Chapter Three: Moonlight Radiance

Written by Carithawen

Writer's notes: This is written from the original version of the movie.

Translator: Mae govannen, Carithawen, linda wen. ["Welcome, Carithawen, fair maiden"] Diolla lle, Bilbo. ["Thank you, Bilbo"]

Gandalf and Elfindel continued on to Bag End.

As Gandalf stopped the cart in front of it, he observed the front of the hobbit-hole, and sighed in satisfaction. "Ah," he breathed, "here we are. Bag End."

He descended the cart, Elfindel hopping off the cart on the other side. He turned to observe the Elf doing so, holding his staff at a 90-degree angle with the ground. She hopped off the cart with as much graceful agility as the Elven people were blessed with. Her hooded traveling coat, as well as several strands of her long hair, billowed just slightly behind her as she landed on both feet on the ground. Gandalf grinned faintly, and they both walked to the gate. Gandalf opened the gate, on which was a sign that read, 'No admittance except on party business,' then they both continued on to the front door, which Gandalf knocked on with his staff.

A hobbit-pitched voice came from inside. "No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!"

Gandalf glanced at Elfindel, smirking halfly. "And what about very old friends?"

At that, the front door opened, the light from outside shining on an elderly, but very healthy for an elderly, hobbit, who walked out onto the porch, his face lighting up as he laid his eyes on Gandalf. "Gandalf…?"

The old wizard smiled. "Bilbo Baggins." He held his hands out to him.

"My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo walked quickly towards Gandalf, who knelt down and embraced him.

"Good to see you," Gandalf beamed. "One hundred and eleven years old. Who would believe it?" He observed the hobbit's face. "You haven't aged a day."

After a moment of silence, they both laughed wholeheartedly, and Gandalf motioned to the Elf standing next to him. "And I brought along a special visitor of whom you might remember…"

Bilbo turned his glance over and up to the cloaked, but unhooded, Elf maiden, who grinned warmly when his glance met hers. Could it be safe to say that Good Ol' Bilbo beamed more brightly at the person who stood before him than he did at Gandalf? Perhaps. "Carithawen!"

Her grin turned into a warm smile. "Bilbo…"

Unlike Frodo, who instantly jumped into her arms at the first sight of her, Bilbo took into account that she was an Elf of Rivendell, and bowed low in courtesy. "Mae govannen, Carithawen, linda wen."

She smiled, bending over to place a friendly hand on his shoulder, signaling him to stand straight again. "Diolla lle, Bilbo…"

Bilbo smiled once more up at her before turning to Gandalf again. "Well, come on, come in!" He shut the door behind them after they all entered the hobbit hole. "Welcome, welcome."

He turned to Gandalf, noticing him removing his pointed hat. "Oh, here we are…" He took both his hat and his staff from him, and moved towards the other end of the room to put them down. "Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger. I've got a few of bottles of the old Winyard left. 1296. Very good year. Almost as old as I am." He laughed gently. "It was laid down by my father. What's say we open one, eh?"

Gandalf asked a question to Elfindel, who nodded her head in reply. He called to Bilbo, "Just tea, thank you." When he turned his head again, he hit his head on one of the hanging ceiling lights. Then, as he turned again after putting it straight, he hit his head on the ceiling, moaning. Elfindel placed a hand on his shoulder, and when Gandalf nodded a sign that he was all right, Elfindel nodded once.

Bilbo called again in the background. "I was expecting you sometime last week. Not that it matters. You come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got some cold chicken and a bit of pickle... There's some cheese. Oh no, that won't do. We've got raspberry jam, an apple tart... But not much for afters. Oh, no, we're all right. I've just found some sponge cake."

Gandalf walked over to a table, observing some maps piled on the tabletop. Elfindel walked over to join him, glancing over his shoulder.

Bilbo walked into the room where he left them. "I can make you some eggs if you li—" He paused when he didn't see them. "Ganda— Gandalf? …Carithawen?" Gandalf appeared behind him. "Just tea, thank you."

Bilbo turned around quickly, startled. "Oh… right." He stuffed some cake in his mouth, and mumbled. "You don't mind if I eat, do you?"

Gandalf shook his head. "No! Not at all."

Suddenly, a banging came at the door, and a harsh female voice sounded. "Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins." The bangs on door grew louder.

Bilbo backed up against the wall. "I'm not at home!" He took a quick peek into the small window, then moved deeper into the room. "I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace. I want to see mountains again, mountains, Gandalf. And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book..." He wandered off into deep thought, remaining silent for a moment, then suddenly he sprang back to reality. "Oh—tea!"

Gandalf and Elfindel sat themselves at Bilbo's dining table. As soon as Gandalf got himself settled, he folded his hands on the table, turning to Bilbo. "So you mean to go through with your plan, then?"

Busy watching over the boiling kettle over the fireplace, Bilbo spoke, not turning to him. "Yes, yes, it's all in hand. All the arrangements are made..." He takes the tea, and Gandalf removed the lid for him.

"Oh, thank you," Bilbo replied.

Gandalf kept his eyes on him. "Frodo suspects something."

Bilbo turned to him. " 'Course he does. He's a Baggins! Not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle."

"You will tell him, won't you?"

Bilbo sat down with them. "Yes, yes."

Elfindel looked at him, speaking gently. "He's very fond of you."

Bilbo sighed sadly, slightly, turning his eyes to rest on the Elf sitting before him. "I know… He'd probably come with me if I asked him. I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields… Little rivers…" His eyes traveled to Gandalf. "I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart… I feel… thin…. Sort of stretched… like butter scraped over too much bread… I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return." His eyes lowered. "In fact… I mean not to."

* * * *

Night fell on the Shire; the evening of the party had come. Bilbo, Elfindel, and Gandalf sat outside on the front porch of Bag End together. Both Bilbo and Gandalf are puffing at their long pipes. The hobbit glanced over at the young Elf maiden seated next to him, who seemed to gently glow a soft shade of moonlight. All Elves had that quality about them, but to observe this unique maiden gently radiating before him was something all its own. Her dark eyes seemed to gleam with the gentle touch of moonlight. This made Bilbo smile, for it reminded him of those days of old… the days when he first traveled to Rivendell… Oh, was it that long ago? He sighed slightly at this inward question, and looked upon Carithawen once more, regaining his happiness, before turning to Gandalf.

"Old Toby," Bilbo said. "The finest weed in the Southfarthing." He blew a smoke ring, which became larger as it floated in the air in front of them.

Gandalf observed this, and blew a smoke ship, which glided through it.

Bilbo smiled with his pipe in his mouth. "Gandalf, my old friend. This will be a night to remember…"