Chapter 3
The Green Dragon
Sam turned the bright gold plated knob and thrust the door open. The Green Dragon was bustling with activity and the smell alone overwhelmed Tigerlily. The Prancing Pony was a legend in its own right, but the Green Dragon was known throughout the Shire as the most prominent and well owned eating establishment. Tigerlily gazed around at the mahogany chairs lined perfectly against the back of the room. There were two long tables in the center of the room just next to the bar, both full with hobbits dressed in respectable fashion, sipping on half pints of ale that sat in front of them.
"So much more...civilized then my father's inn." She mused to herself. Although she knew that wasn't the proper word to describe the place. Frodo and Sam had a few words with Mr. Proudfoot, who was just about as proud as his feet when it came to the Dragon. Tigerlily followed Rosie and sat at one of the booths. They were both empty, mostly because the parties that had come that night were far too large for the small seats. Rosie ordered them two ciders and the boys a half pint of ale, joking that she didn't want Sam to be "too happy" when he stumbled back to their smial. And a good aged pint of ale was his welcome companion on such a beautiful night.
They all sat down together and simply watched the door, chatting about who came in and out; once in a while calling some of them over to introduce to Tigerlily. After about an hour a grey hooded figure sneaked silently through the door and took a seat at the bar. He ordered a small cider and then sat down in the corner puffing on his pipe. He had no hat to speak of, but the glint of a silver sword handle peeked through his cloak. Frodo leaped up out of his seat, "Gandalf?! What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you for another month or so!" Although Gandalf has always a welcome visitor at the Bag End residence, his unannounced presence was nonetheless surprising.
"Hello my dear Frodo," Gandalf said as he sat down in their booth. "I had stopped by Bag End earlier to speak with you but you were away, so I decided to come here for some cider and catch up on Shire news. But here you are, now isn't that pleasant!" A few hobbits laughed, glad to see Gandalf where they thought he belonged. The wizard could be evil and menacing when he wished, but to the Shire folk he wouldn't hurt a horse fly, unless it threatened his biscuit of course.
"Yes, yes quite but Gandalf you know what I want!?" Gandalf mumbled something about Frodo always wanting news and being overly curious before he started his barrage of questions. "How are the renovations in Mordor coming along?" Frodo asked.
At the mention of the accursed name a few heads turned, but realizing it was just Frodo, they all got back to their ale and conversations. He seemed to be, unofficially, the only hobbit in the Shire allowed to mention the land. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they tried to forget, Mordor was a real place. The plans to renew its vitality that it possessed thousands of years ago was welcome, but probably unlikely.
"Just fine actually. The band of Elves that Legolas has sent from Mirkwood toil tirelessly. They are absolute treasures. We did have to rip down every tree that was left, which made the elves quite melancholy." He saw the look on Frodo's face and chuckled. "Oh my dear Frodo, don't worry. We let Ithilien be. That lonely forest is slowly becoming talkative again. Faramir and Eowyn are building it up into something stunning, as it should be. But as far as the foliage of Mordor, I mourn to see a living creature pass, but these poor wretched trees were not fit for firewood! But still, they mourned."
Tigerlily was amazed at how cheerfully they were talking of Mordor. She had only heard about the dead land in tales. But the descriptions haunted her. On occasion she would have dreams of wandering aimlessly through ash ridden fields, with deep pits on either side of her, with a fall into nothing. She started to shake, just thinking about it all, but Gandalf's loud sigh awoke her.
"But that is not what I have come to talk about." The mere tone in the old wizard's voice caused Frodo's face to fall.
He sighed, " Come out with it Gandalf, I seem to take news better now."
"Oh no dear lad, it is not bad news, just odd I would have to say. Do you remember the seven palantirs? The lost seeing stones of Gondor? Well, the seventh's "hiding place" has possibly been discovered. King Elessar was looking into the stone of the Tower of the Sun and received images of deep, dank, caves with hidden murky pools. Creaking was heard and the soft splashing of an unseen tide. Everything was a dark blue and black but a soft light was visible around the edges of the picture. The light can only be explained as the glow of the palantir. He asked his advisers, though I could've told him this if I had been available, and all came back with the same answer, the Misty Mountains. I was visiting Fangorn, since my stay here is short, and I'm only here to complete this quest. Then I will be returning to the havens." He sighed again. "The King has asked if I would gather all the information on the underground world of the mountains, and, if I wish, go on the journey to find the palantir. I immediately thought of your uncle when it came to finding knowledge about the Misty Mountains. I have come to ask permission to rummage through his journals and what not. I hope to find a few good descriptions of the underwater caves, your Uncle always did have a good memory."
They both sighed and smiled happily. Mr. Bilbo Baggins of the Shire had died in complete rest and happiness in the Immortal lands only the last Autumn. He was 132, he had beat the Old Took, and thus became the oldest, and lovably oddest hobbit in the Shire.
"I doubt that is all Gandalf, but of course you may look through his things. Everything is in order, me and Sam spent a whole Summer organizing it all." Frodo said.
Tigerlily just looked on in silence, here was Gandalf the White, the most powerful of all the Istari, describing a perilous journey as if it were a stroll through New Row!
"Well Frodo, you are correct again, that is not all that I come to ask."
A/N: WOOOHOOO! My book has a plot! Hehe, I think what Gandalf is going to say is quite obvious. But will Frodo accept the invitation? He's not necessarily partial to journeys at this moment. Hmmm, guess you'll have to wait and see! PLEASE REVIEW! It makes me so happy. I just feel as though this work isn't good enough if people don't. Anyway, I'm writing the rest right now, so be patient. And thank you to those who reviewed, it's so great.