So… maybe this wasn't the smartest idea that I've ever had, Elesia thought dryly to herself with a visible cringe that twitched her body away from the Hobbits that grouped together in a tight circle around her poked once again at her wings. They proceeded after they learnt of her story to attempt and bombard her with touches, of which she was rapidly growing to dislike. She knew that they meant well, or at least she chose to believe it to be so, but Elesia found herself growing irritant despite this due to the fact that they refused to give her space. This had been the kind of reaction she had been wary of, why she hid her presence from the world except from a chosen few. The faerie race had been gone from these lands for far too long now, a fact that had become painfully obvious to her the more she was present within it, and the world demanded questions of her that Elesia dared naught to ask herself. It had seemed to be only a few months of slumber to her that she was disconnected from her kinfolk, not a couple thousand years like it had been in reality.

She dreamed of her mother's kind eyes staring down at her fae form, amusement and resign at war upon her features as she tried and failed to direct Elesia away from swords and to take up music. Her father's stern expression clouding the pride at how his daughter could protect herself, to find any opening presented and not having to rely on others. There were masks involved day to day due to the crown upon their heads, and Elesia had always been what her mother fondly called a 'Free spirit'. She did not want to spend a length of time being taught things such as etiquette when she could be doing other, interesting things. Now though, now she would trade it all… just to hear the voices of her parents one last time.

Such private afflictions were no one's business but her own, however. At first, Elesia had been intrigued by this extraordinary race of Halflings that Gandalf called as Hobbits, even as she still wondered how they went day to day without doing anything even remotely close to fun. They, from what she had witnessed prior to this, were gentle for the most part. However she had to be mindful that not everyone was alike, not everyone would be as kind to her. For the most part, she dealt with it. It was however when she was swarmed around them of the magnitude that she was now, that her instincts demanded of Elesia that she find the nearest escape route as quickly as possible. Only there was nowhere to go but upward, for side to side and all around her Hobbits pushed and shoved at each other in an effort to touch her person with outstretched hands, glints of excitement housed within their orbs and gawking at her. It made her overwhelmingly uncomfortable, how they seemed to think that unimaginable fortunes would be laid at their feet for touching a faerie.

Honestly! It was as if they've never laid their eyes upon a faerie before this moment, like they went day to day thinking the stories were mere fables of old. Elesia thought mockingly before taking pause after a moment to tilt her head gently to the right in consideration, oh wait…

All the same however, this was the exact reason why she had been previously content with being concealed from the masses - other than the fact that she still didn't have knowledge of who or what killed her people. This was worse than she could imagine it to be, being in the spotlight for all to see, Elesia admitted to herself as her heart pounded from within her chest at the very sight of them all inching forward to reach for her as if she were naught but a priceless treasure. She hated the very idea that another would look upon her form and see something other than a being with thoughts, morals and dreams… there was a great possibility that Elesia now stood alone as the very last of her kin, but there was no need for another to rub it in. There was no need to gawk at her for what she couldn't control, for the fact that the whispers of Faeries belonged solely in storybooks before she awakened. It seemed as if something seeped into her skin and pulled forth her irritation to such things and preyed upon it, Elesia found herself powerless against it however as her stomach slowly began to twist in a sickening manner. How could she fight such emotions however, when they were built up from how she felt?

Oh, how it irked her to know that she bled the same color of red as they all did and without her wings visible Elesia knew for a fact that she could pass as another Elfin within this world. Even though she wasn't in the end… so why didn't that seem to be enough?

Bilbo Baggins had taken one glimpse at her face from where he stood next to her, which she presumed showed how uncomfortable she was, before he attempted to help her by directing the masses away though it seemed now that they were unable to touch her. As if a powerful force enveloped around her after the first child had curiously touched her wings, her most prized possessions for they were her very life, and could only move forward a few feet from her before they were bounced back. She appreciated the fact that he tried, really she did, but Elesia also acknowledged that in most cases one's voice could not silence the resounding noise that spoke from thousands. She knew of this but she tried anyway once to plead of them to stop, to accept her for all that she was, even though it too had been ignored. Adrenaline surged within her veins, and really she should have known better than to do this. What had she expected of them? To be as welcoming to her as Gandalf had been of her? As Frodo and his friends had upon being introduced to her? She had forgotten her place, giddy after processing Frodo's calming words, that she took a chance even as every instinct within her pleaded not to. It had been wishful thinking on her part, how gullible she had been to think otherwise.

And how was it that she could hope to find a place in this new world , Elesia thought sourly with tears starting to sting in her eyes, if such a place didn't exist in the first place?

The inheritance that she had been offered by her forefathers surged within her; heat rising within her veins as if she had been set aflame, and after releasing a shaky breath Elesia forced herself to speak, " I said stop!" Power locked within her voice, commanding her to become stronger than she once was even in the face of her nightmares. After all, she now rose with each new day with sadness; she would make her parents proud from beyond the grave until the day came to pass where she would meet them once again. Those three words were steady as they left her lips, complete contrast to that of her heart before Elesia twisted her body sharply to the right and disappeared before their very eyes. Those whom would've paid attention would have heard the gentle flutter of wings as their owner sought safety and took flight.

As Bilbo shook his stubby pointer finger in reprimanding, his voice sounding over the stunned crowd telling them that they very well might have just terrified the last fae in existence due to their excitement. Whilst this was going on, no other seemed to notice that Gandalf and Frodo were worriedly gazing at the spot where she had previously stood or that Merry and Pippin exchanged a look that spoke volumes to how they have come to like the Fae in such a short time that Elesia had been in the Shire. Mainly due to the description that the duo of them had weaseled out of Sam, though nevertheless they couldn't help but feel bad for her.

Frodo turned his gaze to look at Gandalf, only to discover the old wizard had already been watching him. While the pair of them wanted to help her in some way, settle her in this strange world, they couldn't get the crowd to do so when it happened. As Frodo worried his bottom lip with his teeth and searched frantically around the party to spot her, Gandalf couldn't bring himself to follow his lead for he knew from experience that his dear friend would only be found if she wished it to be so. Invisibility was one of the Faerie traits that Elesia exhibited, though not the one that activated after her pixie stage; Gandalf had discovered just a few months prior. It was much alike how Hobbit's grew naturally leather soles at the bottom of their feet, protecting them from the dangers they walked upon. Just like how he was one of the few left with power within his veins. Magic was a foreign concept to Elesia, just like it was to all the Elves that he had crossed paths with in his life. What Elesia did was every bit of natural to her, and was naught what Hobbits told of magic; for what came so easily to him was not what the Faerie race had honed. Her inheritance was only brought forth when she held no other choice but to protect herself from others, one that she didn't reveal hastily to others she knew naught… However, he knew for a fact that she used it only a few minutes ago to block everyone around her out.

He himself was blindsided by the turn of events, he hadn't expected to see such normally good natured Hobbits to overwhelm her as they had. He should have at least expected something to occur, though he hadn't wished for it to, because Elesia was the first fae to be discovered amongst Middle Earth in a very long time. They were bound to have some sort of excited reaction, though Gandalf had liked to believe they would have given her some space. A sickening pit of worry developed in Gandalf's stomach, before travelling up to grasp ahold of his heart, for one of Elesia's greatest fears enveloped before her own eyes just minutes ago. It resulted in her fleeing for safety that those around her couldn't offer in that moment.

A foreboding sensation crept upon him, warning Gandalf that one way or the other things would not end as well as he had hoped they would by the end of the night. Oh, how he hated when such feelings suddenly came upon him. They had always been right.

….

A gentle, almost inaudible sigh left her plump lips as Elesia once moved unnoticed by the world around her; thankful once again that she was able to slip by others without them having knowledge of her. It was always safer for her that way, and while she was no longer irate with the Hobbits for indulging in their curiousity like they had; she found herself to be embarrassed all the same. As if she had done something wrong, though she knew naught what it was. The whole situation was out of control, one which Elesia knew she couldn't have fixed on her own but she felt inadequate all the same. As if she should apologize for who, or better yet what, she was.

A sound echoed in her ears then, making her turn her head to see the Hobbit she knew to be Merry bite into the apple he had on hand while looking around cautiously before the young Halfling turned and scampered into the white tent behind him. How very suspicious. She tilted her head before looking at Gandalf's wagon that just happened to be a few feet away from them, a smirk twitched up the corners of her lips as she immediately began to come to conclusions as to what the two of them were doing. When in doubt, turn to fireworks. Quite literally it was one of the few things that cheered her up nowadays, whilst cast out in dreary surroundings. The echoing sound that was quickly followed by the crackling of sparks as the firework came back down to earth, the woodsy smell that lingered after the bright colors were long gone; it almost reminded her of the forest she played in as a pixie. The sounds almost reminded drums that came with gatherings they had held, if she closed her eyes and imagined hard enough… it was almost home. Almost .

Elesia moved forward, tiptoeing silently though she was certain that the crackle of the firework fuse would have covered the noise she would have made. Gently moving a fraction of the curtain away to peer in on them, she saw that they were huddled around a dark red dragon firework with it's tail twisted in an artful fashion. One that she didn't change the chemical make-up of, though she blankly stared an eye at them as she remembered just how the firework's compound was. It was big, eye catching really… but did they really have to choose that one?

Merry was holding out the big rocket at arm's length; the expression on his face was one of aghast that was directed solely at Pippin, whom must have been the one to light the firework inside the tent… at such close range from both of them. Only a second later, Merry opened his mouth to speak in a worried whisper that confirmed her conclusions, "You were supposed to stick it in the ground!"

Pippin responded in a dismissing tone of voice, an underlining of indignity was enlaced in his words and he caught the firework that Merry thrusted at him before tossing it back at his friend, "It is in the ground."

Merry sighed in resign before throwing the firework back at Pippin, his tone of voice would make anyone listening think he was questioning why he stuck with Pippin for so long (They would be right.) as the fuse continued to rapidly sizzle down the rope connected to the firework, "Outside!"

Pippin scoffed softly before chancing a glance downward at the firework before gulping hard in response. Three inches on the rope… two… "This was your idea!" He shouted back, this response was one that was enlaced with fear, and even if it wasn't? It didn't matter since he was going to place the blame on Merry anyway. Though technically it was both of their ideas, one that they agreed upon that would make Elesia feel better. They thought that it would surely work, after all who didn't love fireworks?

He attempted to throw the firework back at Merry, before it made this weird sound that soon followed by sweat appear on his neck and forehead. A sound of material flapping was dulled in response to everything else and so it came as a shock when a bright silver enveloped them soon after the firework rose up with a dangerous swooshing sound as it ascended into the air, taking the tent with it. Cradled from the danger that had occurred just inches away from their faces - "Really, our faces would have been blasted off, Pippin!" - within the safety of the crystallized silver, they turned their heads when they felt that they were no longer alone to see that she stood. In all of her glory, Elesia gave them a look that was torn between amusement at the fellow pranksters and a stern edge because they could have seriously gotten hurt due to this. She felt protective of them, for some reason that she currently deemed for the ability to share a kinship with them. Underneath the shield that dutifully kept her safe from harm, she raised an eyebrow at the two before her. A gentle smile tugged at her lips as she stared at the duo, and as she parted her lips to speak Elesia couldn't help but laugh gently as the adrenaline of what just happened slowly released it's hold from them.

"What happened here, boys? You couldn't wait for the grand finale?"

Merry and Pippin exchanged a look, underneath the dome that shrouded them before the both of them gave her an identical cheeky look that had made her laugh even more. What a joyous sound, Merry pridefully thought as he stared at her with softening eyes. Anything would have been better than the fear she had shown before. Note to self: Elesia does NOT like crowds. "Something like that." Merry spoke up with a nod of his head from where he beside his friend who was still shifting from foot to foot, probably embarrassed that the two of them needed saving to begin with. But that's not the point, Merry thought with an exasperated edge as he eyes the gems that formed around them. It was how she did it that was the true question that needed to be asked. Was this what she used to keep the other Hobbits away from her earlier? If it was he distinctly remembered not seeing this, but then again… He questioned himself, maybe it could only be seen from the ones underneath it?

It was extraordinary, having such a perfect defense that others knew naught what she possessed. Especially whilst in her smaller form. He would have guessed that her disappearing act was the special, secret thing that she kept but it seemed there was more to her than met the eye. He knew she was special when he first laid his gaze upon her - how could he not? - but to what extent was yet to be decided. Though, what she could do wasn't as cool as turning into a dragon and breathing fire, in his opinion-

Dragon!

"Come along boys." Elesia called unto them suddenly making Merry blink as look up from where he eyed the ground to bare witness to the mischievous, wide smile cast on her lips from where she now stood a few feet away. "Or stay if you wish it. Although from personal experience, I shall tell you that it is not wise to linger at the source. Gandalf will surely be on his way."

Merry and Pippin shared a frantic look at the very thought, the former just now noticing that the silvery dome retracted around them whilst he was in thought. It seemed that it danced upon each of their forms, not quite touching from the inch or so as to where it hovered and shone as brightly as a diamond in some areas and that of a milky white like a moonstone in others. Beautiful is what it was, a mixture of the priceless stones yet was see through to the person that it protected. What did people see when he looked at him though? Was he too cloaked with invisibility now, the thought made him grin as his mind conducted at all pranks he could get away with if it were so.

As both Hobbits chased after her, Elesia's smile tinted with underlining sadness as she once thought of the situation she was in. Loneliness held tightly unto her heart, but she hoped that it would naught always be so for within the presence of Gandalf and the few Hobbits that treated her as a person - she knew what true peace was. It was within their presence, she almost felt that home was once again within her reach.

...

From the place they had chosen on the hillside, Elesia's soft brown orbs sparkled with delight as she gave the firework her sole attention as it ascended up from the Earth in a series of sparks that cascaded from every side. Absentmindedly, she was aware of the two male Hobbits that were huddled together next to her but spared them naught one glance. Choosing to hover over the party that make others stop and stare upward with surprise, the firework took off when it assumed a safer distance. Truly it seemed to possess an awareness of it's own, prideful of what was to come as it broke way to the shape that it had previously concealed. The colors of fiery red and brilliant gold blended underneath the starlit sky, growing rapidly into the shape of the shell it had used. The magnificent beast breathed in from it's nostrils the fire in which it had been born, it's wings soaring high above before - like all the other fireworks - descended back unto the Earth. It however did not disburse into harmless sparks, but instead chosen to fly low. It's heated breath shrouded the Hobbits that now had chosen to run for their lives, fleeing from it's aflamed body. Even from the distance that she stood safely away from it, the bright red and gold cast it's reflection upon her dress.

Elesia worried her lip as she scanned the rushing crowd, for she may have her shield as a form of protection but it was impossible to conceal them all. A still form caught her eye due to the contrast to the others around him, and with a start she realized that the dark hair and soft blue eyes looked familiar to her. Only, Frodo's orbs seemed to be wider than she remembered them to be as he stared up at the Dragon with alarm before he noticed that his Uncle Bilbo was walking with his face downcast to the grow. How could someone be oblivious to their own surroundings when others around them were panicking? How absurd. Elesia thought with an incredulous expression etched upon her face, and though she knew naught what the two of them spoke of due to the utter chaos around them - she breathed a little easier when she saw Frodo yank his Uncle down to safety. Just in time too for it was not but a second later that the danced above their heads, some chose to follow their example while others overturned tables for cover. Elesia tilted her head in response when she noticed the later, for they were wooden tables. Wood… fire. Did anyone else make the connection she had?

Within the chaos, multiple tents had collapsed and food was spoiled as it ascended into the air only to splatter onto the ground. Well there goes the party, Elesia thought dryly as she stopped scanning the astrayed mess that the firework left behind in it's wake, with the Hobbits only adding to it as they ran for their lives. Moving her gaze back onto the firework, Elesia watched just in time to see the Dragon curl into itself seemingly for protection before it's somersaulted a few times over one of the tents before it exploded over the hillside to the far right of her with a resounding bang. The top of the tent that was in it's path was set aflame as the dragon itself; charring the once pristine, white tent. Such a thing went unnoticed to the others below them as an almost deafening cheer sounded from where the Hobbits were cautiously picking themselves up from the ground.

A flash of gray caught her sight then, and as Elesia eyed the way how Gandalf seemed to stand straighter with his facial expression expressing how stern he was about all of this, the fae made a decision right then. She may have found herself slowly growing to care for Merry and Pippin, but she was not going to take the blame for this. Not at all. She retracted her shield from them, eyeing them with thoughtfully as the pair were talking back and forth. Did they really believe that they could slip past Gandalf and get their hands on another firework? Gandalf was bound to guard them with a suspicious gaze to anyone that dared to even come close, most likely going so far as to use his powers to sense her if she tried to pass him with the invisibility that normally cloaked her from sight.

"You have no hope to get another firework." Elesia warned them gently with a shake of her head, hopeful that they would listen to what she advised of the mischievous duo. Such people were the ones that she got along best with after all, she thought with a growing smile upon her lips before opening them once again to speak, "If I were you, I would make myself scarce until all the excitement dies down. Gandalf would be on the look out, for all of us."

Pippin pouted his lips in response to her oh so wise advice, crossing his arms around his tiny body and looking away. Contrary to what his best friend did, Merry locked his eyes with her with a indignified scowl on his face, "Why would he do that? He doesn't even know for certain that it was us." Never mind that it actually was, He considered silently as he looked each one of them over from head to toe. It would have been different if they had stayed at the source where they had lit the firework; they hadn't been in awe about their success, after all. That and there wasn't any evidence on their person that suggested they were involved somehow with the 'Dragon firework event'.

Elesia laughed freely at their responses before leaving them with one of their own as she walked down the hill to return to the party, "Gandalf always knows… besides, from personal experience I have come to discover that people tend to come looking you first when something happens if you are prone to cause mischief."

Merry blinked his eyes twice as he stared after her, wondering why she was heading into the heart of the party when she told them not to… but then decided that it was smart of Elesia to do so. After all, it would make her seem less suspicious and following her advice would hopefully give Gandalf time to cool down. Besides, he was sure they had some weed hidden around here somewhere. Nevertheless he turned to Pippin with a contemplative expression of his face before opening his mouth to once again speak, "Mischief, eh? I really haven't the slightest idea why everyone seems to think of us when reflecting upon the word."

….

"I didn't do it." Those four words were the immediate response that Elesia offered to Gandalf when he was close enough; in response the elder wizard just looked steadily at her because although her facial expression and tone of voice were honest, her eyes gave way to just how amused she had been about the situation. He processed her words, himself equally amused due to the fact that he didn't even have to ask her the question before she spoke.

He directed a raised eyebrow to her, seeking any lie that may have bled through before deeming her to be honest, "I see… and let me take a guess and say that you haven't seen Meridoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took?"

Elesia scoffed playfully at him, before meeting his eyes with a disheartened expression. "Gandalf…?" She waited until he leaned his head forward curiously before continuing in an exasperated tone as if she was annoyed that he didn't know of this. "I hate to break it to you, dear friend of mine, but I am pretty surethat the only ones that call them by their full names are their parents." She grinned cheekily at his deadpanned look for avoiding his question, though it was more of an assumption than anything else. He knew her well, even if she had she wouldn't be the one to tell. If he wanted to speak to them, Gandalf better have fun finding them, though she took his question as an out for what it was "No. I have not seen Merry or Pippin anywhere, how curious that is."

Gandalf released a sigh at her statement, as if the antics that he knew they were responsible for were ageing him by each second that he had to put up with them. "Am I rightful to suspect that you wouldn't tell me either way, dear friend of mine?" He bounced back at her what she had called him, making her proud that the old wizard was able to keep up with her and the 'antics' he held such an opinion of at times.

"I don't know, Gandalf..." Elesia tried to conceal her grin as she spoke slowly in a show of contemplation, watching in delight as he grew almost annoyed with how evasive she was being with him, before she winked her right eye playfully at him. "Enjoy what's left of the party, would you?" Without waiting for a response from him, she skipped away from him; mindful of the 'You as well.' that he aimed at her as she went. As she went Elesia caught sight of Bilbo Baggins, and while she felt that she owed him an apology for what had occurred earlier - she also didn't have an explanation of what exactly had come over her. Yes, she hadn't expected the crowd to go mental over the fact that she was a faerie, but it was hardly their fault. Or anyone else's for that matter, maybe it was the nervousness she held at the mere thought of being viewed in such a way that twisted her stomach like it had. After all, what else could provoke such a strong reaction within her?

Elesia backed away and turned from him before Bilbo even realized she was close, aiming to try and where Sam had wandered off too. She hoped to speak with him privately upon the soul mark etched onto his skin, and whilst she knew that it wasn't her place… Elesia still couldn't help but feel pity for him. He had his soulmate, the one that would be the only hope for him to find true happiness in this life, within distance for him and he thought himself as unworthy. Shouldn't she be the only to decide that? Maybe everything that he was and hoped to be was exactly what she needed. Rose, Elesia remembered her name to be as she thought of the curly haired Hobbit that had a nice smile. If Sam didn't want to speak of it, she would leave it be. After all, it wasn't her business but…

Elesia reached her left hand upward from where it had laid limp at her side, caressing her own mark with a sad smile. It was a life that she knew naught of, someone whom was out there somewhere that she had yet to meet. If it were me, I would want someone to tell me what someone should have already told Sam. That they deserved to find out what was between them, that she would never know him if she never tried to. It was so easy though, to be on the outside looking into the situation. There weren't any of those complicated emotions that she had to sort through and who knows? Maybe when she can a crossed her soulmate, she would feel the same way. Already she wondered to herself if he would regard her as the excited Hobbits had done, look at her like an unspeakable treasure worth all the gems within the Earth… and cringed. She shamelessly imagined what this 'Legolas Greenleaf ' would be like; hopeful that he would understand her in a way that no other had ever dared before. What would he be like? ...Would he even like me?

No, she could not judge Sam though for she wasn't yet put into such a situation. She knew naught what lied await within his mind and heart; though Elesia still wished that he held some confidence about who he was. He was a genuinely good guy, he would figure it out sooner or later. This, she prayed for the humble man.

An 'oof !' echoed in her ears then, making Elesia come back into reality to halt where she stood and looked down at the person that she accidentally bumped into - or the other way around. Sprawled out on the ground in front of her feet was a little girl, a child really, that looked to be around the age of four with soft blonde curls that reflected the sun's light. It was only when the child looked up at her with those wide eyes that seemed a tad bit big for her small face, that Elesia saw the beautiful mint green that they were in color.

"I am so sorry, little one." Elesia apologized softly after taking her in before bending down to offer an outstretched hand out to help her up. She was so small, smaller than the older Hobbit children that Bilbo was reading to earlier and Elesia couldn't help but smile softly at this fact. Pixie years, her mind supplied almost instantly in response. It began around five years of age; where the pixie's wings slowly grew with the body they were attached to, eased away from their back and they learned how to take flight. Where their senses developed anew, like a caterpillar that transformed into a butterfly to take to the skies. They were so innocent at that age, looking at the world with an honest view before life corrupted it as they got older. Before they were forced to become battle worn to protect their home.

Elesia forced her eyes not to reveal her sadness as she gently helped the little girl up, unlike the others it seemed that this one was too in awe over her to fawn and attempts grab at her wings… or hair. Whilst the fae was a little uncomfortable due to the staring, she also admitted that one looking at her like that was much easier than being surrounded by a large crowd. She'll take the same blessings that she could get, thank you very much. "My name is Elesia." She smiled cheekily at the little child before her whom grinned widely in response, careful to pronounce it slowly as 'El-Es-ya' so the girl would know how to utter it correctly. "What's your name?"

"Maddy." Her little voice shyly spoke the nickname that her parents called her, looking away from the pretty Faerie in front of her. The little girl wondered why the faerie was speaking to her, when the others scared her before.

"Well, Maddy how do you like the idea that I'll help you find your parents, hm? It wouldn't do to have you get lost." Elesia offered kindly to the shy Hobbit that now couldn't meet her gaze,which she found to be endearing to say the least. It was a nice change from being overlooked with her invisibility or gawked at like before. Before she met the friends, she had thought that there was no medium to such extremes and now that she knew for certain that it existed, she craved what little amount of normalcy that she had in her life. She didn't want this child to get hurt as people tended to overlook her size, that Elesia had experienced first hand many a times before she crossed paths with Gandalf.

Maddy, which Elesia would soon find out was short for 'Madison Bophin', cautiously looked up to lock those brilliant soft green eyes with brown. It was as she was contemplating something that was far beyond her years, yet after a moment the smile that curved unto Maddy's lips was that of a kind of innocence only a child possessed.

"M'kay."

….

After safely bringing Maddy back to her parents, whom was indeed very happy to see their little girl due to the fact that one way or another little Maddy got lost in the crowd, Elesia searched to find something at the party to do. The food was spoiled within the event of the Dragon - Ha, she had her own 'incident with the Dragon'! Take that and all of your secrecy, Gandalf! - and mayhem had induced because of the same reason also. Many around her were drinking, and while Elesia wasn't opposed to it she wished that they would think of the children around them. She herself never touched the alcohol before. Her parents would have been beside themselves with dismay if she had done it her induced slumber and when she awakened Elesia was more concerned with survival than endangering her liver. She didn't quite understand why people turned to such things to escape one's reality but to each their own, Elesia supposed.

Returning to the heart of the party, Elesia grinned gently when she saw Merry and Pippin side by side, leaning over a large barrel to wash dishes in the soapy water. They seemed to be more… relaxed than they had ever been previously, which was a strange sight to behold in contrast to how they were normally. Gandalf seemed to actually be supervising the duo of them, sipping his drink and smoking from his pipe from where he sat only a few feet away. So, he had found them. Elesia thought with a grin curving her lips as she moved toward them even more. She made a mental note to make the duo away the first rule of pranking was not to get caught, and on the off chance that you did manage to get caught - make sure that you had something to explain where you had been when questioned.

Continuous cries demanding a speech arose from the party, making Elesia smile softly as she took a seat across from Gandalf. She waited for him to turn his attentions to Bilbo, whom stood on a wooden stool for a stage and bowed deeply in gratitude at the applause that followed him… before yanking Gandalf's cup away to claim it as her own with a cheeky grin.

The old wizard glared mocking at her for taking possession of his cup, but a smirk started to twitch at the corners of his lips due to what he knew was to come. As Frodo joined the others around him who pleaded for a speech from his Uncle, Elesia narrowed her eyes in return before chancing a sip of the drink that she took from Gandalf. The side opposite to the one he was drinking from she had claimed as her own, and Elesia instantly regretted doing such a thing. Her heart shaped facial features scrunched in what could only be interpreted as disgust before she spit the liquid in her mouth haphazardly on the grass to her left. She felt a flicker of embarrassment but it was drowned in the aghast that she currently felt.

"What is that?" Elesia questioned tongue tied as she stuck it out of her mouth, fighting the near overwhelming impulse to rub hat was left of the liquid off of her tongue. Gandalf took great amusement as he took in her facial expression as well as holding the cup as far away from her person as humanly possible, as if it would cause her even greater harm if the liquid happened to be once again too close to her.

Gandalf gave her a hearty chuckle, seeming to forget beforehand how innocent she was to their customs and how they lived their way of life. From someone who went day to day drinking pure, untouched water to awaken thousands of years into the future; it would be very different indeed. He knew naught to show pity for though, she hadn't reacted well to the last time he did so. He easily found that helping her was more appreciated that treating her with pity, Elesia had hated the fact that she knew so little about the world when she first found him - there was no need to rub the situation in. Especially when she was having a hard enough time realizing it every morning she awoke. He smiled softly as he retrieved his cup back from her, not having to reach far to grab it before answering her question, "It is ale and a very popular drink, indeed."

She gave him a look in turn that made him believe she was questioning not only his sanity but everyone else'sas well, "I care naught if it's a 'popular drink'. Rubbish is what it is." She gave him a fiery glare as he chuckled lightly at her words and how she put stronger emphasis on the word 'rubbish' than the others she had spoken, not even chancing to ask him if there was any water available before looking back at Bilbo and ignoring Gandalf altogether.

Bilbo cleared his throat for dramatic effect, effectively silencing them all before he spoke with such enthusiasm in his tone that it made Elesia struggled not to laugh. "My dear Bagginses and Bophins, Tooks and Brandybucks ... Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots…" As he went on, the mentioned families stood up with pride before they sat down and allowed him to continue on. It was only when he said the last name in a tone that was slow and teasing, that her attempt to intervene was cut off by one of the Hobbit's that didn't stand, whom lounged his particularly huge feet out onto the chair opposite of him

"Proudfeet!" The Hobbit scoffed indignified to Bilbo, correcting him in such a way that made it seemed like it wouldn't be the first time nor the last that someone made the mistake.

Bilbo however ignored his correction, "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday !" At this, Elesia glance at Gandalf wide eyed as shouts of exclamation rang out into the air. "Yes, and alas… Eleventy- one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits!"

An outburst of approval followed his statement though as he continued, it wasn't long before they were almost noiseless to what he was saying. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you as well as you deserve." The observation was blunt as it left his mouth and as people grudgingly offered scattered clapping, Elesia couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she stared at him. Yes, she supposed that she could respect Bilbo for speaking his mind and not holding back… but did he really have to be so rude to the ones he undoubtedly once called friends?

Frodo and Gandalf smirked as they both stared at Bilbo from his on the wooden stool, and as Elesia watched she was overcome by a funny feeling indeed that this was normal behavior for the Hobbit. Suddenly however and before her very eyes, Bilbo's persona seemed to shift into that which was different than before. Beads of sweat collected at his brow before rolling down his full face, as if he become nervous on an account of something. Elesia watched with narrowing orbs as Bilbo tried to be inconspicuous as his hand lifted from where it was at his side to pull something out of his front pocket of his red waistcoat. Immediately, the Hobbit pulled his clenched hand behind his back as if what he held was a guarded treasure for his eyes only.

Her stomach had begun to twist once more, almost as if it were a response to what the Hobbit now clenched tightly within his hand. Elesia could feel Gandalf eyeing her in a worried, almost curious manner though he didn't reach out to touch her even if she was within arm distance of him. She raised an eyebrow as she stared at the Hobbit who was risen a little more than his own kin at the moment, and Elesia couldn't force the sense of dread away as it squeezed at her heart. Something was wrong… she was almost sure of that even if she didn't know for certain what in fact that something was.

Bilbo seemed to have to force himself to speak now, hesitant about what he should reveal to the people that now looked at him for an explanation. Elesia realized with a start before he even began to speak that Bilbo had insisted on this party not to spend it with his friends and his nephew, but at the chance to get this out in the open to everyone instead of saying goodbye to Frodo like… the respect of which Frodo deserved his Uncle to give him. "I have…. things to do and I have put this off for far too long." His voice seemed distant towards the end before he caught himself, straightened up his posture and locked eyes with Frodo's, "I regret to announce that this is the end. I am going now... I bid you all a very fond farewell!"

Elesia looked at Frodo's confused face as he stared up at his Uncle, almost as if he wasn't fully comprehending what Bilbo was saying. Bilbo in turn hesitated at Frodo's expression, looking at his nephew's face and whispering Goodbye to him. As if it was normal to just leave behind the one person you looked after for so long, a person that was of blood to you… and just like that, Elesia's face became void as fire pounded in her veins. Angry upon Frodo's behalf, for she felt that he deserved his Uncle to at least tell him of his plans beforehand rather than blindside him as Bilbo had done.

She moved to get up from the bench to give him a talking to but Bilbo instantly vanished from his place upon the stool. Her eyes widened a fraction more than what they had been in the face of her anger, and as the crowd leapt to their feet Elesia shot Gandalf a confused look. She may have the power to vanish from sight, but she held no part in it. If it wasn't her, there had to be what Gandalf created involved; the thing he humorously called 'magic '. It was the sole fact that he was looking at her with the exact expression that reflected what she felt, that put those thoughts to rest… only adding more in it's wake. If it was neither of them, how did he disappear?

And as Elesia gripped her stomach that now ached painfully, she quickly told Gandalf of the pains she felt when he asked about the movement… of how she swore upon everything she was and hoped to be that she was not involved in Bilbo's disappearing act. As she watched her friend head off to Bilbo's house after she had spoken to him, she couldn't fathom just what was to come. Though a sensation settled heavily within her gut, warning her of what she yet knew naught.

The crowd began to talk excitedly amongst each other, one theory as outrageous as the next at how exactly Bilbo turned invisible like he had; none but her realizing that Frodo still stared at the now empty stool with a permanent look of disbelief etched on his face.