"Gandalf?" The Lord of Imladris came to the side of the concerned Wizard who stood worriedly outside
the chamber door. "What has happened, mellon nin?"
Gandalf looked at him, eyes full of grief and worry. "Samwise awoke a short time ago. As soon as he did he got out
of bed and demanded to see Bilbo. I tried to tell him to rest and not exert himself but he would have none of it."
"Does he remember what has happened?" Elrond asked.
"Everything, Gandalf answered quietly. "But when he spoke of it he showed no emotion at all. He went into Bilbo's
room and they've been talking ever since."
Sobs interrupted the Wizard's attention and he looked back in the room to see a weeping Bilbo clinging to the younger
Hobbit. A worried Gandalf noticed that although Samwise held the old Hobbit and let him cry, not a tear fell from his
own eyes and his face remained expressionless.
After awhile Samwise laid the old Hobbit back down. "Get some more rest, Bilbo," he said quietly. "We'll talk more
tomorrow."
Bilbo was too grief stricken to notice that the younger Hobbit had called him Bilbo and not Mister Bilbo. Something
the conscientious gardener had never done in his life before.
After Bilbo had lain down the younger Hobbit got up, came out of the room and looked up at his host. "You're Elrond?"
He was standing in front of Elrond Half Elven, Lord of Imladris. Mighty among Elves and Men. The Hobbit seemed no
more impressed than if he'd been staring at a worm.
"Yes," Elrond said softly. "And may I take this moment to express…."
"I didn't come here for comfort," the Hobbit cut in. "There are five things that I need from you."
If Elrond was surprised by the Hobbit's lack of courtesy he gave no sign. "Of course, you have but to name them,
Master Gamgee."
"First, I need some new clothes; I've no more use for the ones that I wore here. Or for anything else from the Shire…"
"Second, I need some paper, pen and a quiet place; I have letters that I need to write. I'll be awhile doing that,
so have a meal sent.
"Third, I need information." At this the Hobbit's brows knit and he stepped closer to the Elven lord. "You're supposed to
be one of the wisest and most learned people in Middle Earth, so you'll provide it. I need to know everything that you know
about Sauron; who and what he is. Where he is now and how to get there. His strengths and weaknesses. Who his servants
are and their strengths and weaknesses. If it has anything at all to do with Sauron I want to know about it."
"That is a vast amount of knowledge," Elrond said. "Sauron's history stretches back through the Ages."
"Then I should start as soon as possible," the Hobbit answered. He glanced briefly outside the window. "It's just after
noon now. I should be finished with writing by evening. I'll start then."
"Very well."
"Fourth, I need to learn how to fight."
Behind the Hobbit, Gandalf's eyes widened with concern and no small amount of trepidation. Elrond raised a concerned eyebrow,
but said nothing.
"I need to learn how to to fight with any weapon," the Hobbit continued. "I need to learn how to fight if I don't have a weapon.
And I need to learn how to win a fight, rather it's against a Hobbit, a Dwarf, an Orc, a Man or an Elf. You're ruler of an important
kingdom and all kingdoms have warriors, so have one of yours train me. Whoever he is, make sure that he's your best.
Not your third best, not your second best—your best."
"When do you wish to begin?" Elrond asked quietly.
"Tomorrow morning. As soon as the sun's up."
"As you wish."
"Fifth, don't ever again refer to me as Samwise Gamgee. That's not my name. You can call me…Ringbearer."
Language Note
Mellon Nin means 'My friend'