There were, Gandalf decided on his way to escorting the three hobbits and their new acquisition back to Bag End, a number of things to be concerned about here. The only question was where to start.
In all his and Bilbo's talks about this night and the hobbit's departure, they had spoken of the ring often. Indeed, Gandalf drove the talks to that purpose more and more as a shadow grew in his mind over the ring.Bilbo had said himself, and Gandalf had agreed, that Frodo was the most trustworthy, responsible hobbit that would ever be found, and his closeness to Bilbo made him the only choice to be left the ring.
The decision to leave the ring had been difficult, but the decision to leave it to Frodo had been amazingly easy.
And now, this strange turn of events. For Bilbo to fight Gandalf's influence, even trick the wizard into believing the ring was left behind, safe, and then for him to give it to the very next hobbit he bumped into on his way out of the Shire…mysterious. Gandalf did not love mystery.
Despite Bilbo's reputation as an adventurous and Tookish sort of hobbit, he was not silly nor irresponsible. He had no way of knowing the importance of the ring, true, but through Gandalf he at least knew that it was important.
There was simply no reason not to go through with the plan as agreed upon.
Unless, after so many years, the ring had begun to influence his mind somehow. Or perhaps Bilbo simply didn't wish to put the burden of it on his beloved nephew. Still, there was no reason to give it away to the next available hobbit, out of the blue.
Gandalf thought about it as he ushered the now-quiet, confused hobbits into Bag End.
"Gandalf?" Frodo spoke up only once the door was safely shut.
Gandalf held up a hand to silence him. "I will think."
Frodo nodded and stayed quiet, sending his gaze to his two companions to insure they also remained silent.
Gandalf cast them from his mind, moving slowly to the fireplace as his thoughts whirled around themselves. Perhaps there were clues to be found in the hole itself. Bilbo was a diariest, perhaps in his manuscript there would be clues to be found. The best idea, of course, would be to go find the hobbit and drag him back, willing or no, to talk it out with them.
But Gandalf felt sure that the moment the ring left Bilbo's possession, Bilbo's involvement in it had to be ended entirely. To bring him back was risking even less certainty, as well as risking Bilbo deciding again that the ring was rightfully his own.
Hobbits being what they were – and two of these three hobbits in particular – the silence didn't last very long.
Peregrin Took lowered his voice to a near-whisper, but that was all the deference that could be gotten from him. "Bilbo's left presents for everyone."
"Of course." Frodo did whisper his reply, glancing at Gandalf. "He doesn't mean to come back, you know. I think it was part of his joke to leave certain things behind, to let certain hobbits know the truth of what he thought of them in the end."
Gandalf glanced over at the presents absently. A pile sitting upon and beside his small table, crudely labeled. His eyes spotted a couple of envelopes discarded on the floor near to the pile.
They were the same as the envelope left on the mantle. And there were no other ones to be seen in that pile. Gandalf frowned and moved to look at them. He lifted one, and his frown grew sharper.
Mariadoc's name was on it. It had been written in as firm a script as Bilbo's slanting hand could manage. But it had a line written through it, and Frodo's name, less certain, was added underneath.
He picked up the other envelope and saw the same thing. Merry's name was written there, but after some consideration it was crossed out, and Frodo's name was hesitant beneath it. As if forced through unwilling fingers.
What was this? What did it mean? If Gandalf had to guess from just the envelope, it appeared that Frodo was Bilbo's second choice to inherit the ring.
But that was absurd. Bilbo had never mentioned any other hobbit. He had never shown the slightest hesitation in gifting it to Frodo. Merry's name had never been so much as spoken between the two, save in recounting some silly story or another.
Something had driven him to write Merry's name on that envelope. Something strong enough to make him write it twice at least, and finally strong enough to make Bilbo refuse to leave it where he knew Frodo would get it.
Gandalf dropped the envelopes back to the floor and turned towards the fire. There was a question that had to be asked, though the answer was impossible to discover – was the force driving this in Bilbo a force of good, or a force of darkness?
Was it a whim of the ring itself? Should Gandalf's darkest predictions about this ring turn to truth, it would be more than able to decide its own fate. In Frodo's hands the ring would find safety. In Merry's irresponsible grasp the ring would be lost. A dark motivation, that, and if it were the case there was nothing to be done but take the ring from Merry and give it to its rightful holder.
But there was a chance that the compulsion was a good one. From the same source, perhaps, that had led Bilbo to stumble upon it in the first place. Gandalf had always known that it was no blind luck that drove the finding of the ring. He was meant to have it by a greater power than his own luck.
If that same power ruled now, then Merry was meant to have this ring, and Gandalf could by no means take it from him.
A difficult choice lay ahead, all the more difficult because of his uncertainty about the powers this ring contained. He would have to learn more before he decided. But to learn he would have to leave, and the ring would have to stay with one or the other of them.
Gandalf the Grey sat for a good long time, watching the fire and sighing to himself. Even after he made up his mind, he didn't relax. He had to impress upon his quiet companions how serious this matter was.
He turned from the fire and peered at the three in turn.
Pip and Merry leaned against the wall of the hole, looking for the most part bored. But Frodo sat up at once from the seat he had taken at the table. "You're ready?"
Gandalf nodded gravely.
"Ready for what, that's my question."
Gandalf sent a dark gaze to Pippin instantly. "I am ready, first and foremost, to send you on your way, Peregrin Took. I will speak to these two alone. This matter does not concern you."
Pip gaped at him.
Merry stood up off the wall. "You don't know us as well as Bilbo and cousin Frodo, Gandalf, but surely you know that what involves me involves Pip just as much."
Pip nodded, bolstered by the support. "And anyway, this matter isn't private as it is. If I have to go you've also got to tell Sam to stop lurking outside the window."
Gandalf's brow furrowed even as a rustle was heard in the shrubs outside the window nearest Frodo. He strode to the window instantly, glaring out at the darkness. "Samwise Gamgee, are you eavesdropping?"
There was an indecisive pause, and then a curly-topped head popped into sight at the window. "Pardon me, Master Gandalf, sir. I was concerned with the stage of the hedges near the window here, if you understand me, and I weren't going to sleep a wink until I'd checked it out for myself."
Gandalf sent a gaze to Frodo.
Frodo, obviously fighting back a smile, shrugged in quiet surrender.
Gandalf sighed. Hobbits were endearing in their loyalties to each other, and it usually did his heart good to see it. But this was leading to four different hobbits learning the edges of a secret that should have been held in the mind of just one, just the one who was left the ring. Their safety hinged on nobody knowing.
Yet Sam Gamgee would be harder to get rid of then Pippin. Gandalf spoke gravely. "You may as well bring yourself inside, Samwise."
"If you say so, Master Gandalf." Same was gone from the window instantly, and walking through the door a moment later. He instantly took a place by Frodo's side, glancing at his master with a sheepish look on his face.
Gandalf peered seriously at the four hobbits.
He had a great deal of respect for the race of hobbits, as silly and carefree as they were. There was a strength in those little bodies. In their own ways they were as strong as any dwarf, as brave as any man, and as cunning as any elf. It was their nature to laze about eating as many meals as possible, drinking great quantities of ale, smoking pipeweed until the air was grey and their brains were dulled. But Gandalf's adventures had shown him that each one of the ridiculous creatures had it in them to be truly great.
Bilbo in his time had lived up to his potential. Frodo, Gandalf was certain, would do the same. These other three…
He was less certain. Samwise Gamgee had been in Gandalf's mind a fitting choice to protect Frodo and the ring. He was loyal to a fault, simple in his thoughts and susceptible to Gandalf's threats of the dangers involved. He would protect Frodo against any danger, Gandalf knew.
But confound these other two. Gandalf might have loved the fun and laughter hobbits indulged in as often as possible, but he loved it because he knew it could be tempered with strength and wisdom. In Bilbo he saw it, in Frodo. In Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck there had been no such proof given him.
He had been fond of the two from his early days after Bilbo's adventures, visiting the Shire and looking on as Bilbo took up adoption of his orphaned nephew. Gandalf had been fond of Frodo, and there had been a time when none could make the child laugh and smile as a child ought but his two foolish cousins from Buckland and Tuckborough.
Meriadoc had spent a great deal of time after he was born toddling after Frodo in adoration, and his worship had dulled into friendship just as Pippin was born to toddle after Merry in the same way. They had spent many hours with Frodo, lightening his spirits. They would be loyal to Frodo, even if they weren't capable of anything deeper than that.
Perhaps they might have watched over Frodo along with Sam.
But for one of them to be the one who actually bore the burden of this ring?
In the silence of his thoughts the hobbits grew restless. It was Pippin who dared to speak. "You said you'd made up your mind, then? About something or another?"
"I did not say that, Peregrin Took." Gandalf looked at the four hobbits sternly. "I have had my mind made up for me, it seems. But I may now be ready to go along with this mad turn of events until I can learn more." He nodded to himself. He would go to Minas Tirith, as soon as he could fly across the land, and he would root out the history of this ring and find out why it held such great sway over those it came in contact with.
Until then… "Peregrin. Samwise. Neither of you will speak a word of anything you have seen or heard tonight to anyone. Not if you value the lives of Frodo and Merry."
"Well. I don't quite like the way that sounds," Merry answered after a moment of surprised silence.
"I don't doubt it," Gandalf replied. "But the situation is no less grave than I'm making it seem. Now, as this entire matter is not clear to me, I will not waste time bothering to try and explain it to all of you. Pippin. Sam. You will leave us."
Pippin at once opened his mouth to protest. "But-"
Gandalf cut him off sharply. "You are, whether you realize it or not, in possession of more terrible knowledge than you can know. You will not be forgotten about nor left to wonder. But for now you must go. I have no more to tell you."
Sam didn't argue, but he didn't obey. Instead he turned to Frodo.
Frodo nodded. "Go on, Sam. Go and get some rest. I have a feeling that there will be more than enough for you to help with before this is over. And you, Pip."
But as Sam had waited for Frodo to instruct him, so Pippin waited for Merry.
Merry met his eyes and shrugged. "I suppose you'd better. It can't be wise to make Gandalf angry twice in one night, can it?"
Merry's light tone seemed to calm his cousin. Pip nodded and smiled again. "Right, then. Good night, all of you. I expect we'll see each other tomorrow. Come on, Sam."
When the two were gone and the door was closed, Gandalf went to the window and shut it before returning to the door to collect his staff and hat. "And now I must be gone myself. But I have some words for you both before I leave."
"Leave?" Frodo moved to Gandalf in unhappy surprise. "But you've only just arrived!"
"There are questions than need answering. Indeed, that must be answered and soon. More is going on here than I have explanation for."
Left at the table, Merry picked up one of those envelopes Gandalf had spent so much time examining. He frowned at the sight of the two names. "I don't understand this great fuss at all. If you want Frodo to have the silly ring, I'll simply give it to him. It's not much use to me, I suppose, though it's pretty and helpful enough."
Gandalf had a moment of weakness, a moment where he wanted nothing more than to agree, watch the ring handed over, and leave with that much less to trouble him. He looked at Merry for a moment, then moved his gaze to Frodo. "He was compelled to one, though we wanted the other," he murmured to himself.
"What was that?"
He ignored Merry. "For better or worse, it is done. Until I learn more, let it remain. You will hold on to it until I return, Meriadoc
Merry shrugged. "If you wish." His hand found the pocket he had put the ring in and patted absently.
"For better or worse," he said again. "This matter is wrapped around you both. I don't know to what end, but for the moment we must go along with the mad whims of fate, and of Bilbo. The ring was meant for Frodo, and all will believe it is Frodo that has it. That is an illusion I wish to maintain, for the present. How difficult would it be for you both to spent the days until my return together?"
Merry shrugged. "I can take on here until you come back. It's no great matter. I can be seen to be comforting poor Frodo in the wake of his mad uncle's great joke." He grinned suddenly. "No one would find fault in that story, though they'd probably pity Frodo that much more."
Frodo chuckled faintly.
Gandalf nodded his approval. "Then from now until my return the two of you must be as brothers. If we are confused as to whom the ring truly belongs to, at least we can be comforted knowing that any dark forces who may want the ring will be confused as well."
"Dark forces?" Merry straightened. "Right. That's it. What in the world is going on here? Isn't there some short answer you can give before you rush off to find whatever you're looking for?"
Gandalf was almost impatient enough to ignore the question and leave. Still, Merry was the bearer of this ring for now, for good or evil. He couldn't be dismissed. And it would help Gandalf's peace of mind to know that Merry understood the danger.
He took a seat again, keeping his hat in hand for a quick departure when he was done. "The ring of Bilbo's is a ring of power, Meriadoc."
"Well, yes." Merry answered with no surprise. "But worrying about dark forces and arranging for me to stay at Bag End? What can one have to do with the other, if no one knows about it?"
Gandalf peered at the hobbit, struck with surprise. He who was not often surprised by anything had had two chances to be struck dumb by this silly hobbit. Perhaps it meant something. Pretty, he remembered suddenly. That's what Merry had called the ring. Pretty and…
Helpful.
Frodo spoke first. "You know about the ring?"
Merry shrugged. "Yes. I mean, I know something about it. I know it was the source of Bilbo's disappearance at the party tonight, and that it's helped him in similar ways before."
"How? How could you possibly know that?" Frodo looked amazed. "Bilbo tried so hard to keep what it could do from common knowledge."
"And of course he didn't simply tell me," Merry confirmed. "It wasn't any choice of his at all that I should know. It was all an accident. A meeting on a country road, or a near-meeting I should say, between your uncle and the Sackville-Bagginses. I was on that road, though Bilbo must have been unaware of me behind him. He was distracted as he usually is. And when he saw the SBs approach he pulled this ring out of his shirt pocket and slipped it on his finger. You can imagine my surprise when he up and vanished."
Frodo shook his head in amazement. "And you never said anything about it? Not to me or Bilbo?"
Merry's head lifted with some small amount of pride. "I did not. I may not be the most scholarly hobbit in the Shire, but I know enough to understand that what happened with that ring was magical, and not a thing to be talked about. Especially when I had no idea what I could have said. Besides, Bilbo had helped me and Pip out of scraps before due to our pranks." He smiled. "I thought it only polite to leave quiet a ring that helped him get himself out of places he didn't want to be. I never even told Pippin, though it was hard. This is the first time I've spoken of it aloud. Though not the first time since that I've thought about it."
Gandalf shook his head, brought to voice finally. "Meriadoc, I am both surprised and gratified to hear this. It shows you're not quite as reckless as I feared."
Merry grinned and waved that away. "Of course I am. But Bilbo's told us enough tales of dark magic for me to be frightened." He looked down at his pocket where the ring lie. "Now it seems I was right to fear. This thing is mine now, so you say, and already there's talk of dark forces. It's almost enough to have me wish Pip and I had never been on that road and never met Bilbo."
"Don't wish that," Gandalf replied instantly. "Perhaps a different resolution to this night might have been better for all, but for Bilbo to have gotten away with the ring in his possession would have been the worst possible ending." He frowned thoughtfully. "It is your name on those envelopes, Merry, and perhaps fate put you on that road and in his path."
"Well, I still don't quite understand it. Fate and all that is well enough, but Bilbo had the ring for all these years and there was no talk of dark forces then, was there? A ring that lets a person vanish may be magic, and some help to an enemy, but would dark forces really come here and harm us for it? And why now, if not years ago?"
Gandalf nodded to himself. They were thoughtful enough questions to ease his mind about Merry. "The only known magic it contains might be a simple trick of the eye, but magic rings are never to be taken as trifles. There are rings in this world that hold a far greater power and a far darker evil than your hobbit mind could begin to understand. Never doubt that that little ring is the most dangerous, and most valuable, thing in the whole of the Shire."
He stood up at that, the impatience creeping back over him. "I must go now. I must get answers about this thing before I can instruct you further. Until I return…"
Frodo nodded dutifully. "We will be as brothers. Merry will come to stay here, and I will even go to Buckland with him to collect his things. I doubt anyone there would question the arrival of a mad Baggins, just as no one in Hobbiton will doubt the mad whims of his Bucklander cousin." He exchanged a smile with Merry. "If anyone does question, I'll say that I was unable to handle the affairs of my new inheritence on my own and wished for help."
Gandalf nodded his approval. "As far as anyone needs know, Bilbo left you everything of his own. Anyone who might know about the ring will assume it is with you or gone traveling with Bilbo. No one should learn any different. You must make sure that Peregrin Took and Samwise will stay silent."
He turned to Merry next, his eyes driving deep into the young hobbit. "You have no idea the responsibility that now sits on your shoulders. I myself don't know the entirety of the matter, and for that I feel sorry. But these things I can tell you – keep the ring secret. Guard it better than Bilbo did. Guard it as well as you guarded your knowledge of it for so long. Show it to no one. Not to Pippin, not even to Frodo. If there is a safe enough place, put it away and tell no one where it is."
Merry frowned but nodded, hand covering his pocket.
"Most important of all, Meriadoc." Gandalf was grimly serious. "Never put it on. Until we know what it is capable of, we dare not risk it. Your mind loves mischief, but this is far worse than stealing fireworks or taking crops from hapless farmers. This is danger, simple and great. With the ring supposedly with a Baggins, perhaps the life you would risk with your indiscretion would be Frodo's."
Merry looked to Frodo and nodded again, his face rather pale.
"I will return as fast as I can," Gandalf finished, satisfied. "Remember. Keep it secret, and keep it safe." He met their eyes, each in turn. Frodo's wide blue eyes, grave with knowledge and worry. Merry's grey eyes, confused though still with lightness of heart shimmering within.
They both seemed to understand, and so he was a little more at ease when he nodded his goodbyes and strode to the door of the hole.
He could only hope to return and find these two hobbits and their new possession in much the same way he'd left them.
The door shut, and Gandalf was gone.
There was silence for a moment. Frodo's heart felt heavy with the urgency of Gandalf's leaving. He was confused, but he knew enough of lore and Gandalf's ways to know that this was shockingly serious. He felt, oddly enough, as if he was suddenly a character in one of those tales. A hapless character who wanders in and out without leaving an impact, yet still is contained in some great story.
He nearly smiled at the thought. "I think," he said suddenly, "that this birthday will stay in my memory for quite a while."
Merry laughed, turning to his cousin and clapping Frodo on the arm. "You've got the best birthday present of all, though. You get to have me as a houseguest. Luckiest hobbit in the whole Shire, you are."
Frodo returned the smile, his darker fears diminishing in the face of his cousin's ease. Merry as well as Pippin had always had the most contagious sort of optimism. "Bilbo would be most pleased to know the full scale of trouble he's caused."
"Doubtlessly." Merry grinned. "Someday you'll tell him, I think. But for now…" He turned back towards the hall leading to the guest rooms. "Now to make myself quite at home."
Frodo followed him with a chuckle. "When do you not?"