Ash's POV

Fireworks explodes into the night sky high above Hobbiton as Bilbo's well anticipated party began. Everyone drank and eat their hearts out and danced like there was no tomorrow. The little hobbit children either were crowding around Bilbo or Gandalf or were doing their own little dances on the green.

I tried to join them, even though I never really learnt how to dance, and when ever they got 'too close', Beinion would grab me and pull me away. I decided to amuse him a bit and gently sway with him till we got close to Gandalf. Then as soon as he were, and I gave Gandalf a wink, he set of the loudest firework he had. Beinion's guard instincts kicked in and he let go of me and looked at the source of the notice, giving me a chance to leave.

I sat on the grass near where bilbo is and I watch while he yells the children stories off our adventure to Erebor. A few of the girls run over with daisies and other flowers I hadn't seen, they plaited my hair with surprising skill and out the flowers inbetween each strand, making me laugh and give them a hug as thanks. I saw frodo with his friend, a little chubby hobbit I remembered him introducing as Sam a few years ago. And I even saw his cousins slip into gandalfs tent. Probably causing mischief but it was none of my concern as I was tackled by about 12 hobbit children as soon as Bilbo finished his story and was attacked with questions about elves and magic. And I replied to everyone, even showing them a few tricks my mother had taught me when I was a child just to make them laugh.

Suddenly I hear the sizzle of a firework but Gandalf isn't lighting anything, then the sound of one taking off. My eyes followed the sudden flying tent that shit into the sky and exploded. Maybe I should have been paying attention to those two.. the sparkles suddenly formed a giant red dragon and fire flew from its foes as it flies away. Then it turns back and dives at the crowd. Everyone dives to the ground and I hold the dozen hobbit children on me close so they won't be burned. The fireworks dragon turns a
somersault and explodes over the hills with a deafening bang! I sigh through my nose as I take the children off me me and march to where his cousins merry and pippin went. They sat on the ground, hair and clothes smoking. "That was good!" Merry yelled. "Let's get another one!" Pippin said excitedly. Gandalf walks up beside me. He grabs one of both of their ears and I give them a mother's glare.

"Meridoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took...I might have known!" Gandalf mumbled in answer. "You boys know not to mess with Gandalf fireworks. Do you have any idea what would have happened if you aimed it the wrong damn way?" I asked them. They shook their heads. I took a deep breath. "Do what you must with them mellon but please don't turn them into frogs" I told Gandalf, giving him a quick wink as I saw the boys go pale. "I make no promises" he replied and began pulling the poor boys away by their ears.

Suddenly a hand grabs my arm. I glance behind me to see Beinion. Atleast I had about half an hour away from him.. "your lights 'friend' is about to make his speach" he told me. I gently removed his hand off my arm and replied "thank you. Unless you want to stand I suggest we hurry so we can get a seat" I tell him. I rush to the tables and manage to get a chair near the front, only by the luck of frodo saving me one to be polite. I saw Bilbo stepping on a stool...he bows in gratitude at the
applause, making me chuckle at how cocky he had become in his old age.

"My dear Bagginses, and Boffins, tooks and Brandybucks...Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots..." he began, only to be interrupted by a hobbit with large feet, well large feet for a hobbit that is, yelling "Proudfeet!" And earning a chuckle. "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! Tremendous outburst of approval!" Bilbo continued. I smiled at him as he paused for a minute, Frodo silently urged him to continue. "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 well as you deserve.". Oh dear.. the clapping among the guests is scattered as they try to work out if that was a compliment or not.

Suddenly I see Bilbo dive his hand into his pocket and cling to whatever he's pulled out. The ring.. he shook a bit and my heart felt uneasy. He promised he'd wait till the end of the night. Not in the middle of the party.. why did he break it?.. "I have..things to do and I have put this off for far too long..." he mumbled to himself. Frodo looks confused and worried. Bilbo's knuckles turn white as he tightens his grip on the ring.

"I regret to announce, this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell!! " he yells. He glanced at frodo and mouthed "goodbye" before disappearing. I get up quickly while everyone one goes into uproar. I look at Gandalf & Beinion, they follow me as we hurry to bag end.

Bilbo's pov

I slowly rush up to my door as I try to stay quiet. As soon as I'm inside I take off my ring. I can't help but chuckle at my plan as I threw my ring up in the air and caught it, putting it back in my pocket, only to see ash sitting in my armchair, dressed in her traveling armour. "Why did you lie?.." she asked. "I didn't. I said I'd do it at the end of the night" I replied. "Yes. It wasn't the end. You just did that because you were bored" she tells me. "Of course I didn't. I just needed to leave. You'd understand that right?... not wanting to upset family so you leave the only way no one will notice you. Besides I can't have frodo see me.." I mumbled.

She sighed and got out of my chair. My old chair.. "your bag is packed. The horses are ready and Beinion is waiting for us on the outskirts of hobbiton. I'll wait for you, but please be quick" She says to me. I smile at her. "Thank you" I tell her simply as I check the back and throw in the last few things I need and I grab my walking stick.

As soon as I go back to her and we are about leave my old Home I see Gandalf looming over me. "I suppose you think that was terribly clever?" He asked me. "Come on, Gandalf! Did you see their faces?" I asked in reply. He gave me a sad look. "There are many magic rings in the world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly." Gandalf warns me. I roll my eyes. This ring is harmless. All it does is makes me invisible. Simple as.

"It was just a bit of fun." I begin as I feel his eyes boring into the back of my skull. "Oh, you're probably right as usual." I muttered as my head sunk between my shoulders. Ash just kept giving me this sad look that I couldn't pin point.

"You will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you? I'm leaving everything to him." I say to Gandalf out of worry. He nods. "What about this ring of yours? Is that staying too?" He asks me. My hand latches onto it absentmindedly as I look at the mantelpiece. I put it in an envelope. I must have...

"Yes, yes, it's in an envelope...over there on the mantelpiece." I tell him. "There's nothing there Bilbo.." Ash's was voice tells me. I feel guilt overwhelmed me. So in fake guilty surprise I say "no, wait. It's here in my pocket. Isn't that...isn't' that odd now?". But Yet, after all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?...

"I think you should leave the Ring behind, Bilbo. Is that so hard?" Gandalf asked his old friend. "Well, no...and yes. Now it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it. It came to me!" I snap at them. No one will take this from me ! "Bilbo please. Why do you need a ring like that anyway?.. you were a burglar once. It served its purpose. Be done with it!" Ash yelled at me.

"There's no need to get angry." Gandalf said calmly. I give him a death glare and explain "Well, if I'm angry, it's your fault! It's mine. My own, my precious...". "Precious? It's been called that before, but not by you." Gandalf asked concerned. It's mine..

"So? What business is it of yours what I do with my own things?" I asked. I don't sound like myself but I don't care. It's mine. He can't have it. No one can. Not even frodo. "I think you've had that ring quite long enough." Ash said to me. I spin around to her. Thief!

"You want it for yourself!" I yell at her, suddenly a dark shadow fills the room and I feel my heart drop. I glance at Gandalf. "Bilbo Baggins do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!" He yells and I feel fear build in my chest as I cower. "I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help you.... we are trying to help you" Gandalf explains calmly. I rush to my dear friend and hug him, then to ash, apologising for how rude I was to her. How could I me so rude to them?.. what has come over me ?..

"All you long years we've been friends...trust me as you once did. Let it go!" Gandalf tells me. I nod. "You're right, Gandalf...the ring must go to Frodo." I tell him in a tone that is more to convince myself. I lift up my bag and head for the door as I talk to myself "It's late, the road is long... yes, it is time".

Then I hear ash's voice say "Bilbo?" From the hall. She hasn't followed ?.. I hum curiously to show her I'm listening. "the ring is still in your pocket." Gandalf tells me. I feel my body hesitate as I admit to realising it. I pull it out and stare at it for a moment, before throwing it down like trash and heading out the door.

I feel weak as I shake but I try not to show it as I head out the door and make sure ash follows. Just before I felt I remembered something. I turned around to catch Gandalf at my door and I said "I've thought up and ending for my book... 'And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days.'" I told him. He smiled at me. "I'm sure you will, my dear friend." Gandalf told me and ash gave me a kind but sad smile. "Goodbye Gandalf" I tell him. "Goodbye Bilbo" he replies as we walk off into the dark. I hum a tune under my breath as we walk along the old roads and out to the horses.

Ash had her hand on my back as if she were worried I'd fall. She then climbed on her horse, ignoring her companion as she hugged the horse lovingly and then offered me a hand. "Come along. It's faster to get to rivendale by horse then foot my dear Bilbo" she tells me. J smile and take her hand as she pulls me into her horse and snaps the rains, galloping off into the darkness and leaving hobbiton far behind.

Hey guys! Here's a long chapter to apologise for the short one last time and then long wait. Mellon means friend and I promise I'll update soon. Enjoy

Lil'nightfury