The sound of laughter and music reached my ears as I made my way towards the scene which was Bilbo's birthday party.

Lanterns were hung on poles, and strung between big tents for light and decoration. Tiny flags and a banner which read Happy birthday Bilbo Baggins! completed the decor.

  Bilbo greeted guests by the big tent near the entrance and gave presents to each one as he did so.

 ( That was their way you know, hobbits never received gifts on their birthdays. Instead they gave them, as hobbits enjoyed giving each other things and usually had enough  of their own already.)

Gandalf set fireworks off burning and crackling as the hobbits watched and gasped with surprise and delight, when they burst in the midnight sky. Each full of color and their own design.

 I wandered around until I found a good place to watch the fireworks and sat down, admiring the wizard's skill and talent.

This was defiantly better than any displays that's I've seen back home with my family on Independence Day for sure!

Suddenly a bang blasted. Shrieks and cries of "Dragon!" could be heard from by the party tree. I looked eagerly for the beast, (having never seen one before)  but saw nothing.

 Then out of the blue a fiery dragon popped up in front of me. And not wanting to be eaten by it I ran, bumping into a hobbit as I went.  " I'm so sorry Sir!" I said giving my hand to help him up.

  " Samwise Gamgee." He told me as he got up. " My name is Gail, Gail Brylan. " I replied. " Oh, you're the girl who came with Gandalf!" Sam said excitedly. " Yep, that's me."  Said I with a smile.

Apparently everyone had calmed down from the dragon ordeal and were now commanding that Bilbo give his speech. " Speech, Bilbo, speech! "  They called out.

  "Well I guess it's time for Mister Bilbo's speech, would you like to come sit with me and Mr. Frodo?" The hobbit Samwise offered.

  " Sure." I replied.  " My dear Baggins and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Chubbs, Grubbs, Bracegirdles, Hornblowers, and Proudfeet!" Bilbo began as we made our way to our seats and sat down.

"Today is my 111th birthday!" " Happy birthday!" The crowd shouted. " But alas 111 years is far to short a time to live amongst such admirable and excellent hobbits. "  " I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you less than half of what you deserve. "

The guests murmured in confusion, they didn't know if it was an insult or a complement.  " I, uh have things to do. I regret to announce that this is the end. I am going now, I bid you all a very fond farewell. " He said finishing his speech as he disappeared at the end. 

Where had he gone? I wondered,  and had he really disappeared?

A/n : sorry it took so long to publish but I had writer's block and you know how that is. Anyway this should be easier for me to write now that I'm past the part of Bilbo's birthday party. (I don't know why but this part was the hardest to write. Probably because I wanted it to be perfect and not boring for you guys to read. :) )  well I hope you like it! Chapter #9 won't take as long to write I hope. :) Happy reading/ writing!
- Isilwen