Disclaimer: The characters and most of the plot belong to the genius J.R.R. Tolkien. Some of the script belongs to New Line Cinema. However, the character Celandine Brandybuck and all situations involving her belong to me grin.
Chapter 4
As the next couple of years flew by, the four hobbits found themselves still friends. Frodo had also befriended Samwise Gamgee. Sam's father, Hamfast, was Bilbo's gardener and Sam shared his father's love in gardening. Now that Hamfast was getting on in years, Sam was taking on Bag End's up keep.
Meriadoc and Peregrin kept on getting into mischief. They kept on rising to their elder's reprimands and challenges, earning them labels as trouble makers and not peaceful, as hobbits go. Celandine joined them on occasion but Esmeralda held her back (to Ciel's frustration) from participating. Esmeralda recognized her daughter's beauty and wisdom. She and Saradoc agreed to raise her more like a lady, and marry her to someone suitable.
"It's for your own good, darling!" pleaded Esmeralda to her daughter's silent, angry face.
"How can it be when your allowing no happiness in her life?" argued Merry.
After a year of tension, Esmeralda and Saradoc finally gave in to Ciel's and Merry's demands and Ciel was given more freedom, on account that she does not ruin her reputation.
"Reputations!" fumed Ciel. "The whole thing's rather stupid!"
But nonetheless, she kept her word to her parents and she cough more than a few of the hobbit lad's eyes.
And so it came to pass, that one summer, the hobbits from all over the Shire found themselves very busy. To a wayfaring stranger, the hobbit's actions would be considered quite odd indeed. Excitement and anticipation drove the hobbits to hard work on the days leading up to September 22.
This was how Gandalf the Grey found the Shire on the morning of September 21. Being a regular visitor to the Shire, he found the hobbit's behaviour most peculiar, but fascinating.
On that morning, Frodo had escaped the bustle around Bag End. He fled with a book about Elves into a field full of green. He settled into his usual place at the base of a large tree. Suddenly he heard a murmuring. The low voice appeared to be singing to himself. Frodo looked up.
"Down from the road where it began. And I must follow if I can..." the voice hummed.
Frodo stood up. He knew that voice.
"The road goes ever on, down from the door where it began," the voice continued. "Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow if I can."
Frodo dropped his book and started running, picking up speed, he leaped down a hill. He ran until he stood above the road on a little hillock. He came to a halt and beheld a cart being pulled by a bay pony and being driven by an old man, draped in grey with a long beard. He had a large blue hat perched on his head. Frodo crossed his arms and addressed the man.
"You're late." Frodo said accusingly.
The old man stared resolutely ahead, under his large hat. "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins." The wizard said. He tilted his head and looked at Frodo, meeting the hobbit's blue eyes. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!"
Frodo and the wizard stared at each other for a few seconds. Looks of all seriousness was on both of their faces. Then, the wizard started chuckling, causing Frodo to break his straight face as well. Soon they were both full out laughing.
"It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!" Frodo cried as he jumped on to the cart to hug his friend. Gandalf dropped the reins and hugged him back, laughing. When they broke apart, he said, "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?"
Gandalf, the wizard, drove Frodo through the Shire and Back to Hobbiton, passing by fields of gold with hobbit women harvesting.
"What news of the outside world?" Frodo asked. "Tell me everything!"
"Everything? You are far too eager and curious for a hobbit. Most unnatural!" Gandalf responded. "How is the old rascal anyways?"
"You know Bilbo," Frodo sighed. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."
"Well that should please him." Gandalf chuckled.
"Half the Shire's been invited! And the rest of them are turning up anyway to his party." Frodo and Gandalf both laughed at this. Gandalf drove the cart past Ted Sandyman's mill and across the bridge into Hobbiton.
"To tell you the truth, Bilbo's been a bit odd lately." Frodo said quietly. Gandalf kept is eyes resolutely on the road. "He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours and hours pouring over maps when he thinks I'm not looking. He's up to something."
Gandalf grunted. Frodo gave him a quizzical glance, while Gandalf just kept on smoking and looked to the left with a pointed vacant expression.
"All right then, keep your secrets!" Frodo said laughing.
"What?" Gandalf asked.
"But I know you have something to do with it."
"Good gracious me." Gandalf looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
Frodo nodded. "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of.,"
"Indeed."
"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected." Frodo sounded almost proud of this fact.
"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved." Gandalf claimed. "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door."
"What ever you did," Frodo laughed. "you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."
"Oh really?" Gandalf said surprised. They drove on by the hole of the Proudfoot family and Mr. Proudfoot was outside raking the leaves outside his door. Mrs. Proudfoot stepped outside and they both gave Gandalf a wary look as he drove by. However the hobbit children were extremely pleased to see him and ran over the hills to the cart call his name.
"Fireworks Gandalf!" the hobbit children pleaded as they ran by Mr. and Mrs. Proudfoot, who both looked very stern. The children gathered behind the cart, dismayed at the lack of response. Frodo looked at Gandalf from within his blue eyes with an expectant light dancing in his eyes. Gandalf concentrated hard and drove around a corner.
"Oh..." the children said sadly, arms hanging limp by their sides. Suddenly an explosion of colour and sparks erupted from the back of the cart, and the children screamed and jumped in delight. Gandalf chortled to himself, and even Mr. Proudfoot was standing in the road laughing. But one stern look from his wife settled a sheepish scowl on his face once more.
"Gandalf?" Frodo said standing up in the cart. "I'm glad you're back.
"So am I dear boy!" Gandalf said as Frodo jumped out of the cart. They waved good bye to each other and Frodo sped off to find Sam. "So am I." Gandalf said to himself, looking around his beloved Shire. He finally made his way to Bag End and halted his pony. Taking a deep breath happiness, he pushed past the sign on the gate declaring no admittance except on party business.
Gandalf knocked on the round Green door with his staff. A voice inside shouted.
"No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!" the voice insisted.
"And what about very old friends?" Gandalf asked.
The door swung open and there stood Bilbo Baggins in disbelief. "Gandalf?" he asked.
"Bilbo Baggins." Gandalf greeted.
"My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo rushed to hug his friend.
"good to see you. One hundred and eleven years old! Who would believe it?" Gandalf took a good look at Bilbo's face. "You haven't aged a day." He said skeptically, then he laughed.
"Come on, come in!" And so Gandalf went into Bag End for tea, feeling very out of place as he ran into the chandeliers and the ceiling.
As the two old friends sat down for tea, Bilbo confessed all. "I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moments peace! I want to see mountains again. Mountains Gandalf! And then find somewhere quiet were I can finish my book." He finished tiredly.
"So you mean to go through with your plan." Gandalf said accusingly.
"Yes, yes. It's all in hand." Bilbo declared. "All the arrangements are made."
"Frodo suspects something." Gandalf said, looking at Bilbo from beneath bushy eyebrows.
"Of course he does! He's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!"
"You will tell him, won't you?"
"Yes, yes." Bilbo said reluctantly.
"He's very fond of you."
Bilbo looked up. "I know." He said somberly. "He'd probably come with me if I asked him. But I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields, the little rivers, even that Brandybuck girl," Bilbo said winking, but he sobered quickly. "I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart." Bilbo's hand strayed to his pocket and fingered something in it. He sat down tiredly. "I feel thin, sort of stretched...like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to."
A/N: Sorry, I didn't want to put this last part in with Bilbo and Gandalf, but it's essential for the party scene and such. Review!
Chapter 4
As the next couple of years flew by, the four hobbits found themselves still friends. Frodo had also befriended Samwise Gamgee. Sam's father, Hamfast, was Bilbo's gardener and Sam shared his father's love in gardening. Now that Hamfast was getting on in years, Sam was taking on Bag End's up keep.
Meriadoc and Peregrin kept on getting into mischief. They kept on rising to their elder's reprimands and challenges, earning them labels as trouble makers and not peaceful, as hobbits go. Celandine joined them on occasion but Esmeralda held her back (to Ciel's frustration) from participating. Esmeralda recognized her daughter's beauty and wisdom. She and Saradoc agreed to raise her more like a lady, and marry her to someone suitable.
"It's for your own good, darling!" pleaded Esmeralda to her daughter's silent, angry face.
"How can it be when your allowing no happiness in her life?" argued Merry.
After a year of tension, Esmeralda and Saradoc finally gave in to Ciel's and Merry's demands and Ciel was given more freedom, on account that she does not ruin her reputation.
"Reputations!" fumed Ciel. "The whole thing's rather stupid!"
But nonetheless, she kept her word to her parents and she cough more than a few of the hobbit lad's eyes.
And so it came to pass, that one summer, the hobbits from all over the Shire found themselves very busy. To a wayfaring stranger, the hobbit's actions would be considered quite odd indeed. Excitement and anticipation drove the hobbits to hard work on the days leading up to September 22.
This was how Gandalf the Grey found the Shire on the morning of September 21. Being a regular visitor to the Shire, he found the hobbit's behaviour most peculiar, but fascinating.
On that morning, Frodo had escaped the bustle around Bag End. He fled with a book about Elves into a field full of green. He settled into his usual place at the base of a large tree. Suddenly he heard a murmuring. The low voice appeared to be singing to himself. Frodo looked up.
"Down from the road where it began. And I must follow if I can..." the voice hummed.
Frodo stood up. He knew that voice.
"The road goes ever on, down from the door where it began," the voice continued. "Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow if I can."
Frodo dropped his book and started running, picking up speed, he leaped down a hill. He ran until he stood above the road on a little hillock. He came to a halt and beheld a cart being pulled by a bay pony and being driven by an old man, draped in grey with a long beard. He had a large blue hat perched on his head. Frodo crossed his arms and addressed the man.
"You're late." Frodo said accusingly.
The old man stared resolutely ahead, under his large hat. "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins." The wizard said. He tilted his head and looked at Frodo, meeting the hobbit's blue eyes. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!"
Frodo and the wizard stared at each other for a few seconds. Looks of all seriousness was on both of their faces. Then, the wizard started chuckling, causing Frodo to break his straight face as well. Soon they were both full out laughing.
"It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!" Frodo cried as he jumped on to the cart to hug his friend. Gandalf dropped the reins and hugged him back, laughing. When they broke apart, he said, "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?"
Gandalf, the wizard, drove Frodo through the Shire and Back to Hobbiton, passing by fields of gold with hobbit women harvesting.
"What news of the outside world?" Frodo asked. "Tell me everything!"
"Everything? You are far too eager and curious for a hobbit. Most unnatural!" Gandalf responded. "How is the old rascal anyways?"
"You know Bilbo," Frodo sighed. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."
"Well that should please him." Gandalf chuckled.
"Half the Shire's been invited! And the rest of them are turning up anyway to his party." Frodo and Gandalf both laughed at this. Gandalf drove the cart past Ted Sandyman's mill and across the bridge into Hobbiton.
"To tell you the truth, Bilbo's been a bit odd lately." Frodo said quietly. Gandalf kept is eyes resolutely on the road. "He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours and hours pouring over maps when he thinks I'm not looking. He's up to something."
Gandalf grunted. Frodo gave him a quizzical glance, while Gandalf just kept on smoking and looked to the left with a pointed vacant expression.
"All right then, keep your secrets!" Frodo said laughing.
"What?" Gandalf asked.
"But I know you have something to do with it."
"Good gracious me." Gandalf looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
Frodo nodded. "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of.,"
"Indeed."
"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected." Frodo sounded almost proud of this fact.
"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved." Gandalf claimed. "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door."
"What ever you did," Frodo laughed. "you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."
"Oh really?" Gandalf said surprised. They drove on by the hole of the Proudfoot family and Mr. Proudfoot was outside raking the leaves outside his door. Mrs. Proudfoot stepped outside and they both gave Gandalf a wary look as he drove by. However the hobbit children were extremely pleased to see him and ran over the hills to the cart call his name.
"Fireworks Gandalf!" the hobbit children pleaded as they ran by Mr. and Mrs. Proudfoot, who both looked very stern. The children gathered behind the cart, dismayed at the lack of response. Frodo looked at Gandalf from within his blue eyes with an expectant light dancing in his eyes. Gandalf concentrated hard and drove around a corner.
"Oh..." the children said sadly, arms hanging limp by their sides. Suddenly an explosion of colour and sparks erupted from the back of the cart, and the children screamed and jumped in delight. Gandalf chortled to himself, and even Mr. Proudfoot was standing in the road laughing. But one stern look from his wife settled a sheepish scowl on his face once more.
"Gandalf?" Frodo said standing up in the cart. "I'm glad you're back.
"So am I dear boy!" Gandalf said as Frodo jumped out of the cart. They waved good bye to each other and Frodo sped off to find Sam. "So am I." Gandalf said to himself, looking around his beloved Shire. He finally made his way to Bag End and halted his pony. Taking a deep breath happiness, he pushed past the sign on the gate declaring no admittance except on party business.
Gandalf knocked on the round Green door with his staff. A voice inside shouted.
"No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!" the voice insisted.
"And what about very old friends?" Gandalf asked.
The door swung open and there stood Bilbo Baggins in disbelief. "Gandalf?" he asked.
"Bilbo Baggins." Gandalf greeted.
"My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo rushed to hug his friend.
"good to see you. One hundred and eleven years old! Who would believe it?" Gandalf took a good look at Bilbo's face. "You haven't aged a day." He said skeptically, then he laughed.
"Come on, come in!" And so Gandalf went into Bag End for tea, feeling very out of place as he ran into the chandeliers and the ceiling.
As the two old friends sat down for tea, Bilbo confessed all. "I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moments peace! I want to see mountains again. Mountains Gandalf! And then find somewhere quiet were I can finish my book." He finished tiredly.
"So you mean to go through with your plan." Gandalf said accusingly.
"Yes, yes. It's all in hand." Bilbo declared. "All the arrangements are made."
"Frodo suspects something." Gandalf said, looking at Bilbo from beneath bushy eyebrows.
"Of course he does! He's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!"
"You will tell him, won't you?"
"Yes, yes." Bilbo said reluctantly.
"He's very fond of you."
Bilbo looked up. "I know." He said somberly. "He'd probably come with me if I asked him. But I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields, the little rivers, even that Brandybuck girl," Bilbo said winking, but he sobered quickly. "I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart." Bilbo's hand strayed to his pocket and fingered something in it. He sat down tiredly. "I feel thin, sort of stretched...like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to."
A/N: Sorry, I didn't want to put this last part in with Bilbo and Gandalf, but it's essential for the party scene and such. Review!