Chapter 4: Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe
Hikoma just bade Tsuyoshi farewell to his old friend at the door of his house. He then re-entered Tsuyoshi's former estate to become Takeru's new home to himself. He saw the ring on the floor that Tsuyoshi was so reluctant to give up. With caution, as well as curiosity, he lowered his hand toward the ring suddenly…
AAACK!
Hikoma saw a flash of a fiery eye and quickly took his hand away from the ring and left it on the floor, leaving Hikoma to be even more frightened of the ring…
Hikoma sat by the fireplace pondering what Tsuyoshi was saying so covetously… Its mine, my own, my precious.
"Riddles in the dark…my precious," Hikoma muttered to himself as he smoked his pipe. Suddenly, someone was calling for Tsuyoshi. It was Takeru at the front door.
"Tsuyoahi!" called Takeru. As he did, Hikoma muttered some more, "my precious." Hikoma keeps muttering and pondering to himself as Takeru spotted the ring on the floor and picked it up.
"He's gone, hasn't he," wondered Takeru, "he talked so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it." He came up to the wizard, "Hikoma?"
Hikoma then stopped smoking his pipe and turned to Takeru and looked at him and the ring he has in his hand. "Hm, Hikoma's ring," the wizard said as he grinned.
Hikoma sat at a table with an envelope in his hand. Takeru remained standing. "He's gone to stay with the Elves," he announced, "he's left you, Bag End…"
Hikoma held the envelope up to Takeru and Takeru slipped the ring inside of it. Hikoma then lowered the envelope and sealed it with wax, "…along with all of his possessions. The ring is yours now." He said as he gave the envelope to Takeru.
"Put it somewhere out of sight," instructed Hikoma. He then started on his way out, so suddenly…
"Where are you going?" asked Takeru.
"I have some things I must see to," answered Hikoma.
"What things?"
"Questions," Hikoma answered again as he gathered his hat and staff, "questions that need answering!"
"You've only just arrived!" cried Takeru, "I don't understand."
Hikoma stopped at the door and turned around to face Takeru. "Neither do I," said Hikkma.
Minding the chandelier, he ducked towards Takeru one last time and instructed him, "…keep it secret… keep it safe."
Hikoma then turned around, went out the door and closed it, leaving Takeru to wonder what to do with the ring that Tsuyoshi left him. What shall he do to keep it safe as Hikoma wanted?