Chapter 3

~*~60 years earlier...

Bilbo's smoke ring collapses and becomes a smoke moth, as a 2 tall figure walks into it. The moth flies into Bilbo's face, waking him from his reverie. A younger Bilbo, from 60 years earlier, is sitting on the same bench, smoking his pipe. He looks up in surprise and sees a hooded figure and a young girl in black with gold jewels covering her face. Only her eyes were shown. Bilbo said, "Good morning."

Gandalf, the wizard, asked, "What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or, perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?"

Bilbo was taken back. "All of them at once, I suppose." Gandalf looks slightly disapprovingly at Bilbo; Bilbo is confused and bewildered. "Can I help you?"

The young girl next Gandalf named Anel said, "That remains to be seen. We're looking for someone to share in an adventure."

Bilbo asked, "An adventure? Now, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner, hm, mm" Bilbo gets up and checks his mailbox, grabbing some mail and sorting through it, clucking to himself. He looks quite uncomfortable because Gandalf and Anel are still standing there. Puffing his pipe in vexation, he begins heading back inside. "Good morning."

Gandalf said, "To think that I should have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I were selling buttons at the door."

Anel scolded him. "Master!"

Bilbo asked, "Beg your pardon?"

Gandalf said, "You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins."

Bilbo asked, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Gandalf said, "Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means…me." Then he turned to Anel. "Though you don't know this young lady. Her name is Anel, my student and adopted child."

Bilbo said, "Gandalf...not Gandalf, the wandering Wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. Ha, ha! Well. Hmm, I had no idea you were still in business." Then he turned to Anel. "And I have heard of you St. Anel. Your singing voice of songs is amazing as well as good deeds." Anel smiled and lowered the vail to reveal her face.

Gandalf asked, "And where else should we be?"

Bilbo laughed. "Ha, ha! Hm, hmm..." Bilbo puffs confusedly on his pipe.

Gandalf said, "Well, I'm pleased to find your remember something about us, even if it's only my fireworks and her singing. Well that's decided. It will be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

Bilbo quickly decline. "Inform the who? What? No. No. No! Wait. We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today, not-mm. I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water. Good morning."

Gandalf asked, "But before I go, could Anel please stay here for the day?"

Bilbo asked, "Why's that?"

Gandalf said, "She traveled far for days and wide and I'm afraid she is wearing the wrong shoes." Anel lifted her black dress just a bit and showed him her beat up feet.

Bilbo's eyes widen at the damage. Human feet are more fragile than hobbit feet. "Oh well. Then she can stay." Bilbo, in frustration, got Anel's hand, and retreats into Bag End, gesturing at Gandalf with his pipe. Once inside, he bolts the door and leans against it. Hearing a curious noise, he puts his ear close to the door. The noise is from Gandalf drawing a glowing symbol on Bilbo's door with his staff. Alarmed, Bilbo looks out his side window, only to find Gandalf's eye appear in front of him. He jumps back in fright and hides behind a wall; he looks out another window and sees Gandalf hurrying away. "Well now that's over," He turned to Anel. "Can I get you anything?"

Anel said, "Just some hot water. I have some tea leaves with me."

Bilbo said, "Very well. Come into the kitchen. Please mind your head." The 2 walked into the kitchen and Anel sat down and Bilbo got the pot ready. "So, Gandalf adopted you?"

Anel said, "He did indeed. I was about 5 years old when he found me and I've stayed with him since."

Bilbo asked, "If you don't mind, how old are you? You look younger than your teenage years."

Anel smiled. "I was born on 2900 of this age so I'm pretty old to you, but human wise I look 18. My father was human and my mother was an elf/witch."

Bilbo heard the pot whistling and got it. "I see. Then you are a witch yourself I'm guessing." Anel used her magic to lift the lid up from the teapot. "Thank you." He pours some water in. "I also heard you're from Rohan?"

Anel said, "In truth I traveled everywhere growing up so I'm not entirely planted yet as Gandalf would say." She put some of her tea leaved in the hot and lowered the lid. "But he told me when I'm ready to settle down, I'll know it in my heart. Until then, I'm a wondering witch. A good witch, which is why I'm called St. Anel."

Bilbo said, "Hope you don't mind me calling you that. What does it mean anyway?"

Anel said, "My father told me it means Messenger of God where he's from. But he picked it since we used to live in an isolated neighborhood in a big city. Nearly everyone was the same as him though he called it districts."

Bilbo nodded and then stubbed his foot against the table. "OW!" He held it. "Why am I cursed with bad luck?"

Anel took a gold jewel from her veil and it turned into a coin. "Here." She gave it to him. "Have a lucky coin."

Bilbo shook his head. "No, I don't believe in good luck." He looked at her veil and saw that the coin was still there. It had been replaced.

Anel said, "Then take it as payment for letting me stay. And you're going to need it tonight."

Bilbo was confused at first but couldn't argue with her so he took the coin. "Thank you." He put it in his teeth as he walked away.

Anel yelled, "And it's not meant to be in the mouth!" Bilbo quickly took it out.