Chapter 9: Death of a Mini-Giant

Galadriel sought Frodo Baggins to speak with him. She walked gently, no steed to bear her swiftly, and searched for the Hobbit.

"Lady Galadriel!"

Frodo found her, instead. She turned, and smiled, although winced slightly at the hungry look in his eyes. Frodo did not notice.

"My dear Lady, Bilbo is dying!"

Galadriel knew he had nothing to do with it...nor was he lying. She came quickly, asking, "Does Mithrandir know?"

"Everyone knows, and has come."

The Lady followed him, and saw that Gandalf had indeed arrived. He was bent over the old Hobbit. Glorfindel, Folcred, Elrond, and several others watched in the background. She joined them, sadly regarding the death.

Lassalanta was there, and she watched, tears shining on her face. Bilbo would die, never realizing his beloved nephew Frodo was corrupted...

Frodo hung in the shadows, watching all. She glared at him, but he did not notice. The corrupted Hobbit would never shed a tear...

The wizard whispered last farewells to his old friend. Then Bilbo murmured, at last, "The Road goes ever on and on..."

Gandalf noticed then with great sorrow that now Bilbo's Road had ended. Or, still going, and the Hobbit was exploring a new path...Death.

Now the Elves began singing, sad tales of Bilbo's deeds, bright happy memories, and some of Bilbo's original songs. The melodies floated around the body of Bilbo, seeming to wrap him in an everlasting blanket that would guide him through Death. As the last they sang, "The Road goes ever on and on..."

Galadriel paused for a moment, and looked to Frodo, who was pretending to sing, to mourn. Only then did she notice that Evenstar was nowhere to be seen on his neck.

A/N: Wow, that was shorter than I expected…sorry about that. Hopefully you don't mind the shortness of most of the chapters, and that you go for quality, not quantity…in any case, review? -hopeful look-