Chapter 6
Wizards and Fireworks
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the hobbits were slowly making their way up the road from the party field. Aragorn was giving them the latest news of Gondor and from Rohan. They were almost to Bag End when the sounds of several small explosions reached their ears along with a familiar voice cursing in elvish. That was echoed by childish laughter and colorful fireworks that arrayed the sky.
The Fellowship members shared a dubious look before racing towards the house. They reached the hobbit hole in time to see Gandalf trying to restrain a very spooked horse. Arwen and Rose had their hands full trying to gain control over the fairly large group of children that had gathered. Fireworks were still going off in the back of the cart adding to the utter chaos.
The hobbits and Aragorn raced into the mess helping the women in gathering the children, while Legolas and Gimli hurridly unhooked the cart, freeing the frightened horse. Legolas led the horse away speaking to it soothingly in elvish. Gimli and Gandalf set about trying to extiguish the lighted rockets in the cart. Rose had gained control of the children by promising them tea and cakes as the adults herded the children indoors.
Aragorn and the hobbits hurried outside to see if they could be any use. Aragorn and Pippin backed away cautiously when Gandalf pierced them with a dark look.
"In all of my days," the wizard began, "I have never known children to take after their parents like yours do. That fool of a Took, Faramir, and that little scamp, Eldarion, have the same perchance of getting into trouble that you two did when you were their age. I want to know how Tookburrow and Rivendell are still standing."
The fathers in question were standing before the wizard like chastised youths. Aragorn and Pippin shared a look both fighting to keep the smiles off their faces as they listened to the wizard rant. Finally Pippin looked up at the wizard with an innocent look. "Gandalf how can you blame Faramir and Eldarion? There were lots of children out here."
"How can I-let me tell you something Peregrin Took-"
"Mithrandir," Arwen broke in as she stepped from the house, "it is good to see you. Are you alright?"
Gandalf immediately softened upon seeing the elven woman. "Yes, thank you my dear."
Arwen embraced the wizard warmly. Aragorn gave a quiet sigh glad that his wife was there to diffuse the situation. From previous experience he knew the wizard's lecture could have went on indefinitly.
"Rose and I have made tea and cakes," Arwen said, breaking into Aragorn's thoughts, "why don't I bring some out into the garden for all of you? You can all sit and talk."
"That would be lovely thank you," Gandalf nodded.
"Thank you Arwen." Aragorn replied giving his wife a look.
She smiled knowing he was thanking her for her interference. "Aragorn please give me a hand with the trays."
The husband and wife quickly disappeared into Bag End.
"I will bring some chairs and cushions around," Sam said understanding what Arwen was doing. "Pippin why don't you give me a hand?"
Pippin nodded, following the other hobbit to the gardens. "Sure Sam."
"I'll help," volunteered Merry following quickly.
Frodo hid a smile as everyone scattered. He looked over to where the dwarf was standing. Gimli waved him away, nodding to where Legolas was still walking the horse. Frodo turned towards Gandalf. "Come Gandalf, let's make ourselves comfortable."
Gandalf chuckled, "very well Master Baggins, let us be off."
Gimli watched as they disappeared around the house. The dwarf laughed as he shared an amused glance with the elf. "Hobbits and elves one, wizards zero."
Wizards and Fireworks
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the hobbits were slowly making their way up the road from the party field. Aragorn was giving them the latest news of Gondor and from Rohan. They were almost to Bag End when the sounds of several small explosions reached their ears along with a familiar voice cursing in elvish. That was echoed by childish laughter and colorful fireworks that arrayed the sky.
The Fellowship members shared a dubious look before racing towards the house. They reached the hobbit hole in time to see Gandalf trying to restrain a very spooked horse. Arwen and Rose had their hands full trying to gain control over the fairly large group of children that had gathered. Fireworks were still going off in the back of the cart adding to the utter chaos.
The hobbits and Aragorn raced into the mess helping the women in gathering the children, while Legolas and Gimli hurridly unhooked the cart, freeing the frightened horse. Legolas led the horse away speaking to it soothingly in elvish. Gimli and Gandalf set about trying to extiguish the lighted rockets in the cart. Rose had gained control of the children by promising them tea and cakes as the adults herded the children indoors.
Aragorn and the hobbits hurried outside to see if they could be any use. Aragorn and Pippin backed away cautiously when Gandalf pierced them with a dark look.
"In all of my days," the wizard began, "I have never known children to take after their parents like yours do. That fool of a Took, Faramir, and that little scamp, Eldarion, have the same perchance of getting into trouble that you two did when you were their age. I want to know how Tookburrow and Rivendell are still standing."
The fathers in question were standing before the wizard like chastised youths. Aragorn and Pippin shared a look both fighting to keep the smiles off their faces as they listened to the wizard rant. Finally Pippin looked up at the wizard with an innocent look. "Gandalf how can you blame Faramir and Eldarion? There were lots of children out here."
"How can I-let me tell you something Peregrin Took-"
"Mithrandir," Arwen broke in as she stepped from the house, "it is good to see you. Are you alright?"
Gandalf immediately softened upon seeing the elven woman. "Yes, thank you my dear."
Arwen embraced the wizard warmly. Aragorn gave a quiet sigh glad that his wife was there to diffuse the situation. From previous experience he knew the wizard's lecture could have went on indefinitly.
"Rose and I have made tea and cakes," Arwen said, breaking into Aragorn's thoughts, "why don't I bring some out into the garden for all of you? You can all sit and talk."
"That would be lovely thank you," Gandalf nodded.
"Thank you Arwen." Aragorn replied giving his wife a look.
She smiled knowing he was thanking her for her interference. "Aragorn please give me a hand with the trays."
The husband and wife quickly disappeared into Bag End.
"I will bring some chairs and cushions around," Sam said understanding what Arwen was doing. "Pippin why don't you give me a hand?"
Pippin nodded, following the other hobbit to the gardens. "Sure Sam."
"I'll help," volunteered Merry following quickly.
Frodo hid a smile as everyone scattered. He looked over to where the dwarf was standing. Gimli waved him away, nodding to where Legolas was still walking the horse. Frodo turned towards Gandalf. "Come Gandalf, let's make ourselves comfortable."
Gandalf chuckled, "very well Master Baggins, let us be off."
Gimli watched as they disappeared around the house. The dwarf laughed as he shared an amused glance with the elf. "Hobbits and elves one, wizards zero."