Okay, so this chapter ended up being a bit longer than I expected. I ended up splitting it into two parts. Here is the first part.

Oh, I may have made a mistake in the last chapter. For the different plotlines, you will probably see Chase and Gandalf for the next couple of chapters, then you will see Hope and Philip with maybe a little of Chase and Fern, and then you will see Hunter's adventure. And THEN we get to the main events of The Fellowship of the Ring, I think. I honestly don't really have a firm idea of the details yet.

Anyways, I don't own anything other than my OC's.

Chapter 8: The Shire

Chase and Gandalf rode through the countryside. It was picturesque, with rolling green hills and wide meadow filled with blooming flowers. Eventually, Chase began to see people farming in the fields. They were rather short, with curly hair and bare hairy feet. Everyone seemed peaceful and happy.

"Hobbits!" Chase gasped, gazing at the little folk.

Gandalf chuckled and began to hum a merry tune. Soon, the wizard began to sing. After hearing the words a few times, Chase joined in.

"The road goes ever on and on,

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the road has gone,

And I must follow if I can…"

A young hobbit lad with curly black locks and piercing blue eyes dashed onto the hill to their right. "You're late," he addressed sternly, crossing his arms.

Gandalf shot Chase a glare before responding. "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."

The two stared seriously at each other for a few long moments. Finally, neither was able to hold in the wave of laughter. Both wizard and hobbit burst out chuckling, and Chase couldn't help but join in the laughter.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Gandalf!" Frodo cried, leaping into the cart and giving the wizard a huge hug.

Gandalf smiled and returned the embrace. "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?"

Frodo grinned and settled back into the seat. Gandalf noticed the young hobbit eyeing Chase curiously. "Frodo, this is Chase," the wizard introduced. "He's an Elf that journeyed with me from Rivendell."

"Rivendell?" Frodo exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yep," Chase replied. "It's a really nice place. As nice as the Shire."

The cart bumped cheerfully along the dirt path as they continued their journey through the Shire. Many of the hobbits along the road stopped what they were doing and gaped at the cart as it passed. "What are they all staring at?" Chase questioned.

Frodo laughed. "Well, we don't see many Elves in the Shire."

Gandalf chuckled, puffing smoke out of his pipe. "So, how is the old rascal?" he asked Frodo. "I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence."

"You know Bilbo," Frodo replied. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."

"Well, that should please him," Gandalf remarked.

"Half the Shire's been invited," Frodo continued. "And the rest of them are turning up anyway!" The hobbit paused for a moment, deep in thought. "To tell you the truth, Bilbo has been acting a bit odd lately." Both Gandalf and Chase raised their eyebrows. "I mean, more than usual," Frodo corrected. "He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours and hours poring over old maps when he thinks I'm not looking. He's up to something."

Both Gandalf and Chase knew exactly what the elderly hobbit was up to and gazed deliberately away from Frodo, not saying anything. "Alright then, you two," Frodo remarked. "Keep your secrets."

"What?" Chase asked, trying to appear like he had no clue what Frodo was talking about. In reality, however, he knew exactly what was to happen tonight.

"I'm not sure about you, Chase, but I know you have something to do with it, Gandalf," Frodo stated. "Before you came along we Bagginses were very well thought of. We never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."

"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon," Gandalf replied, "I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."

"Whatever you did," Frodo continued, "you've been officially labeled a 'Disturber of the Peace'."

Chase raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

Suddenly, several hobbit children sprinted over to the cart. "Gandalf! Gandalf!" they cheered. "Fireworks Gandalf!"

Chase looked at the wizard. "Well?" Gandalf just smiled, and suddenly, fireworks ignited in the back of the cart, spiraling through the air and exploding. The three riding in the cart chuckled as the children ran about, shouting in delight.

Frodo turned and looked at Chase. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Chase."

"You too, Frodo," Chase replied.

"Gandalf," Frodo continued, standing up, "I'm glad you're back." He then jumped from the cart, landing quietly on the grass beside the road.

"So am I, dear boy," Gandalf sighed. "So am I."

Gandalf and Chase continued to ride along the road, finally stopping at a rather large, low hill. Several windows peeped out from the side of the hill, and in the front was a round green door. Gandalf smiled at the sight of the hobbit hole. "Welcome, Chase, to Bag-End."

Chase jumped off of the cart and bent down to look at the sign on the gate. "'No admittance'," he read. "'Except on party business'." Gandalf just shook his head as he pushed open the gate.

The two of them walked up to the door. Gandalf rapped on the door with his staff. "NO THANK YOU!" a voice bellowed from inside. "We don't want any more visitors, well wishers or distant relations!"

Gandalf chuckled. "And what about very old friends?" he asked. "Or perhaps a legend come to life?"

The round door of Bag-End opened, revealing an elderly yet still quite young-looking hobbit wearing a fine red waistcoat. "Gandalf?" the hobbit gasped.

"Bilbo Baggins," the wizard greeted.

Bilbo broke into a huge grin. "My dear Gandalf!" Gandalf dropped to his knees, and the two shared a huge embrace.

"It's good to see you," Gandalf replied. "One hundred and eleven years old, who would believe it?" He stared closely at Bilbo. "You haven't aged a day!"

Bilbo laughed merrily. "And where is this 'legend come to life', Gandalf?" he asked.

"Ah, yes. Bilbo, meet Chase, an Elf from Rivendell," Gandalf introduced, a twinkle in his eye. He leaned closer to Bilbo and whispered, "Chase is one of the five Elenmîr of legend."

Bilbo's eyes widened in amazement. "One of the…Oh my!" The hobbit rushed forward, shaking Chase's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chase!" He then hurried to the open hobbit hole door. "Well, come on, come in! Welcome!"

The hobbit hole was quite nice, in Chase's opinion. The walls were painted a cheery yellow, and old papers and maps were strewn about. It was rather small, though, and both he and Gandalf had to stoop down in order to fit.

"Tea?" Bilbo suggested as he placed Gandalf's staff and hat near the hat stand. "Or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left, 1296, a very good year, almost as old as I am." He chuckled at this before running off into another room, continuing to ramble on.

Gandalf smiled. "Oh, dear Bilbo." He then walked into an adjoining room.

Chase tried to follow, but he brushed the chandelier, causing it to swing. "Oops," he muttered, steadying it. The ellon then turned around, banging his forehead into the doorframe of the next room. "Ow!"

Gandalf peered at him from the other room. "Are you alright, Chase?"

"Yeah," he called back. "I'm fine." With caution (so as not to bump his head again), Chase walked into the room where Gandalf was. The fire in the fireplace was crackling merrily, and opposite to the hearth was a table positively covered in old parchments. Gandalf was leaning over this table, gazing at an old map.

"I can make you some eggs, if you…" Bilbo walked into the front room, holding a plate of cheese. "Um…Gandalf? Chase?" he called, unable to find neither wizard nor ellon in the room.

Gandalf leaned out of the doorway. "In here. And just tea, thank you."

"Oh, right," Bilbo nodded. "And what about you, Chase?"

"I'm fine," Chase answered. "Thank you, though."

Bilbo nodded, staring down at the cheese he held in his hands. "You don't mind if I do, do you?"

"Oh, not at all!" Gandalf replied, taking a seat.

Chase smiled. "Go ahead."

Bilbo happily put a bit of cheese into his mouth before starting to prepare tea. Suddenly, a knock came at the door. "Bilbo!" a voice shouted. "Bilbo Baggins!"

Bilbo froze, flattening himself against the wall, which is quite hard to do considering that hobbit holes have rounded walls. "I'm not home!" he whispered urgently, creeping towards the window. "It's the Sackville-Bagginses! They're after the house!" He tiptoed back towards Chase and Gandalf. "They've never forgiven me for living this long. I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace." He sighed, setting the plate of cheese down. "I want to see mountains again. Mountains, Gandalf! And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book."

"So you mean to go through with your plan then?" Gandalf asked.

"Yes, yes, it's all in hand," Bilbo replied, removing the kettle from the fire."

"You know, Frodo suspects something," Chase remarked.

"Of course he does," Bilbo stated simply. "He's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle."

"You will tell him, won't you?" Gandalf inquired.

"Yes, yes," Bilbo answered rather absentmindedly.

Chase gazed at the hobbit. "Frodo likes you very much."

"I know," Bilbo sighed. "He'd probably come with me if I asked him to. I think in his heart Frodo's still in love with the Shire, the woods, the fields and the little rivers." The hobbit shook his head. "I am old. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel thin, sort of stretched like butter scraped over too much bread," the elderly hobbit explained sadly, all the while fingering something in his pocket. "I need a holiday, a very long holiday. And I don't expect that I shall return." Bilbo looked up, a very serious glint in his eyes. "In fact, I mean not to."

~o*o*o*o~

Chase sat cross-legged beside Bilbo and Gandalf on the top of a grassy hill overlooking the Party Field. Bilbo took a long draw on his pipe and blew a perfect smoke ring. Gandalf smiled at the hobbit before puffing out a small smoke ship that sailed through Bilbo's smoke ring.

"Wow," Chase breathed.

Bilbo smiled, chewing on his pipe thoughtfully. "Gandalf, Chase," he sighed. "This will be a night to remember."

I hope you enjoyed!

Oh, and by the way, I think this will happen a year or so before the main events of the Fellowship of the Ring. I think I had originally planned it to be a good few years, but I changed it.

Anyways, review please!