Chapter 5: Mr. Everett's surprise

It was morning over Macon. Lee Everett is still frozen with shock to last night's battle in the mountains. He now wonders if the time has come for him to experience the tale in which Radagast told him about 9 years ago. Lilly and Clementine notices Lee's shock and went up to him.

"Good morning, Lee, is something the matter? Is everything all right?" pondered Lilly. There was a brief, but long moments of silence.

Lee finally answered, "I hope so Lilly, that I do."

"But you seem… surprised somehow," said Lilly.

"Indeed I am, and yet I'm not surprised, that I'm not. I can't exactly explain it Lilly, but somehow, I've been expecting these monster occurrences for a very long time now." Lilly was entirely speechless.

Lee continued, "…I don't know how, but you might say, that I was told to expect this event was to take place, that I most certainly was." The remark left Lilly even more speechless and even shocked to hear it…

Ben, walked into the couple, "hey guys, rise and shine. Today's the old man's birthday!" Ben was, for a moment ignored, then…

"Oh sorry, Ben! We totally spaced out, that we did!" Lee said nervously.

"Yeah, shame on us! It's your dad's birthday!" Lilly said and laughed even more nervously. Ben became dumbfounded.

The group set out for the pharmacy store. It was 11o'clock in the morning. Carley is at the front door to greet them. "Hey guys, Carlos took your dad out to for shopping a few minutes ago. We're already setting up in here, would you like to help?" asked Carley.

"Sure, Carley, that we most certainly will," smiled Lee.

They walked inside the restaurant and were greeted by two other female acquaintances. "Hello, Everett, nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you Sarah," said Lee.

Then the other went up to Lee with a determined face, "hey, Lee, I'd like to ask you one thing."

Lee tensed up, "uh, sure Sarita."

Sarah did the same thing.

Suddenly…

"HAVE YOU TOLD YOUR DAD ABOUT US!" they both said excitedly as they both drooled at the same time.

Lee was embarrassed at this remark, "…uh, no I haven't. He's not really that fond of seeing me lately." They were both discouraged to hear that.

"Besides, I think it's too early for trying to have a date with my master, that I do. You have heard about these occurrences of monsters, haven't you?" stated Lee.

Sarita began her statement cluelessly, "yeah, we do."

"But," started Sarah, "if we're in trouble…"

"…As we doubt will ever happen," added Sarita.

"We want your Dad to be there to save us as he did when we were attacked by walkers," they both said dreamingly. Lee became even more dumbfounded.

Luke gave off a humph at the ladies' behavior. 'Women', he thought.

Christa smirked as she spoke to Lee, "Lee, is your dad really that strong?"

"Uh, yeah, he is," Lee said nervously. "He's the owner of the drugstire. He's very old, that he is."

"Not to mention irritating," said Duck with irritation in his voice.

Carlos and Kenny try to put up a banner with the happy birthday logo on it. Lee while helping with setup continues to have that disturbed look on his face. Lilly and Carley, while also setting up notice Lee's behavior.

"Hey, Lilly, Lee doesn't seem so happy today," said Doug.

"I know, Doug," started Lilly.

"He's been acting this way since morning. Do you remember telling us about the appearance of the monsters?" Carley nodded.

Lilly then continued, "well it may seem strange, but… he told me this morning that he was somehow… expecting these monsters to appear."

"You mean," Carley said gasping. "Lee said… he expected them to come?"

"Yes, says that he has been told when it would happen."

Carley was speechless for a moment. "…Have you asked Lee how he was told?"

"Actually, thanks to Ben, I wasn't able to ask that."

Carley regained her wits, "well, we'll just have to wait until Mr. Everett comes back to see the surprise waiting for him." Lilly nodded in agreement.

Duck and Clementine stood at the upstairs balcony, trying to spot Mr. Everett. Then he sees the old man approaching with the big man, Luke. Duck hurried downstairs, "hey! Hey you guys! Mr. Everett's back!"

The crowd was just about finished with their setup. Carley opted to help Mr. Everett's groceries. "Hi Mr. Everett, welcome back."

"Good afternoon Guys, said Mr. Everett, "I sure hope Doug can find out the source of these occurrences of Walkers."

"Hey, no sweat, Mr. Everett. Let us help you with that."

"Oh thank you, Carley, Doug, Ben, and Travis," said Omid.

"In fact," interjected Carlos, "both Carley and myself have something to tell you that'll keep your mind off of the monsters."

"I hope so," Mr. Everett said sheepishly.

"Believe Me, Mr. Everett, you'll love what we've got to tell you, but you'll have to come with us," insisted Carley.

Mr. Everett went along with it. "Okay Guys, what is it?" he followed Carley.

They reached the door and Carley opened the door for Mr. Everett to come in and then…

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Mr. Everett was very surprised at this, it was his birthday. He completely crashed on the floor and quickly sat up, "OH, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS! IT'S ACTUALLY MY BIRTHDAY! THANK YOU ALL!" Mr. Everett cried with joy.

The party was ecstatic. There were lots of dancing, games, and everything anybody could want on his birthday. Mr. Everett enjoyed himself immensely. He sat by Lee, "I'm glad that you could come, Lee. It's been a while."

"Yes indeed it has, Dad," Lee grinned, "Carley has had the pleasure of inviting me personally, that she has."

Kenny, Luke, and Carlos brought out many bottles of Beers, and Whiskey. They decided to have a sake-drinking contest to see who passes out first. "You guys are going down," said Kenny.

"No way, Kenny!" cried Luke and Carlos in unison.

The trio drank their bottles very fast. Once they were done with the first bottles, they grabbed other bottles and drank them down very fast as well. Carley, Sarita, and Sarah cheered for Luke and Carlos, while Christa, Clementine, Duck, Katjaa, and Lilly cheered for Kenny. The two children cried out, "go, go, go, go, go, go…!"

Minute after minute, second after second, Kenny, Carlos, and Luke drank their sake. But moments later…all three of them passed out. Everyone went embarrassed to see all three of them faint.

"Oh well," said Katjaa, grinning and laughing like a fox, "you can't win 'em all."

"You'll never change, Katjaa," said Lilly.

Lee and his Dad continued their conversation, "it seems that this old man's life still has some good years left ahead of him, isn't that so?" asked Lee.

"Indeed." Mr. Everett stretched himself out for a moment. "I never thought something this good would make me take my mind off these monster occurrences."

Lee changed his face immediately after mentioning the monster sightings. "Does it affect you in some way, Lee?" inquired Mr. Everett.

"Actually," Lee admitted, "it does affect me greatly, Dad, that it does."

"How," wondered Mr. Everett.

"…It all started…" Lee began…

The others, inside the store, began a little sing and dance.

"Hey, Kenny," said Katjaa, "why don't we have a little dance, now?"

"Please, Katjaa, Honey, I don't even dance good," replied Kenny, "why don't you ask Lee?

"I thought I'd leave that to Lilly."

Lilly was taken back by what Katjaa said. "Gee, Katjaa," she said, blushing, "I never thought you were the type to trust me with Lee."

"Yeah," interjected Ben, "besides, Katjaa, I still think you and Kenny fit well together."

Katjaa and Kenny slapped Ben as they both yelled out, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"

Ben slowly recovered from the hits that he received. "Well," he said, "at least you're not as gloomy as Doug."

An insulted Carley went out and kicked Ben. "You shrimp! I'll teach you to talk that way about Doug!" She tortured Ben by pulling his legs, twisting them.

Lilly joined in, "yeah, let's give Ben what he deserves, Carley. Besides, He'd never ask Jenny out for a dance!"

"Would you stop talking about Jenny…OUCH!" yelled out Ben.

Moments later after the party was still going, "I see," said Mr. Everett with a stern voice, "so you've been somehow told to expect that this would happen."

Lee nodded.

Mr. Everett went on, "Son, I've known you to be a man of great secrets. One who has been through a lot of misery and death in your time, which is the reason why I respect you so much."

"Yes, Dad," said Lee, "…and I've always felt a deep respect for you as well. Out of everyone throughout Georgia, you're the only person who truly understands me, that you are."

Mr. Everett felt grateful for Lee's gratitude. He then asked, "so you believe that this story that this Radagast person told you is somehow connected with these occurrences?"

"I think so," replied Lee. A moment of silence followed between them…

Isabella then ran into Lee from inside, "Uncle Lee, Grandpa, it'stime to cut the cake!"

"Yeah, Lee, time for cake," said Clementine. And so, they abandoned their conversation, and went for cake. As they went inside…

Lee and Mr, Everett see a mangled Ben beside Lilly, Carley, Clementine, and Duck.

"What happened to Ben?" asked Lee.

"Just teaching the boy some manners, Lee," replied Carley. She and Lilly grinned at each other.

Meanwhile, in the realm of Middle-Earth, in the Shire, Bilbo's birthday party concluded with a most shocking end. They crowd saw Bilbo vanish before their eyes. He has already left the shire, without anybody noticing. Gandalf just bade Bilbo farewell to his old friend at the door of his house. He then re-entered Bilbo's former estate to become Frodo's new home to himself. He saw the ring on the floor that Bilbo was so reluctant to give up. With caution, as well as curiosity, he lowered his hand toward the ring suddenly…

AAACK!

Gandalf saw a flash of a fiery eye and quickly took his hand away from the ring and left it on the floor, leaving Gandalf to be even more frightened of the ring…

Gandalf sat by the fireplace pondering what Bilbo was saying so covetously… Its mine, my own, my precious.

"Riddles in the dark…my precious," Gandalf muttered to himself as he smoked his pipe. Suddenly, someone was calling for Bilbo. It was Frodo at the front door.

"Bilbo!" called Frodo. As he did, Gandalf muttered some more, "my precious." Gandalf keeps muttering and pondering to himself as Frodo spotted the ring on the floor and picked it up.

"He's gone, hasn't he," wondered Frodo, "he talked so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it." He came up to the wizard, "Gandalf?"

Gandalf then stopped smoking his pipe and turned to Frodo and looked at him and the ring he has in his hand. "Hm, Bilbo's ring," the wizard said as he grinned.

Gandalf sat at a table with an envelope in his hand. Frodo remained standing. "He's gone to stay with the Elves," he announced, "he's left you, Bag End…"

Gandalf held the envelope up to Frodo and Frodo slipped the ring inside of it. Gandalf then lowered the envelope and sealed it with wax, "…along with all of his possessions. The ring is yours now." He said as he gave the envelope to Frodo.

"Put it somewhere out of sight," instructed Gandalf. He then started on his way out, so suddenly…

"Where are you going?" asked Frodo.

"I have some things I must see to," answered Gandalf.

"What things?"

"Questions," Gandalf answered again as he gathered his hat and staff, "questions that need answering!"

"You've only just arrived!" cried Frodo, "I don't understand."

Gandalf stopped at the door and turned around to face Frodo. "Neither do I," said Gandalf.

Minding the chandelier, he ducked towards Frodo one last time and instructed him, "…keep it secret… keep it safe."

Gandalf then turned around, went out the door and closed it, leaving Frodo to wonder what to do with the ring that Bilbo left him. What shall he do to keep it safe as Gandalf wanted?

Back in Macon, in Georgia, the cake was already cut. Everyone enjoyed the cake. It was very delicious. Unaware, the party was about to see something that may shock them. Somebody was approaching the store, and knocked on the front door.

Everyone heard the loud knock. Carley and Doug opted to go to the door, Carley hoped it was her boyfriend Doug. When she went to the door, she almost wishes it wasn't Doug…

"DOUG!" Carley screamed very loud…

Everyone at the party was shocked to hear Carley screaming even Alisha and Emma was frightened at her screams. Lee put on his cautious expression. Footsteps came to the room where the party was, the door opened…

Carley came in along with two others…

It was Doug and Larry holding on to each other and looking torn up like a monster had attacked them. Everyone was shocked to see what lies before them. The children were frightened and hid behind Christa. Larry was suffering a wound in the stomach which, he held his hand onto. Doug, on the other hand, had a big bite in his leg, limping. But luckily, it wasn't bitten off clean.

"Doug!" cried Lee as the injured men collapsed onto the floor…

"DAD!" cried Lilly as she run to her dad's aids.

Disclaimer: I do not own Telltale Series The Walking Dead or Lord of the Rings. TWD is the property of Darrell Rodriguez and Lord of the Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien