FPT-The Party

The Party

  It was perhaps the biggest celebration the Shire had ever seen. People from every corner of the countryside were there, most Frodo knew and had been invited. A few showed up anyway, though no one really cared. Tents had been set up everywhere, food was plentiful, and all were jolly. Gandalf's fireworks were the big attraction, each time one exploded a loud cheer erupted from the crowd and Frodo wondered if they could be seen and heard over in Bree.
He was dancing with the others, women and men alike, laughing and clapping to the beat. It was strenuous fun, and it was only a matter of time before Frodo needed a break.
   "Go on Sam! Ask Rosie for a dance!" he said breathlessly, as he slid in beside his friend who was hanging over a cup of beer.
   "I think I'll just go and have myself another mug of ale..." he replied nervously and started to get up.
  "Oh no you don't! Go on!" Frodo smiled, yanking the mug away, and pushing his friend straight into the arms of Rosie Cotton.
Frodo laughed at Sam's horrified face and downed the last of his drink.
  Meanwhile, a little ways away, where Gandalf kept his fireworks, Merry and Pippin were making a plan.
  "How are we gonna get at the fireworks?" Pippin asked doubtfully. He had a way with foolish questions.
  "Well we-YOWITCH!" Merry cried out when he felt a strong yank on his ear. He fell back into the side of a tent and Estella's head popped out.
  "I've been lookin' for you two traitors everywhere!" she growled "You're both asking for a poundin'!"
  Merry lay sprawled on the grass, taken by surprise, while Pippin stood, crossing his arms, putting on his best pouty face.
  "Butt out Estella, this is our prank." Pippin said defiantly, Nose upturned. Merry reached up to rub his sore ear.
  "If you don't let me in on it, I'll squeal to Gandalf." she said stubbornly. Pippin stepped forward, balling his fists.
  "You'd better not!"
  "I will!"
  "If you do I'll-"
  "Wait!" Merry hissed "Let her in."
  " But Merry..." Pippin whined.
"No she'll tattle on us, being the mature sort she is..." he said sarcastically, glaring at the girl. In turn, she stuck out her tongue.    "Come on, this is what we do..."
Both Estella and Pippin leaned in eagerly.

   "Frodo, Frodo!"
Frodo turned at the voice, it was Fatty Bolger.
  "Oh!" he smiled "Hullo Fatty! Is there something I can do for you?"
  "Yes, have you seen my sister?" he asked in a worried tone.
  "Uhhh, not tonight no. Is she missing?"
  "Well, she was with me a minute ago," Fatty began "but she's disappeared. Say, did you invite that Merry and Pippin?"
  "Yes, in fact we did." Frodo replied "Why?"
  "Well then, she's probably with them." Fatty sighed relieved.
  "Uh-oh..." Frodo mumbled.
  "What? What's wrong?"
  "I think we should find them, quickly. Come on." Frodo grabbed Fatty's sleeve and jerked him off into the crowd.

   "No, no...the big one, the big one!" Merry hissed. Pippin and Estella were clambering around in Gandalf's wagon, Pippin dug around and triumphantly produced a large, red, dragon firework and Merry nervously waved them out. He and Estella quickly and quietly scurried down and followed Merry into a nearby tent, hardly noticed among the drunken party guests.
  "Had me the match, Estella." Pippin asked grinning as he held out his hand.
Estella handed it to him and striking it, bent down to lit the fuse. Merry looked down at the sparking flame, then realized something important.
  "You're supposed to stick it in the ground!"
  "It is in the ground!" Pippin retorted warily. Merry tossed the rocket at Pippin, the fuse sizzling angrily.
  "OUTSIDE!" Merry and Estella hissed at him.
  "It was your idea!"
WHOOOSH!
  The rocket shot up into the air, knocking the three troublemakers onto their backs. They lay there horrified as the rocket zoomed over the party. Once in the air it suddenly burst into a shower of white and gold and came sailing down over the startled heads of the party goers. They screamed in panic and dashed out of it's way.
  Frodo followed the dragon's path with his eyes, it was heading directly for an oblivious Bilbo.
  "Bilbo!" he called sprinting towards his uncle's turned back "Watch out for the dragon!"
  "Dragon? Nonsense...hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"
Frodo lunged at his uncle and pulled him to the ground, just as the rocket flew over their heads with a loud gush of wind. Other hobbits dived to the ground in panic, including Fatty who gave a little grunt as he toppled near Frodo. The rocket flew off into the sky and suddenly exploded with a deafening bang. Surprisingly, it got the loudest cheer of the night.
  "Fatty," Frodo asked weakly.
  "Yes?"
  "I do believe we've found Estella."

  Merry, Pippin and Estella picked themselves up to watch. They were covered in soot-like dirt and their clothes and hair were smoking and standing on end.
   "That was great." Merry grinned devilishly.
   "Let's get another one."
Suddenly, large hands clamped down on Merry and Pippin's ears. The two squirmed in pain as their ears were twisted harshly upwards.
  "Meriadoc Brandybuck," Gandalf said as he pulled Merry's head  to face him. Estella winced at the familiar voice "Estella Bolger... and Peregrin Took. I might've known." Gandalf shoved the three into a nearby tent full of dishes.
  "Great job you two." Estella muttered as she grabbed a stack of plates and plopped them into a bucket of soapy water.
  "You asked fer it!" Merry retorted angrily.
  "Quiet!" Gandalf called, he was smoking his pipe and sipping an ale nearby "No talking, get to work."
  Estella stuck her tongue out at Merry and dunked her hands in the bucket. Accidentally sending up a wave of hot water that hit his arm. Completely drenching it, and burning it too.
"YOWITCH!!!" he screeched, then doing what only comes naturally to someone who has been assaulted with soapy water, he flung a cupful at her. Also hitting Pippin, but before anyone could respond, Gandalf came over and dragged the three apart, muttering curses under his breath, just as cries of "SPEECH! SPEECH!" began to erupt from the crowd. Bilbo was stepping up onto a stool, bowing graciously to the applause.Nearby Frodo joined in with a smile and a yell of "Speech!"
Holding up his hand, Bilbo cleared his throat and began;
  "My dear Bagginses, and Boffins, Tooks, and Brandybucks.....Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots-" he was cut off when a member of the audience called out "ProudFEET!" A series of laughs erupted from the crowd. Gandalf slid in next to Frodo giving him a little grin.
  "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday. Yes, and alas- Eleventy- one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits!"
  There was a tremendous outburst of approval at that point and Bilbo had to wait a moment to continue.
  " I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and less than half of you as well as you deserve." There was a bit of scattered clapping as the party tried to decide if it was a compliment or not. Frodo and Gandalf though, smiled to themselves. It was then Frodo noticed Bilbo looked a little more nervous than before, and saw him pull something from his waistcoat pocket and put it behind his back.
  "I have...things to do and I have put this off for far too long..."
Frodo, confused, turned to Gandalf but he looked just as lost.
  "I regret to announce, this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell." His gaze fell briefly on Frodo before turning back to the rest of the group.
    "Goodbye."
And then, Bilbo Baggins vanished, without a word or sound of warning. Frodo had never been so shocked in all his life. The party instantly exploded into uproar. The crowd, shouting, leapt to their feet. Horrified murmurs, shouts, and whispers flew through them. Frodo still stared at the empty stool. What had happened to his uncle? From behind him, a dish fell from Estella's startled hands and broke over the ground. The crash was barely audible over the din.