It was a warm morning, the sun finally rising over the horizon, stretching its golden rays across the small village full of hobbits. "I don't understand how beings so small could ... survive in this environment." I say as I follow Gandalf down the road.
"Hobbits mostly stay in their shire, their home. Hardly ever going out. In fact they have a distaste in adventures." Gandalf informed, nodding to a hobbit working on his farm who waved at him in response.
I look over at Gandalf confused, "Then why are we here?"
"I believe there is one hobbit here that wouldn't mind an adventure." Gandalf said with a smirk as he walked up to one hobbit hole. Outside sat a hobbit with curly brown hair smoking pot. The hobbit blew a perfect ring, closing his eyes as if to bathe in the morning sun's light. Gandalf waved his staff turning the smoke ring into that of a butterfly.
The butterfly flutters around for a moment before crashing into the hobbit's face, causing him to cough and snap open his eyes. That's when the hobbit noticed us, he seemed confused for a moment before smiling, "Good morning." He greeted with a small nod, before putting his pipe back into his mouth for a bit.
Gandalf leaned onto his staff before talking, "What do you mean?" Gandalf questioned, confusing the poor hobbit. "Do you wish me goodmorning or ... do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning? Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on? Hm?" Gandalf looked at the Hobbit expectantly, waiting for an answer.
The hobbit looked at Gandalf confused, taking the pipe out of his mouth and thinking over his answer. "All of them ... at once I suppose." The small hobbit finally answered.
Gandalf hummed in response, seeming to think. All I could do was watch in amusement at the twos exchange, a smile forming on my face.
The hobbit thought for another moment before asking, "Can I help you?"
Gandalf adjusted his stance saying, "That remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share an adventure with."
"An adventure?" The hobbit questioned, sounding as if it was one of the most ridiculous things he has ever heard. "No, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures." The hobbit said, gesturing as he spoke, pointing his pipe to the right of him.
He then stood up from his spot on the bench, walking over to his mailbox, opening it and collecting the contents out of it while saying, "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things." He said in distaste, shaking his head slightly. "Making you late for dinner." He joked, cuckling a bit, as if an adventure would last just a few hours.
The hobbit begins to fiddle with his pipe in his mouth, pretending to be more interested in his mail to avoid the conversation. I couldn't help but let out a little giggle of amusement, hobbits are very interesting in my perspective so far.
He glanced over at me for a moment before looking back at Gandalf, finally taking out his pipe and beginning to climb up the stairs towards his door. He stopped midway turning to us, giving us the same small nod he did earlier, "Good morning."
Gandalf seemed a bit agitated, taking a few steps to the side so he could be in front of the small hobbit's view saying, "To think I should have lived to be 'good morninged' by Belladonna Tooks son as if I were selling buttons at the door."
The hobbit leaned a bit forwards looking at Gandalf confused, "I beg your pardon?"
"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins." Gandalf continued, gesturing to the small hobbit with his staff. Ah so that's his name, how interesting.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" The hobbit, Blibo questioned. Seeming to try to recognize the old wizard.
"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it." Gandalf begins with a small smile. "I'm Gandalf. And Gandalf means ... me."
"Nice, should totally ring some bells." I say with a sly grin.
Gandalf shot a small glare before looking back at Bilbo with hope. "Gandalf?" The hobbit spoke, seeming to start recognizing the name. "Not Gandalf the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks?" Bilbo exclaimed, a smile forming on his face.
Gandalf smiled as well, raising his head as Bilbo complimented on his fireworks. Which he does work very hard at every year, in my opinion he's getting better and better each year. "Old Took used to have have them on midsummer's eve." Bilbo chuckled, before clearing his throat. "I didn't know you were still in business."
Gandalf's smile fell as I struggled to contain a laugh. Gandalf heard my efforts as he turned his head once more to send me a small glare before looking back at Bilbo. "And where else should I be?" Gandalf questioned.
"Where else?" Bilbo repeated, placing the pipe back in his mouth, fiddling with the tip of the pipe as he thought.
"Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me ... even if it's only my fireworks." Gandalf spoke, some hope seeming to return to his as an idea seemed to pop into his head. "Yes. Well that's decided." Gandalf said all of sudden, before pointing at Bilbo saying, "It'll be very good for you ... and most amusing for me."
'And me.' I thought with a smile, I can't wait to see what this hobbit will be like on this adventure. Gandalf begins to walk away saying, "I shall inform the others."
However, Gandalf froze in his tracks as Bilbo spoke, "Inform the who? What?" Bilbo shook his head slightly gathering his thoughts, "No, no, no, no wait! We do not want any adventures here, thank you! Not today! Not ... I suggest you try over the hill or across the water." Bilbo shouted, gesturing with his hands towards the places he was mentioning. He turned around and began to walk up to his door, turning slightly towards us saying, "Good morning." Then entered his house, I could hear a few locks.
I giggle lightly, "How interesting, I can't wait to see how this plays out."
"You are insufferable." Gandalf grumbles, opening the gate and walking up the stone steps. He began to put down a locater marking, a very easy spell that will let those that are part of the company know this is the place.
"Oh c'mon, it was very amusing to watch the interaction between the two of you." I say with a light hearted laugh. Gandalf finished the marking, before looking at the window, most likely scaring the poor hobbit. Gandalf then walked down the cobblestone steps and exited through the gate, beginning to walk down the path where he parked the horse. I followed after him, walking by his side.
"You could have suppressed your laughter a bit better. Making me look like a fool with your little comments." Gandalf grumbled ruffly.
"Sorry, couldn't help it." I apologized with a bright smile, I wasn't the least bit sorry. It was absolutely hilarious. "So what now?" I ask.
"Now we go inform the dwarves." Gandalf answered.
"Actually ... Can I stay here a bit? I'll be there on time I promise." I say, stopping to look up at Gandalf.
Gandalf sighed, "Fine, but no trouble." Gandalf spoke like a parent telling off their child when they go to their grandma's house.
I smirked, holding up my pinky, "Pinky promise."
Gandalf rolled his eyes, "See you later old friend." He walked off, leaving me to stand there by myself.
A smirk etched onto my features, I turn around on my heel, walking past Bilbo's house and heading deeper into the small tiny hobbit village. I couldn't help but look around in interest as I see some houses have miniature farms in their yards. I look out towards the field to see a small group of hobbit children playing out in the field among the sun's golden rays.
I smile warmly, watching as the kids try catching butterflies in their nets. I walk down towards them, pushing my hood off my head showing my white hair with gold tips that seemed to glisten in the sunlight. The children looked over at me, they smiled warmly, "Hello miss!" A little girl spoke. I crouched down to her height, my cobalt blue eyes sparkled in interest, "Why hello little one."
"Would you like to play with us?" A little boy asked, looking up at me with hope sparkling in his eyes.
I smile warmly, "Of course! What game would you like to play?"
"How about Tag!?" Another child exclaimed, throwing their hands up in the air with a bright smile.
"Sure!" I answer happily, standing straight up. "Now, I'll be 'it' first!" I say, gesturing to myself with my thumb. "You have ten seconds to scatter, one, two." As I begin to count the children scatter, laughing and smiling. "Seven, eight, nine, ten!" I say, running straight towards the closest child. I didn't run too fast, instead I let myself go in a slow jog ... a very slow jog. The children screamed joyfully whenever I grew close to them, a bright smile on their faces as they ran away from me, trying not to get tagged.
However, after some time a small girl trips and falls, landing face first into the dirt. I walked quickly to her side, kneeling down. Tears fell down her smooth cheeks as she let out a small whimper escaping her as she sat up. I brush the dirt off her beautiful blue gown and out of her hair. "There, there. There is no need to cry young one." I say with a small smile, taking my thumb and wiping her tears away.
I then look down at the grass, facing my palm face down towards the grass. I closed my eyes and concentrated, imagining a flower growing out of the grass and blooming fully. I open my eyes, taking my palm of my hand away, seeing a beautiful yellow lily, looking very similar to the sun's rays.
I plucked the lily out of the ground before placing it behind the little girl's ear. "There, now you will feel all better." I say with a warm smile.
The child giggled before sniffling a bit, I heard a woman call out. All the children stood up and ran towards the voice. "Bye miss!" A few of the children call out. The little girl wrapped her small arms around my legs, "Bye." She said softly, before turning around and running up the hill towards what I assume was her mother.
I looked up to see the sun was now beginning to set. I shrug to myself, "Might as well arrive early." I climb up the small hill myself, walking onto the path and begin to make my way back towards Bilbo's hut. I pull my hood back over my head, keeping my head and face covered. I pushed open the gate, making my way up the stone steps, stopping before the circular green door.
I closed my fist, raising it, and gave a few knocks on the door. "One minute!" I hear Bilbo's voice call out from inside. I wait patiently, looking up towards the sky, seeing the clouds beginning to turn orange as the sun slowly starts to disappear over the horizon.
I snap my attention back towards the door once I hear it open, I look down to see a very confused Bilbo. "Have we met before?" Bilbo asks, looking at me with familiarity gleaming in his eyes.
I smile warmly, "Yes we have ... sort of. I was with Gandalf." I look at him expectantly, watching at his face lit up with recognition.
"Oh yes! I remember you." Bilbo exclaimed, causing me to smile brightly.
"My name is Saharia, it's a pleasure to meet you Bilbo Baggins." I say with a small nod.
"Pleasures all mine." Bilbo says, tying his robe quickly. He then shakes his head, "Oh please come in." He steps aside, pulling the door open a little wider allowing me to enter.
I nod towards him in thanks as I ducked down slightly to enter, keeping my head slightly low to avoid the chandelier. Poor Gandalf, might just hit his head on this thing as he is taller than me.
"You wouldn't mind if I pull down my hood do you Bilbo?" I ask, looking over at the small hobbit.
"Of course not, go right head." Bilbo spoke, giving me a small confused look, before walking into what looks like a kitchen. I pull down my hood, before looking around in awe as I observed the small little home. "Woah." I turn around to see Bilbo look at me in awe, his jaw dropping.
I cocked my head to the side slightly, letting some of my white hair tipped with gold slip over my shoulder, "Is something wrong Bilbo?"
Bilbo seemed to snap out of his daze, clearing his throat as he stuttered out, "U-uh nothing it's just um ... I-I like your h-hair."
I smile softly, "Awe thank you."
Bilbo then seemed to hesitate even more before asking, "Would you like anything to eat?"
"Oh, no thank you." I say, shaking my head, giving him a warm smile. "Although I suggest you eat your fill before the company arrives." I say with a small smirk.
"I'm sorry ... company?" Bilbo question.
As if on cue a knock came to the door, and so started off the unexpecting Hobbit's adventure and my own awakening.