The Road Not Taken

by Aromene

Just because you start out on a journey, doesn't mean you're going to end up where you intended. Bilbo leaves the Shire in TA3001, bound for adventures. A shirebunny.

5. Epilogue

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.

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AN:  Well, here's the epilogue.  I must give credit where it's due: most of this is copyright Mr. Jackson, 2001.  But I added a few things to flesh out the scene.

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            Bilbo watched his nephew being welcomed by his cousins, and smiled.  Ah, how he had missed the boy.  Frodo turned around and Bilbo watched his face light up.

            "Bilbo!" he cried and ran to meet his uncle.  Bilbo slipped off the stone bench, withholding a wince as his back cried out in protest, and enveloped the young hobbit in his arms.  Oh how he had missed him!  "Hello, Frodo, my lad!  Oh it's been so long, hasn't it?  But, come, come, I have a surprise for you, and then we will catch up."

            He led Frodo up to the porch nearby, and once he was settled on a bench, deposited the book in his lap.

            "Bilbo!" Frodo gasped in shock, cradling the Red Book in his arms.  In wonder he opened the cover and peered inside.  "There and back again, A Hobbit's tale, by Bilbo Baggins."  He began to flip through the pages, his look of wonder growing.  "This is wonderful."

            Bilbo smiled, "I meant to go back.  Wander the paths of Mirkwood.  Visit Lake-town.  See the Lonely Mountain again.  But age, it seems has finally caught up with me."

            Frodo stopped at the map of the Shire that had taken Bilbo hours upon hours to get right.  He looked closely at the drawing, and his expression turned wistful.  "I miss the Shire.  I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else.  Off with you on one of your adventures."  He turned serious, and Bilbo smiled sadly.  "But my own adventure turned out to be quite different.  I'm not like you, Bilbo," and he looked up.

            Bilbo sighed and came to sit down beside Frodo.  "My dear boy.  I am so very sorry about all of this.  But just think, it's all over now, and soon you can return to Bag End and add your own adventure to this book."

            "I'd like that, uncle.  I'd like that very much."