Chapter one

A small delicately painted sign was carefully nailed to the front of a weather worn gate. Hamfast Gamgee, had just finished nailing the sign Bilbo had written, when the door to Bag End swung open. A young Hobbit lass joyfully skipped down the path to the gate to greet the gardener.
"Morning" She chirped, handing the gardener a small woven basket of honey glazed bread and a small glass bottle of milk.
"Morning miss" He said, wiping the slight mud off his hands before graciously accepting the basket.
The girl leaned over the fence to look at the sign, some of her untamed curly brown hair fell over the fence as she inspected the beautifully ordained sign.
"I told him I didn't want a big gathering" she pouted but there was a small hint of a smile tugged between her rosy lips.
Hamfast let out a small chuckle.
"You know your uncle; he loves to put on a show" He said rummaging through the basket of goodies. Smiling as he picked up a hidden jar of jam that the young girl had snuck into the basket.

A small shout came from inside the Smial, "Ah I will be there in a minute" she shouted at the door before turning back to Hamfast. "I will see you and Bell at the party ey?" she smiled before nodding her goodbyes and going back inside.
Bilbo had just finished preparing Elevenses for them both, a large pot of tea was seated in the middle of the table surrounded by a few plates of assorted snacks.
"I thought we wasn't having a large gathering today" She said biting into a lemon tea cake.
Bilbo had just poured himself a cup of tea. "We aren't, only half of the village are invited" he chuckled.
"The rest will just show up anyway" retorted Dahlia playfully.

The two finished eating their small snacks and started preparing for tonight's party. For tonight Dahlia Baggins turned 33, the coming of age for hobbits.
Bilbo had to go into the village to sort out supplies from the green dragon and the bakery. The gathering was being held by the pavilion near the tree, so many hobbits were pottering about to put up tents and set tables for the night.
Meanwhile Dahlia was being attended to by two female hobbits, Lilly and Pearl. They were tidying Dahlias curly storm, into something a bit more respectable for the party.
Dahlia adorned a slightly off white chemise, with an earthy red toned bodice, and her favourite leaf green skirt which just brushed past her ankles, leaving her perfectly groomed feet on display.
"Like a princess" Lilly giggled whilst placing a small simple tiara on top of Dahlias tidy curls.
The tiara was a gift from Bilbos father to his mother, which had then been passed down to her, much to Lobelia Sackville Baggins distaste.

"Oh, do you think Tom will be at the party?" Asked Lilly hopefully watching Dahlia eye up the guest list that bilbo had prepared.
Dahlia traced her finger down the parchment until she found a certain Mister Cotton on the list. "He is invited so he should hopefully turn up" she smirked.
Pearl meanwhile was helping herself to a small spread of food that had been placed by Bilbo earlier.

Bilbo had just finished with sorting the rest of the supplies out as he made his way back to Bag End. That is when he noticed a large man, dressed in grey robes and a large, pointed hat, sniffing about his garden, and peering into his window.
"Erm, Good afternoon?" Bilbo tentatively said to the man who jerked away from the window and looked down to the small hobbit.

The tall, robed man replied "What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good afternoon, or do you mean that it is a good afternoon whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this noon, or are you simply stating that this is an afternoon to be good on?"

Bilbo walked into his garden latching the gate behind him sitting on the bench in his garden and responded, "All of them at once I suppose?"
The wizard gave Bilbo a disapproving look, and sat beside Bilbo.
"Erm, can I help you? Are you here for the party as that isn't until later" Bilbo stuttered to the man, whilst lighting up his pipe.

"That remains to be seen" The man replied ominously, whilst lighting up his own pipe. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."
Bilbo looked startled dropping his own pipe from his mouth. "An adventure? Now I do not imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner!" He retorted looking offended at the tall man.
"Now if you don't mind, I have a party to plan. Good afternoon" Bilbo said defensively getting up ready to go into his house.

The wizard furrowed his brow, getting up from the bench. "To think that I should have lived to be good-afternooned by Belladonna Took's son as if I were selling buttons at the door"
Bilbo whipped his head back around at the mention of his mother's name.
"I beg your pardon?" Bilbo snapped.
"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins." The man stated whilst opening the gate and letting himself out.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Bilbo asked confused.
The man stood tall and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf and Gandalf means me!" Gandalf stated tipping his hat slightly.

A look of recognition flashes across Bilbo's face. His lips curl into a smile.
"Not Gandalf, the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Mid-Summer's Eve!" Bilbo exclaimed excitedly
"You must be here for tonight's party! I had no idea you were still in business"
With a slightly offended look Gandalf asked, "And where else should I be?"
Bilbo flushed a deep scarlet, stuttering and mumbling some words. He instead took a deep whiff of his half-lit pipe.

"Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks. Well then, that is decided. It will be very good for you and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others." Gandalf said tipping his hat once more making his way down the path from Bilbos garden.
Bilbo had a look of confusion before going pale white with shock.
"Inform the who? What? No, no, no! We do not want any adventures here, thank you! Not today! I suggest you try somewhere over the hill or across the water! And if you intend of inviting any others, we are completely full! Good afternoon!" Bilbo shouted retreating back into his cosy home which he could hear small giggles coming from.

As Bilbo opened the door he noticed a small rune etched onto the side, he sighed frustratedly.
Then he saw one of the small hobbit girls prance about his kitchen.
"Pearl?" he called out before setting eyes on Dahlia who was sat on the counter top, biting into an apple. He looked at her and a tear came into his eye, If she wasn't his niece she would have been mistaken for a younger sister, as she was the spitting image of his mother.
"Dahlia Baggins, you look absolutely" He paused as he looked up at his mother tiara "beautiful" He finished wiping some crumbs off her face with his handkerchief.

Dahlia had arrived at Bag End when he was only 17, when his mother and father were still alive before they died of smallpox. Bilbo and Dahlia were brought up like siblings, Bilbos mother and father looked after Dahlia as they were travelling merchants, that was until smallpox ravished the small village of Hobbiton, which was brought by some adventurous hobbits who ventured into bree and accidently brought it back. The disease killed both sets of parents, many blamed Dalia's parents for the outbreak.
Bilbo was only just of age when they died, and then assumed the role of a parent almost for them both. He felt something akin to fatherly pride when he saw her all dressed up in his mother's best clothes.