The welcoming I received at the Green Dragon with my sister was appreciated, certainly after so many hours of riding in from Bree. Like Fali, I rather enjoyed some of their ales. My stomach could never handle much of the dwarven variety, I found it simply too potent. There was a lass among the tavern girls that Fali had suggested I speak to. I did, giving a polite greeting and requesting a drink, which I received on the house. I thanked her, and returned to the table, where I sat with the hobbits and Fali.

The Green Dragon was alive with good cheer, many of the customers there were already seeming to celebrate before the party for Bilbo officially began. From our corner I could hear a good many toasts going on., 'To Mister Baggins!' and 'May we have as good as health as Bilbo does!' and so on. I raised my drink to give a small toast like these.

"To Bilbo." I said, simply. "May there be a hundred and twelfth birthday around the corner."

"Aye." Fali smiled and tapped her drink against my, smiling, and taking a sip after. Frodo and Sam's pints tapped against ours as well, each saying there agreement. "And to the party tonight." Fali added with a grin.

Fali, she went from one excitement to the next. She'd been dying to come back to the Shire again to run about the glens with her hobbit companions and have fun at our 'unlce' (as we had been told to refer to him as) Bilbo's party. I had been excited as well, but for different reasons. I had been wishing to seek out the quiet meadows and the cheery company, and the abundant nature. I desired to break away from the stone halls and hot summer forges, filled with gruff metalsmiths, of Erebor to have the shade of trees, and pleasant minded hobbits. I liked it here, as Fali did, because it was different here.

Fali thought it was more exciting under an open sky, and with new landscapes to see.

I just thought the slower, more passive aura of the place suited me better. Not that I would ever tell Mother or Father that. Erebor was home, and although I struggled at times to fulfill certain dwarvish images, I had family and friends and a place within its walls.

Still…it was nice to be similar to everyone once in a while.

After an hour of catching up with Frodo and Sam, the tavern was definitely busier than when I had walked in. Hobbits ran back and forth, using the kitchens in the back to cook the food that was to be served that evening (and from what they were saying, it sounded like a number of household kitchens had likewise been recruited). It wasn't an uncommon sight at that time to see some young patron come rushing inside, heading straight to the tavern girls, and asking hurriedly if they had any plates or bowls or forks to spare.

As Frodo had put it, half the Shire had been formally invited, and the other half had taken it upon themselves to come and wish Bilbo a happy birthday anyway.

"Shall we be off?" Fali asked, when she had finished her drink. "Perhaps the old bank of the creek?" She asked.

"So long as you don't fancy going into the middle of it…" Sam said.

"Hadn't we better return to Bag End?" I asked.

"We've still plenty of time before the party." Fali said. "So long as we're mindful. Besides, I won't require much time to get ready." She shrugged. She grinned up at me. "You brought your sword, yes? Perhaps we could spar? First to fall into the water loses?"

I was quiet, thinking of when Vesper had first developed that idea when we were children. I was no good against her, and even though I felt that it would end in a loss for me I had agreed, indulging her. I had fallen flat on my back, half-drowning myself. The water had been cold, seeing as it was only April at the time. Fali's glance flickered over me. "You don't have to come if you'd want to, of course." She added.

I shook my head. "Not this time." I said. "I'm sure there's plenty of plucky young hobbits to take up your offer though."

My sister nodded, turning to Frodo. "I could always take up teaching you again." She said with enthusiasm. "Sam too."

"I was getting rather good." Frodo answered.

"Maybe the next time, Miss Fali." Sam replied at the same time. He seemed not so much the dueling type. I pictured Sam with garden shears in his hand, not a blade.

"Sam…" Fali sighed. "Just Fali if you please."

"He's been calling us 'miss' and 'mister' since he was the height of my knee." I said to her. "I don't think he'll be stopping it now."

"It's worth a try." Fali went on. "We're wasting the time we do have before the party. Finish the drinks, and then we'll be off. Gideon is right in thinking we don't have all day."

The hobbits took great swigs of the ale to finish it off, and then stood. I rose too, taking in the last of my drink, though more slowly. "You go on then." I said. "I think I'll just return to Bag End and sit under the oak Bilbo has in his garden. Perhaps I'll pull one of the books from his shelves. No doubt I'll be wearing myself out tonight. Some rest would be nice."

This was when things became rather unfortunate for me. At that moment, a distraught looking hobbit woman whisked out of the back of the tavern and started grabbing the girls into the back, going on about there being too much to do, and not enough people to get it all done in time for the party. Some of them were tavern girls, and others were just female customers, who accepted the duty with little fuss. Her eyes landed on Fali and I then. "Miss Fali and Mister Gideon." She gave a little bow of her head. "It's good to see you both back in the Shire."

"It is good to see you as well, Violet." Fali nodded, inching for the door.

"We could use some help in the kitchen…" Violet began to ask. "The schedule being tight as it is, you know?"

"Oh, well I would love to help you Violet, really, but I've already promised Frodo and Sam I'd spend the afternoon with them…Gideon has no engagements though."

"You don't?" Violet looked hopefully upon me.

"Well…" I began, my tongue turning to lead as I felt myself being tossed to the wolves, or rather, to the middle aged hobbit women in the kitchens of the Green Dragon. Which was worse, I did not know. "I was actually…I was hoping to sit and read under-" I stuttered for an excuse, conflict even of this minor sort backing me mentally into a corner.

"Sit and read?!" Violet exclaimed. "Nonsense! We need more help in the back. You can sit and read any old time."

I gave Fali a glare as she smiled as a thank you and walked out the door, saying "I'll see you later at the party, Gideon."

"Fali, wait…" I called futilely after her.

"Come along now." Violet grabbed my elbow, and promptly escorted me into the sweltering kitchen, standing me before a great basin of messy pots and pans. "You can manage this, surely?" She asked.

I gazed around me, looking for an escape and finding none. I sighed, answering with a polite "Yes, ma'am.", and grabbing a dishrag stiffly.

/

Hobbit women of the middle aged sort were polite, bossy, curt, obsessed with detail, motherly, and above all, did not tolerate a single speck on their clean pots and pans. By the time I was dismissed, the party was due to begin very soon, leaving me with little to no time at all. Needless to say, I was forced to run back to Bag End, burst in trailing dirt onto Bilbo's clean floor, and wash up in an instant.

I must have looked a mess as I pulled off the traveling tunic, splashed water onto my face, and with drops still trailing down my nose pulled on a fresh tunic of finer quality. There was a knock on the door. I suspected it was Mother, wondering what had kept me, but it was Fali, who appeared to be in just as much a hurry as I was.

"How could you leave me with her?" I asked.

"Sorry, but you always sit and read, wherever we go." Fali replied. I supposed such was true. "Was it horrible?" She asked.

"No." I replied, knowing there were worse things that could have happened. "But if I hear the phrase 'Mister Gideon, you have missed a spot' one more time, my head shall burst."

"Oh dear." Fali laughed softly. "Oi, could you help me with the laces?" She turned to reveal a lopsided bow at the back of her dress. "I tried, but they never stay straight."

I sighed. "If you tied them more slowly, you wouldn't tangle them so."

"I hadn't the time to go slowly."

"Fali, you had all afternoon, unlike me."

"Admittedly, I got distracted." She confessed. "Merry and Pippin…"

I snorted at their names. "It figures you run late when you meet with those two."

"They're perfectly fine people." Fali defended them as I untied the bow and retied it, straightly.

"Oh, they mean well." I agreed. "But they do cause trouble, even you have to agree."

She shrugged, sighing and muttering to herself that I was right.

There was a second knock, and this time it was Mother. "Where on earth have you two been?" She asked.

"The creek bank…"

"The kitchens in the back of the Green Dragon." I replied honestly with my sister.

Mother looked briefly confused at the replies, but then shook her head, and put on a warm smile. "Well, at least you're ready…if at the last possible moment." She sighed. "C'mon now. The party is due to begin, and you two should be among the first to wish Bilbo a fond birthday." Fali did not require much more encouragement, as Frodo tumbled out of his quarters, now in fresh clothes as well, and the two of them raced merrily off. I followed behind them, taking a more leisurely walk to the open field that was big enough to host a party of such size. One could hear the music from far away, mixing with the sound of crickets and frogs in the creek bottoms.

I watched as my mother and father went along, arm and arm, to wish an old friend well.

"Oi, are you going to hurry it up or am I going to drop this on-?"

"Uncle Kili?" I turned to glance behind me, a large barrel blocking my view. It was definitely my uncle's voice.

"Gideon?" He tried to look beyond the measure of the barrel, and wasn't able. "Tauriel, is that Gideon?"

My aunt, being taller than all of us, was able to look over the crowd. "Yes, it is." She answered, an amused grin on her face. I saw her guiding my great-uncle Thorin, now a bit older than he would have liked to admit, along the path kindly.

"It's great to see you!" Uncle Kili cheered, even though he was not really able to see me beyond the barrel he was carrying. "Say, would you mind…?"

"Of course." I interrupted him, gripping the heavy burden on the other side and the two of us carrying the gift from Erebor the rest of the way. Hobbit's parted for us, giving us a clear path through all the mirth. The ale was plopped onto a table, and finally we could see one another. My uncle clapped me over the shoulder.

"Thanks." He grinned. He looked up at the part occurring around us. "Looks like you've got some eyes on you." He smirked, nodding his head behind me where a cluster of hobbit lasses stood together.

I blushed a small degree under the attention. It had been Kien that had felt most comfortable in female company, certainly not me. Much like my uncle's, my youth had been passed with teases as to my less-than-dwarven appearance, and nature. If I had a trace of stubble (which I doubted) it was barely visible. If my feet were big and bare right now, and had I not the braid of nobility in my hair, I would have easily passed for one of the hobbits, quite amusedly like Frodo, given the black hair and blue eyes, but with firmer jaw and slightly sharper nose, like Thorin.

"Well?" Uncle nudged me in the ribs with his elbow.

"Well what?" I asked.

"There's music, ale…" He tapped the barrel softly with his fist to emphasize. "…aren't you going to ask anyone for a dance?"

"Perhaps." I tried not to look at the girls behind me. If Fali or Vesper were here, they would have said they all sounded like twittering sparrows.

That's when my uncle would not take no for an answer, bent on seeing my having some fun he gave me a firm but loving shove and I almost fell over at the feet of the lasses. I managed to only stumble into them. "Sorry…so sorry…" I apologized quickly. A fair few of the giggled, light and feminine. My half-eleven cousin would have been thrilled, were he not already happily married. I was standing quite frigidly, a poor excuse for a dance partner.

I caught sight of Fali, who was surveying me from across the field, wildly gesticulating for me to say something. I could see her insistently mouthing 'go on, go on'.

I sighed, caught in a bit of conflict once more. I turned to the lass closest on my right. "Would you like to join the dance?" I asked. Her acceptance was immediate. As much as I hated being thrust into such circumstances, I did like making people happy. Most dwarf lasses were bold and did not very much like to dance with me, save when spirits were high.

I suppose I could always court and wed a hobbit though, I thought to myself as I spun the girl around rather gracefully. The only problem is, she wouldn't much like being under a mountain, now would she?

I quite enjoyed the party, dancing along with each of the girls I had almost fallen on. The sky grew dimmer and when it was dark enough Mister Gandalf was kind enough to show off his fireworks then. Amid the color, noise, and movement I spotted Fali and Frodo, dancing separately with Sam and Rosie, and then tossing the pair together. Sam looked shocked, Rosie looked delighted, and Fali and Frodo were laughing together.

When each girl had been danced with I finally stepped aside, resting on a bench. Usually Vesper was there to rescue me when I was without a dancing partner, or had too many. But she had never been to the Shire, nor would she ever come, her home being in the South.

I dared to close my eyes and seek a moment of well-deserved rest when there was an incredible whoosh of something sailing skyward. I looked up to see a dazzling red spark against the sky, a rather impressive firework of Gandalf's. This was followed by a bang that shook the air itself, and then the sparks materialized into the image of a dragon.

While I would have liked to see it soar across the sky, I was alarmed to see it gliding toward us, swooping downward. The hobbits were equally alarmed and began to run away. I myself shot up and pulled along with the force of the crowd. Frodo had collected his uncle and was trying to hurry him away. And Fali…

Fali stood in the middle of the swarm as though the dragon might have been a giant butterfly, not moving at all, facing the huge sparks head on, a very bright smile on her face.

I grabbed her by the wrist. "Fali!" I tried to pull her along, but she set her feet soundly on the earth where she stood.

"No, Gideon, just stand."

"It's a dragon." I prompted her.

"It's a firework!" Fali chided me, making me feel quite foolish for I knew it was only a display of lights and not a real creature.

"It's made of fire!" I snapped back, making my point. The spark-dragon was getting awfully close. "Duck!" I shouted.

"Don't, just stand!" And her hands wretched themselves into my shoulders, keeping me upright. The spark-dragon flew over us, mere inches above our heads. I found myself unable to breathe as I saw a terrific face charge at me, and felt what resembled standing in the light of a bonfire. I was spun around with my sister to see the hobbits flattening themselves safely to the ground just as the beast sailed back upward, fading down to a spark on the horizon, that exploded with utter brilliance.

The hobbits, previously frightened, were now getting to their feet, clapping. I turned to give harsh words to Fali, but she had already raced away. "Merry! Pippin!" She called out. "What were you thinking?!"

The two obviously guilty culprits were covered in soot, steaming a little, and being held by the ear by Gandalf. I smirked as I saw them being reduced to dishwashers as I had been. At least I had not been forced to do the task while the party was happening.

I heard old laughter and saw my great-Uncle Thorin and Bilbo who were speaking with one another, no doubt recounting old tales of a very real dragon. Then Thorin seemed to clear his throat, as if to call out something, and Bilbo tried to stop him, but Thorin still shouted out "Master Baggins would like to give us a speech!" No matter how Bilbo tried to hush him, he was now outnumbered by the Shire folk who were calling out for a speech as well.

He at last gave in and all of us stopped our dancing and chatting and drinking as he was ushered up onto a little platform and cleared his throat.

"My dear Baggins and Buffins, Tooks, Brandymucks,…" The list of families in the Shire went on and on, each punctuated by a cheer from their respective members. Fali was back at my side, clapping along with the families, and shooting each of them a smile, watching Bilbo as he pointed at them.

"It was made of fire." I repeated.

"Did you get burned by it?" She asked, out of the corner of her mouth.

"No, but it was damn close."

"If it wasn't real then there was nothing really to fear Gideon."

"I assure you, the fire felt quite real."

"If I thought it would have slammed into us I would of sank to the ground with the others." Fali said. "I wouldn't let you get hurt." I remained frowning. "I'm sorry." She said at last. "I know such things can frighten you, but it was exciting was it not?"

"Today is my one hundredth and eleventh birthday!" Bilbo announced at last.

"Happy birthday!" We shouted with the rest of his friends and family.

"Alas," Bilbo continued. "Elevendty-one years is a short time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits ." He was interrupted by another, smaller, applause. "I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like half of much of you as well as you deserve." The Shire looked a little confused, and Fali and I exchanged a glance as if to 'what on earth does he mean by that?'.

"I…um…" Bilbo fidgeted suddenly, perhaps realising he had spoken somewhat out of term. "I have things to do…" He mumbled hurriedly. Fali and I could fell our smiles faltering at the edges. Perhaps someone should run up and rescue Bilbo from the suddenly awkward speech? "I've put this off for far too long." He said, a bit hoarsely. Frodo took a step forward, as though he would rush up to his uncle. "I regret to announce this is the end. I am going now."

Fali took a step forward as well. It was not in the character of Bilbo to speak so ominously, or act so strange. I could see Mother and Father slowly making their way up to him.

"I bid you all a very fond farewell." Bilbo announced, fondly. He glanced over Erebor's guests, and then laid his eyes upon Frodo. "Goodbye."

He was gone.

I blinked and he was gone, vanished into the air, without so much as a fading. There was a collective gasp, and then Mother ran up onto the platform where her friend had been and stared, as though she half expected he would reappear.

Fali pulled on my sleeve, and caught Frodo by his. "Look for him." She said, firmly.

"Fali, he's vanished." I said, stating the obvious.

"People do not just vanish, Gideon. He has to have gone somewhere."

"Do you think…he may be dead?" Frodo was quite shaken.

Fali released me to grab her friend by the shoulders and look at him seriously. "No, absolutely not. He was in perfect health, he wouldn't dare leave you without a single word or a letter at least, and I;ve never even heard of someone dying because they vanished in an instant."

I was walking, head looking back forth for our missing host when I tripped and fell, hearing an 'ow!' that was not my own.

I looked up and say no one. "Gideon!" Fali called for me. She pulled me up.

"I tripped over someone…" I said.

"No you didn't, there's no one around you to trip over." Fali said, as she brushed dirt from my tunic.

"Well, I had to trip over something."

"You tripped over your own two feet." She rolled her eyes. Mother and Father approached. "Did you find him?" Fali asked.

"No." Father shook his head. "Everyone, search the Shire. He has to be somewhere."

Mother looked pale. I took her hand in mine and squeezed her fingers. She snapped back out of her small state of shock. "Your great-Uncle has disappeared too." She said.

"Thorin?" I asked.

She nodded. "He must have ran off to find Bilbo. We just lost sight of him in the crowds."

The party dissolved as guests became searchers. I was sent out to search my way through fields, pushing tall grass out of the way, and stepping lightly around potato hills, calling out for Bilbo in the dark. I was about to give it all up, thinking he had spontaneously snapped out of existence when I beheld a strange sight.

My great-Uncle and Bilbo, walking off together in the night. They both wore packs and led ponies. I sank to my knees, to avoid being seen. I should have been letting out a relieved sigh, but I was smiling. Those two old scoundrels…they had probably planned this whole thing from the beginning. Whose idea it had been, and how they had managed to make Bilbo disappear was a mystery to me still, but there they were, old men, going off an adventure like they were boys again. I had an eerie feeling I was not supposed to be seeing their escape, and began to slip away, afraid of ruining the long planned moment.

If asked if I spotted anything, I would remark that I had not found a trace of either of them.

/

REDRydingHood- Thanks for being so excited, I hope you like it :)

Eowilmathiel- Gideon is such a sweetheart. Haha, you've probably enjoyed this update given it's his perspective.

Guest- So glad you're enjoying it!