Auburn Eyes

Chapter 1: Old Friends

The sun was high and warm and only a small gale shook the deep-green leaves on the old trees. Now and then a small disturbance was seen and a swift shadow of either a squirrel or a bird was spotted through the thick cover. Different types of songs where heard through the sky as all kinds of birds flew here and there either feeding their young or bidding their partner up for an acrobatic dance through the air. Despite the dense branches the sun still cast vast cascades of warm light on the soft grass that adorned the forest floor. Two swallows in a merry play almost collided with a large figure coming down the small road on the outskirts of the lively forest. The grey figure only smiled at their joyfulness and clicked his horse onwards, humming a little tune to himself. Small fast feet were heard through the trees as they came closer and closer to the traveller and they met just by a small hill. The short figure smiled, "You're late" and crossed his arms. The traveller who wore a large grey hat and a grey robe also had a beard in that same colour. He stopped his wagon and replied in a serious tone, "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to" the two stared at each other but the serious mines soon cracked into boasts of laughter and the hobbit, for that is what he was, leapt into the wizard's embrace, "Gandalf! It's wonderful to see you!" the wizard laughed and moved so the young halfling could sit beside him as he begged the horse onward again. "What news of the outside world? You must tell me everything" Gandalf laughed, "everything? My are you not a curious hobbit...most uncommon" he sighed, "Well what can I say, the wide world goes on much as it has done for many years now" Frodo laughs, "you always say that Gandalf! Come now, is there not more than idle conversations with fellow travellers you can tell me about? What goes on in the cities of man? The elves? Or the dwarves perchance?" Gandalf sighed "Well there is not much to tell except the world beyond the Shire is very different and hobbits are still a rare sight beyond its borders... and perhaps that is for the best" Frodo thought for a moment and as they rounded the corner by the old mill a flock of children came running calling for Gandalf, "Fireworks! Fireworks!" they called. Gandalf did not show he had heard them and as the wagon rolled steadily on, one could hear the disappointed children they were leaving behind. With a blink of an eye though small rockets shot to the sky I a brilliant display of colours and the children cheered. Frodo laughed, " To tell you the truth, Gandalf, Bilbo has behaved quite odd lately. I mean more than usual. He locks himself in his study, spending hours and hours studying old maps when he thinks I am not looking. He is up to something" Frodo glanced at the wizard beside him who only huffed and stared at the road ahead, "alright keep your secrets" at the wizard's innocent look he laughed, "before you showed up we Baggins were very well thought off" Gandalf nodded, "I see" and Frodo continued "we never had any adventures or did anything unexpected" Gandalf put on an innocent expression once again, "If you are referring to the incident with the dragon I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door" he sucked his pipe. "Well whatever you did, you've been officially labelled a disturber of peace." Gandalf faked his surprise, "Oh?! I see. Well I guess I'll have to pay Bilbo less visits then" Frodo easily caught his joke but played along anyway, "oh no dear Gandalf! Who would bring the fireworks then?" The wizard laughed, "I am glad you would miss me if not just for my fireworks". "you know I love your tales as well Gandalf. Especially those you shared with Uncle Bilbo and as the years have passed, we have seen less of dwarves around here making you almost our only foreign guest". Gandalf smiled, "Well I know the dwarves are getting old as well and those who are left of the company are beginning to find the road too long." "But not all are getting old are they Gandalf?" Frodo asked. Gandalf looked at him, "What on earth do you mean?" Frodo chuckled, "you know who I mean, of all Bilbo's tales his favourite one involved her". Gandalf halted the horse, "You know Frodo, I have heard neither high nor low of any evidence of a dragon roaming the world and even though I have tried I have been unsuccessful in finding any myself. It is as I had both hoped and dreaded. She has disappeared from the world. My last guess would either be she has flown out to sea or taken to the far North where some of her kin might still be found" Frodo sighed, "I wish I could have met her. I truly hope she has found the peace and freedom she yearned for" Gandalf put a hand on his small shoulder, "So do I Frodo, so do I. Come let us not keep your uncle waiting it is after all his birthday." Frodo nodded and smiled as Gandalf asked the horse to continue onward. The wagon rolled up the small hill until it came to a stop just by a small wooden gate. Frodo ran along to join the last preparations and Gandalf, paying no mind to the sign on the gate, walked up the small path and knocked at the round, green door. "No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers or distant relations!" it came from inside and Gandalf laughed, "and what about very old friends?" mere seconds passed before the door opened and revealed a hobbit with greying hair and a big smile, "Gandalf?" the wizard smiled, "Bilbo Baggins" the hobbit came forward, "Oh dear Gandalf!" he laughed as Gandalf kneeled down and embraced the much shorter person, "it is good to see you and 111 years old, who would believe it? You haven't aged a day" the hobbit laughed and bid him inside, offering tea and wine. Gandalf accepted tea and while Bilbo rushed through the house, chuckling and talking about how it has been since they last saw each other and mentioning something about a cold chicken if the wizard was hungry since he was quite unprepared. After all, as Bilbo said, he came and went as he pleased. Gandalf gazed around the small rooms and only missed ducking low enough twice before hitting his head on the canopy. Books and parchments lay scattered on the floor and the tables and on Bilbo's desk was a map of The Lonely Mountain. Memories flashed before Gandalf's eyes as he picked it up. "Just tea please" he said when the hobbit entered the room, "oh yes is it all right if I eat?" Gandalf nodded and Bilbo took a bite of his sponge-cake but almost choked on it when a aggressive knocking on the door filled the house, "Bilbo Baggins I know you're in there" Bilbo hid behind the wall, "the Sackville-Baggins! They are after the house, dear I once caught Lobelia Sackville trying to sneak off with my silver spoons! They have never forgiven me for living this long." He leaned towards the window to make sure the visitors had left, "I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moments peace." He sighed, "I want to see the mountains again Gandalf, the mountains! And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book, oh! Tea!" He fetched the kettle, "So" Gandalf said, "You mean to go through with your plan? You know Frodo suspects something" Bilbo nodded, "Yes. Off course he does, he's a Baggins" Gandalf looked at him gravely, "you will tell him won't you. He is very fond of you" he held some concern for the younger hobbit who might take it hard if his beloved uncle suddenly left. "Yes... I believe he would come with me if I asked him. But I think within his heart, Frodo is still in love with The Shire. The Forests, rivers and fields." Bilbo looked out the window, "I am old Gandalf. I know I don't look it but I am beginning to feel it inside. I feel... thin. Sort of stretched like... butter scratched over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday and I don't expect to return. In fact, I mean not to." As the pair sat on the grassy hill outside watching the sun disappear, they shared some tobacco from Bilbo's late father. "I know Frodo must have asked you this but, have you any news of her whereabouts? You know of whom I speak?" Gandalf nodded, "Yes I know Bilbo and I am sad to tell like I told Frodo, I have heard neither high nor low but perhaps that is a good thing no?" Bilbo sighed, "Perhaps but I would wish I could have seen just one more time, just to make sure she was still in this world. After all we've been through I had hoped for just a mere glance of a pair of golden eyes. I do miss her" Gandalf nodded, "as do I" Bilbo blew out a smoke ring and Gandalf crated a small ship that sailed through the air and the ring and they gazed down om the colourful lanterns. "Gandalf my old friend. This will be a night to remember"

The sky was alight with flickering colours and joyful tunes filled the summer air as Gandalf sent one rocket after the other towards the cloudless heaven and musicians played one jingle after the other. There was laughing and cheers as hobbits in all shapes and sizes either danced, talked or helped themselves at the vast buffet. Bilbo greeted his friends with great eagerness but hid as soon as his dislikeable relatives showed their faces. This however did not stop him from telling of his adventures to anyone who would listen. Children and adults alike gathered around the grey-haired hobbit to once more hear the tale of the three trolls that turned to stone by the first morning light. Frodo and his friend Samwise Gamgee danced to the merry tunes of yet another jig. The shy Sam was eager to dance with a pretty hobbit las but was holding back. However, with some "encouragement" from Frodo he ended up dancing with her through three songs at least. Something all of them, even Gandalf, failed to notice was two red-haired hobbits sneaking around Gandalf's wagon. While he had his back turned Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took went through the rockets in search of the biggest one. The larger the rocket the larger the show was what they presumed. They satisfied on a large red one, kidnapping it to one of the tents and lighting it of. What the unfortunate pair had failed to remember was that it needed to be stuck down in the soil and lighted under clear sky. "You supposed to stick it in the ground" Merry pushed it towards Pippin, "It is in the ground" Pippin pushed it back, "Outside!" Merry hissed, "T'was your idea!" with that the rocket took of to the sky with both tent and strings, leaving Merry and Pippin falling to their behinds. As it exploded to the delight of all who could see it the sparks began to gather into the form of a giant dragon soaring through the night. The glistening drake dove down and probably scorched a few hairs of the now terrified audience. Frodo ran to his uncle, "Bilbo watch out for the dragon!" but Bilbo just shook his head, "that is no real dragon lad trust me!" he laughed. The dragon-shaped rocket continued its way over the lake before it exploded in a blinding show of colours. People clapped and were once again delighted by what they saw. This can not be said about poor Meriadoc and Peregrine as they were, by Gandalf, dragged by their ears towards the dirty dishes.

The excited hobbits started to gather around a podium. "Speech, Speech!" they cheered, and Bilbo Baggins did not disappoint. He called out to every family and thanked them for coming. He then fell into a more subtle tone, "I have put this of for far too long. I regret to announce this is the end... I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell" he looked at Bilbo and he disappeared. Gasps filled air and several hobbits including Frodo sprung from their seats and began searching but Bilbo was nowhere to be seen. Without anyone's notice another person slipped away from the party and silently made his way towards Bagend.