Chapter 18: Many Meeting

Ethan, and Conner explored Rivendell together. The place was beautiful. Every structure gleamed in pearl and silver. The Elvish name for Rivendell was, Imladris. The tree leaves in autumn changed colors and fell softly onto the ground.

Ethan is gladdened as he met Hunter and Blake again, as they cheered with glee and embraced each other. Then… Ethan looks off in the distance…

And saw his uncle, Zack Taylor Baggins.

He was sitting down, reading. Zack was now, an aged hobbit. His hair was white and skin wrinkled. Ethan ran to Zack, calling his name, "Zack!"

"Hello Ethan, my lad," answered Zack. Ethan hugged his uncle in a warm-loving embrace.

"Zack!" Ethan cried with glee.

Ethan reads Zack's book.

"'There and back Again. A Hobbit's tale by Zack Taylor Baggins!'" said Ethan. He opened the book and saw the various maps and pictures in it.

"This is wonderful," said Ethan.

Zack interjected, "I meant to go back… wander the powers of Mirkwood… visit Lake-town… see the Lonely Mountain again. But age, it seems, has finally… caught up with me."

Ethan then sees a page, with a map of the Shire on it. Zack smiled once more at Ethan. Seeing this map… sadly made Ethan to think about his home.

"…I miss the Shire," began Ethan, "I spent all my childhood, pretending to be somewhere else… off with you, on one of your adventures."

Ethan paused a moment before sadly concluding, "…but my own adventure turned out to be quite different.

Ethan faces Zack, "…I'm not like you, Zack." He told Zack, even more sadly.

"My dear boy," Zack said, caressing Ethan's face with his hand, consoling him. He was right about Ethan… he was still in love with the Shire.

Conner was packing his sack. Ethan catch him doing this.

"Packed already, Conner," wondered Ethan.

"No harm in being prepared," said Conner.

Ethan asked Conner, "I thought you wanted to see the Elves, Conner."

"I do," answered Conner.

"More than anything," added Frodo.

"I did," Conner answered again and continued, "…its just… we did what Tommy wanted, didn't we? We got the ring this far to Rivendell. And I thought… seein' as how you're on the mend, we'd be off soon… off home."

Ethan thought for a moment and then realized… that Conner had a good point.

"…You're right Conner," said Ethan, agreeing with Conner, "…we did what we set out to do."

Ethan then held out his hand with the ring in it and concluded, "the ring will be safe in Rivendell… I am ready to go home."