Chapter 7

Aragorn brushed out his hair. 'So I'm still Michael and you're still Derek and we're still cousins, right?' he asked Boromir.

'Right.' Boromir pulled on a red and white striped shirt and straightened out his blue jeans.

'Boromir, maybe you overdid the "red, white, and blue" theme just a tad?' suggested Aragorn.

Boromir looked at himself in the mirror. 'I want to look patriotic.'

'Yes, but now you look like a walking flag.'

'It's what Americans do.'

'Fine.' Aragorn walked out of their room and nearly bumped into Legolas.

'Pardon me, Aragorn,' said the elf. 'But are you almost ready?'

Aragorn nodded. 'I am ready.'

'Good. Frodo wants to talk to you.'

Legolas had gone back to looking like a tree in green and brown. Aragorn rolled his eyes.

'Legolas, you shouldn't wear that.'

'Why not?'

'Because it doesn't look American.'

'Why does everything have to be so American? And of course it doesn't, I brought these with me from Middle-earth.'

'Which is exactly why you shouldn't wear it.'

'But it's my best clothing and we are going to a party, so I thought…'

'Please, just change.'

'Strider, I have to talk to you,' Frodo called up the stairs.

'I don't want to change, do I have to?' asked Legolas.

'Ask Boromir.' Aragorn hurried down the steps. 'What is it Frodo?'

'Honestly, I don't look like a child, do I?'

Aragorn looked Frodo up and down. 'Well, actually…'

Frodo groaned and turned away.

'These shoes hurt!' cried Pippin. 'Do we have to wear them?'

'Yes, to hide your feet,' said Aragorn.

'But Elrond got rid of the hair, why do we still have to hide them?'

'Because I said so.'

'You're not my father!' Pippin protested.

'Do you want me to call Boromir?' Aragorn asked, annoyed. 'Frodo, you can pass as a child, and that's a good thing.'

'I like parties,' said Sam, coming out of the room with a little shrug.

'Good,' said Aragorn.

'Do we get to watch the fireworks?' asked Merry.

'Yes,' said Aragorn.

'Oh good!' cheered Merry.

'Fireworks remind me of Gandalf,' Frodo sniffed.

Merry looked sad. 'They do.' He put an arm around Frodo's shoulders. 'Do we have to watch the fireworks, Strider?'

'It's all right, Merry. We'll watch them in remembrance of him,' Frodo reassured his cousin.

'They won't be as good as Gandalf's,' said Sam.

'None could ever be as good as Gandalf's,' Frodo murmured.

'I still don't like it,' grumbled Gimli, walking up. 'Why can't I just stay home?'

'Because that wouldn't be very neighborly,' said Aragorn. 'Besides, I thought dwarves liked parties.'

'We do, but I don't know if I'll be rightly welcomed at this one.'

'I think that you will if you just be your charming self,' Aragorn said with a smile.

'No! I will not wear that!' Legolas declared, racing down the steps shirtless.

Boromir hurried after him. 'It was only a suggestion!' he called.

Legolas ignored him. 'Elrond,' he said, running outside to where Elrond was waiting on the porch. 'Why can't I wear my elvish clothing?'

'Because we are not in Middle-earth anymore, and we want to appear inconspicuous,' Elrond answered calmly.

'Fine.' Legolas walked back inside the house and disappeared up the steps.

'Hurry, or we're going to be late!' Aragorn called after him. He walked out and sat down beside Elrond. 'Inconspicuous, eh?' he asked, pulling on Elrond's long dark hair.

Elrond swatted his hand away. 'I told you before that I was eccentric.'

'Guess that's what explains this purple shirt?'

'Estel, stop teasing me.' Elrond smiled.

'We're ready!' cried Merry and Pippin in unison, coming out to join them.

'And so are we,' said Sam, walking out with Frodo.

'And I am too,' said Gimli.

'Same here,' said Boromir.

Elrond looked up. 'My dear Boromir, you look like the American flag.'

Boromir rolled his eyes.

'And that leaves Legolas,' said Aragorn with a sigh.

Legolas walked out calmly in jeans and a shiny blue shirt that looked as if it had come from Elrond's closet. 'I'm ready,' he announced.

'Then we shall be off,' said Elrond standing up.

'I'm so glad that you could all make it,' said Marie Kempton, holding her hand out to Elrond.

He took it and shook it gently. 'We are honored to be here.'

Marie smiled and blushed a little. 'I'm sorry, I don't know everyone's names.'

'I am Edward Wood,' said Elrond, graciously laying a hand on his chest, and this, he waved to Aragorn, 'Is Michael Fremont, and his two sons, Peter and Sam.' He smiled at Frodo and Sam. 'Michael's cousin Derek Manning, and his twins, Jimmy and Chris. My nephew Edel, and my good friend Henry Grant.'

Gimli bowed low. 'At your service, Milady.'

Marie blushed again. 'Well, you can call me Marie and that…' she searched the busy yard quickly before pointing out a tall man in a yellow shirt, 'Is my husband, Jeff.'

A little girl in a sparkly red tee and white capris ran over to her.

'And this is my daughter, Brittney.'

Brittney smiled at them and eyed the hobbits with great curiosity.

'Brittney,' said Marie. 'Why don't you go play with your new neighbors?'

Brittney nodded happily, her long red hair swishing over her face. 'Follow me,' she said importantly, leading the hobbits to the swing set.

Marie smiled at the rest. 'Well, just make yourselves at home,' she said, waving about her. A timer went off from inside the house. 'Excuse me.' She dashed into the house.

Aragorn stood there, the tallest man around, feeling rather nervous. It was quite a crowd. There were many small groups of people standing and talking loudly to each other, laughing and chatting, with plates in their hands. The smell of grilled beef and the artificial scent of bug spray hung heavy in the air, mingling with the fresh scent of new mown grass. He looked around to see if he could spot the hobbits. They were standing in the midst of a small group of children being interrogated.

'I know where it is, Dad!' groaned a girl in a white sundress storming past them into the house. She slammed the door behind her.

'Hello, I'm Jeff,' said the man in the yellow shirt, stepping forward. 'It's a real shame we haven't met proper yet.' He held his hand out.

Aragorn shook it. 'Michael.'

'And where are you all from?'

'Oh, we're from…' Blast! 'Massachusetts.'

'What part?'

Is it paranoid to suspect him of being a spy from Saruman? 'Boston.'

'Boston, ugly city, isn't it?'

'Yes.'

'You summer folk?'

'Pardon?'

'Is that your summer house?' He nodded next door.

'No, that's our year round house.'

'Wonderful. So glad to meet you. Excuse me now, but enjoy yourself, have something to eat or drink.' He walked towards the house. 'Katie! Have you found it yet?'

'Yeah, Dad,' said a brown haired girl stepping out with a large white platter.

'Good,' he took it and walked away.

Katie started to walk away but stopped when she saw Legolas. 'Hi,' she breathed.

'Hello,' said Legolas good-naturedly.

Aragorn suppressed a chuckle at the look on the girl's face.

'I'm Katie,' she said.

'And I am Edel.'

'Nice to meet you,' she whispered, holding her hand out, unable to take her eyes off the elf.

Legolas took her hand and shook it carefully. 'The pleasure is mine.'

She giggled.

Legolas looked confused.

Aragorn smirked.

'You just moved in next door, right?' Katie asked Legolas.

'That's right,' Legolas answered.

'Do you like it here?' She queried.

'It seems pleasant, I like it better than Boston.'

'I love Boston,' said the girl.

'Do you?'

'Yes, it's more exciting than around here. Nothing ever happens here. Except that you moved here…' she broke off and blushed madly.

'Nothing?' Legolas asked incredulously.

'No.' She looked up at him as if she expected him to melt away into a mist.

Aragorn bit his knuckles to keep from laughing. A large, heavy hand slapped him on the back. He bit down on his knuckles hard and cringed.

'Sorry,' said Boromir.

'Be careful, would you?' Aragorn snarled, rubbing his knuckles.

Boromir looked very apologetic. 'Sorry.'

'It's all right.'

'Who's the girl?'

'Katie Kempton, and I think she's smitten.'

Boromir grinned. 'Poor Edel.'

'He hasn't noticed yet,' said Aragorn in disbelief.

'Derek!' someone called out.

Boromir looked over, 'Got to go.'

Aragorn nodded marveling again at how easily Boromir made friends. He had never been too good at it.

Legolas was still talking to the girl. How old was she? Twelve? Thirteen? Young. Marie walked out of the house carrying a tray of red, white, and blue frosted sugar cookies. The children scurried over to her dragging the hobbits with them. They were doing a surprisingly good job at playing kids; they even seemed to be enjoying it. Katie stayed where she was, obviously too old to get excited over a plate of cookies. Besides what were cookies when compared to Legolas? He looked around for Elrond; he was talking to a very intelligent looking woman. She was young and tall, and had her blond hair pulled up into soft bun. They seemed to be getting along quite well, probably discussing something intellectual.

'Burgers are ready!' called a grey haired man in a navy blue shirt.

There was a general commotion at this as the party went to claim their food.

Aragorn looked back over at Elrond. He seemed to be reciting something; the blonde woman was listening rapt. He stepped closer with the good intent to eavesdrop.

'The sky is blue, the field red, the trees are brown and grey

They rise high, into the sky

Touch it, love it, sway.

The wind is strong, the sun is warm, the clouds are white and fast,

They fly soft across the sky

In forms that never last

The grass is brown, the leaves unborn, the flowers still unseen,

The earth is waking, yet once more, for life and spring and green.' Elrond paused and looked up at the sky.

'It's beautiful,' said the woman. 'You are indeed a poet.'

'Thank-you.' He bowed his head graciously.

Aragorn suddenly heard a burst of laughter and looked over to find that Gimli was in the midst of a group of highly amused people, telling a story of some sort. He was quite animated about it, waving his hands about and chuckling. Aragorn raised his eyebrows and turned back to Legolas. He was sitting, talking to Katie. From the look on his face, Aragorn figured that he had found out that she liked him. He was fidgeting a little, but trying to be polite. Who knows? Maybe it's happened to him before? He sat down near Legolas.

'Katie, I'd like you to meet my friend, Michael,' Legolas said, putting down an ear of grilled corn.

Aragorn smiled at the girl. 'Nice to meet you, Katie.'

She smiled back at him a little, but quickly turned her eyes on Legolas again. 'What sort of paintings do you paint?'

'I…paint…different things.'

'What are your favourites?'

'Mmm, I'd have to say, landscapes.'

'I like to draw people.'

'Would you like to show me some of your pictures?' Legolas asked.

She nodded. 'I'll go get them.' She put her plate down, jumped to her feet, and ran into the house.

'She likes you,' teased Aragorn.

Legolas nodded. 'I noticed.'

'Do you mind?'

'You should see what happens when I go down to Lake Town,' Legolas laughed lightly.

He picked up his cup and took a sip.

'What's that?' asked Aragorn.

'It's called lemonade. Here.'

Aragorn drank a little. 'It's good.'

Katie came back out with a sketchpad. She sat down and opened it up on her knees. 'These are my pictures,' she said, showing him childish colored pencil portraits.

He smiled kindly. 'They have much care in them.'

'Do you like them?'

Legolas looked down at the disproportionate faces. 'I think that, as time goes by, you will improve.'

Her face fell.

'So you should keep up the good work,' he added hastily.

She smiled. 'Do you think?'

'Yes.'

Aragorn got up and crossed the yard. Poor Legolas. He sat down in earshot of the children. There were about seven of them besides the hobbits, and they were all waiting very impatiently for the parade and sundown and fireworks and sparklers. In the meanwhile, they were eating more food than was good for them, playing with patriotic pinwheels, and leap-frogging each other.

'Who's your dad?' a small girl asked Pippin.

'He is,' said Pippin, proudly pointing out Boromir.

'And who's your mom?' she asked.

'I haven't got one,' said Pippin.

'Oh,' she said. 'That's my dad.' She pointed to one of the men listening to Gimli's story. 'And that's my mom.' She pointed to a lady with curly brown hair laughing enthusiastically with another woman. 'I don't live here,' she said.

'I live over there, in that house,' said Pippin, pointing at their house.

'I live in Bangor,' she said. 'We drove here. That's my cousin.' She pointed out Brittney.

Frodo was being quiet. He sat a little ways apart, quietly spinning a shiny pinwheel with his finger. He looked up and caught Aragorn's eye, then turned away.

Aragorn got up and walked over to him, he knelt down and put a hand on his shoulder. 'Are you all right, Frodo?'

Frodo nodded. 'I'm okay…dad.'

Aragorn rubbed his shoulder. 'Want something to eat?'

'No, I'm all right. I just ate.'

He refused food? That's strange. Aragorn went to talk to Elrond.

Elrond was still talking to the blonde lady. Something about a novel he was working on.

'Edward? Could I speak to you a moment?'

'Excuse me,' said Elrond to the woman and walked over to him. 'What is it, Michael?'

'It's Peter. He isn't feeling too well.'

'Do you want me to take him home?'

'I think that you should talk to him.'

They went back to Frodo.

'Peter, are you all right?' asked Elrond.

'It's my shoulder, it hurts again,' whispered the hobbit, rubbing it in agitation.

'Do you want to go home?' asked Elrond.

'I think I had better,' said Frodo.

'I'll take him,' said Aragorn quickly, wanting to leave the party. He just didn't feel comfortable there.

'No, I had better, if it is the…' he broke off. 'Injury again, I should deal with it.'

Aragorn sighed and nodded.

'Is something wrong with, Mr. Fr…Peter?' asked Sam.

'He is tired, I am going to take him home,' said Elrond.

'I'm going home too,' said Sam.

'All right then,' said Elrond. He bid farewell to their hosts and left.

Aragorn watched him jealously as he left. He picked up a bottle of bubble solution lying about and dipped the wand in it. He watched the soapy liquid drip for a while, and then blew the bubbles out. Immediately a band of children were there to pop them. He blew some more, and the children popped those too, laughing. Destructive little devils, aren't they? He blew more bubbles for them and watched the few that survived float up free and burst in a sparkle in the clear blue sky.

He noticed Merry looking enviously at the can of beer Boromir was holding, and gave him a quick kick.

Merry started popping bubbles again.

He looked over at Legolas who was still talking to Katie, looking as if he were trying to think of a way to get out of the conversation. Marie Kempton walked over to them and freed him by sending Katie into the house to fetch something or other.

When the bubbles were spent, the children scattered and he was left for a while to his own thoughts. He was interrupted by the blonde woman who had been talking to Elrond. She sat down next to him and smiled.

'Let me introduce myself, my name is Joanne Norton, I live down Marshville Road.' She nodded south.

'My name's Michael Fremont.'

She held out her hand to him. 'Nice to meet you.'

'And you.'

'You have charming children, is something the matter with Peter?'

'An old injury, it bothers him sometimes.'

'That's too bad. He is such a sweet boy. So quiet.'

Aragorn nodded. 'So, where do you live?'

'In the big blue house with the horses.'

'Oh?' Aragorn remembered the house; he had seen it on one of his walks.

'Yes, I do love animals.'

'So do I.'

'I am a great advocate of animal rights,' she said, and had soon launched into a speech about the cruelty animals received.

Aragorn only half listened lost in his own worries about Frodo and the ring. He was finally interrupted by his musings by a cry of delight. He turned and saw that the sky had grown dim and the children had finally been allowed the sparklers. They were now waving them madly about the yard while the adults watched, laughing and drinking. He turned back to Joanne Norton who was watching the children with a smile on her face. Merry and Pippin seemed quite content to play with the sparklers.

'Excuse me,' said Joanne and went to talk to someone else.

Aragorn looked around for Legolas. He found him talking to a couple of young women while Katie stood by jealously, spelling "Edel" out with her sparkler in the warm air. He decided to leave Legolas to chat and went to find Boromir. Boromir was talking to some other men, trying to pretend that he understood baseball. Aragorn passed him by and found Gimli who was quite happily telling a group of elderly chaps the full and glorious tale of Smaug the Dragon.

'Well, I had wanted to come along, but my father said that I was still too young to go fight any dragons. I didn't rightly believe him, but he insisted, and so I was forced to stay home. But they all went off to win our mountain back from the dragon. Now, Smaug was not just any dragon, he was a brute, full armor, with a breath of fire, he had destroyed whole villages without a second thought.'

Aragorn coughed nervously. 'Henry…'

Gimli waved him off. 'Now there was this wizard that they took up with, Gandalf was his name, ever heard of him?'

'Sounds familiar,' answered one of the men taking another gulp of his beer.

'Wonderful fellow,' said Gimli. 'Anyways, this wizard Gandalf decided that it would be best to take along a hobbit. This hobbit was named Bilbo Baggins, so off went the whole troop of them to The Shire. Now, my dad told me that when they first saw Bilbo he adamantly insisted that he would never go on any adventure of any sort.'

'Henry,' Aragorn warned.

'Your dad?' asked another man.

'That's right. My father. He went along even though he said I was too young. I was most disappointed.' Gimli shook his head. 'But they got this hobbit too join them, and then they were off. It rained a lot then, and soon they were miserable. My father, Gloin, still could start a fire, but he was about the only one who could.' Gimli beamed with pride.

'Henry,' Aragorn hissed.

'Anyways, they came across these trolls.'

'Trolls?' asked a number of the men.

'Yes, trolls, three great, big, fat, ugly trolls,' Gimli affirmed. 'It had stopped raining then, but everyone was wet and cold and the wizard had disappeared.'

Aragorn decided that was enough. 'Excuse us, gentlemen,' he said, pulling Gimli to his feet. 'Come along, Henry. It's time to go home.'

Muttering in Dwarvish, Gimli followed him.

Aragorn dragged him over to Boromir who didn't seem to be very sober either.

'By the blood of my people, are your lands kept safe,' Boromir declared, shaking his fist at the air.

'Come on, Derek, let's go home,' said Aragorn.

'We suffer to protect you,' Boromir told a very confused woman as Aragorn dragged him away.

'Edel!' he called.

'Yes, Michael?' asked Legolas, gratefully excusing himself from the girls surrounding him.

'I'm taking these two home, take care of the twins.'

'All right, Michael.' Legolas turned away.

'All right, you two, let's go home.'