhere. The firework dragon turned a somersault and exploded over the hills with a deafening bang! A deafening cheer arose from everyone. I clapped loudly beside Frodo and Bilbo.
A few feet away, hair and clothes smoking, Merry and Pippin were being led away by the ears by Gandalf who was shaking his head.
"Looks like those two are at it again," I said to Frodo.
He laughed. "Gandalf won't let them off lightly this time!"
He was right. A short while later, Merry and Pippin were leaning over barrels, washing dishes while Gandalf sat nearby smoking his pipe and sipping ale.
"SPEECH! SPEECH!" erupted from the party.
Frodo and I joined in with the cries. On the dais, Bilbo stepped up on a stool. He bowed in gratitude at the applause.
"My dear Bagginses, and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks..." There were cheers after each name. "Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots..."
"Proudfeet!" A hobbit with big feet resting in front of him called out. We all laughed.
"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday. Yes, and alas... Eleventy- one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits!" There was a tremendous outburst of approval. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I know half of you half as well as you deserve."
Scattered clapping this time as the guests tried to work out if this was a compliment or not. Frodo and I grinned at each other. Up on the dais, Bilbo slipped something out of his waistcoat pocket and held it behind his back. I frowned. There was something strange about him... He seemed really tense. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. I cast Frodo a sidelong glance. He was watching his uncle with deep affection.
"I regret to announce, this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell!" Bilbo looked across at Frodo. He seemed to hesitate... then... "Goodbye." He whispered.
He suddenly vanished. I gasped. Frodo's eyes widened, staring at the empty stool in disbelief. The party exploded into an uproar as everyone leapt to their feet.
"Hey, how did he do that?" Pippin said in awe, also staring at the empty stage. "That was really good."
Merry nodded, eyes wide. "If we get our hands on that secret, Farmer Maggot will never catch us again!"
They both turned to look at each other, their eyes alight with mischief.
"Bilbo!" Everyone was yelling. The guests began to look behind the stage, inside tents and under tables, all thinking Bilbo was playing some elaborate trick. I glanced at Gandalf. His jaw tightened as he smoked his pipe slowly, eyes slightly narrowed in suspicion. I watched him stand, and move away. Rosie came up to me, breathless.
"Come on, Iris, let's help find Bilbo!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me off. I looked back over my shoulder at Frodo. He looked confused and worried.
I noticed Sam sitting at a table drinking ale. Once in a while, his brown eyes would flick our way – Rosie's way. Smilingly, I gave Frodo a friendly nudge. He grinned at me, and skipped over to Sam, dropping onto the bench beside him.
"Go on, Sam, ask Rosie for a dance."
Sam looked horrified. "I think I'll just have myself another drink," he started to get up.
"Oh no you don't!" Frodo stopped him and thrust him into the middle of the dancers. I joined Frodo at the table, both of us laughing at Sam's horrified face.
Frodo passed me a mug of ale, his blue eyes twinkling merrily, and took a big swig from his mug as well as we watched Sam dance with Rosie and the others.
All of a sudden, there was a tremendous boom and a rocket blasted upward from the pavilion beside us. I jumped, startled. It zoomed over the party, where it burst apart, forming the shape of a great red golden dragon. Fire gushed from its flaming nostrils as it turned back and flew low towards us. I stood up in alarm. The crowd around us was panicking, but Bilbo still seemed oblivious to the impending danger.
"Bilbo! Watch out for the dragon!!" Frodo called out.
"Dragon? Nonsense... hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"
Frodo hurriedly pulled Bilbo to the ground. I ducked as well, gasping, just in time as the dragon roared by overhead. Everyone dove to the ground. Tables were overturned, tents collapsed, food flew everywhere. The firework dragon turned a somersault and exploded over the hills with a deafening bang! A deafening cheer arose from everyone. I clapped loudly beside Frodo and Bilbo.
A few feet away, hair and clothes smoking, Merry and Pippin were being led away by the ears by Gandalf who was shaking his head.
"Looks like those two are at it again," I said to Frodo.
He laughed. "Gandalf won't let them off lightly this time!"
He was right. A short while later, Merry and Pippin were leaning over barrels, washing dishes while Gandalf sat nearby smoking his pipe and sipping ale.
"SPEECH! SPEECH!" erupted from the party.
Frodo and I joined in with the cries. On the dais, Bilbo stepped up on a stool. He bowed in gratitude at the applause.
"My dear Bagginses, and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks..." There were cheers after each name. "Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots..."
"Proudfeet!" A hobbit with big feet resting in front of him called out. We all laughed.
"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday. Yes, and alas... Eleventy- one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits!" There was a tremendous outburst of approval. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I know half of you half as well as you deserve."
Scattered clapping this time as the guests tried to work out if this was a compliment or not. Frodo and I grinned at each other. Up on the dais, Bilbo slipped something out of his waistcoat pocket and held it behind his back. I frowned. There was something strange about him... He seemed really tense. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. I cast Frodo a sidelong glance. He was watching his uncle with deep affection.
"I regret to announce, this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell!" Bilbo looked across at Frodo. He seemed to hesitate... then... "Goodbye." He whispered.
He suddenly vanished. I gasped. Frodo's eyes widened, staring at the empty stool in disbelief. The party exploded into an uproar as everyone leapt to their feet.
"Hey, how did he do that?" Pippin said in awe, also staring at the empty stage. "That was really good."
Merry nodded, eyes wide. "If we get our hands on that secret, Farmer Maggot will never catch us again!"
They both turned to look at each other, their eyes alight with mischief.
"Bilbo!" Everyone was yelling. The guests began to look behind the stage, inside tents and under tables, all thinking Bilbo was playing some elaborate trick. I glanced at Gandalf. His jaw tightened as he smoked his pipe slowly, eyes slightly narrowed in suspicion. I watched him stand, and move away. Rosie came up to me, breathless.
"Come on, Iris, let's help find Bilbo!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me off. I looked back over my shoulder at Frodo. He looked confused and worried.