(A/N - Guess what everyone? I am free from school now! The last day was yesterday, and I was sad to leave (this is my last summer vacation!). I'm going to be busy, though. This summer and my senoir year promise to be interesting. My friend Levi talked my into joining march band to play piano at football games when I'm not even good at reading bass clef yet (I get to carry a flag in parades too), I've got five books to read for AP English this summer, helping Mr. Molinaro clean up the chorus room throughout the summer, made Chamber Choir (best one in school), and I'm taking nine music classes next year. But i'm still gonna write. I can't just abandon this! It's my relaxing thing. Plus, you all love it so much, so happy reading! Next chapter up ASAP. Also, I realized that I mixed up the events of the party somewhat in the last chapter, but I hope that's all right. I had to do it in order for it to work. Just to tell you! Next chapter up ASAP. )
. Reviewers .
x) Elwing-Evenstar - The dialogue from the movie is important, and I'm trying to put Angie in the conversations where it fits best so it doesn't seem like she's just there butting in. I might put some book dialogue in some, too, but not fora while. I'm glad you keep coming back for more, and I want you to enjoy this chapter! Haha... Thank you for the review!
x) SouthernCharm83 - Wow! Every sentence... I'm honored! I'm happy that my rambling answer to your question in the last chapter didn't confuse you either. That was a relief. And the Angie/ Frodo relationship will turn out fine, because like I did for my last Pirates of the Caribbean series, I had the end figured out before anything else. Yes, I know exactly how this is going to end, I just have to make the middel interesting. ;) Thank you for reviewing, and enjoy the new chapter!
x) Kenny - Pirate in 'Really Bad Eggs?' You got it. And yes, I know how much you love Orlando, LoL. And I will most certainly let you review the chapters before I post them... I just have to get cracking on writing more of that soon! There's so much to do (see author's note LoL)!I shall await the first chapter of your story, but in the meantime, enjoy mine! Haha...Thanks!
x) ArwenEvenstar83 - You really know how to read a story! Well, I mean of course you know how to read, but I mean understand it. So far you've done a great job of it! I had to have that little bit of Angie and Frodo dancing in there, haha... I just had to. Thanks for your great review, and i hope you like this one just as much!
.: Summer Vacation is here! Woot:.
- Dis/Claimer -
. Chapter Five .
.. The Departures ..
The time went so quickly over the next few weeks. Angie was tending to her strawberry patch very eagerly now that they were an instant hit with her friends. She brought a basket to the Fortress once a week so that it would allow time for the patch to blossom again, but there never were many left after Merry and Pippin started paying visits to her strawberry patch in the middle of the night.
She had caught them just the other night prowling around, and when she did they pleaded guilty because they were irresistible, insisting that there were now a necessity in order for them to live. She only made them leave and promise not to do it again or she'd cut off their life support. They agreed of course, but then again, she could've sworn that even in the dark she could see their fingers crossed behind their backs as they ran out of the strawberry patch whispering to one another.
Since then, not much stirred to the interest of anyone in the Shire. It was another glum day to Angie's dismay as she walked up the path to Bilbo and Frodo's hobbit hole. The skies had been gray for days now and showed no signs of lightening. She sighed as she knocked on the door. Bilbo answered, welcoming her with his usual kind-heartedness. The weather obviously did not rule over Bilbo's mood. Angie had known this a long time, and it was nice to know.
"Come in, my dear," he said. "Care for some tea this morning?"
"Yes, thank you," Angie replied pleasantly. "Is Frodo here?"
"Yes, just inside the room there reading. Be sure not to startle him; lad gets into his books so much I think he leaves us sometimes." Bilbo chuckled before shuffling off into the kitchen.
Angie gave a smile as she walked into the comforts of the study. The fire was again flickering lightly about in the fireplace and dancing silently on the walls. Frodo was lying in the middle of the big rug in the center of the room where she recalled picking up one of his books the morning after his arrival. He was reading propped up on his elbows. Angie was careful not to surprise him as Bilbo had advised; she carefully set her basket on the nearby chair right inside the doorway and slid onto her stomach next to him.
"Good morning," she said quietly.
Frodo looked over at her and smiled lightly.
"Oh, I didn't here you come in," he said. "Did you just get here?"
"Yes. Did I disturb you?"
"No, not at all," Frodo said, scooting over so she could lean over the right side of his book. "Do you like to read? Maybe you've read this one already."
"Oh, I love to read," Angie said. "Sorry to say I don't get the chance to read much of a variety, but I do; I love to read. Favorite pastime, you might say."
"Well, Bilbo has a small library going as you can see," Frodo laughed, motioning to the tall bookcase to the left of the fireplace and all along its mantle. There were even some stacked on a small table and on the desk in the corner of the room. Angie didn't remember seeing the table the morning they were introduced, but the mantle and bookcase she had. It was a dark corner, so she blamed the poor lighting.
"Bilbo doeshave a lot of books," Angie said, looking around the room now realizing this.
"Would you like to borrow one?" Frodo asked, getting up quickly. He offered his hand to Angie and she got to her feet lightly as he led her along the mantle to the tall bookcase. "I'm sure you'll find something to your liking."
"Are-are you sure?" she asked, scanning the line of books at her eye level.
"Of course. I recommend a lot of these. I've probably read over half of them," he chuckled. "Here's a good one."
He took a small blue paperback book of off the shelf and handed it to her. She flipped it over looking at its condition, which was fairly poor.
"This one must be pretty old," she commented.
"No, just read often," Frodo, said. "It was my mother's. It was her favorite book, and I had read it a few times before I came here, though I didn't understand most of it until I was a bit older. It's a really good story. Go on. Take it for a little while."
"Well, all right. If you insist. Thank you," she said, taking it over and putting it in her basket. "I'll take care of it. I'll bring you over one of my books sometime, too. We can sort of exchange books every now and then."
"That sounds nice."
"Tea!" Bilbo called as he entered the room. Angie looked up along with Frodo, and Bilbo was right beside her as he gently sat a tray of tea and cakes on the stand beside the chair her basket was on.
"Ooo, those look tempting," she said, picking up a cake.
"Best be careful; they're still hot," Bilbo cautioned. "Tea is piping as well, so sip with care."
Frodo came over and took up a cup of tea in his hands sipping it slowly. Angie moved her basket and flopped down in the chair, and Frodo followed suit on the other side of the stand.
"Anything else you may want?" asked Bilbo.
"No, this is more than enough," Angie said. "Thank you."
"Okay. Um, Meriadoc and Peregrin are due in later, correct? That's what you told me, isn't it Frodo?"
"Yes," Frodo said. "We would meet them at the Fortress usually, but it looks like rain, and we thought of coming here today instead. Is that alright?"
"Of course," Bilbo said. "In that case, I better prepare a nice luncheon!"
"May I help, Bilbo?" Angie asked.
"No, no. You stay there and relax," he said before bustling out of the room. "Lots to do, but this busy-body of a hobbit can do it all just fine!"
x x x
Merry and Pippin later arrived just as Bilbo had called for lunch. They chatted happily amongst each other despite the rain that blew around outside fiercely in the wind. But it was still all the more cozy in the study after a big meal. Bilbo was once again telling them a story as they had begged for one all during their meal. His stories never got old or lost appeal to them even after retelling upon retelling.
"And then Gollum guessed a second time. 'Knife' said he, and I said 'Wrong! Last guess!' He pondered it a long while as I sat there very much afraid. Finally, I hurried him along. 'Time's up!' And his last guess was both string or nothing, and they were wrong. So he led me out. Very lucky he didn't guess my ring. I mean, would've you? Most would think a ring is kept on one's finger! Yes, but that ring saved me from that tight spot on my journey, I'll tell you."
"Can we see the ring, Bilbo?" Pippin asked.
"Sorry, my lad," Bilbo chuckled. "But I'm afraid I've misplaced it amidst all this rubbish here somewhere. Maybe someday if I ever find it, but I highly doubt it."
Of course Bilbo knew he was lying to them. It was safely nestled in his pocket at that very moment. He could not chance these children fooling around with such a meaningful thing to him, especially with its capability to make people invisible unknown to them. Besides, he had grown very attached to it and even got angry on occasion if its whereabouts were questioned. He did not trust anyone with his magic ring. It was his own to keep.
"Well, that's all for today," Bilbo said suddenly. "I wonder if perhaps Samwise has finished with the garden yet; do you think?"
"Well I certainly hope not!" Frodo said. "It's raining thick as falls out there, Uncle!"
"Oh my, so it is!" Bilbo chuckled nervously with a glance to the window. "I quite forgot... well, let's hope he's not out there! Poor lad would catch his death!"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Bent brows formed across all of their faces as they followed Bilbo curiously to see who would be at the door in such a storm. Bilbo opened the door, and on the doorstep stood a soaking wet Samwise Gamgee sneezing very loudly.
"Heavens me!" Bilbo said. "Get in here and warm yourself, boy!"
"Th-th-thank you, Mr. B-Bilbo," Sam shivered with another sneeze.
Merry and Pippin closed the door as Angie and Frodo followed Bilbo and Sam into the study. Bilbo stood Sam right in front of the fire as his teeth chattered a mile a minute. Angie grabbed a blanket from the chair and wrapped it around his shoulders. Sam took it gratefully as a puddle began to form around his feet.
"What were you doing out in such weather?" Bilbo asked in astonishment.
"I w-w-went to the Fortress t-to find you all, b-but then I c-c-came here and-and-ACHOO!"
Frodo, Angie, Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo shielded themselves from Sam's horrendous sneeze, and Bilbo sighed.
"Soup," he said simply. "Soup to warm your insides and get rid of that sneeze."
Again, Bilbo ran off in a hurry. Sam sat down slowly onto the rug in front of the warm fire, and the rest of them sat on either side of him.
"Sam, you didn't know it was going to rain? We always come here when rain threatens," Frodo said. "We established that yesterday."
"I kn-kn-know that," Sam said. "I just th-thought I could beat it is all... Achoo!"
"Bilbo was right," Angie said. "You just might've caught your death out in that storm! Are you okay, Sam?"
"Oh, bless that Mr. Bilbo," Sam said. "He's done lots f-for me. B-By the way, has he told a story yet today?"
"Yep," Pippin said. "'Fraid you missed it."
"Aww, now isn't that j-just great! I couldn't even m-m-make it in time for a st-story."
"I'm sure Bilbo will not object to telling another," Frodo laughed, patting his shoulder. "Besides, it just wasn't the same without you here, Sam."
.. x x x ..
Everyone way now beginning to crowd around the Party Tree as Bilbo made his way through the crowd, not to mention with the help of some guests pushing him forward shouting, "Speech! Speech!"
"Speech!" Frodo cheered with Angie beside him.
"Speech!" Angie called out as well.
Once Bilbo was atop the platform, he raised his hand to silence them all and began.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins! Tooks and Brandybucks! Grubbs! Chubbs! Hornblowers! Bolgers! Bracegirdles! Proudfoots! and other assorted guests!" he began. Each family had cheered at thier respective names.
"Proudfeet!" Mr. Proudfoot said, correcting him as the other hobbits laughed and Bilbo waved him off.
"Today is my 111th birthday!" Bilbo shouted quite enthusiastically.
"Happy birthday!" Frodo and Angie cried in unison with the mass of other hobbits as they cheered and clapped.
"Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"
A silence fell upon the crowd as they did not know exactly how to respond to such a statement. Frodo's amused smile was slowly fading at his uncle's strange behavior, and Angie was still trying to make sense of what he had said. But in the mean time, they sat quietly as Bilbo continued with his speech.
"I, uh, I h-have things to do."
Then a dark look came over Bilbo's face, lessening Frodo and Angie's expressions even more. He murmured a few words that neither of them had heard from afar, and suddenly he boomed over them once more.
"I regret to announce this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell."
And then Bilbo's eyes met with Frodo's. Frodo became very tense and even more perplexed as his uncle said "Goodbye," to him softly and disappeared from sight all together. Frodo was at a loss of words. His mouth hung open slightly as panic began to overcome all of the guests.
"Frodo! Bilbo! What-?"
"I don't know, Angie," he said quietly, still looking out at the spot where Bilbo stood moments before. His mind was puzzled.
"But-"
"Listen, I... all right. We need to get everybody out of here so we can find him. Help me get rid of the guests, and we'll have a better chance of finding him."
Angie nodded and ran off, but Frodo sighed as he looked back up at Bag End with a smile.
"Bilbo, you clever old fool," he chuckled to himself as he started up the path.
But to Frodo's dismay, Bilbo was not at the hobbit hole laughing heartily at his joke when he entered through the door. Instead of a joke, it had turned into a different matter. Gandalf instead greeted him grimly. Bilbo was gone. Such news dampened his spirits. He promised to tell no one of the Ring that he now inherited. After Gandalf's hurried departure that night, Frodo turned in his bed all night restlessly. He had to tell his friends Bilbo was gone the next day. He wanted to delay that moment long as possible, but it seemed that he could not.
How would they take such news?
x x x
The morning after the celebration and Bilbo and Gandalf's mysterious departures, Frodo wandered down to the Party Tree where there were a number of the hobbits busy tearing down the colorful banners and cleaning up the mountains of food from the previous night. Frodo felt terribly guilty when he saw this, and still it saddened him that Bilbo had left in such a fashion. He looked upon them for a few minutes blankly until he saw Angie.
"Frodo!" she called out, abandoning the basket of fruit she carried to another hobbit lass. She ran over to him.
"Did things go smoothly last night?" Frodo asked. "With the guests leaving?"
"Would've been better had we found you," she replied. "No one saw you after Bilbo disappeared, save myself. Did you ever find Bilbo? Where is he?"
"I-I'm sorry about that. I need you to do me something, if you would."
"Will you run off again?" she asked with a smile.
"No," Frodo said as they began walking the length of the field.
"Alright then," she said eagerly. "What is it?"
"Round up Sam, Merry, and Pippin, and meet me at the Fortress. It's... important."
Angie sensed the seriousness in his tone. Something was wrong. Her smile dissipated, as their footfalls seemed to become heavier.
"Frodo, what is it?" she asked quietly.
"I'll tell you all at the Fortress. Now go on. Make haste."
Angie obeyed and ran back into the thick of things where the clean up was pursued. Now her mind wandered frantically at what Frodo might have to tell them. Come to think of it, he never did answer her questions as to what had become of Bilbo. She came across Merry and Sam who were tearing down a tent, and they smiled when they saw her.
"Hullo, Miss Angie," Sam said. "Quite a mess Mr. Bilbo left us, huh? Have you seen him at all?"
"Um, no..." she answered awkwardly. "Have you seen...uh... Pippin?" she asked, his name momentarily slipping from her mind. "Where's Pippin?"
"Right here!" Pippin replied as he ducked out from underneath the tent before it collapsed. He bit into a green apple in his hand and said with his mouth full, "What seems to be the trouble, Ang?"
"Frodo's having us at the Fortress," Angie said quietly. "He says to come find you; it's of great importance."
The three of them looked bewildered.
"Something wrong?" Merry asked.
"I don't know," she said. "I was just told to hurry and collect you."
"Well then, let's be off!" Pippin said, starting out towards their tree. "Any idea of what Frodo's got to tell us?"
"I do, but I hope I'm very wrong," she said with a deep sigh. "He's avoiding the subject of Bilbo."
"Well, let's just see and hear what Frodo's got to say," Sam said. "It might not be all that bad. Something might've gotten stolen or something last night is all."
"Somehow, I don't think so," Merry said quietly from behind them all. Angie felt a pang in her stomach when she heard this since she walked right in front of him. What could've happened?
Pippin led them away from the clean up procession trying to be unnoticed, and they successfully did so by retreating over the nearby hillside. They reached the Fortress in good time, and down beneath the roots in the cool underground room they found Frodo bustling around and setting the chairs straight.
"Bit restless aren't you, Frodo?" Pippin asked, emerging into the room.
Frodo looked up in surprise and nodded, motioning them to sit down. They did so quickly, and Angie allowed Frodo to sit in her seat at the head of the table since he bore news of special interest to them all. She sat down looking at the table, and then up at Frodo as he began.
"I-I have something important to tell you all," he began.
"We know that!" Merry said. "On with it!"
"Okay... well, last night, I went back up to Bag End and Bilbo was not there."
"So?" Pippin asked.
"Gandalf was sitting there and... and he told me that Bilbo h-had left. He's gone to live with the elves in Rivendell."
A shocked and saddened expression fell upon each of their faces.
"Mr. Bilbo? Gone?" Sam asked.
"Yes, Sam. I'm afraid so," Frodo replied heavily. "He's left me Bag End and all of his possessions."
"All of them?" Pippin asked. "In that case, would there be a chance I could have that nice silver- Oop!"
Angie elbowed Pippin and gave him a stern look. Pippin put his head down as Frodo continued.
"Bilbo talked so long about leaving," he said quietly. "I was beginning to think he'd never do it, that it was just talk, but apparently I was wrong."
"Is there a chance we'll see him again, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked.
"We may, Sam. We may."
A silence fell unto them. Bilbo gone? How could this be? Angie suddenly realized how much she missed his stories. They had not heard one for a while. And his door was always open to her and welcoming when she needed it to be. Bilbo's hospitality saved her stomach from rumbling most nights when her mother had sent her to her room without supper, or when she got caught in the rain or got hurt running around Bag End chasing the boys with one of his walking sticks. And now he's gone? How cruel some things can be...
"Why would he just up and leave like that?" Angie asked. "He didn't even say goodbye."
"Well, technically he did, but I still know what you mean," Merry said. "Nasty little dirt of a trick to pull on us, wasn't it?"
"And he didn't have a slice of that lovely cake!" Pippin said. "It was covered in Angie's strawberries!"
"So I can assume it's gone now?" Angie asked him expectingly.
"Well, the majority of it..." Merry said guiltily as Angie rolled her eyes and he and Pippin looked away momentarily. She knew it was gone now and who had done it. Why hadn't she guessed what had become of the cake she donated strawberries to if no one else had touched it? She knew better that Merry and Pippin would be the two to eventually get their hand on it.
"But it was good, I'll have you know," Merry suddenly piped up again. "Every single strawberry was perfect. Bilbo really missed out."
"Yeah," Pippin muttered. "Letting a cake like that go to waste..."
"What a shame..."
"Bilbo just wanted a laugh before he left is all," Frodo said, defending his uncle before hecould beinterrupted again. "I know he meant no harm by it."
"Did you know about this, Frodo?" Merry asked him.
"No! Of course not!" he replied. "How could I? I ran up to Bag End to congratulate him on upsetting all his guests, but I had not a clue he'd do something like that. I told you I never thought he would leave."
"Ay, but did you know about the trick?" Pippin asked.
"All right, that's enough," Sam said suddenly. "Stop harassin' Mr. Frodo. If his word ain't good enough for you, then you can just leave."
"Geez, Sam, calm down!" Pippin said. "Meant no offense..."
"Well then pipe down," Sam said before turning to Frodo. "Anything up at Bag End we can help you sort out, Mr. Frodo?" he asked.
"Well, Bilbo has left a will," Frodo replied. "Tomorrow you may be of some help to me. And maybe a few days after. It's a particularly large will."
"All right then, tomorrow it is! And a few days after!" Pippin said, jumping up. "By the way, am I mentioned at all in dear Bilbo's will?"
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