Chapter Text
I.
“Can you tell us about how you helped kill the dragon?” Merry asked, gaining a chorus of 'yes, pleases' from Frodo, Sam and Pippin. Bilbo sighed good naturally and tucked the four in. Frodo had been wanting a sleep over for a while now, and this is what he got.
“Again? Well, I guess I don't see any harm in that, since you asked so nicely, Merry” Bilbo said before he began. “The Company and I had just gotten out of the Elven Palace, by means of stuffing each other into boxes and floating down the river. When we reached Lake-town, I started to unpack the dwarves from their containers. Of course, they were none too happy...” Bilbo continued the tale, about how Thorin brought an up-roar in Lake-town, how the Hidden Door opened, his little escapade with the dragon, and how Bard shot an arrow into the dragon's heart.
“I knew that the Arkenstone would cause the same Dragon Fever Thorin's father and grandfather had, so I took it to the safe keeping of Thranduil's Halls. I left soon after, without saying goodbyes to the Company.” Bilbo finished quickly. Smiling, he tucked the yawning Hobbitlings in. “All right, I believe that is enough for tonight. May Yavanna bless your dreams with honey and milk river.” Bilbo went to leave the room.
“Wait!” came the sleepy call from Sam Gamgee, “Why didn't you say goodbye?” Bilbo's soft smile turned bittersweet.
“That, my dear boy, is a tale for when you are older.” With that said, Bilbo left them to sleep, and hoped he could have some restful sleep as well.
Little did Bilbo know, the four Hobbitlings did not go to sleep as he intended. Pippin sat up and said, “There! Did you see his face?”
Frodo sat up as well. “Yes, we all saw how sad Uncle's face got. I don't like it when he gets that far away look.”
Sam hugged the saddened Baggins. “My father said that the Company wanted nothing to do with Mister Bilbo, said something about banishment because of something he did.” Frodo looked aghast at that.
“No! Uncle is the kindest, most wonderfulest Hobbit in the Shire! How could any one banish him?” Frodo whispered yelled, not wanting to wake Bilbo. He only received shrugs for a response.
Merry spoke up, “ It would make sense though. Why else would Mister Bilbo get sad when he mentions what happens after?” The Hobbitlings thought about that.
“The dwarves were wrong to banish him,” Pippin said, “We should travel to Erebor to make them take away the banishment.” he finished with a steely resolve, nodding his head. The others stared at him wildly. “What? We are all tired of Mister Bilbo being say, and this will make him happy.” Pippin explained.
“But, Pippin, you heard what Mister Bilbo said about the roads!” Sam began.
“But they have improved when Erebor was reclaimed!” Merry stated, getting excited about having his own adventure.
Sam was not about to be convinced that easily. “Mister Bilbo was an adult surrounded by trained dwarves, and they nearly got killed multiple times! We are just four Hobbitlings! How would we fair even better?!” Sam tried to explain.
“Sam's right, you guys. And I don't think Uncle will appreciate us just leaving out of the blue.” Frodo said, seeing Sam's ways. Frodo wanted nothing more than to cheer up his Uncle, who gave up a lot to raise him, but he didn't want Bilbo to worry unnecessarily.
Pippin looked down-trodden. “But if we find a Ranger, we could make it, couldn't we?” Merry agreed.
Sam spoke again, “ Where would we get the money? Rangers don't work for free, you know.” Sam, too, wanted to help Bilbo be happy, but he didn't want anyone to get hurt.
“Uncle still has gold left over from his adventure. He-He never counts it, unless Aunt Lobelia comes over, of course, so Uncle won't know if a few pieces are missing.” Frodo hesitantly said, warming up to Merry and Pippin's ideas. He didn't like the idea of 'borrowing' a few pieces of gold for this, but if it made Bilbo happy in the end, he would do it.
“If you three are crazy enough to leave on this ridiculous adventure, I'd better come to, just to make sure you guys don't eat a poisonous plant with your want of an adventure.” Sam said, partly because he wanted to go on an adventure, partly because he didn't want to be left behind with the repercussions and partly because he knew they would eat a poisonous plant just for the heck of it. “W-When are we going to leave, anyways?”
They all paused and looked at each other. Frodo spoke up first, “Tonight. Before we back down.” With that said, they all popped out of bed as quietly as they could to prepare. Frodo left to collect the gold, Sam collected the food while Merry and Pippin packed the clothes and blankets.
After a few slightly noisy minutes, they all joined together in the foyer, their excitement about the adventure fading into nervous shuffles as the clock struck midnight. Taking a deep breathe, they walked out the door. They wanted to reach Bree before morning to find a Ranger. Taking another breathe, they left the door step. Another breathe at the gate, the tension growing higher. Each Hobbitling kept expecting Bilbo to come rushing out the door after them, or a neighbor to come and stop them before their adventure even began. No one was stirring this late an hour, though. Neither Hobbitling made a noise, and jumped at every sound. In an hour, they made it to the edge of the Shire.
No one made any move. The Hobbitlings glanced at each other, trying to draw strength from each other. Frodo spoke up, his voice barely a whisper, yet it made everyone jump. “R-Remember what Bilbo said,” He began, his voice falling at the end, unsure of himself.
Sam spoke up in return, “Yea, its a dangerous business, walking out your door,” he faltered.
“If you don't keep your feet,” Merry finished, “You'll never know where you may end up.”
Another deep breathe, and then Pippin began the count down. “One.”
“Two” Merry helped, and connected their hands.
“Three” Sam said and closed his eyes.
“Go.” Frodo said and took a step with the others. It was their first one outside of the Shire. Everyone was silent as they continued down the road to Bree, their hands still connected. Every now and then, someone would squeeze their hands and reassure everyone that, yes, they were going on an adventure.