Author's Note:
Nest Chapter up. Okay one thing I have to tell you guys. This may get marysueish. Dun like it, can;t blame ya, but I hope the story will pull it through. To all those who reviewed, thanks a million. To those who just read my story, thanks for reading and welcome you back in again for the next chaper. Oh yes, please review after reading. grin
Chapter 7 – Heart Felt Talks
"Now all that's left is the arrival of the food… and more gifts……" Bilbo's determined voice could be heard from his study down the corridor. I smiled amusedly outside his study as I peeked in, only to find the said hobbit busying himself with stacks of papers around him, his hands moving swift and quick to the eye.
'He could have made it into the world's records of fastest writing.' I mused before I left the study, walking to the kitchen to make myself a drink.
It's the 14th of September, nearly five months since that cursed book brought me here. Now the preparations of Bilbo's and Frodo's birthday party was about to be finished and the days to the party was just a few days away!
Most of the goods and gifts needed and prepared was scattered around the smial and I jumped and dodged to avoid breaking any of them. I looked at the messiness of the place and grimaced.
Once this party was over, this smial will have to face the wraith of the Cleanliness Monster Jacqueline! MUAHAHAHAA! No dust shall escaped from my broom, so beware you foul creatures! I laughed wickedly at that thought as I reached the kitchen and sat on one of the chairs, my legs propped up on the chair opposite mine (Quite unladylike Bilbo said when he caught me doing that, and he lectured me on the ways of being a lady for a long time… After which I wonder, why he knows so much of women?).
At this period, I seldom saw Bilbo and Frodo in Bag End now, only to meet them during meals and coincidental meetings at the library for Frodo. Bilbo was getting really frantic as the party drew even closer and began to lock himself for even days in his study, eating snacks that Frodo and I left for him outside the study entrance.
But for the past few days, I barely see the young hobbit anywhere. "He should be reading outside, that boy of mine," Bilbo told me one time, when Frodo started to go missing in Bag End, "he loves reading at around this time, autumn. Which I could not blame Frodo, it was nice and peaceful and cool." I looked at the clock and saw that it was about to be noon.
"Alright, time to start behaving like an evil and scary monster for Bilbo." I grinned as I grabbed a broom and stayed outside Bag End at the porch to guard the smial from unwanted guests and adventurous hobbit children who wanted to sneak into Bag End. Sam would not be doing gardening for today, for it seems that Old Gaffer had some important errands for him to attend to, thus I would be alone to guard the smial.
I had been doing so for the past few days in Bilbo's request, instructing me to send "the more enthusiastic well-wishers" home, but to allow those few that were really there on Party Business in, like cooks, decorators and so on to confirm and make last minute changes. Even with the notice of "No admittance except of Party business" made and nailed on the gate by Bilbo himself, they still kept coming, he cried in despair that time, leaving him with no peace and quiet. There were also several last-minute deliveries were going to be made that evening made by the Dwarves he continued, saying that I should know how they looked like, for I met a few during one of the trips with Frodo and him for the celebration.
It was great fun scaring the children, who were adorable, with their pointed ears outgrowing their head. I remembered I caught three hobbit boys trying to climb over the fence during my first day as a guard. I had decided to draw some faraway views of the Shire into my journal to pass the time when I heard some soft chattering where I was sitting. I looked to my right from my seat and saw those boys one on top of the other at the fences. I went and stopped them, which shocked and frightened them as I gave a grim face and looking down at them from my height. "What do you boys think you are doing at Bag End?" I asked seriously, trying to create a tensed atmosphere. The three boys gulped and huddled together in fear.
"We… we are trying to sneak into Bag End Lady, just to look for Bilbo's treasures that's all!" Then I gave them an evil smile and told them if they did not leave this place within ten seconds, I would have to use a broom on them. But before I could even count to ten, the boys scurried off, and since that incident onwards, I had been deemed a fearsome and terrifying creature known to all the hobbit children, some even came to Bag End to see this 'creature'. Of course, I had to live to their expectation.
When Merry and Pippin heard tales of the creature called Jacqueline, they immediately dropped over to Bag End and questioned me about it. "Why, to think our dear Jacqueline here is deemed a terrifying creature in our land." Merry said to me, his eyes shining with mock horror that time, receiving a knock on the head from me. Then Pippin would tease and said, "Why my dear Merry, it also seemed that only the two of us, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee can tamed such a creature. Perhaps we should provide the children our services and purged such evilness from her and regain back our sweet and kind friend?"
With that, to purge the 'evilness', they tackled me and tickled me senseless. Frodo who just so happened to appear mysteriously like Bilbo, caught us in the middle and decided to join in, trying to find my ticklish spot, ending the day with Bilbo looking at us in amusement when he came out to check the noise and me tickling back the three hobbits as payback.
I laughed at those memories as I stared at the overview of Shire from my same seat, keeping the broom closed to me.
'Five months huh… I wonder if time passes back home… how long I have been gone… I hope Gandalf had managed to find a way back home soon, though I doubt so…' I thought wistfully as I stared at my bare feet, wriggling my toes for fun. Suddenly, a wave of fatigue overcame me, and my body became weak without a reason.
"What…...the………" I murmured weakly, trying to stand up, but my body had become too heavy for me do so, as though it completely shut down.
Then, darkness overcame me.
I woke up, only to find myself no longer at the porch, but in complete darkness! I was all alone.
'Great, now what?' I groaned as I began to feel frightened and wrapped my body with my hands tightly, feeling a wave of cold air blowing towards me. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of bad thoughts and began to walk straight, hoping that I would find some source of light.
…
…
…
…
…
"Hello? Anyone? Voice? You brought me here didn't you?" I shouted but receiving no answer in return. My heart thumped faster as my breathing becomes heavier and erratic.
"Relax Jacqueline, relax. It's all just a dream."
'And it is, my dear…' A voice said from nowhere, but unlike the first voice that was soothing and gentle, this was dripping with evilness. I halted in my steps and shuddered at the voice. I furrowed my eyebrows as I gripped my shoulders tighter.
"Who are you, what do you want from me?" I questioned weakly, trying to calm the growing fear within my heart. Suddenly, the entire place began to glow in orange and red, and in front of me, a great orange light shone and something move towards me with great speed.
Within seconds, a great eyeball burning in fire stood in front of me, its silted black iris moving down to look at me. My eyes widened.
'I have seen you… now you cannot escape from me, since I know now you are in MiddleEarth!' The dripping voice rang in my ears and without a second thought, I screamed and turned away from the eye, running towards the opposite direction.
'You can't run away from me, for you shall fulfill your task…'
"Frodo! Bilbo! Help me!" I cried as I looked behind, only to find the frigging eye behind me, coming closer and closer to me, as though it was about to devour me in its flames.
"Sam! Merry! Pippin! Anyone!"
'No one can help you now Child, for you shall be MINE!' And with that, the great eye loomed closer towards me as I tried to run faster, turning to see my body nearly touching the flames and I could feel my entire being getting sucked into this evil.
I shut my eyes and screamed.
"GANDALF!"
Just then, in front of me, a great burst of light came and went passed me towards the giant burning eye. I could hear it's screeching in pain as I ran on, not turning back to look, my heart bursting with sheer relief.
'Come to the light Jacqueline! Quickly!' I heard a familiar voice said in my mind and with newfound courage and energy, I ran into the blinding light.
My eyes burst opened as I gasped for breathe erratically, my eyes unknowingly streaming with tears. A few inches from my face, I saw a familiar wise old wrinkled face, his black coal eyes looking towards me with worry and relief. His grey hat was not on his head, revealing the brightness of the sun to my eyes as I realized that I was on the ground and he was propping my head to make his eyes meet mine.
"…Gandalf?" I whispered meekly, unbelieving what I was seeing in front of me.
"Yes Jacqueline… I am here, you are safe now." Gandalf said in that warm baritone voice which was the same voice that saved me in my dream. He gave a fatherly smile.
"Welcome back."
Tears swelled up in my eyes as I hugged the old wizard tightly by the neck. "You bloody wizard, where have you been all this while! If you came any later, I would have…" I scolded weakly as I pressed my face against his grey cloak.
"I am sorry Child… But it shall not happen again…" He whispered as he stroked my short hair, trying to calm me down.
In the end, I broke down and cry for the first time in my stay on Middle Earth.
After I cried for what it seemed a while, Gandalf helped me up and I was surprised to find Bilbo standing beside Gandalf all this while, his once sparkling eyes now filled with worry.
"You had me worried my dear," Bilbo said as he too helped me into the smial, "I was in my study when I heard your scream outside. I dashed outside, only to find you lying on the ground unconscious, screaming for me and Frodo."
I kept silent, as Bilbo continued on softly, "Why your body was covered in an orange glow, and you continued screaming for us. I tried to shake you awake, but my hands were nearly burned by the glow, as though they were flames! But luckily, Gandalf came at the right moment and brought you out from your nightmare."
"I see…" I whispered as Gandalf and Bilbo brought me into my room and I sank down to the comforts of my bed, closing my eyes for a second.
"Then, I shall bring you something warm Jacqueline. And I guess its tea for you, my dear Gandalf." Bilbo said in a fatherly tone, giving a side glance to Gandalf who smiled.
"It will do nicely." With that, Bilbo hobbled away to the kitchen, leaving me and Gandalf alone.
"I was glowing?" I questioned wearily, as I stared at the ceiling, not wanting to sleep in fear of meeting the eye again.
"Yes you were. I could sense great magic and evil at work when I reached Bag End and saw you unconscious at the porch. Luckily, I managed to bring you out of your dream before your body was engulfed in the glow…" Gandalf said seriously. "Tell me Child, what did you dreamed of…"
"I saw him…" I whispered, the image of the eye and its silted pupil still fresh in my mind.
"I saw the great eye. It was Sauron."
Just then I heard something fell to the floor and I sat up, only to find Gandalf looking at me grimly, his pipe laid still on the ground.
"Tell me everything that you saw."
"So Sauron has seen you and discovered your presence. This is not what I have expected from the dark lord, to seek you in your dreams." Gandalf said at last, pacing around in my room, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"But that confirmed the fact that his powers are growing and he needs you in his plans, but your purpose or task as he had said, is still unknown yet. You will be sought after greatly by his minions from now on, since he knew how you looked like, child. But the utmost importance is still the One ruling ring for him to regain back his true powers and form. From now on, you shall always stay at my side, unless due to circumstances."
I nodded, staring at Gandalf who leaned against the wall in front, his face looked older and grimmer now than the time I saw him.
"I am sorry Gandalf, for everything."
Gandalf looked towards me and smiled gently. "There's nothing for you to apologize, Jacqueline. But I am glad to see you looking well. I could see that the Baggins have been treating you well. So are you excited of Bilbo's party?"
I grinned back at the old wizard, pushing back the image in my mind. "Yup, and it shall be the grandest party the Shire can ever have. Food and everything! Not forgetting your fireworks. So what kind did you bring for the party?"
But before Gandalf could reply back, the door swung open, revealing a windswept Frodo.
"Jacqueline! I heard from Bilbo when I returned! What happened?" he said worriedly as he went to my side, grasping my hand. I smiled fondly at the hobbit. "Sheesh Frodo, I am alright. See no injuries or anything." I said, trying to rid Frodo of his worry for me, but he narrowed his blue eyes.
"But you cried didn't you, your eyes are red." He cupped my face, looking into my eyes with his. I was about to get lost in the blueness when Gandalf coughed, causing Frodo's gentle hands to leave my plump face abruptly. I sighed in relief and a little in disappointment.
"Gan… Gandalf! Sorry, I did not see you there!" Frodo exclaimed in surprise, reddening slightly. Gandalf gave a low chuckle and waved his apology off. "It seems that you two have become quite good friends." He mused.
"They are often together reading and with their friends. It's no wonder they will share such care and concern with each other, dear Gandalf." Bilbo said as he appeared in front of my door, in his hands was a tray with two mugs.
I grinned at the old hobbit. "Of course my dear Bilbo, since my stay here, you two have become like a family to me. Frodo here," I motioned to Frodo to come closer and ruffled his hair affectionately, "is a dear younger brother to me."
"I am in fact older than you Jacqueline. So I should be your older brother, am I not," Frodo pouted, and he ruffled back my hair in the same fashion, causing it to be in disarray. I laughed and said teasingly, "But I am taller than you my dear hobbit."
"But I am still older and more matured than you, Milady."
"Who say, I can be matured if I want to be."
"That I have yet to see!" Frodo laughed merrily as the two elders looked at us in amusement
"Come Gandalf, we shall leave those two youngsters alone while we have tea at the kitchen. Shall we?" Bilbo asked, looking at his friend. Gandalf nodded with a grin and left for the kitchen.
Upon seeing that we were alone, Frodo sighed and sat on my bed, turning towards me with an apologetic smile.
"I am sorry Jacqueline, for leaving you in Bag End while I ran off to my hideout to read. If not, I could have done something."
I shook my head. "It's alright, besides, I am quite fine being alone. Besides, there's nothing you can do if you are there at the scene with Bilbo."
Frodo looked at me guiltily and said nothing. Just then, I saw something flickering in Frodo's eyes.
"Frodo look at me,"
When Frodo did hesitantly, I could see that he was troubled.
"It's about Bilbo, wasn't it?" I asked, and Frodo gave a slight frown and nodded.
"You have noticed it, haven't you Jacqueline," He whispered, looking towards the ground. "He's leaving isn't he? Your knowledge, did it say about him leaving me and Bag End, for real?"
My voice numbed. 'Should I tell him? Should I? There's no harm in telling him right?' My heart wrenched at the hobbit in front of me.
"I…"
"I'm sorry Jac, I should not have forced on you to tell me of the future, since I made a promise not to… besides, Bilbo always wanted to have another adventure, I knew him very well indeed. He had made all those ambiguous comments about his Party Joke, of him disappearing and never to return to create the largest commotion in the Shire. The old maps he was seeing whenever he thought I was not looking… Gandalf would not even tell me when I asked him why Bilbo is acting so weirdly these past few days." His clear blue eyes displayed a tinge of sadness.
"I am sorry Frodo…"
"It's not your fault Jacqueline, you have to keep your secrets, just like Gandalf," Frodo grinned towards me, but my heart saddened further. I propped my spectacles up and sank into my bed further.
"You are always away from Bag End, don't you wish to spend more time with your uncle? Since… you know…"
Frodo gave a light chuckle. "If I stayed, I will only be a hindrance amid his work my dear Jack."
I smiled softly, knowing what he meant. Bilbo, that hobbit usually handled all his preparations by himself, never allowing Frodo to helped him in most of the decision makings and dealings.
"I want that boy to not be worried over such matters before his birthday. Besides, youngsters should enjoy their youth while they still can, don't they not? Soon, Frodo will have to do all these by himself, without me beside him…" Bilbo confided to me one time, amidst all his invitations. I could see clearly in his eyes and actions, how much he loved and cared for Frodo, much like a father, and also, his determination to leave Bag End.
"But now," I laughed, giving Frodo a pat on his back, "spent the left over time with him. Create a nice memory with just the two of you before the party. Okay?"
Frodo smiled and suddenly, he came closer to me and leaned his forehead on my shoulders, his ebony curly hair brushed against my flat nose.
"Frodo?" I questioned, feeling my heart raced from his action. Frodo said nothing as he lay in that position for a moment.
"You will be staying in Bag End, will you not Jacqueline? After the party?" His soft, alto voice rang in my ears as I could hear Frodo's breathing.
"I should be… but I do not know Frodo, for it all depends on Gandalf…" I whispered as I gently do stroking motions onto his back, not knowing why but I felt it was the right thing to do. Frodo remained silent but made occasional sighs, leaning his head further to my shoulder.
"If Bilbo really does leave, at least, Bag End will not be so lonely, for I have you with me…" I halted in my action, as my heart thumped faster at his words. "I hoped you will stay with me in Bag End, till you find a way back to your world..."
My eyes softened and I smiled. He sounded like a child not wanting his pet to abandon him. I continued stroking his back as I thought back of my dream with Sauron. "I too hope to be able to stay with you in Bag End…" '… but I fear Sauron might sent his minions here and the Ring would be found together with me… I cannot allow that. Damn, I sound marysueish.'
Frodo lifted his head and gave a small grin. "You know, Jac, when you do that, you are like a mother..." He said, gazing into my eyes.
I snorted in an unladylike manner.
"Why, for an age so young, I already have a thirty-two year old son! I wonder when I have married to have you. Before I was born! Who was your father!"
I cried in mock horror and grinned when Frodo laughed heartily at my act.
"But if I have a son like you, I would have been proud of you and loved you with all my being. I am sure Bilbo felt the same way for you Frodo." I said sincerely, thinking back of my parents back home.
Through my stay in Bag End, I began to see how real Frodo Baggins was. Though he was known to be curious, adventurous, polite and compassionate, he was too very mischievous, charming and a little childish and stubborn in fact, and was a good friend to all who knew him. All these made what Frodo who he was, and I liked him dearly as friends.
Frodo gave a beautiful smile. Then he did something that I did not expect.
He leaned closer and gave me a peck on my left cheek, before reddening slightly as he pulled away and stood up. I froze, my eyes staring at Frodo wildly; the spot where he kissed could be felt warmly against my skin.
"Thank you… and I am glad that Valar had brought you to us." Frodo said warmly as I felt my face going really hot. "You will definitely make a great Mother when you grow up, and whoever is your child in the future will be lucky."
I pressed the spot with my hands and returned the smile, blushing slightly. "And besides, I already have you and the other three, Merry, Pippin and Sam as my sons, so for now, it's enough." I retorted, grinning slightly and getting out of my bed, "unless of course, you don't wish for me to be your 'mother'?"
Frodo laughed merrily. "You are younger than me Jacqueline. But yet, you always act like a mother around me and with Merry, Pippin and Sam, like telling us to be careful and nagging us to eat more vegetables because they are healthy…"
"I have always been like that. Back in my world, my friends sometimes called me Mother due to my nature... and soon, I will have lots of 'children' before I die." I explained, reliving memories of my friends in my world in my mind. I sighed.
"So shall we go to the Kitchen and joined our two old friends, my Son?" I said cheekily.
"Of course, Mother. Besides, second luncheon is starting." Frodo said, played along and together we joined Bilbo and Gandalf in the Kitchen, who seemed to have finished a serious conversation, which I believed, was of Bilbo's plans to leave.
"Jacqueline? You are not sleeping yet?" Bilbo's voice came softly as he peeped into my room through the door.
I looked up from my writings and drawings of my journal, hurrying hiding the portraits of Bilbo and Frodo below the book, and motioned the old hobbit to enter in.
"What's wrong Bilbo? Is there anything a matter?" I asked, watching him curiously coming into my room with a rather large package in his hand.
"I believed you have no party dress for yourself to wear for the celebration, have you not?" Bilbo questioned as he sat on my bed, placing the package beside him. I paused and shook my head, examining Bilbo's weary face, but his eyes still sparkled underneath the light from my table lamp, as though he had something in stall for me.
"I could wear my normal dresses, they are quite comfortable… and Bilbo, you look tired." I said and pointed out with a gentle smile.
"Of course I will feel tired, with the party getting closer each passing day, there are still so many things to oversee and settle on. Luckily, Gandalf had brought the remaining fireworks now… But those blasted Sackville-Bagginses, calling at every odd hour of the day or night," huffed the hobbit, swinging his hairy feet in a child like manner.
I nodded knowingly, for I had experienced such disturbance from the S.B., knockings and shouting for Bilbo late in the nights and even in the days. I shuddered at the experience.
"Even with the sign on, they still keep coming, why just this afternoon, they dropped by again!… I don't even know what they want of me my dear. Bag End? Definitely not, for it shall go to Frodo, my heir! For there shall always be a Baggins living here, not a Sackville." He announced finally, his face grim. I smiled fondly at the old hobbit.
"And it will stay that way, my dear Bilbo." I took his wrinkled hands and patted gently. Bilbo smiled warmly and patted mine back gently in a fatherly manner.
"Come here Jacqueline, I have something for you to wear for the party." He said excitedly as he pulled the package to his lap and motioned me to come closer.
"Bilbo, it's alright, you don't have to!" I protested, not wanting to be further in debt to the kind old hobbit, for he had given me too much. Bilbo waved my protests away and pressed the package to my lap.
"It's my last gift for you my dear… please accept it." Bilbo whispered, and I stared at the hobbit, my eyes widening.
Bilbo sighed and propped his body with his hands against the edge of the bed, his body slouched, and making him looked older and grimmer, totally different from the enthusiastic and jovial Bilbo that I saw most of the time.
"I have heard from Gandalf about your knowledge my dear… and it was quite shocking in fact when I heard it. But somehow, I knew it was true, coming from Gandalf." He said softly, boring his gaze towards mine. I held my breath and kept silent; wanting to hear the rest of what Bilbo had wanted to say.
"You knew of my departure, do you not Jacqueline? My plans after the Party."
I nodded mutely. Bilbo chuckled as he took my hand and held it tight.
"Please keep it a secret from that boy, Jacqueline, I do not wish to see him all sadden before his birthday."
"I understand Bilbo, but he already suspected of your departure…"
"Of course… after all, he's a Baggins!" He huffed and I stifled a laugher. "Gandalf have already told me of it… Frodo told you of his dream, didn't he? But, he still not ready to leave the comforts of the Shire yet, and besides, he cannot abandon his friends to follow me…"
"Bilbo…"
"Come on Jacqueline! Hurry! Open the package! We haven't got all day!" He said merrily, our previous conversation ended.
I laughed at his impatience and opened the package. I gasped in awe and pulled out the dress.
The Party dress that Bilbo had gotten for me was simple. The dress was of pure white that somewhat made especially for my plump figure that reached above my ankles by a few inches, just like my normal dresses with slightly puffed up sleeves. There was also a dark blue dress, which acted like a vest with strings in front to tighten at my chest, but there were gold intricate designs on the bottom rim of the dress of flowers that seemed to shine slightly in the light.
The sheer simplicity of the dress created a beauty in it, which I could not help but admired it.
"I have it made from a friend of mine with your measurements from Mrs. Cotton, a great tailor he was, outside the Shire. It just arrived yesterday in fact, but I am planning to give you a surprise today." Bilbo grinned at my reaction.
"It's…it's beautiful Bilbo. But, I cannot wear this. For its beauty will be degraded with me wearing it…" I said softly, putting the dress back into the package and was about to return it back when Bilbo shook his head gently.
"I want you to wear this Jacqueline," he insisted, "for this dress only accepts you as its wearer. You will not degrade its beauty my dear, for I can see you wearing this, and astound us with your presence. You are beautiful Jacqueline, it's just that you are thinking lowly of yourself."
I laughed lightly, "You may say that now Bilbo, but if you go to my world and see my kind, I believe you will take part your words of me being beautiful."
"Nonsense, beauty comes from both the outside and the inside, your heart." To emphasize that, he pointed towards his heart. "No matter how beautiful a lady can be on the outside, if her heart was filled with evil, she will become ugly in the eyes of people. Each lady has a beautiful side to them, and you my child, have it. So you shall wear this dress for me in the party, no more protests, for my ears cannot handle anymore, especially of the ruckus during the preparations. And also, I have to see my lectures of being a lady being put into good use!"
Tears formed in my eyes as I heard such heart felt words from Bilbo and I held the package tight in my embrace. "Thank you Bilbo… for this gift then, thank you so much for everything…" I choked as I embraced Bilbo tightly, crying now for the loss of such a wonderful hobbit in the Shire, remembering all the fun and humorous memories we had together for the past few months, of our trips and our meals…
Bilbo just returned my embrace and let me cry on his shoulder, patting my back comfortingly.
"It's not the end you know," Bilbo said softly," who knows what Valar might have installed for us."
I pulled away from the embrace and smiled. "We will meet again Bilbo that I promised… in Rivendell…" The old hobbit looked shocked, but he chuckled and shook his head. "Although you knew of my final destination of my journey, but, you cannot go the Rivendell and visit me my dear. Besides… I need you to help me watch over that boy in Bag End after I leave."
I stared at Bilbo as he stood up from the bed. He walked to my table and looked at my journal, flipping pages slowly to look at my drawings. "You made quite good use of the book I gave you my dear, and your drawings are beautiful." He said, as I stood beside him and saw him lingering on a picture of him and Frodo sitting at the library peacefully, reading their book.
"I am getting old Jacqueline, though I may look younger. And…this adventure meant a lot to me, like a holiday…" Bilbo whispered. I noticed him placing his right hand into his right pocket of his maroon vest nervously and suddenly a wave of nauseas overwhelmed me. I held myself on the table and blinked my eyes, trying to not to faint on the spot. I thought I heard whisperings when he did that, and a pull…
"Bilbo…" I said weakly and took his free hand gently, capturing the attention of the hobbit as he pulled his hand out from the pocket, and a sense of relief filled me. "I know… but now till then, create the best memories you can ever have before you leave my dear old hobbit. I shall wear this dress, as promised. Now, go and have a good rest, before finishing the rest of your preparations. Frodo will be worried sick if you suddenly faint from your dealings." I grinned slightly and pushing the hobbit gently out of my room.
"As though I will faint that easily." Huffed Bilbo, before walking away. "Good night my dear…"
"Good night, Bilbo." I whispered as I saw him hobbled off, my heart tightened at the thought of him leaving… and the fate Frodo would face after the Party.
"Bilbo had a long talk with you, I can see," Gandalf said from behind me. I yelped and turned to face the tall wizard, who stared at Bilbo's retreating figure. "Yes, a long chat about the preparations, about Frodo, and his departure." I revealed softly, clutching the package against my chest. Gandalf noticed the package and smiled knowingly.
"So you have received the dress… It will look beautiful on you…"
"Bilbo said so too… but I prefer wearing shirts and pants though" I said, receiving soft laughter from the wizard.
"Why did you tell him Gandalf," I asked curiously. "of my knowledge now?"
Gandalf looked towards me with a slight frown. "You have noticed his habit of placing his hand in his right pocket, where he kept his ring… a magic ring. Ever since after the last adventure I had been with him, I am sure Bilbo must have told you of; he had been acting strangely and did not age like how a normal hobbit should. Thus, I was worried and cautious of the ring he found…"
I kept silent as he continued, "but nowadays, his actions towards the ring becomes… somewhat possessive outwardly… but he's still the same old hobbit I knew, trustworthy and eccentric he is that hobbit, never failing to amaze me. Thus now, I have decided to entrust him with your secret. Though I have doubts that the magic ring Bilbo has…"
"I see…" I trailed as I looked down at the package in my hand. The pull… I could feel it when he touched it. Whisperings could be heard in my mind… of wanting me to take it and into the hands of Sauron… I should tell Gandalf that the ring Bilbo had been in fact the one Ruling ring, but… I promised him not to tell him anything… perhaps I could hint to Gandalf…
"Gandalf," I said, causing the wizard to look at me expectantly, "that ring Bilbo has, when he touched it in front of me in his pocket just now, I… I felt a weird sensation, a pull… towards the ring… prompting me to possess it as my own…"
His coal eyes widened at the new information and his face became grimmer.
"I should let you know this… Gandalf…"
"I understand Child…" Gandalf said with a small knowing smile. "Now, you better sleep. I still wish to chat with Frodo and Bilbo to build up bonds. I will be sleeping in the room beside yours, in case if you have any more of those dreams you made." He winked and with a gentlemanly bow, he bade me good night and left with a sweep of his grey cloak.
I grinned and shook my head slightly, before returning to my room and closing the door. I sat back at my table and flipped through the pages of my journal. I lingered one page, where it was a sketch of me, Frodo and Sam underneath a giant oak tree, Pippin and Merry chasing each other in front of us. The page beside it was of Bilbo, sitting at the fireplace reading. I could not draw real portraits of people well, but I hoped I managed to catch their essence in the sketches. I smiled fondly at the faces.
"Within a few days, Frodo shall inherit the Ring from Bilbo… and the fate of Middle Earth shall start from that point on…" I murmured as I traced the faces of my friends. "Canthini, Betsy… if only you can see me now… I am so gonna die in this world…"
One thing was for sure, I would expect great fireworks soon….
Stay tune for the next :)