Chapter 3. The clues
For many years Frodo and Bilbo loved and lived together and Frodo was like a son to Bilbo. They spent much time together pouring over maps and Bilbo loved teaching Frodo how to do many things including how to speak a little Elvish. Bilbo and Frodo had one happy coincidence they shared the same Birthday and every year the celebrated that day with much Hobbit Joy. Their friends who were mostly their cousins enjoyed that fact for Hobbits do not receive presents on their birthday they give them. Merry and Pippin and Sam usually received the most because they were always at Bag End, which was the name of the home of Bilbo, and Frodo. Now Merry and Pippin were cousins to both Bilbo and Frodo in fact they were cousins on both sides of their families and Merry and Pippin seemed to be inseparable, a fact that I knew would help them in the future. But to Frodo, Merry and Pippin were some of his best friends as well as dear loved cousins. And then there was Sam. Sam was like Frodo's shadow. The younger Hobbit seemed to worship Frodo and Frodo was very fond of his friend. Even though Sam's father was the gardener of Bag End. When Sam was younger the Gaffer , as Sam's Father was called, was always trying to teach Sam to keep his place after all the relationship between Sam and Frodo should be a relationship of Servant to Master. But when they were hobbit children. I had helped Hamfast Gamgee to realize that the relationship of his son and the nephew of Bilbo was something that he could not change. I wanted that relationship to Grow; in fact Middle Earth needed It to grow so very much.
It had been 60 years since Bilbo had found the One Ring and he was coming on to his 111th birthday and Frodo's 33rd Birthday. There had been stirrings in Bilbo's heart to leave the Shire and he was constantly thinking of his old adventures. I admit that I wanted Bilbo to go to a place of Safety for I knew that troubles were coming to the Shire. Bilbo was getting to old and he was too dear to me to allow him to go into Danger. I did not know if Bilbo was capable of doing the impossible and give up the ring. No one had ever been able to give it up; it had always been taken by force or happenchance. So Bilbo thought were always toward the Thought of leaving the Shire. He did not tell Frodo because he knew that Frodo would want to follow after him. He also knew that Frodo was in love with the Shire. No one except my brothers and sisters would ever know just how important that love for the Shire was. Frodo needed to be in Love with the Shire to be able to even think of what must be done in the future. the truth was that the Future was very much placed in the hands of Free will. Yes Frodo had a choice, as did all the people of Middle Earth. All I could do was whisper and suggest and as time had shown they could chose to do the opposite of what would have been best to do.
Bilbo decided that he wanted the biggest Birthday party that the Shire had ever seen. It was to celebrate his and Frodo's birthday but it was also his farewell party though none knew it except Bilbo and Gandalf. Gandalf had been helping Bilbo to decide how and where to go and I had whispered many many times to Gandalf that Bilbo should be encouraged to leave the ring to Frodo. Finally after much talk and debate Bilbo had made the decision to leave the ring and all of his possession to Frodo.
Frodo had heard that Gandalf was coming so he had taken to waiting along the trail, just him and his book waiting for the chance to greet Gandalf first. But though he waited for several days, still Gandalf had not arrived and Frodo was getting a little worried. Would Gandalf make it in time? Frodo Loved Gandalf very much and I knew that Gandalf had always loved the boy. On the fourth day of Frodo's wait he had decided to sit by his favorite tree and read. That would pass the time quite well. As he was waiting there he suddenly heard what sounded like singing and what sounded like horses hoofs hitting he road. Fordo stood up and dropped his book and started running right to the edge of the road. He crossed his arms across his chest and Said. "Your Late" and to my delight Gandalf slightly cocked his head and looked at Frodo and said "A wizard is never late Frodo Baggins nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to' He tried so hard to keep a straight and stern face and so for that matter did Frodo. But before long the mirth was just too much and they started laughing and then Frodo launched himself in to the arms of the waiting wizard. I did so love Olórin and missed him. And I truly loved Frodo Baggins of the Shire. And delighted in their happiness
The party was a grand event and many things can be said about it, but there is one thing that would always stick in my mind and that it was one of the last times that Frodo would ever be truly happy. After much dancing and merry making and the mischief of Merry and Pippin Bilbo was asked for a speech. It was a grand speech but at its end, after Bilbo had looked to Frodo and Said "goodbye I am going now" he used the ring and disappeared. Gandalf had followed him to Bad End and confronted him about his use of the ring. I kept whispering "Gently Gently" to Gandalf for I could see that the ring was trying to gain control of Bilbo. The ring had realized that Bilbo intended to give it up and leave it behind. It shocked Gandalf to hear His dear friend call the ring " my precious' Just as Gollum had and just as Isildur and the maker of the ring had. Gandalf had to use his Magic to bring Bilbo to his senses. I cried when Bilbo ran into Gandalf's Arms and my tears were also tears of relief. Bilbo would be able to leave the ring to Frodo. But I did not feel secure until he finally dropped the ring and ran out the door. He would be Okay now and could travel to a place of safety.
I dearly love Gandalf but sometimes he just doesn't think the way he did when he was in his true form. There were so many hints that Bilbo's was the "One ring" but it took him many years to figure it out and he may have taken longer if the personality of Bilbo had not changed in that one instant. The Bilbo that Gandalf knew turned right before his very eyes into and angry thing and it scared Gandalf. He loved Bilbo and that change sat hard upon his heart. But the strength of a hobbit is an amazing thing. And He was a strong hobbit. He did what no one in all of middle earth had done. He gave the ring up. Though he had to have help he gave it up and left it to Frodo.
. Frodo was left the ring and Gandalf went searching to see if he could find something that would tell him about Bilbo's ring. In the meantime Frodo was left in the shire and evil was soon to come knocking at his door unless something was done about it.