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"Where were you?" asked Nick frowning. Willy had only just returned after slipping off again just before the handfasting had begun, and Nick was not pleased at being left again, even though he now had Shimshin to keep him company.
Willy dodged the immediate question and answered instead, "Wanna see what I got?" So eager was he to show off his ill-gotten prize that he did not wait for Nick's response and fished the small toy out of his breeches pocket. Indeed, it was one of the toys which the Dwarf Fazi had brought along for the children. Willy had heard about the toys being stashed inside the wagon to be handed out later, and the allure of getting ahold of one before hand had been irresistable to a young hobbit who delighted in all things challengingly mischievous. He had taken full advantage of the brief time in which everyone's attention had been held during the handfasting and had successfully filched a small toy from the wagon while avoiding notice. This was the first time that Willy himself had a good chance to look at it; he had grabbed something that seemed to have a use which small enough to fit in his pocket. In appearance, it was a handheld instrument of some kind - a type of whistle. Silver had been laid into it, which glinted in the sunlight.
"You stole it?" accused Nick.
"They were going to be handed out later anyway," answered Willy. "It's a whistle, I think. Listen." He put it to his lips and blew softly so as not to draw attention with the inevitable sound. However, no sound came out. Willy's brow furrowed in puzzlement and he tried again, a little harder. Still nothing. He blew as hard as he could, but the supposed instrument made no sound. He tried puckering his lips differently to no effect.
"What kind of dumb instrument is this?" muttered Willy. "Worthless." He was about to shove it into his pocket again when Shimshin, who had been watching with interest, leapt from Nick's shoulder to Willy's. The monkey reached out and took hold of the instrument in Willy's hand, tugging softly. In surprise, Willy let go. "Sure, you can have it. I don't have any use for it," Willy informed Shimshin. He figured Shimshin would probably drop it in a bush or something and thereby remove all evidence that he took the useless toy in the first place. The monkey happily took it and inspected it carefully. He bit it, and then stuck it into his mouth. Shimshin shifted it around a little, since the "instrument" was a little too large to fit easily, but apparently found a comfortable position.
Willy laughed. "Now I really don't want it!" Nick was more concerned. "Do you think he'll choke?"
"Nah. I bet he does that all the time," said Willy. As if to confirm this, Shimshin now seemed to be completely ignoring the small object in his mouth as he returned to Nick's small shoulder. He looked between to the two boys as if to ask "What next?"
As all little boys, especially hobbits, Willy and Nick seemed to have a radar for available sweets. The minute the cake was cut they were aware of it, though neither quite understood the cheering, or the general emotion. (Willy's reaction had been, "Kissing? Yuck," while Nick's had been, "Why is everyone crying? It's cake.") They were among the first in line to get a piece. They enjoyed their cake along the sidelines of the party and settled in to watch the festivities while they ate.
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