My first drabble.

Special thanks to shirebound for beta reading.

Title: Perfidies of a Speech
Rating: G

~*~*~

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins--"

"No, that's still too long. You'll put everyone to sleep if you name every family in the Shire," Frodo observed.

"But I have to welcome them."

"You can shorten it," Frodo declared. "What about 'My dear People!'? It will appeal to everyone."

Bilbo shook his head. "I'll cut something else."

"You know you tend to digress."

"Alright," Bilbo sighed, knowing that Frodo was correct.

"Well then, start again," Frodo asked and sat down.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins--"

Frodo sighed and shook his head. There was a long day still ahead of them.