The two friends entered the green dragon and sure enough Merry and Pippin were sitting at their usual table in a small corner of the pub. They saw Sam and Frodo and grinned and waved madly. The two came and sat down with their friends.

"Frodo, Sam. We were wondering when you would come. Have a pint." Pippin said cheerfully.

"Just a half for me please." Sam said. Frodo walked over to the bar and got two half pints of ale. It was the best ale around, well, except for the Prancing Pony. Frodo took the drinks and went and sat back down.

"Do you remember that time at the Prancing Pony?" Frodo asked the others.

"Yes I remember, that was some good ale." Merry leaned back and sighed as if he could almost taste it.

"I remember Strider sitting in the corner alone smoking his pipe spying on us." Sam said

"Yes, I wonder how our old friend Strider is." Frodo said wistfully

"And Legolas and Gimli." Merry said.

"And dear old Gandalf, I have not heard from him for a long time." Sam said thoughtfully.

"I miss Galadriel's beautiful forest with leaves that shone in the sun and when it rained it smelt like everything was reborn..." Pippin trailed off.

"Whatever happened to Gandalf Frodo?" Merry asked.

Frodo thought for a minute. "I'm not sure; he was with us for a few months and then disappeared. I asked some of the elves but they told me not to ask such pressing questions so I didn't ask anymore. I haven't seen him since."

"How strange." Sam leaned back in his chair and thought. "Maybe he returned." Sam suggested hopefully.

"Maybe not Sam." Merry replied. The company sat in silence and thought of all the possibilities explaining Gandalf's disappearance. Eventually when Pippin had finished his fifth ale he decided to call it a night.

"I'm off now" he slurred. The others agreed with him and got up to leave. Pippin staggered and fell and Sam caught him. He looked to Frodo.

"We'd best take these two home safely." Sam sighed. He walked with Pippin and Frodo took Merry. The two drunken friends sang the usual song for when they had too much ale.

"Hey ho! To the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe
Rain may fall and wind may blow
But there still be
Many miles to go
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain
And the stream that falls
From hill to plain
Better than rain or rippling brook
Is a mug of beer inside this Took!"