A/N:
Ch. 3: Good-bye Presents and Hidden Treasure
The next day, Zilda and Pippin decided to go up to Bag End and see how Frodo was doing. When they got there they discovered they weren't the only ones who had decided to pay him a call. There was a huge crowd of hobbits waiting at the door. As they walked up Frodo opened the door and the hobbits went silent.
"I know you're all wondering where Mr. Bilbo Baggins the former owner of this hole has gone. I regret to inform you that he is not here but has gone to stay with the elves on extended holiday. He has however left a few things for some of his close friends and relations and if these people will step forward when I call their names they will receive their gifts." He then produced a list from behind the door and began to read off names, which included Zilda and Pippin. They looked at one another in surprise and began to make their way to the door. The other hobbits whose names hadn't been called grumbled and grudgingly parted for them. Zilda felt even more conspicuous and different than usual and was very glad when they finally made it to the door.
"I'm glad you made it Zilda; I could really use your help." Frodo said. He looked more than a little frazzled.
"I'll be happy to help in any way I can. Hand me a present."
"Sure." Frodo smiled gratefully at her and handed a gold pen and inkbottle to her. Zilda took it and read the label.
'For Milo Burrows, hoping it will be useful, from B.B.' Zilda giggled. It was a very good joke because Milo never answered letters. Zilda handed the gift out and began to pass out other gifts reading the labels as she went. Most of them had a similar inside joke or use on them and she enjoyed reading them very much. She handed out presents for a few moments then glanced out the door. To her surprise several of the hobbits whose names hadn't been called were still standing there. Zilda promptly walked out and stood on the porch.
"You can all go home now!" she yelled "There's nothing more too see!"
"Except the treasure old Bilbo Baggins kept locked away in that old hole!" exclaimed a voice in the crowd. The rest of the hobbits voiced their agreement.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she yelled, exasperated. "There is no such thing in this hole! And even if there were, do you think Mr. Frodo would just put it all in a big pile in his front yard and let you take your pick? If you're waiting on that you'll be waiting a very long time. Now for the last time go home before I have to do something drastic" she said threateningly, holding her bow and reaching for an arrow in the quiver on her back. The unruly hobbits didn't need anymore encouragement. Zilda Took's aim with a bow was bordering on legendary and no one wanted to challenge the legend. They took their leave, many grumbling about how it 'wasn't fair' and 'those stingy Bagginses.' Zilda put down her bow and went back to work. She hadn't been at it very long however when Sam, who was also helping, looked out the window and let out a sad cry. Zilda turned around just in time to see him run out the door. She followed him out and found him outside the window that was in the parlor. There was a little garden out there that Sam had planted himself two years before. The crowd of hobbits had trampled all the beautiful flowers into the dirt and pulled up many of his herbs. Sam was holding the broken stem of a petunia as one would hold the body of a puppy or a kitten that you had loved.
"Oh Sam." Said Zilda sympathetically as she knelt beside him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. It will all grow back in the spring." Sam rubbed his nose.
"You're right Zilda. But all the same it makes me sad." Zilda squeezed his shoulder.
"Come on Sam. There's much to be done." Then they got up and walked back into the house. There were still many people who were waiting to receive their present. Zilda immediately went back to reading tags and handing out gifts. How long she worked this time she wasn't sure, but at one point she glanced out the window and saw a group of four hobbits coming down the road with wheelbarrows.
'Hmm…Wonder what they're up to?' she thought as she watched them walk up to the gate and cautiously enter. Zilda went out to meet them.
"Can I help you?" The four hobbits looked at one another. Then the one who liked to be the oldest stepped forward.
"We came to claim some treasure!" he said confidently. Zilda smiled. He couldn't have been much out of his tweens. He reminded Zilda of Pip's friend Merry who was always getting Pippin into trouble. She knelt so she could look the young hobbit in the eye.
"Who told you there was treasure here?"
"The whole town's talkin' 'bout it!" another of the lads spoke up. The others nodded their agreement. Zilda was puzzled. Who would have started such a rumor? The only people she could think of were the Sackville-Bagginses and they were inside arguing with Frodo. She turned back to the boys.
"You go back to Hobbiton and tell anyone who mentions free treasure at Bag End that Zilda Took said there was none to be had. Now get!" she said cheerfully as she shooed them out the gate. After she had latched the gate she walked back into the house and down the hall to Frodo's room. He'd been in there with those Sackville-Bagginses for almost an hour and Zilda was beginning to wonder if he was all right. When she reached the door she heard the unmistakable voice of Otho from inside the door.
"Foiled again! And after waiting sixty years! Spoons? Fiddlesticks!" Suddenly the door flew open barely missing Zilda's nose by a few inches and out stormed Otho and Lobelia looking as if they had had there own house stolen from under their noses. Zilda hurried inside Frodo's room and shut the door as quickly as possible.
"Lock too please if you will." Said Frodo. Zilda did and turned to see Frodo slumped down in a chair behind his desk.
"What was that all about?"
"Just them being themselves. You know how it is."
"All too well." Replied Zilda with disgust.
"You can sit Zilda." Frodo said pointing to a chair.
"No thanks I was just dropping in to see how you were. You look awful. How much sleep have you had since the party last night?"
"Sleep? I don't need sleep! Just a couple of hours and I'm good to go!" Frodo said spiritedly.
"Do you mean to tell me that you've only had two hours of sleep! Frodo Baggins you get to bed this instant or you're going to make yourself sick! What do you think you are? A wizard?"
"Yes that's it! A wizard just like good old Gandalf!" said Frodo laughing hysterically.
"Well even good old Gandalf needs his sleep."
"Oh alright Zilda, I'll go to bed."
"Thank you." She started to walk out the door.
"Zilda?" She turned to look at Frodo. "Thank you. For everything." She smiled and closed the door behind her. Frodo sighed and blew out the candle on his desk and closed his curtains. Then he crawled onto his feather bed and closed his eyes.
'Just a few moments…' he thought and he was asleep.