Author's disclaimer. I do not own the rights to any of JRR Tolkien's works or characters. They are all trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises. All Characters, Places, and Events in Middle-earth are © by the Tolkien Estates, and renewed by Christopher Tolkien.

Also, please note; Though some of the main characters from Professor Tolkien's works will make appearances in this story, the main body of the story is about other characters. The story does deviate from canon in some ways. The body of this story is based loosely on the adventures of player characters in a RPG. Also, the story puts together elements of both the books and the Peter Jackson films. Enjoy.

Chapter Three. One of the Band.

Sandy spent the rest of the day with his kin who were in the band, practicing for Cousin Bilbo's Eleventy-first Birthday Party. Sandy loved music. He loved to play, as well as sing. It all seemed to come naturally to him. While they practiced, several Brandybucks gathered to listen. They all marveled, as it seemed to then that, when Sandy played with the band, they were all so much better than usual.

Soon, however, it was time for them to pack into pony carts, and head off toward Bag End. This was going to be a grand event, indeed. Half of the Shire was invited to Bilbo's party, and likely as not, the rest of the Shire was sure to show up anyway. Sandy couldn't wait. Gandalf had told him to expect fireworks, which, of course, would be the grandest thing of all!

As they approached Bag End, all of the Brandybucks gawked in marvel at the Party Tree. Indeed, the whole front lawn at Bag End was a sight to behold! If they didn't know better, they might have thought that this was to be a feast for some ancient king, as in the tales that Smiley would tell. But, of course, the event at hand was as grand as any of those told in the tales of the kings of old, as far as the Hobbits were concerned, at any rate. After all, what can be grander than to live to be one hundred and eleven, yet to be so full of life and youth as Bilbo Baggins?

The party was indeed all that everyone had expected it to be, and more. The band played, and Hobbits danced. Sandy couldn't help but smile at one point, when his cousin Frodo got Samwise Gamgee to dance with a lovely young lady.

Is that Rosie Cotton? If so, she's grown!

And, of course, there were Gandalf's fireworks. Oh, they were fine enough, he supposed. But he wondered when the Grey Wizard would get to the good ones.

Maybe I can talk someone into helping me fire off some of the big ones.

Then Sandy got any idea!

Merry and Pippin! They'll help! I know I can talk them into it!

So Sandy approached Merry. He was the older of his two most mischievous cousins, after all. Once Merry was convinced, Pippin would quickly follow suit.

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"Now, you two have got the idea, right?" asked Sandy. "You go in, and grab one of the big ones, and I'll stand guard."

"Right," said Merry. Just you make sure you don't let us get caught.

"Caw! Don't worry about that! Gandalf's not going to catch us!"

"You'd better be right," said Merry.

"Trust me," Sandy replied. "After all, we're the 'Band of Three', remember? We always stick together."

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"No no no!" exclaimed Merry. "The big one! The big one!"

So, the big one it was. It wasn't just big. To the eleven year old Pippin, it was huge! It was shaped like a dragon, and Merry reckoned that meant there was going to be a fantastic show indeed!

The two mischief makers sneaked into a tent, neither one noticing that Sandy hadn't followed. Sandy, it would seem, was tracked down by Drogo Hornblower, one of his band mates.

"Oi, Sandy!" exclaimed Drogo. "There you are! Break's over, lad. There's Hobbits who want to dance."

"But…" Sandy started to say.

"C'mon, mate," said Drogo. "What's a party without our music, eh?"

They didn't make it very far before there was a major commotion, with everyone in an uproar. There was a loud WOOSH! Everyone looked up to see what was going on, and lo and behold! There it was, larger than life! A fiery dragon was now swooping down on the party goers!

Hobbits screamed and ran, ducked for cover, and dove under tables as the thing flew overhead! Soon, however, fear turned to delight as the missile reached it's climactic end, giving the partiers the best fireworks display of the evening.

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There wasn't time for the band to continue playing after the excitement died down. Cousin Bilbo quickly made his way to a chair under the illuminated Party Tree. He stood on the chair, and began to make a speech.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffinses; Tooks and Brandybucks; Grubbs; Chubbs; Hornblowers; Bolgers; Bracegirdles and Proudfoots!"

"PROUDFEET!" came a shout from an elderly Hobbit with his feet propped up on a table.

Once the laughter died down, Bilbo continued. "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!"

"Happy birthday!" went a cheer from the crowd.

"Though eleventy-one years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits. I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as much as you deserve.

"I regret to announce that this is the end…" He hesitated, then said, "I have things to do…" Sandy heard him say, beneath his breath, "I've put this off for far too long…" Bilbo then continued. " I'm leaving now… good-bye!" Sandy thought he saw a flash, but wasn't sure. All he knew for certain was that Cousin Bilbo had vanished… poof!

Sandy saw Gandalf get up quickly from the table, and head for Bilbo's place, and so, he decided to follow. Gandalf went in through the gate quickly, shutting it behind himself, and went in the front door.

Then, to Sandy's amazement, the front gate opened, seemingly by itself, and shut again! Sandy stopped, dumbfounded, and stared. Soon, the front door did the same!

What is going on here? Wondered Sandy.

After a few seconds, he worked up the courage to sneak up to Bilbo's living room window, and listen.

"It was just a bit of fun," said Bilbo. "Oh, I suppose you're right, as usual. You will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?"

"Two eyes,' said Gandalf, "as often as I can spare them."

"I'm leaving him everything,' said Bilbo.

"Everything?" enquired Gandalf. "Including that ring of yours?"

"Yes, yes, of course," said Bilbo, tersely. "It's in an envelope, over there, on the mantelpiece. No... wait. It's right here, in my pocket. Isn't that odd, now? After all, it's mine. Why shouldn't I keep it?"

"I think you've had the ring long enough," Gandalf insisted.

"Well, yes… and no," Bilbo replied. "Now that it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. And what business is it of yours what I do with my things?"

"There's no need to get angry," said Gandalf.

"So what if I'm angry?" Bilbo huffed. "It's your fault! It's mine I tell you. My own… my Precious."

"Precious?" Gandalf repeated. "It's been called that before, but not by you."

Bilbo snarled. "You want it for yourself!"

Then, there was a sound like thunder! "BILBO BAGGINS!" Gandalf shouted, in an unnatural voice. "I'm not trying to rob you! I'm trying to help you."

Sandy couldn't take any more of this. His mind raced back to his dream about the creature of Fire and Shadow, and he fainted right there and then.

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Sandy woke to the sound of Gandalf talking to someone inside.

"Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

Then the door flew open, and Gandalf came out. He looked straight at Sandy. "Come along, Saradoc. We must get back to Bree. En route you can tell me what you overheard, and I can fill you in on anything you may have missed."

All Sandy could do was nod and gulp.