Wow. Incredibly short chapter. I'm sorry but I thought this was better than nothing. I also wanted to move onto Merlin again but I needed to get some understanding between the hobbit and the wizard. Enjoy and as always, please review! XD
Bilbo felt that he had never waved goodbye so much before in his entire life. By the time he and Gandalf had created some distance between themselves and Rivendell, his arm was exhausted and his face physically hurting from all the thanks and smiles he had given to the friendly elves who had given him such a beautiful feast. Gandalf chuckled as he watched the little hobbit gently massage his cheeks while trying to catch up with the much larger wizard's strides.
"Bilbo, may I ask, why have you agreed to come with me this time? You are a changed hobbit but just … amuse me." Gandalf asked from his great height.
Bilbo pondered his question for a moment before looking up and answering with confidence. "I suppose that it's because … I've missed this. The adventure, the friendships, the experience and even sometimes the rough nights spent watching the stars. Without everything from before, I wouldn't have any of this. I helped the dwarves reclaim their kingdom abd made some life long discoveries and connections. I'm not sure if I'd said it before but thank you, Gandalf." Bilbo smiled gratefully.
Gandalf placed a weathered hand on his friend's shoulder and nodded happily. "It is only by sheer force of will, bravery and good luck at all that one could've done what you did. You, Mister Baggins, seem to possess a good deal more than that."
They walked in silence for a little while before Bilbo spoke up again, this time on an entirely different topic. "Are we going to walk all the way?" He asked, rather nervously.
"No, no, no. Elrond kindly organized for some horses and a pony to meet us just a little way ahead. You understand how difficult it would be for any large animal to walk into Rivendell." Gandalf said.
"Oh, yes of course." Bilbo agreed. He only hoped that in this adventure, the horses were going to be kept in use for a long period of time.
The sun began to rise on the horizon, turning the clouds a light grey, soft red or yellow by the time Bilbo figured to ask another important question. "Where are we going?"
"In the general direction of east. That is where the surge of magic came from. I am hoping that more surges will be sent our way again, but not too many." Gandalf answered wisely.
"Why not too many?" Bilbo asked curiously.
"Because, Mister Baggins, I won't have been the only one to have have felt such power. Others will be journeying there too. I just hope that we are not too far away." He replied.
"Do you know what it might be?"
"I have no idea but in anyway possible, it could be turned into a terrible weapon. However, I do not believe such powers could belong to any one man so there is no chance of easy access. It is hopefully hidden and protected well." Gandalf supplied.
They fell back into a silence but Gandalf was secretly hoping that his last statement was not true. If the owner of the magic really was human, then he was worried for both Middle Earth and the wielder. Dark times were coming.