Ch. 13

"Pippin?"

"Bilbo--- Baggins?" Pippin was staring, awestruck. Bilbo did not look like when they escorted him to the harbor. Rather, he looked much like he did before he left the Shire on his eleventy-first birthday. But how---?

"Bilbo?" whimpered a voice behind Pippin. "Uncle?"

"Frodo, my dear boy!" said Bilbo, his eyes filled with tears. He stepped past Pippin and opened his arms.

Pippin looked to see Frodo's reaction. He must be thrilled, Bilbo being here, young again. What a wonderful reunion! I guess this spell wasn't so bad, I brought Bilbo here and helped him regain his youth.

Frodo was less than enthused. Rather, he was terrified and puzzled. He made a strange motion toward Pippin, grabbing at air, not taking his eyes off of his renewed uncle in the doorway. "Pippin, give me Sting!"

"Frodo, you would use my old sword against me?" Bilbo asked, a strange glint in his eye.

"You're not Bilbo. You can't be. You---you---"

"I what?"

"You died, Bilbo Baggins," said Gandalf, stepping out of the shadowed hall. "On the ship to Valinor, two years ago, yesterday---if that is indeed who you are."