A Festive Occasion Among Friends and Others: Bingo Bolger-Baggins

[bingo_bolger_baggins]

So Elanorelle and I brought the first course out while being regaled with an accounting by a very ebullient Celly of her time with Feanor in the smithy--it's quite nice to see her so bubbly. We hobbits were just about to toast and start in on our own when Feanor joined us, shortly followed by his grandson Celebrimbor, who I haven't even gotten a chance to greet yet, I'm sorry to say. I see he's having a nice chat with Elanorelle and Folly. I do wish Grandmum were here as Feanor said he would like to meet her.

Anyway, I had gotten up to chop some more salad, and it's a good thing too, I suppose, because we have just been joined by yet another guest, Feanor's son Curufin, who Melba is attending to, and ah, good! There's Uncle Sennie, finally.

I'm sorry, Curufin, I just got distracted looking at this lovely arrangement. And then I had to help fetch in the second course. I am Bingo, Bingo Bolger-Baggins--Bingie is just what close friends sometimes call me. You said you are a Warrior Princess? have many skills, this being quite a fine one. You asked something else.

But one moment, does anyone need more wine?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*begins to relax but remains alert to any movements by his father or son, senses in her a grace not entirely hobbitish, if he can judge by so brief an acquaintance*

*raises his glass slightly toward her, with a conspiratorial smile* Indeed, let us hope. *sips* Thank you, it has been too long since we spent time together, and we have much to discuss. *is distracted for a moment, then recalls his manners*

Abroad? Fascinating. I have read but a little about the Shire folk, but I understood that travel beyond the boundaries of the Shire was...out of the ordinary. Is this not so?

[melbatook.livejournal.com]

*nods, tries not to give him a, "You should get out more" look*Things have changed since the Third Age. Folly and I backpacked to Rhun a couple years ago. Celly was out at Erebor for several years on an exchange program with the Dwarves there, and Bingo spent years out in Umbar, Harad, and Gondor before coming back home here to settle again. And Uncle Sennie has been off sailing all over, but he even did that during the Third Age.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*smiles at Melba* The trouble with history books is that history goes on, while a book must be printed. Obviously I shall need to expand my selection of source material about Shire folk.

*looks to Elanor, hoping she will elaborate* Melba mentioned you have a daughter. Are you already instilling in her a love for travel?

[melbatook.livejournal.com]

True. *nods, appreciates his admission, smiles at him* Which is what second editions are for. And other books which will tell you completely different histories from someone else's point of view. I'm not the most well-read Hobbit, by any means, but I've seen that. They don't always match up.

*glances again at his pocket while he turns to Elanor--damn, what is that? It almost gives her a dizzy feeling, like she's looking down from a great height*

[elanorgamgee.livejournal.com]

*cannot help but smile and tip her own glass at Curufin's salute; while the the quality of the elf's character had yet to be established, he certainly had style and presence*

*sips her wine and studies him with interest while he and Melba continue their conversation; is caught off guard, however, when he asks about Ana*

*collects herself while taking a strategic sip, smiling brightly as she responds* I do hope to foster in my daughter a love for travel as well as an appreciation and respect for other peoples and cultures. I'm a bit embarrassed to say, however, that she has not done that much traveling yet. I suppose I am still a bit over-protective of her, as parents of young children often are. *with a smile of shared understanding* Although I suppose that feeling never quite goes away entirely, no matter how many years one's child has attained.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

An excellent goal. Ah, yes, one of the drawbacks of being a parent. You want to show your child everything and yet keep him safe. *quietly, with a look at Celebrimbor* Keep him safe and yet prepare him to face anything, even if he hates you for it. *rueful smile at Elanor* No, I suspect you will always feel your daughter's hold on your heart. She is too young, then, for travel? May I ask how old she is?

[elanorgamgee.livejournal.com]

*smiles kindly at him, her eyes softened with both gratitude and compassion*

I do not think your son hates you, Curufin.

*spots Celebrimbor approaching (http://www.livejournal.com/users/bbolger_baggins/60495.html?thread=1759567#t1759567) and politely excuses herself from the conversation, only mildly surprised to find herself regretting its end*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*is grateful for her kind reaction*

He certainly has every reason to.

*watches with regret as Elanor leaves them*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*laughs* You are quite right. On the contrary, many are unwilling to recognize what they are reading as the author's perception. After all, histories are usually written by the victorious sides. That naturally colors the perception of an event, or of a war, or even of a family, and how it is viewed by future generations.

*again senses her unsettling interest, resists urge to check his inner shirt pocket*

[melbatook.livejournal.com]

*shakes her head to shake off the dizzy feeling, and resists urge to look over at Celebrimbor* Yeah. So what do you think about what's been written about your famous family? Gonna write your own take on it some day?

*looks around for Celly* Celly? *motions her to come over, to Curufin* You haven't met Celandine yet. She's a fabulous smith.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*small smile* I think history needs another perspective regarding our family. My brother Maglor was the bard of the family, but perhaps those of us who remain and are not wandering around mysteriously will take on that task.

*senses a change in Celebrimbor's mood, wonders if he can angle them toward his son* Another smith? This room certainly has no shortage of talent, does it. Has Celly met my son? *gestures toward Celebrimbor*

[celbrandybuck.livejournal.com]

*smiles at Melba then to Curufin* Hello! I'm Celandine Brandybuck. *extends her hand* It is an honour to meet you. I have indeed met you're famous and talented son. *waves to Celebrimbor*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

It is my pleasure, Celandine. *takes her hand, smiling* He is quite a craftsman, is he not? And I understand you have met my father already? *is somewhat amused to be identified mostly as his son's father, or alternately as his father's son*

[celbrandybuck.livejournal.com]

*smiles back warmly and openly, having experienced nothing but graciousness from the Noldor* He is legendary for a good reason. Did you instruct him in the arts of the smith, or is your specialty in other arts?

*nods* I have met him. And he was all kindness to me and patient with the prattlings of this aspirant to the craft. *laughs at herself*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

*is unused to hearing his son praised, finds he rather enjoys it* Celebrimbor showed an inclination for creative work at an early age. He has taken instruction from nearly all of my family--my brothers, my father, and I--at one time or another. We all of us had our specialties. I understand he found evil other mentors after our deaths to continue learning his craft.

Kindness? Patient? That does not sound like Feanor. How fortunate that he was able to converse with a fellow artisan.

[celbrandybuck.livejournal.com]

How wonderful to have such a wealth of teachers!

The fortune was all mine.

*unobtrusively* If you're interested, I could show you my smithy tomorrow as well.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_curufin_/]

And a wealth of perfectionists, I must admit. He would probably say it was a challenging way to grow up.

*smiles* I would very much like to see your smithy.

[celbrandybuck.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

Fabulous! I look forward to showing it to you.

[celebrimborx.livejournal.com]

*nods and smiles at Celandine*

[melbatook.livejournal.com]

*follows Celly's wave, but looks away from him quickly*