Chapter 2: The Old Forest
The next morning when she woke up, Ashley went out to the horse stalls, and paid Shire a little visit.
"Hi, boy. We'll be going to the Shire soon. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of nervous. I mean...well it's just I've never been around so many hobbits like that before. And besides, it always felt like this place was home, didn't it? Even though it is kind of boring." Being the horse that he was, Shire, of course, did not answer her. It was not like she expected an answer either. But when she said "Shire," meaning the place, his ears kind of perked up a bit. Animals are like that of course. When they hear something like their name, or even just some old ordinary word, they pay attention.
Frodo Baggins stood at the bow of the ship. He looked out. There was nothing to be seen but ocean, all around him. He could no longer see the shore. He sensed the boat was nearing its destination. He did not know where he was going. He, of course, was a little upset about leaving the Shire. He had chosen to, of course, but he was still quite unhappy. Along with him were his Uncle Bilbo, the Istari Gandalf, and the other two Keepers of the Elven Rings of Power, Galadriel and Elrond. It was then that he heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind him. He turned around, and there was Bilbo.
"Frodo, my lad. You look saddened. Are you alright?"
"No. I miss the Shire already. I wish we could go back."
"You may very well, Frodo. You may." Bilbo answered
"What do you mean? I don't understand."
"Well, I've heard talk that the shipmaster is planning to sail back to the Havens after we reach our destination. I myself would not mind going back to the Grey Havens and staying there instead of traveling to the West. It is not entirely impossible."
"You don't mean..."
"I do, Frodo. We could go together. You could go to the Shire, I could stay at the Havens. It would all work out."
"You're absolutely brilliant, Bilbo! That's brilliant!"
"What's brilliant?" said another voice.
"Gandalf? Where've you been? I haven't seen you since we left dock," Frodo said.
"I've just been...thinking about things, Frodo. Surely you have as well, judging by the talk going on out here. It is not every day that Frodo Baggins says ' That's brilliant.' Am I not correct?"
"You are as always. I was thinking aloud you might say. To Bilbo."
"Ah. And what about?"
"Going back to the Shire, Gandalf." Frodo said. Then he grew silent. He knew it would not happen. Not after every thing he had been through over the last few months. His illnesses, unpleasant thoughts, and unhappiness were over that time period were starting to remind him that he had come on this ship for a reason: To go to the West, and to never return to Middle Earth. Ever. Period. That was it. Surely Gandalf would remind him of this.
"Frodo you chose to sail across the ocean." Gandalf said. Frodo actually managed to laugh. It was a small laugh, and he only did it once.
"I knew you were going to say that." Frodo answered.
"Did you, now?" Gandalf said, not sounding the least bit surprised.
"Yes, and I'd rather you not question me like that. You know I hate it when you do that."
"No I don't. This is the first I've heard of that, actually."
"You have a sense of humor and a lot of sarcasm, but it won't work this time, Gandalf."
"Really? Are you sure of that? You know how I'm prone to ask another question." Gandalf said.
"If you will excuse me." Bilbo said, and he walked off shakily. He was of course very old, and he had just turned one hundred and thirty on September twenty-second of the previous year.
An unpleasant look came over Frodo's face all of the sudden.
"Are you alright, Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" he cried, and he let go of the railing, dashed across the boat to the other side, and threw up into the sea.
"Still a little ill, are you? You could have done that over here you know. I'm not squeamish."
"You know Gandalf, from the family I come from it's really impolite to do certain things around other people. Not that that's why I ran the other way." He gagged.
"Meriadoc and Peregrin can be an exception to your family's rules, you know. Need water?" Frodo nodded. Then he grabbed the canteen that was still strapped around his neck and took a drink.
"Sea sickness. Never fails." said Gandalf.
"I don't think that was the problem Gandalf."
"What was then?"
"Shelob. My poisoning. I was just ill a few days ago. It was the anniversary of my poisoning by Shelob. Confound Gollum! Why ever did I trust him?!"
"Because you thought it was right. People aren't always right, Frodo."
Ashley never did get an answer from old Shire, but even so, she enjoyed talking to him. It was not long until Arador and Aragorn showed up.
"Are you about ready to go, Ashley?" Arador asked.
"Yes, Daddy," she answered. She had already saddled the horse earlier, anyway.
"Alright then. Aragorn, are you going to see us off?" Arador asked.
"I'm afraid not. I have to get back to Gondor. But first I have to get Arwen in Rivendell." Aragorn said.
"Good-bye, Uncle Aragorn." Ashley said. Then Aragorn sped off to the East on his horse.
"It looks as if we should get going as well." Arador said after his brother had gone. So Ashley mounted Shire, and the three of them headed off in the direction of the Old Forest. Little did they know that danger lurks in the most peaceful places.
Frodo dropped his things at his new home in the West. He was quite disturbed by the incident on the ship, and still felt a little sick. He went to lie down on the bed. Bilbo came into the room just as Frodo was about to fall asleep.
"My lad..." he started.
"What, Bilbo?" Frodo said in a disgruntled manner. He was very tired, stiff, and a little nauseous.
"The Shipwright would like to speak with you."
"Why?" Frodo asked.
"To discuss the matter of going back to the Shire, Frodo." Bilbo said.
"I've thought about it Bilbo. The best thing to do is forget about the Shire. I can't go back there; this is the life I chose for myself. Once you change you can never go back to the way life was."
"Well! If it wasn't my young Frodo...may I point out that your last name IS Baggins...that just said that! You should be ashamed of yourself! I cannot believe you! 'Once you change you can't go back to the way life was.' GIVE ME A BREAK!" Bilbo said as sternly as he possibly could muster in his old age.
"What kind of break? I can tell you right now Uncle Bilbo: I'll break your jaw if you don't leave me alone." Frodo said in the worst possible tone he could.
"You've got a lot of nerve to say that to me Frodo. But if that's want you want I'll sure give it to you!" And with that Bilbo slammed the heavy wooden door shut, and Frodo lay alone on the bed.
"We must reach---the Shire---by nightfall," Arador panted as he ran along. Shire galloped behind him with Ashley on his back.
"Daddy...don't you think that we should rest for a while?" Ashley asked.
"Well..." Arador started. He slowed down. "I suppose we could walk for a bit. We'll be there within at least two hours at a walking pace." Arador said.
"Easy, Shire," Ashley said. Shire slowed down to a canter, then to a trot, and finally a walk. Then they began to walk along towards the Shire.
"Why did I just yell at Bilbo?" Frodo asked himself about a half hour later. "Why?"
"Because you're very ignorant," said a voice outside the door. Frodo jumped. Gandalf walked in the room at that moment.
"Why do you do that?" Frodo asked.
"Because I like to surprise you."
"Is that what you call it?" Frodo asked. "Why not say ' I was trying to give you a heart attack, Frodo, can you ever forgive me?' " Gandalf laughed. "It's seriously not funny, Gandalf."
"Whatever you say," Gandalf said. Then he took his leave from the room.
"Oh," Frodo sighed, and he plopped down onto his pillow.
They eventually did start running again, and the trees went by fast on Shire. Ashley's father vanished from sight as he turned the corner. Ashley followed him, but when she found him again he was just standing there. He was looking ahead, and standing very still. It was very quiet. Shire trotted up to him and did not stop too far behind.
"Daddy?" Ashley started. She got off of the horse and walked up to him. "Daddy, what's wrong?" she asked. He turned and looked down at her.
"Ashley...do you remember when your uncle told you that this was the more dangerous route to Buckland?" Arador asked.
"Yes, Daddy. What about it? I don't understand."
"He was not lying. This is the most dangerous route by a long road." He kneeled down so that he was level with her eyes. Then he took her hand and placed it on the hilt of her sword. "Draw your sword, Ashley," he said. She did as she was told. Arador stood up and drew his own sword. Then he said angrily, "It's a battle of life or death...Ashley, there are Orcs around the corner!" Ashley stared at him in fright. She ran to Shire as Arador started around the corner. Ashley mounted Shire, and he cantered off behind Arador.
There were about fifteen Orcs waiting for them, which was not much, considering the numbers that Orcs usually traveled in. Arador raised his sword, and he and the Orcs began to fight. Then Ashley slashed her sword out and hit an Orc right in the face. Shire bucked, and kicked an Orc behind him. A huge Uruk-hai ran toward Shire and crashed into him, causing Ashley to fall to the ground. "RUN!" Arador shouted as he fought another Uruk-hai.
"Daddy!" Ashley cried. She was in the middle of the whole scramble now.
"RUN!" he cried. An arrow whizzed past Shire, which caused him to spook and run away.
"Shire!" Ashley held out her hand as if the horse would walk into in to it, but he continued going the opposite way.
"RUN!" Arador shouted one last time.
Ashley ran the other way, and jumped into a bush. There she sat trembling, trying not to breath heavily. Just then, a large black-feathered arrow pointed at her head inside the bush. The Uruk knew where she was. She heard hurried footsteps, a clash, a yell, and the arrow disappeared from the bush. Then she heard one last swish, and it was over.
Arador fell to his knees in pain. The arrow had disappeared from the bush because it was now in him. He had beheaded the Uruk-hai, and it lay dead a few yards away from him. There were fourteen dead Orcs everywhere. Arador fell to the ground, and breathed in heavily. The arrow was close to his heart.
Ashley jumped out of the bush and looked again. She spotted her father and panicked. She rushed to his side.
"Daddy," she sighed.
"Ashley, listen to me." he attempted to say.
"I'm listening." she answered.
"I'm not going to make it. I need you to get to the Shire. Find your mother. Go past the forest gate. From there you'll go maybe a quarter of a mile. You'll find the gate into Buckland. Make sure—that the gatekeeper," he gasped, "lets you in. Do you...understand?"
"I understand." she said as she cried. "We could get you to a doctor in the Shire...I mean come on Daddy. Do you really think that you're going to die?"
"I'm positive. Ashley...all I wanted to do was see your mother again..." Ashley reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a small painted picture that an artist in Bree had done of their family.
"Here," she said. He took it in his hand, and made a fist.
"I don't want you to worry about me. Go on now," he said. But it was also the last thing he said to her.
"I love you, Daddy." Ashley sighed. She got up very slowly, not sure if she could believe it. Then she ran in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her, and she stopped about a quarter of a mile away, where she sat down on a large bolder down by the Brandywine River.
There she sat in despair. She had never thought that it would end like this. How could it? She did not know. She heard a whinny. She did not even bother to turn around. Shire came up behind her and nudged her with his nose. She put her hand on his nose and looked at him.
"Come on. I have to listen to what he told me." She mounted Shire, and told him to go forward. He was confused. He did not know why it was only the two of them going on alone now, but he went forward anyhow.
Rain poured down on the travelers as they exited the forest through the gate. It was pitch black out, and the only thing that could be seen were the lights in a town not far off, though most candles were burnt out. Ashley stopped Shire a few yards away from the gate. She hoped somebody was on duty. The whole way to Buckland she had been wondering how she was going to tell her mother about the death of her father, and still had not come to a decision on the matter.
She looked extremely tired when they got up to the gate, and the gatekeeper looked at her like she was crazy. A hobbit on a horse! Oh, please! Were probably his thoughts. He was not sure if Ashley and Shire were even real, but hobbits, as courteous as they are, will take anybody in if they are in a bad state.
"Where have you come from, er, Miss?" he asked.
"I come from the village of Bree. My father sent me here. Please let me in." she said. He opened the gate.
"As you wish, Miss." She looked very mangled to him, as if she had been in a fight. Little did he know that she had been. The sleeve of her shirt was ripped and she had a mighty cut across it. They were no farther than four yards inside the gate when Shire stumbled and collapsed. Ashley fell off, and did not even bother to get up. The gatekeeper rushed to her.
"What's your name, Miss?"
"Ashley..." she paused. "Ashley Wilson," Those were the only words that he got out of her. She passed out.
The next day was the first of the Fourth Age. Frodo had not unpacked anything the night before. His pack lay in the same place that he had dropped it the day before. He slung it over his back and walked outside. He saw the harbor, and walked toward it.
"Frodo?" a voice asked in surprise. It was Bilbo.
"I'm goin' back, Bilbo." Frodo said with a smile.
"Great plan. Just one little defect. The ship is leaving!" Bilbo yelled. Frodo turned around.
"Oh no! Shipwright!" he called as he ran toward the dock. "Shipwright!"
"Frodo, you silly lad! You can't swim!" Bilbo cried. Frodo stopped at the end of the dock.
"Shipwright!" he screamed. Just then the masts dropped, and the ship came to a halt. The Shipwright came to the stern.
"Master Baggins?" he said confusedly.
"I'm coming with you!" Frodo yelled.
"I'll have to let a ladder down!" cried the Shipwright, and he disappeared, but returned shortly and dropped a ladder to the dock. Frodo looked back at his Uncle Bilbo, then climbed the ladder. The Shipwright helped him to scramble over the deck. Then the masts were lifted again, and the ladder drawn up.
"Good-bye Bilbo!" Frodo yelled as the ship began its journey back to Middle-earth.
The next morning when she woke up, Ashley went out to the horse stalls, and paid Shire a little visit.
"Hi, boy. We'll be going to the Shire soon. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of nervous. I mean...well it's just I've never been around so many hobbits like that before. And besides, it always felt like this place was home, didn't it? Even though it is kind of boring." Being the horse that he was, Shire, of course, did not answer her. It was not like she expected an answer either. But when she said "Shire," meaning the place, his ears kind of perked up a bit. Animals are like that of course. When they hear something like their name, or even just some old ordinary word, they pay attention.
Frodo Baggins stood at the bow of the ship. He looked out. There was nothing to be seen but ocean, all around him. He could no longer see the shore. He sensed the boat was nearing its destination. He did not know where he was going. He, of course, was a little upset about leaving the Shire. He had chosen to, of course, but he was still quite unhappy. Along with him were his Uncle Bilbo, the Istari Gandalf, and the other two Keepers of the Elven Rings of Power, Galadriel and Elrond. It was then that he heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind him. He turned around, and there was Bilbo.
"Frodo, my lad. You look saddened. Are you alright?"
"No. I miss the Shire already. I wish we could go back."
"You may very well, Frodo. You may." Bilbo answered
"What do you mean? I don't understand."
"Well, I've heard talk that the shipmaster is planning to sail back to the Havens after we reach our destination. I myself would not mind going back to the Grey Havens and staying there instead of traveling to the West. It is not entirely impossible."
"You don't mean..."
"I do, Frodo. We could go together. You could go to the Shire, I could stay at the Havens. It would all work out."
"You're absolutely brilliant, Bilbo! That's brilliant!"
"What's brilliant?" said another voice.
"Gandalf? Where've you been? I haven't seen you since we left dock," Frodo said.
"I've just been...thinking about things, Frodo. Surely you have as well, judging by the talk going on out here. It is not every day that Frodo Baggins says ' That's brilliant.' Am I not correct?"
"You are as always. I was thinking aloud you might say. To Bilbo."
"Ah. And what about?"
"Going back to the Shire, Gandalf." Frodo said. Then he grew silent. He knew it would not happen. Not after every thing he had been through over the last few months. His illnesses, unpleasant thoughts, and unhappiness were over that time period were starting to remind him that he had come on this ship for a reason: To go to the West, and to never return to Middle Earth. Ever. Period. That was it. Surely Gandalf would remind him of this.
"Frodo you chose to sail across the ocean." Gandalf said. Frodo actually managed to laugh. It was a small laugh, and he only did it once.
"I knew you were going to say that." Frodo answered.
"Did you, now?" Gandalf said, not sounding the least bit surprised.
"Yes, and I'd rather you not question me like that. You know I hate it when you do that."
"No I don't. This is the first I've heard of that, actually."
"You have a sense of humor and a lot of sarcasm, but it won't work this time, Gandalf."
"Really? Are you sure of that? You know how I'm prone to ask another question." Gandalf said.
"If you will excuse me." Bilbo said, and he walked off shakily. He was of course very old, and he had just turned one hundred and thirty on September twenty-second of the previous year.
An unpleasant look came over Frodo's face all of the sudden.
"Are you alright, Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" he cried, and he let go of the railing, dashed across the boat to the other side, and threw up into the sea.
"Still a little ill, are you? You could have done that over here you know. I'm not squeamish."
"You know Gandalf, from the family I come from it's really impolite to do certain things around other people. Not that that's why I ran the other way." He gagged.
"Meriadoc and Peregrin can be an exception to your family's rules, you know. Need water?" Frodo nodded. Then he grabbed the canteen that was still strapped around his neck and took a drink.
"Sea sickness. Never fails." said Gandalf.
"I don't think that was the problem Gandalf."
"What was then?"
"Shelob. My poisoning. I was just ill a few days ago. It was the anniversary of my poisoning by Shelob. Confound Gollum! Why ever did I trust him?!"
"Because you thought it was right. People aren't always right, Frodo."
Ashley never did get an answer from old Shire, but even so, she enjoyed talking to him. It was not long until Arador and Aragorn showed up.
"Are you about ready to go, Ashley?" Arador asked.
"Yes, Daddy," she answered. She had already saddled the horse earlier, anyway.
"Alright then. Aragorn, are you going to see us off?" Arador asked.
"I'm afraid not. I have to get back to Gondor. But first I have to get Arwen in Rivendell." Aragorn said.
"Good-bye, Uncle Aragorn." Ashley said. Then Aragorn sped off to the East on his horse.
"It looks as if we should get going as well." Arador said after his brother had gone. So Ashley mounted Shire, and the three of them headed off in the direction of the Old Forest. Little did they know that danger lurks in the most peaceful places.
Frodo dropped his things at his new home in the West. He was quite disturbed by the incident on the ship, and still felt a little sick. He went to lie down on the bed. Bilbo came into the room just as Frodo was about to fall asleep.
"My lad..." he started.
"What, Bilbo?" Frodo said in a disgruntled manner. He was very tired, stiff, and a little nauseous.
"The Shipwright would like to speak with you."
"Why?" Frodo asked.
"To discuss the matter of going back to the Shire, Frodo." Bilbo said.
"I've thought about it Bilbo. The best thing to do is forget about the Shire. I can't go back there; this is the life I chose for myself. Once you change you can never go back to the way life was."
"Well! If it wasn't my young Frodo...may I point out that your last name IS Baggins...that just said that! You should be ashamed of yourself! I cannot believe you! 'Once you change you can't go back to the way life was.' GIVE ME A BREAK!" Bilbo said as sternly as he possibly could muster in his old age.
"What kind of break? I can tell you right now Uncle Bilbo: I'll break your jaw if you don't leave me alone." Frodo said in the worst possible tone he could.
"You've got a lot of nerve to say that to me Frodo. But if that's want you want I'll sure give it to you!" And with that Bilbo slammed the heavy wooden door shut, and Frodo lay alone on the bed.
"We must reach---the Shire---by nightfall," Arador panted as he ran along. Shire galloped behind him with Ashley on his back.
"Daddy...don't you think that we should rest for a while?" Ashley asked.
"Well..." Arador started. He slowed down. "I suppose we could walk for a bit. We'll be there within at least two hours at a walking pace." Arador said.
"Easy, Shire," Ashley said. Shire slowed down to a canter, then to a trot, and finally a walk. Then they began to walk along towards the Shire.
"Why did I just yell at Bilbo?" Frodo asked himself about a half hour later. "Why?"
"Because you're very ignorant," said a voice outside the door. Frodo jumped. Gandalf walked in the room at that moment.
"Why do you do that?" Frodo asked.
"Because I like to surprise you."
"Is that what you call it?" Frodo asked. "Why not say ' I was trying to give you a heart attack, Frodo, can you ever forgive me?' " Gandalf laughed. "It's seriously not funny, Gandalf."
"Whatever you say," Gandalf said. Then he took his leave from the room.
"Oh," Frodo sighed, and he plopped down onto his pillow.
They eventually did start running again, and the trees went by fast on Shire. Ashley's father vanished from sight as he turned the corner. Ashley followed him, but when she found him again he was just standing there. He was looking ahead, and standing very still. It was very quiet. Shire trotted up to him and did not stop too far behind.
"Daddy?" Ashley started. She got off of the horse and walked up to him. "Daddy, what's wrong?" she asked. He turned and looked down at her.
"Ashley...do you remember when your uncle told you that this was the more dangerous route to Buckland?" Arador asked.
"Yes, Daddy. What about it? I don't understand."
"He was not lying. This is the most dangerous route by a long road." He kneeled down so that he was level with her eyes. Then he took her hand and placed it on the hilt of her sword. "Draw your sword, Ashley," he said. She did as she was told. Arador stood up and drew his own sword. Then he said angrily, "It's a battle of life or death...Ashley, there are Orcs around the corner!" Ashley stared at him in fright. She ran to Shire as Arador started around the corner. Ashley mounted Shire, and he cantered off behind Arador.
There were about fifteen Orcs waiting for them, which was not much, considering the numbers that Orcs usually traveled in. Arador raised his sword, and he and the Orcs began to fight. Then Ashley slashed her sword out and hit an Orc right in the face. Shire bucked, and kicked an Orc behind him. A huge Uruk-hai ran toward Shire and crashed into him, causing Ashley to fall to the ground. "RUN!" Arador shouted as he fought another Uruk-hai.
"Daddy!" Ashley cried. She was in the middle of the whole scramble now.
"RUN!" he cried. An arrow whizzed past Shire, which caused him to spook and run away.
"Shire!" Ashley held out her hand as if the horse would walk into in to it, but he continued going the opposite way.
"RUN!" Arador shouted one last time.
Ashley ran the other way, and jumped into a bush. There she sat trembling, trying not to breath heavily. Just then, a large black-feathered arrow pointed at her head inside the bush. The Uruk knew where she was. She heard hurried footsteps, a clash, a yell, and the arrow disappeared from the bush. Then she heard one last swish, and it was over.
Arador fell to his knees in pain. The arrow had disappeared from the bush because it was now in him. He had beheaded the Uruk-hai, and it lay dead a few yards away from him. There were fourteen dead Orcs everywhere. Arador fell to the ground, and breathed in heavily. The arrow was close to his heart.
Ashley jumped out of the bush and looked again. She spotted her father and panicked. She rushed to his side.
"Daddy," she sighed.
"Ashley, listen to me." he attempted to say.
"I'm listening." she answered.
"I'm not going to make it. I need you to get to the Shire. Find your mother. Go past the forest gate. From there you'll go maybe a quarter of a mile. You'll find the gate into Buckland. Make sure—that the gatekeeper," he gasped, "lets you in. Do you...understand?"
"I understand." she said as she cried. "We could get you to a doctor in the Shire...I mean come on Daddy. Do you really think that you're going to die?"
"I'm positive. Ashley...all I wanted to do was see your mother again..." Ashley reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a small painted picture that an artist in Bree had done of their family.
"Here," she said. He took it in his hand, and made a fist.
"I don't want you to worry about me. Go on now," he said. But it was also the last thing he said to her.
"I love you, Daddy." Ashley sighed. She got up very slowly, not sure if she could believe it. Then she ran in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her, and she stopped about a quarter of a mile away, where she sat down on a large bolder down by the Brandywine River.
There she sat in despair. She had never thought that it would end like this. How could it? She did not know. She heard a whinny. She did not even bother to turn around. Shire came up behind her and nudged her with his nose. She put her hand on his nose and looked at him.
"Come on. I have to listen to what he told me." She mounted Shire, and told him to go forward. He was confused. He did not know why it was only the two of them going on alone now, but he went forward anyhow.
Rain poured down on the travelers as they exited the forest through the gate. It was pitch black out, and the only thing that could be seen were the lights in a town not far off, though most candles were burnt out. Ashley stopped Shire a few yards away from the gate. She hoped somebody was on duty. The whole way to Buckland she had been wondering how she was going to tell her mother about the death of her father, and still had not come to a decision on the matter.
She looked extremely tired when they got up to the gate, and the gatekeeper looked at her like she was crazy. A hobbit on a horse! Oh, please! Were probably his thoughts. He was not sure if Ashley and Shire were even real, but hobbits, as courteous as they are, will take anybody in if they are in a bad state.
"Where have you come from, er, Miss?" he asked.
"I come from the village of Bree. My father sent me here. Please let me in." she said. He opened the gate.
"As you wish, Miss." She looked very mangled to him, as if she had been in a fight. Little did he know that she had been. The sleeve of her shirt was ripped and she had a mighty cut across it. They were no farther than four yards inside the gate when Shire stumbled and collapsed. Ashley fell off, and did not even bother to get up. The gatekeeper rushed to her.
"What's your name, Miss?"
"Ashley..." she paused. "Ashley Wilson," Those were the only words that he got out of her. She passed out.
The next day was the first of the Fourth Age. Frodo had not unpacked anything the night before. His pack lay in the same place that he had dropped it the day before. He slung it over his back and walked outside. He saw the harbor, and walked toward it.
"Frodo?" a voice asked in surprise. It was Bilbo.
"I'm goin' back, Bilbo." Frodo said with a smile.
"Great plan. Just one little defect. The ship is leaving!" Bilbo yelled. Frodo turned around.
"Oh no! Shipwright!" he called as he ran toward the dock. "Shipwright!"
"Frodo, you silly lad! You can't swim!" Bilbo cried. Frodo stopped at the end of the dock.
"Shipwright!" he screamed. Just then the masts dropped, and the ship came to a halt. The Shipwright came to the stern.
"Master Baggins?" he said confusedly.
"I'm coming with you!" Frodo yelled.
"I'll have to let a ladder down!" cried the Shipwright, and he disappeared, but returned shortly and dropped a ladder to the dock. Frodo looked back at his Uncle Bilbo, then climbed the ladder. The Shipwright helped him to scramble over the deck. Then the masts were lifted again, and the ladder drawn up.
"Good-bye Bilbo!" Frodo yelled as the ship began its journey back to Middle-earth.