8: The Party and What Happened

It had finally arrived: September 22, Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday. Pippin had been excited the day before, but now he was ecstatic. He woke well before the sun had risen and made so much noise doing so that Merry, who was sharing Pippin’s room, and Pervinca, whose room was next to Pippin’s, were also woken. Once he was certain that his sister and cousin would not be tempted to return to bed, Pippin proceeded to wake the rest of the Smials.

There were a great many annoyed hobbits by the time the sun rose. Paladin Took was quick to scold his son.

A line of carriages waited outside the Smials and the Tooks filed into them. Pervinca and Pippin were to ride with Meriadoc, Saradoc and Esmeralda, much to Pippin’s joy. He knelt on his seat and looked out.

“Sit down, please, Peregrin, dear,” Esmeralda asked in a quiet voice. Pervinca noticed that Pippin obeyed his aunt’s request much quicker than he would have if it had been his mother.

The trip from Tuckborough to Hobbiton was a good hour or so, but Pippin was surprisingly well behaved. On several occasions he knelt on his seat once more and peered out of the carriage to see the carriage that his parents and other sisters were travelling in. Merry promptly made him sit back down every time.

Esmeralda seemed impressed by the maturity Merry was displaying, but really, Merry just wanted Pippin to sit down because he had some of the frog jars in his pockets. Merry was worried that if Pippin continued to jump around, he would drop one and they would be caught out.

The Tooks (and Brandybucks) arrived just before lunch. The first stop before Bag End was The Green Dragon, where most if the guests were going to stay.

Pippin grew very impatient. It seemed to be taking far too long for his family to check into the Inn. He could hear the noise of the party and was anxious to be a part of the excitement.

“Patience, Peregrin,” Paladin laughed, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “We shall be there soon enough. And I am sure the real fun will wait for you.”

Paladin suspected that Merry and Pippin had some mischief planned. The cousins seemed to forget that their parents had once been young too. In his youth, Paladin had had quite a reputation for being a nuisance, and Saradoc had been the terror of Brandy Hall.

It also had not escaped Paladin’s attention that both Pippin and Merry’s pockets seemed to bulge a little, and they made a soft clinking sound when they moved.

Finally, the Tooks had finished checking into the Inn and they could leave for Bag End. It was close enough for Pippin to run and not have to wait for the carriages. Merry and Pervinca ran after him, but they only just arrived before the carriages.

“Uncle Bilbo!” Pippin greeted the much older hobbit with a big hug.

“Hullo, Peregrin,” Bilbo returned. “My, haven’t you grown. I’ll wager you’ll be a monster by the time you’re Frodo’s age. Welcome to my little party.” He handed Pippin a small wooden dragon. It was green, with detailed scales painted. Pippin’s eyes grew wide. When he pulled the dragon’s tail, its head reared up and its mouth opened. It was the greatest toy Pippin had ever seen.

Merry and Pervinca were not forgotten. Bilbo gave Merry a beautiful pipe, but was very quick to say, “You won’t be able to use it for a few years yet, my lad,” when he saw Esmeralda giving him a disapproving glare.

Pervinca received a pretty bracelet, gold set with diamonds. Pimpernel and Pearl were given identical bracelets. Bilbo had especially saved the jewels for the daughters of one of his favourite cousins.

After thanking Bilbo for his kindness, the children were ushered into the Party Field, so that others could receive their presents. Pippin was engrossed by his present, but Merry had smelt the delicious aromas as soon as they had came close to Bag End.

“I’m starving,” he stated. “Let’s get something to eat.”

“Half a moment!” Pippin complained. “Can we hide these jars somewhere? I’m not too fond of the idea of walking around with them in my pockets the whole day!”

Merry thought for a moment. “Fine, we shall store them in the hedge. I’ll keep the chisel with me, though.”

Merry had found a small chisel and hammer, which he planned on using to make a hole in the ale kegs. When he saw the kegs, he realised that he would not be able to fit beneath them. Pippin or Pervinca would have to do it, but as he turned to tell them this, he saw that Pervinca had gone.

“Where’s Pervinca?” he asked Pippin. But Pippin just shrugged. His new toy was far too exciting for him to have noticed that his sister had abandoned them the minute they had entered the field.

“I wonder where she went to,” Merry muttered, but it was to himself.

* * * * * *

Pervinca had not particularly felt like watching over her mischievous brother and cousin. She decided to wander around the field to find anyone that she might know. Paladin called her over to inform her that he had asked Bilbo if his youngest children could stay the night at Bag End. Bilbo had seen no problem at all. Pervinca assured her father she would tell Pippin when she saw him and continued on her way.

“Hullo, Pervinca,” a voice greeted.

Pervinca turned to see Frodo Baggins smiling warmly at her. “Oh, Frodo! You startled me. Happy birthday!”

“Thank you.”

“I think Pearl and Pimpernel have a present for you. I know it’s more traditional to give presents on your birthday, but this is such a special age; we thought you deserved a little something. It’s a shame I don’t where they are.”

“I am sure they will find me eventually. Would you like something to drink?”

Pervinca nodded and followed Frodo to where tables had been set up to imitate the bar of an Inn. Frodo ordered ale for himself and a glass of raspberry wine for his companion, since he knew she did not like ale.

“I was talking to my gardener, Sam, just the other day. Do you remember him?” said Frodo as they sipped on their drinks. Pervinca choked on her drink and blushed a deep red. Frodo looked at her, surprised. “Pervinca…”

“I think I should find Peregrin,” Pervinca lamely excused. “Thank you for the drink.” She stood up and started to walk away, but Frodo followed and called after her.

“Pervinca, please stop!”

Pervinca came to a halt and looked at her cousin. Her cheeks were still brightly flushed. “Yes, Frodo?”

He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “My dear Cousin Pervinca. And here I was thinking Sam was a lost cause having a fancy for you!”

“I don’t know what you mean…” Pervinca sniffed, but then Frodo’s words sank in. “Sam…Sam has a fancy for me?”

“He does indeed and he’s in a bit of a spot because of it. I’d advise you to avoid Rose Cotton at all cost if she ever finds out. And let’s not even start on your admirers…” Pervinca noticed that Frodo had not mentioned the greatest barrier, their differing classes, but she was sure that he was quite aware of it.

“He just seems like such a sweet hobbit,” Pervinca whispered. “He’s so dedicated to you, and to Bilbo. That’s what I admire about him the most. I suppose I just wish I had someone that dedicated to me…”

Frodo lightly squeezed her shoulder. “You do. In fact, there are many who are that dedicated to you, and I’m sure there will be many more to come. But if you’d like to try and earn the dedication of a certain gardener, I can tell you that he’s sitting near the bandstand.”

Pervinca grinned at Frodo. She gave him a quick hug in thanks before she ran off, clearly in the direction of the bandstand.