Lirima started up to Bag End as soon as Pippin stopped tugging at her sleeve and asking her where Bilbo had gone. Gandalf had disappeared nearly 15 minutes ago with a wink and a smile in her direction. Why hadn't Bilbo told Frodo he was leaving? It would have been a lot easier on him. She started running she didn't want to miss Bilbo. Then she heard a voice a little way up the road.

"I've thought of an ending for my book. And he lived happily, ever after, to the end of his days."

"And I'm sure you will my old friend."

"Good-bye Gandalf"

"Good-bye, dear Bilbo."

Rounding the edge of the trees she could see Gandalf turning back inside Bag End and closing the door. A feeling of darkness swept over her then, darkness and danger. Suddenly she saw Gandalf shutting the door again, yet it wasn't the night and the front yard of Bag End he was shutting out. It was something she couldn't see but she could feel. Comfort, yes that was what it was. Suddenly she felt herself in new surroundings she looked around and saw bodies of men, elves and orcs. Far away she saw Pippin, he was waving at her totally oblivious to what was around him. She tried to warn him for there was a troll coming up behind him, it was hideous. It's club was raised and it was bringing it down swift and hard. But that vision vanished just as soon as it appeared and she saw an elf she had never met before holding his hand out to her. She shook her head, and looked around, she was back in the Shire and Bilbo was walking away.

"Bilbo!" He stopped and turned around with a curious look on his face. When he saw Lirima he smiled sadly and held his arms out to her.

"My dear child…" Lirima sprinted over to him and he held her in a tight embrace. "We will meet again. And look after Frodo for me, keep him company for awhile, will you?"

"Yes, yes of course." Bilbo held her back at arms length now to look at her.

"That's a girl, now, I must be off. Farewell!"

"Good-bye" Lirima watched him trudge down the road and before she turned back to Bag End she heard him start to sing.

"The road goes ever on and on,

down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the road has gone,

And I must follow if I can…."

She listened until she could hear no more. This is the end of something, I know I shall see him again but it won't be the same when I do. The Shire will never be the same again somehow. Her mind went over the vision she had seen, what did it all mean? It wasn't the first time this had happened to her, once, long ago when she had been a mere 300 years old. And there was also the dream before… but she didn't want to think about that.

            She had almost reached Bag End when a slamming noise, and the swish of a cloak interrupted her thoughts. Lirima looked up to see Gandalf almost running towards his cart.

"Mithrandir?" Gandalf stopped and turned around swiftly.

"Lirima, there you are. I must ask you a favor." He walked up to her with a glance towards the door of Bag End. "Wait here, for a time, until I call for you." Lirima sensed the concern and urgency in his voice.

"What has happened?"

"Questions have arisen. I need to answer them and Frodo will need looking after. Please stay here until I call for you." She knew by the look of worry in his eyes that he wasn't telling her everything.

"Yes, all right." He nodded and smiled. But the smile didn't reach his eyes. His eyes still held that concerned look. Turning he walked back toward the cart and clambered on. With one more look at Lirima he cracked the reigns on the horses back and took off faster than she thought was possible in a cart.

            Lirima handed Frodo a mug of ale. He had refused to drink tea and was by this time getting quite drunk.

"Hey ho, to the…bottle I (hiccup!) go..

to heal my heart (hiccup!) and drown my woe.

The rain may fall… (hiccup!) the wind may blow!

But there.. still beeee(hiccup!) many miles, to, go…" He took a long draught from his ale, and set it down on the little table with another satisfied hiccup. It was noon on the fourth day after the party. Merry and Pippin had stopped by to help Frodo hand out possessions Bilbo had left for people. Seeing that Frodo was incapable of finishing the song on his own Merry chimed in.

"Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain,

and the stream that flows from hill to plain.

Better than rain or rippling brook:" He stopped then allowing Pippin to take over.

"IS A MUG OF BEER INSIDE THIS TOOK!" Lirima just shook her head at the stupidity of the whole situation. Frodo had been missing Bilbo terribly and had decided to let himself sink into drunken oblivion.

"Lirima, (hiccup!) could I have another?"

"No Frodo you're already too drunk as it is I suggest you go set in your room until I can give you something for that hangover you're going to have." Frodo considered this a good idea and stumbled off down the hall to his room.

"Poor lad," said Pippin "Can't 'andle 'is liquor." Lirima raised an eyebrow at this, considering that Frodo was almost twice Pippin's age.

"'ats right Pip, take us for example." It was obvious Merry and Pippin were also starting to get a bit tipsy. "We've 'ad just as much as ole Frodo. And I feel 'percefly, mmm, fine."

"Whaddaya say we go over to the Green Dragon Merry?"

"Aye, Pip 'at sounds, lovely." So they left, stumbling, nodding, and saying thankee before they started to sing the drinking song again.

            Three days later Frodo was sober again. Largely because of Lirima locking the cellar where the ale and wine was kept. Currently, Lirima was reading a book in the living room and Frodo was going through all of Bilbo's papers in his study.

"You know I never knew how much he wrote about." Said Frodo, walking into the room holding out a copy of Bilbo's manuscripts for Lirima to look at. She took it and looked over it. On it, in Bilbo's spidery handwriting, was written the account of how Gandalf had turned the three trolls in to stone. She smiled remembering that day. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. But not a hobbit knock, it was far too high up. 

"I've got it." Said Frodo as he walked over towards the door.

"Hello, can I help you sir?"

"Gandalf sent me. I have a message for an elf maiden, Lirima."

"Oh, come in." Lirima stood up as she recognized a ranger from the Dunedain. 

"Astlad, a message from Mithrandir?"

"Yes" he said with a curious glance at Frodo, as though he was wondering whether he were a dwarf without a beard or a very short human. Frodo seemed to notice where he was looking and said;

"I'm a halfling."

"Are you really?!" said Astlad rather excitedly as though the only thing he had ever wanted to see in his life was a hobbit.

"Yes," said Frodo. "Would you like some tea?"

"I would love some, but I really must be getting back." Astlad looked truly sorry for not being able to stay, and with a hurried good-bye left as quickly as he came.

"Quite a strange fellow don't you think?" Frodo didn't consider that Astlad probably thought the same of him.

"I would have- what's wrong?"  Frodo had noticed the look on Lirima's face.

"I must go, Gandalf needs me."

"Not you too!"

"I'm sorry Frodo." She said, with a regretful look.