A Hobbit Yule

Chapter 5: A Gift of Friendship

Pippin and Ruby arrived back at the tavern to see everything finished and ready for the party. "There you are!", Peony exclaimed, then frowned. "Where is Smeagol?", she asked them.

"Well, we went to Bilbo's house and he wasn't there", Ruby said.

"Hmmm....", Peony said, "Well maybe he'll show up soon". Merry came up to them and put a hand on Peony's shoulder.

"Any luck finding that rascal?", he asked, scowling.

"No, they couldn't find him. I hope he's alright", Peony said, a worried expression on her face.

"Well, maybe he ran away", Merry said, "Which is just fine with me".

"Merry!", Peony exclaimed, "That's not a kind thing to say!".

"Oh, he didn't mean it the way it sounded, Peony", Pippin said, "He's just jealous of Smeagol getting some of your attention". Peony turned to look at Merry, a more compassionate look on her face.

"Is this true, Merry?".

"Yes", Merry said, "It's just that I've been wanting us to spend more time together, and, well, you've been so busy trying to help him that I feel left out". Peony put her arms around Merry's neck, hugging him.

"I'm sorry, Merry. I'll try to make more time for you", she said. Smiling at this, he kissed her forehead.

"Well, we better start greeting the guests", he said, "Here comes King Aragorn and Queen Arwen!". 

Within the next hour, Aragorn and Arwen, Legolas and Gimli, Gandlaf, Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, and practically half of the Shire were packed into the tavern. Gifts were opened, drinks were drunk, and food was devoured. Smiles were on everyones faces as old stories were told of adventures past.

Peony and Frodo looked across at eachother anxiously. They had hoped Smeagol would show up, but he hadn't. Then, there was a knock at the door. They both jumped up at once to open it, and when they did they saw Smeagol, dressed in the red coat Peony had made him and the matching red hat atop his head. Behind him was a large sack, which he had to drag into the center of the room.

"Smeagol!", Peony exclaimed, giving him a hug. He hugged her back, then gave Frodo a hug.

"Happy Yule, everyone!!!", he said, "Smeagol has brought many presents for all the nice hobbitses and their friends!". With that, he began getting out presents that he had hand-wrapped (quite obviously), and handing them out. "To Master!", he said, handing Frodo a large package. Frodo opened it to find a nice writing set, the one he had spotted when he took Smeagol with him to market.

"Thank you, Smeagol!", he exclaimed, "This is exactly what I wanted!". Smeagol brought out another one.

"To Miss Peony!", he said, handing Peony a small package. She opened it to find a lovely ringlet of delicately dried bluebells intertwined with sparkling silver thread.

"Oh, it's lovely, Smeagol!", she exclaimed, "Thank you!". The next present was for Ruby, who recieved a set of brushes engraved in rose gold with her initials. Pippin recieved a pipe that was also engraved in rose gold, with his full name on it. Petunia opened her present to find the silver-plated brush she had been wanting, and Rosy got a matching silver-plated mirror. Sam was given some new copper pots, as well as a few potatoes.

"I found the 'taters' you were talking about", Smeagol said, "Odd things, but if hobbit likes them, Smeagol gets them for him". Sam was overcome with gratitude and surprise.

"Well, er, thank you Smeagol", he said. For Bilbo Smeagol had a compass engraved with "Not all those who wander are lost" on the back in gold. Smeagol passed out other such presents befitting the other guests, even getting Gandalf a present of pipeweed. Lastly, he shyly handed Merry a package. Merry looked at him, surprised.

"Is this for me?", he asked, incredulous. Smeagol nodded.

"Open it, open it. We wants to see!". Merry opened it to find a gold pocketwatch, engraved with his full name on the back. Tears sprung to his eyes, for he had sold the one his grandfather had given him to pay for all of Peony's presents, and this one seemed identical. It even had the little scratch on the back. It was the same one.

"Where did you find it?", he asked.

"Smeagol saw nice hobbit selling his watch for presentses for Miss Peony. Smeagol saw how sad nice hobbit looked when he gave it away, so Smeagol bought it back for him!". Merry smiled, too overcome with happiness to speak.

"This was the watch my old gaffer gave me before he died.... Thank you, Smeagol!". Pleased with himself, Smeagol started to leave.

"Where are you going, Smeagol?", Frodo asked, "Did you think we forgot you?". An eager light came to Smeagol's eyes as Frodo handed him a small package. He eagerly ripped the wrapping off, and beheld a small wooden box, carved with Elven runes. Inside was a thick golden band, inscribed in the common language. "All that is gold does not glitter" was written on it.

"We know how much you liked your other ring, Smeagol", Peony began, "So we found a replacement!". Smeagol's eyes welled up with tears, and for a moment they feared that Gollum had returned. But then, Smeagol slipped the ring on, and looked up at all of them with an expression of gratitude.

"Smeagol loves his present, but more than that he loves his-", he hesitated, as if the word he wanted to say was struggling on his tongue, "friends. Smeagol loves his friends". That brought applause from the Elves, and soon they were all clapping and cheering happily. Someone started playing music, and soon they were all dancing around the tavern, singing Yuletide songs, and teaching those songs to the guests who didn't know them. It was a very merry hobbit Yule, one of many to come to the Shirefolk and their friends.