Disclaimer: Oh Valar, I wish I owned even a fraction of Tolkien's creation, but alas I do not. Characters, setting, plot; it all belongs to J.R.R. or Peter Jackson. Except the quotes, which belong to their respective owners. And the title, which obviously belongs to Robert Frost.
AN: Why this idea suddenly popped into my head, I have no clue. I know I was watching Fellowship when it happened. And looking for a Robert Frost poem for Grav. I scrounged ff.net to see how many fics, if any, might have been written on this topic…and found almost nothing. This is just one of those stories that are missing from the books and the movies. Only brief mention is ever given of what happened to Bilbo after he left the Shire on his birthday. This is going to follow movie verse, just because that means there are no dwarves trailing along after Bilbo and because, according to what Bilbo says in Rivendell, he never made it to the Lonely Mountain again. Forgive the author her deviations from canon.
Dedication: To Grav, who loves hobbits (though I can't understand why). Valin nostárë, mellon nin: it's only fair.
Enjoy!
The inspiration:
Two roads diverged in
a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost
~~~~~~~
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
~The Fellowship of the Ring (movie)
Bilbo took a full breath of cool night air, relishing the clean scent of fields and forests. He looked back along the path he had trod, but in the sparse moonlight he couldn't see much at all. The hobbit contemplated stopping for the night, but quickly decided otherwise. He was still within the Shire, and the less people that saw old Bilbo Baggins taking the East Road out of hobbit territory the better. Not to mention any other beings that might be using the road as well.
He took another deep breath and continued on his way. The going was easy; had been for the last three days since he had stepped out of his door on the Hill at Bag End and set off on this journey of his. Three days since he had left the Ring behind in Frodo and Gandalf's care.
He could still feel it sometimes, in his pocket. And the call of it still haunted his thoughts. Gandalf had been right; he had been far too attached to the thing. But leaving it to Frodo, knowing the same might happen to the poor boy…. It was nearly enough to make Bilbo turn around and head for home again. But a small, and very logical part of him, knew he couldn't. He had started this new adventure, and he had better finish it.
He reasoned he had already done the hardest thing, leaving the Ring and leaving his home, with no intention in his heart of ever returning. Bilbo spared a moment to worry over how Frodo must be coping, and then quickly stopped. If he continued to think about what was behind him, he was never going to get to what was ahead of him.
And there was a good deal ahead, or so he planned. It had been so many long years since he had been out of the Shire, and he longed to see the world once more. To visit the places from his previous journey, and perhaps some new ones as well. And then settle down in Rivendell and finish that book of his. He hoped Elrond wouldn't mind him taking up residence in the Last Homely House; but Bilbo couldn't think of a better place conducive to writing.
The hobbit glanced at the sky, noting that dawn was not far off, and indeed the eastern horizon was beginning to lighten. Bilbo could almost imagine he could see the Misty Mountains from where he walked, though his mind told him they were much too far off yet.
Perhaps he should look for a place to rest for a few hours, before continuing his journey. He had made good time, with all his walking, and few stops and another day would see him firmly out of the Shire and on his way to Bree. Bilbo contemplated stopping there for a few days, for he did not want to miss the opportunity again. And no doubt the bumbling innkeeper…what was his name? Butterball? No, that wasn't it. Butterbur! Yes, no doubt Butterbur would have news of what passed in the outside world, something which Bilbo greatly desired to hear before he went much further. And if Bilbo was really lucky, perhaps he would come upon some dwarves or a Ranger or two at the Inn. He would gain a good deal more information that way.
Bilbo glanced off to his right and beheld the looks of a nice clearing between the trees, not far off the road. It would be safe enough, he supposed, for he was still within the Shire after all, and hobbits had had no problems inside their territory in years. He had meant to ask Gandalf about that, he suddenly remembered. For hobbits were notorious for abhorring violence of any kind, and he doubted anyone but the Brandybucks would even think about placing a watch on the borders. But something must be guarding them, because, though dwarves were sometimes seen crossing Shire land on their way to the mountains, not much else ever was. And Bilbo was not naive enough to believe that only dwarves roamed the entire area of Eriador.
Bilbo, having now reached the clearing, concluded that it would do quite well for a few hours of rest. He proceeded to set his pack down and roll out his blanket, and then set about scrounging a meal from his supplies; for he realized he was actually quite hungry. And tragedy upon tragedy, he couldn't remember when he last ate! That wouldn't do at all.
So Bilbo ate a light meal, or at least light for a hobbit, and then settled down upon his blanket to catch a few hours of sleep.
~~~~~~~
He awoke to find it much later than he had thought to sleep; nearly noon by judge of the sun and his stomach! He ate a hurried meal this time, eager to be on his way again.
Within a half hour the hobbit was again making his way along the road, with the firm intent on not stopping until sundown when he was passed the Brandywine.
Now, perhaps it seems strange that Bilbo would wish to pass out of the Shire before he stopped to eat and rest again, but dear Bilbo Baggins firmly believed it would be quite safe to attempt such a thing, and that if it wasn't he could easily defend himself, having fought a dragon before.
He set off with renewed purpose, and traveled easily for many hours, thankfully without encountering a soul. He thought he was in the clear until he reached the river crossing, which was not far off, when he heard the sound of a horse coming towards him from behind. It was a sound out of place in the quiet peace of nature, for to Bilbo's ears it was quite obviously a horse, and not the type of ponies that hobbits normally used.
Bilbo scrambled off the road, though he was not really afraid at all, but did not much want to be seen nonetheless. Hiding behind a tree in the shadows cast by the afternoon sun, he watched in silence as a brown horse, carrying a grey-clad rider came trotting along the road. Bilbo was forced to hide his shock, for the rider was none other than Gandalf himself!
For a split second Bilbo actually contemplated staying in hiding, but sense soon got the better of him. He stepped from his tree out onto the road, and hailed the wizard.
"Gandalf, my old friend! What a coincidence to see you. I had thought you would stay longer in at Bag End with Frodo. Nothing has happened, has it?" Bilbo asked in sudden concern.
"Bilbo Baggins, plenty has happened with your sudden disappearance and all, but Frodo is quite fine, I assure you. No, no, I have things to do Bilbo, and they do not include lounging about Bag End being fed eight square meals a day. I am on my way to Rivendell to see Elrond and then off to the East. And I am in something of a hurry." The wizard regarded the hobbit standing in front of him closely, as if looking for something. But whatever it was, he seemed not to find it, and soon stopped his scrutiny, for which Bilbo was thankful.
"Ah, that is why you left your cart. Well, I won't detain you a moment longer. Though, would you mind very much carrying a message to Elrond from me?"
Gandalf shook his head with a smile. "I shall be sure to warn the Master of Rivendell to expect your arrival in a few weeks. That will give him plenty of time to stalk up on food!"
Bilbo was somewhat affronted by this statement. "If you are implying that I plan to eat the poor lord out of his home, I must take offense. I am only one hobbit Gandalf, and I do not eat nearly as much as most." But he was smiling up at the wizard with a twinkle in his eyes.
Gandalf smiled right back. "I was implying no such thing, you silly hobbit. But I must be on my way. I will give your regards to Elrond, and tell him you shall arrive by the end of October. But do not dally long or much my friend, or you shall worry the 'poor lord' and he will have to send elves to look for you. That would not make him very happy, I should not think."
"I will not tarry much at all, for I am eager already for a soft bed and good company." And Bilbo put a hand to his back as if it pained him. "It seems I must be more out of practice than I thought! All those years of lounging in the Shire have made me soft I think. Ah well, the next few weeks shall cure that. Thank you Gandalf. Have a safe journey, wherever it takes you."
He looked up to find Gandalf regarding him strangely again, though Bilbo thought it was for a different reason. "Perhaps you are simply growing old at long last, mellon. A safe and pleasant journey to you as well. You will reach Rivendell soon enough!" And with one last wave Gandalf was riding off down the road.
Bilbo followed at a slow walk, pondering the wizard's words aloud. "Getting old? Oh surely not! Why, I feel better than I have in years! Though, perhaps that rest on the hard ground was a bit too much for one as out of shape as I. Well, there's nothing for it, I shall simply have to get used to it."
The old hobbit continued on his way, even more set to reach the bridge as soon as he might. It was not until sometime later that he realized he had forgotten to ask Gandalf his nagging question of why the Shire was so protected.