A/N: and thus shall the reading start, sorry if some may act OC I'm doing my best here, but I told you that this was an Alternate Universe in a way for the shake of the story…

II. What will lay ahead

"The first chapter is called A Long-expected Party." she read out loud and the elflings immediately broke out in excited chatter about what sort of a party it could be, at least they stopped looking at each other unsurely as to how to start a conversation.

"Children, let Lady Celebrian read if you are so curious." come it from Miriel the Head Healer of Eryn Lesslagen and older sister to the passed away queen. The little group nodded and looked with expectations at Celebrian.

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End

Suddenly all five elves from the Green Wood tensed up, they knew that name, it was the name of a hobbit whom had only not long ago left they forest with the remaining dwarves leaving them with his share of the treasure and the dead dragon, some could say this was an extreme way to start a friendship between races, well namely a hobbit and elves. They strange behaviour didn't escape the others and Elrond was about to demand what was it again, but his father-in-law beat him to it as he leaned over Erestor and placed a hand on Thranduil's arm.

"What is it iar melon?" he asked gently at which Galadriel huffed silently, she never got along with that annoying elfling always clinging back then to the other's tunic, while Glorfindel shook his head, he could not understand how someone could call that arrogant elf a "friend".

"Not much, but that name…" he trailed of, but his son decided to help his ada by explnaining.

"He is a hobbit and ada's friend." little Legolas said proudly, not noticing the puzzled expressions most of the adults had, the younger ones looked curious.

"You and friends with a hobbit?" broke it out of Elrond before he could stop himself.

"Aya, ada called him "Elf-friend"." Legolas answered again not noticing the glare his father sent in the lord's direction to dare making fun of that or he would be sorry. It also might have helped that both Celeborn and his daughter bore the same expressions of threat before the latter continued.

announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday

"He is really young, isn't he?" asked little Rumil his two older brothers.

"In the case of his species is this age counting as a respectable old age." supplied Angränor, Thranduil's seneschal, a tall elf with black hair and a deep scar running down the left side of his face, even running over his piercing brown eyes which reminded anyone of amber the colour of wolf eyes. Well he was nicknamed the Black Wolf of the Green Wood so it all fit.

"Aiii." come it from the elflings.

with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and

excitement in Hobbiton.

"I should find out when it is and send him a fitting present." Thranduil thought while listening to the story, he was curious why he was called here to read these strange books, but something in the back of his mind seemed to tell him that he will hate most parts of it, but didn't know why.

Bilbo was very rich and very peculiar, and had been the wonder of the Shire for sixty years, ever since his remarkable disappearance and unexpected return.

At the barely concealed snorts form the Wood Elf party decided everyone that they would get the story out of them if it isn't in any of these books. They would not leave Imraldis till they got out with the whole thing.

The riches he had brought back from his travels had now become a local legend, and it was popularly believed, whatever the old folk might say, that the Hill at Bag End was full of tunnels stuffed with treasure.

"Now I truly believe that he is your friend king Thranduil." exclaimed Glorfindel, only a friend of such a stuck up peacock would have such rumours be spread about them.

"Care to elaborate on what made you finally accept my words Lord Glorfindel?" Thranduil asked in a strange tone, he was trying to hold back from yelling, there were elflings present, not to mention his son sitting in his lap.

"Nay." was the only reply he got from the grinning blonde.

And if that was not enough for fame, there was also his prolonged vigour to marvel at. Time wore on, but it seemed to have little effect on Mr. Baggins. At ninety he was much the same as at fifty. At ninety-nine they began to call him well - preserved, but unchanged would have been nearer the mark. There were some that shook their heads and thought this was too much of a good thing; it seemed unfair that anyone should possess –apparently- perpetual youth as well as -reputedly- inexhaustible wealth.

The younger ones looked confused at this, Second Born were truly strange, while some of the adults mostly Elrond, Glorfindel and Galadriel tried to not look in a certain king's direction who looked slightly confused at the book, his friend was worth both these things, he still bore the necklace made from silver and pearls he had given him as a parting present under his tunic.

'It will have to be paid for,' they said. 'It isn't natural, and trouble will come of it!'

But so far trouble had not come; and as Mr. Baggins was generous with his money, most people were willing to forgive him his oddities and his good fortune. He remained on visiting

terms with his relatives (except, of course, the Sackville-Bagginses), and he had many devoted admirers among the hobbits of poor and unimportant families.

"He sounds like a rally kind person." said Celebrian smiling, her daughter nodding eagerly in agreement.

"He truly is." said Miriel smiling as she remembered the first creature since long gaining the friendship of her brother-in-law, in a truly spectacular way, she only all to well remembered just how worried he was when they couldn't find Bilbo after the fight.

But he had no close friends, until some of his younger cousins began to grow up.

"That is sad if your real friends are to far away and you need to wait for younger family members to grow up to have some of them close." said Arwen in a sad tone, she could not imagine the feeling of loneliness…or peace.

The eldest of these, and Bilbo's favourite, was young Frodo Baggins. When Bilbo was ninety-nine, he adopted Frodo as his heir, and brought him to live at Bag End; and the hopes of the

Sackville-Bagginses were finally dashed. Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday, September 22nd.

"Sharing the same birthday is always fun." stated the twins proudly while Elrond smiled at them, he missed sharing his begettingday with Elros.

'You had better come and live here, Frodo my lad,' said Bilbo one

day; 'and then we can celebrate our birthday-parties comfortably together.' At that time Frodo was still in his -tweens,- as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three.

"That's so unjust!" the sudden yell of the younger elves made the adults jump and it took them nearly ten minutes to calm they complains abut why they needed to take so long to reach they maturity while others become adults much sooner. It was a lost cause because only Haldir and Legolas seemed to at least accept they explaining.

Twelve more years passed. Each year the Bagginses had given very lively combined birthday-parties at Bag End; but now it was understood that something quite exceptional was

being planned for that autumn. Bilbo was going to be -eleventy-one,- 111, a rather curious number and a very respectable age for a hobbit (the Old Took himself had only

reached 130); and Frodo was going to be -thirty-three,- 33) an important number: the date of his 'coming of age'.

This time were the groans and moaning of the children ignored, it was useless trying to explain it to them that with them being immortal they age more slower then the other living beings on Middle-Earth.

Tongues began to wag in Hobbiton and Bywater; and rumour of the coming event travelled all over the Shire. The history and character of Mr. Bilbo Baggins became once again the chief topic of conversation; and the older folk suddenly found their reminiscences in welcome demand. No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at -The Ivy Bush-, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke

with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in

the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3

Bagshot Row just below Bag End.

'A very nice well-spoken gentlehobbit is Mr. Bilbo, as I've always said,' the Gaffer declared. With perfect truth: for Bilbo was very polite to him, calling him 'Master Hamfast', and

consulting him constantly upon the growing of vegetables – in the matter of 'roots', especially potatoes, the Gaffer was recognized as the leading authority by all in the neighbourhood (including himself).

At this Thranduil nodded again, it seemed as if that strange little hobbit didn't change form the person he had met and become friends with in a really unlikely way.

'But what about this Frodo that lives with him?' asked Old Noakes of Bywater. 'Baggins is his name, but he's more than half a Brandybuck, they say. It beats me why any Baggins of

Hobbiton should go looking for a wife away there in Buckland, where folks are so queer.'

'And no wonder they're queer,' put in Daddy Twofoot (the Gaffer's next-door neighbour), 'if they live on the wrong side of the Brandywine River, and right agin the Old Forest. That's a

dark bad place, if half the tales be true.' 'You're right, Dad!' said the Gaffer. 'Not that the Brandybucks of Buck-land live –in- the Old Forest; but they're a queer breed, seemingly. They fool about with boats on that big river – and that isn't natural. Small wonder that trouble came of it, I say. But be that as it may, Mr. Frodo is as nice a young hobbit as you could wish to meet. Very much like Mr. Bilbo, and in more than looks.

"Then he is really a fine boy." added in Feanor Thranduil's chief counsellor. It become now truly apparent to everyone in the group that the Wood Elves really respected and liked this hobbit. They rally need to hear that story.

After all his father was a Baggins. A decent respectable hobbit was Mr. Drogo Baggins; there was never much to tell of him, till he was drownded.'

'Drownded?' said several voices.

As did the elves with the parents debatting if they should really let the children hear this, but one look at they eyes and they saw that it would be a lost argument if they tried now that they had begun. So taking a deep breath Celebrian continued, hoping that this part would be soon over.

They had heard this and other darker rumours before, of course; but hobbits have a

passion for family history, and they were ready to hear it again. 'Well, so they say,' said the Gaffer. 'You see: Mr. Drogo, he married poor Miss Primula Brandybuck. She was our Mr. Bilbo's first cousin on the mother's side (her mother being the youngest of the Old Took's daughters); and Mr. Drogo was his second cousin. So Mr. Frodo is his first and second cousin, once removed either way, as the saying is, if you follow me.

Erestor held back a goran as he spotted three pair of eyes stare expectingly in his direction, he would later need to explain how elves never married kin this close.

And Mr. Drogo was staying at Brandy Hall with his father-in-law, old Master Gorbadoc, as he often did after his marriage (him being partial to his vittles, and old Gorbadoc keeping a mighty

generous table); and he went out boating on the Brandywine River; and he and his wife were drownded, and poor Mr. Frodo only a child and all. '

"That poor thing." said Celebrian sadly as she watched her children crawl closer to they father, she also noted how Legolas clung much stronger to his father who had laid his hands protectively around him. Then her gaze fell on the three young elves, her mother had told her that they were orphans, she felt sad, but also a bit relieved as she watched her father pat Haldir on the head while both Orophin and Rumil were sitting by her mother.

'I've heard they went on the water after dinner in the moonlight,' said Old Noakes; 'and it was Drogo's weight as sunk the boat.' 'And I heard she pushed him in, and he pulled her in after

him,' said Sandyman, the Hobbiton miller. 'You shouldn't listen to all you hear, Sandyman,' said the Gaffer, who did not much like the miller. 'There isn't no call to go talking of pushing and pulling. Boats are quite tricky enough for those that sit still without looking further for the cause of trouble. Anyway: there was this Mr. Frodo left an orphan and stranded, as you might say, among those queer Bucklanders, being brought up anyhow in Brandy Hall. A regular warren, by all accounts. Old Master Gorbadoc never had fewer than a couple of hundred relations in the place. Mr. Bilbo never did a kinder deed than when he brought the lad back to live among decent folk.

'But I reckon it was a nasty shock for those Sackville-Bagginses. They thought they were going to get Bag End, that time when he went off and was thought to be dead. And then he comes back and orders them off; and he goes on living and living, and never looking a day older, bless him! And suddenly he produces an heir, and has all the papers made out proper.

The Sackville-Bagginses won't never see the inside of Bag End now, or it is to be hoped not.'

'There's a tidy bit of money tucked away up there, I hear tell,' said a stranger, a visitor on business from Michel Delving in the Westfarthing. 'All the top of your hill is full of tunnels packed with chests of gold and silver, and jools, by what I've heard. '

'Then you've heard more than I can speak to,' answered the Gaffer. I know nothing about jools. Mr. Bilbo is free with his money, and there seems no lack of it; but I know of no tunnelmaking.

I saw Mr. Bilbo when he came back, a matter of sixty years ago, when I was a lad. I'd not long come prentice to old Holman (him being my dad's cousin), but he had me up at Bag End helping him to keep folks from trampling and trapessing all over the garden while the sale was on. And in the middle of it all Mr. Bilbo comes up the Hill with a pony and some mighty big

bags and a couple of chests. I don't doubt they were mostly full of treasure he had picked up in foreign parts, where there be mountains of gold, they say; but there wasn't enough to fill

tunnels.

"We have tried making him agree to take one of our horses so that he could carry more, but he was adamant that he only takes as much of his share as much his pony can carry." said Thranduil fondly while shaking his head.

"I remember that argument between the two of you, it was certainly a sight to behold." said the general smirking while Legolas giggled at the memory, they needed to give uncle Bilbo a chair so that he could argue with his ada eye to eye. Not something you see every day.

"I will certainly find out the story behind this." whispered Elrond to Glorfindel who nodded.

"You are not the only one wanting to hear that." come the reply.

But my lad Sam will know more about that. He's in and out of Bag End. Crazy about stories of the old days he is, and he listens to all Mr. Bilbo's tales. Mr. Bilbo has learned him his

letters – meaning no harm, mark you, and I hope no harm will come of it.

'Elves and Dragons'

All heads snapped immediately to the five Wood Elves who were doing they best to look indifferent while avoiding everyone's gazes.

"Dragons?" Elrond brought out faintly while the eyes of the elflings gleamed with excitement, the twins making plans on grabbing the blonde prince if he is out of his ada's vicinity and try getting the tale out of him.

"Celebrian please continue or we will sit here till the morning." said Thranduil trying to change the topic. The lady nodded, but reluctantly, just what had happened in that forest.

I says to him. 'Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don't go getting mixed up

in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you,'I says to him. And I might say it to others,' he added with a look at the stranger and the miller. But the Gaffer did not convince his audience. The legend of Bilbo's wealth was now too firmly fixed in the minds of the younger generation of hobbits. 'Ah, but he has likely enough been adding to what he

brought at first,' argued the miller, voicing common opinion. 'He's often away from home. And look at the outlandish folk that visit him: dwarves coming at night, and that old wandering

conjuror, Gandalf, and all.

"Those dwarves had a really annoying tendency to them and Mithrandir was no better." murred the king while stroking his sons hair, he was still sore about the trespassing part and the refusal to explain, beside the disturbal of they feast, while now it was Glorfindel leaning closer to Elrond.

"Could I suggest drugging they tea?" he whispered.

"If that doesn't work we can still ad some to they food." replied the lord back.

You can say what you like, Gaffer, but Bag End's a queer place, and its folk are queerer.'

'And you can say what you like, about what you know no more of than you do of boating, Mr. Sandyman,' retorted the Gaffer, disliking the miller even more than usual. If that's being queer, then we could do with a bit more queerness in these parts. There's some not far away that wouldn't offer a pint of beer to a friend, if they lived in a hole with golden walls. But they do things proper at Bag End. Our Sam says that everyone's going to be invited to the party, and there's going to be presents, mark you, presents for all – this very month as is.'

That very month was September, and as fine as you could ask. A day or two later a rumour (probably started by the knowledgeable Sam) was spread about that there were going

to be fireworks

At the word 'fireworks' lit the twins eyes up while everyone from Imraldis let out a groan at the questioning gazes of they guest decided Erestor to elaborate.

"Those two got they hands on Mithrandir's fireworks and did they private party with them, only problem was that they lost control of them when lighting and they flew in on the open windows into the bedchambers. It was a new type of experience waking up to." explained Erestor to they wide eyed visitors while four of those thanked the Valar that even thought they prince could be reckless and a handful sometimes, he never pulled such stunts.

"Elladan, Elrohir, you both are still banned form those." Elrond warned his children who at least had the grace to look ashamed. He was sure that he had a heart attack as that particularly large blue cracker exploded in the middle of his bedroom. Not something you wish waking up to at one in the morning.

- fireworks, what is more, such as had not been seen in the Shire for nigh on a century, not indeed since the Old Took died.

"But those are great." said Elrohir, but immediately went still when catching his ada's gaze.

Days passed and The Day drew nearer. An odd-looking waggon laden with odd-looking packages rolled into Hobbiton one evening and toiled up the Hill to Bag End. The startled

hobbits peered out of lamplit doors to gape at it. It was driven by outlandish folk, singing strange songs: dwarves with long beards and deep hoods. A few of them remained at Bag End.

At the end of the second week in September a cart came in through Bywater from the direction of the Brandywine Bridge in broad daylight. An old man was driving it all alone. He wore a

tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, and a silver scarf.

"Mithrandir" they all said in unions, you really couldn't miss him with his looks.

He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat. Small hobbit-children ran after the cart all through Hobbiton and right up the hill. It had a cargo of

fireworks, as they rightly guessed. At Bilbo's front door the old man began to unload: there were great bundles of fireworks of all sorts and shapes, each labelled with a large red G and the

elf-rune, .

Glorfindel paled at the name of the last one, he was the most unfortunate from the victims of that night because in his case landed the rocked right on his bed. He was deaf for four days and after that was over for two more weeks had he some nightmares about his bed exploding with him.

That was Gandalf's mark, of course, and the old man was Gandalf the Wizard, whose fame in the Shire was due mainly to his skill with fires, smokes, and lights. His real business was far

more difficult and dangerous, but the Shire-folk knew nothing about it. To them he was just one of the 'attractions' at the Party. Hence the excitement of the hobbit-children. 'G for

Grand!' they shouted, and the old man smiled. They knew him by sight, though he only appeared in Hobbiton occasionally and never stopped long; but neither they nor any but the

oldest of their elders had seen one of his firework displays – they now belonged to the legendary past.

When the old man, helped by Bilbo and some dwarves, had finished unloading. Bilbo gave a few pennies away; but not a single squib or cracker was forthcoming, to the disappointment

of the onlookers.

'Run away now!' said Gandalf. 'You will get plenty when the time comes.' Then he disappeared inside with Bilbo, and the door was shut. The young hobbits stared at the door in vain for

a while, and then made off, feeling that the day of the party

would never come.

Inside Bag End, Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the open window of a small room looking out west on to the garden. The late afternoon was bright and peaceful. The flowers glowed

red and golden: snap-dragons and sun-flowers, and nasturtiums trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.

'How bright your garden looks!' said Gandalf.

'Yes,' said Bilbo. I am very fond indeed of it, and of all the

dear old Shire; but I think I need a holiday.'

'You mean to go on with your plan then?'

"I'm curious about what he is planning." muttered Thranduil to himself.

'I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.'

'Very well. It is no good saying any more. Stick to your plan – your whole plan, mind – and I hope it will turn out for the best, for you, and for all of us.'

Some of the adults looked at the book more intensively, they had picked up that there was an implication to something, but to what they didn't know.

'I hope so. Anyway I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday, and have my little joke.'

'Who will laugh, I wonder?' said Gandalf, shaking his head.

'We shall see,' said Bilbo.

The next day more carts rolled up the Hill, and still more carts. There might have been some grumbling about 'dealing locally', but that very week orders began to pour out of Bag

End for every kind of provision, commodity, or luxury that could be obtained in Hobbiton or Bywater or anywhere in the neighbourhood. People became enthusiastic; and they began

to tick off the days on the calendar; and they watched eagerly for the postman, hoping for invitations.

Before long the invitations began pouring out, and the Hobbiton post-office was blocked, and the Bywater post-office was snowed under, and voluntary assistant postmen were called for. There was a constant stream of them going up the Hill, carrying hundreds of polite variations on Thank you, I shallcertainly come.

A notice appeared on the gate at Bag End: NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON PARTY BUSINESS. Even those who had, or pretended to have Party Business were seldom allowed

inside. Bilbo was busy: writing invitations, ticking off answers, packing up presents, and making some private preparations of his own. From the time of Gandalf's arrival he remained hidden

from view.

One morning the hobbits woke to find the large field, south of Bilbo's front door, covered with ropes and poles for tents and pavilions. A special entrance was cut into the bank leading to

the road, and wide steps and a large white gate were built there. The three hobbit-families of Bagshot Row, adjoining the field, were intensely interested and generally envied. Old Gaffer Gamgee stopped even pretending to work in his garden.

"They have probably never seen an elven party." said Elladan to his twin who nodded.

"And you certainly never saw a party the Wood Elf way, I seem to remember there a case where your ada and Lord Glorfindel needed to be literally picked up from under the table." Thranduil said smirking as many curious elfling eyes stared at the two furiously blushing lords.

"I had warned you to drink they wine carefully and not too much of it because it would be to strong for you, but neither of you listened." said Celeborn in a scolding manner which only caused the two male elves to blush even further.

"They will never let me live that one down." groaned Elrond and to make it worse it was no one other then Gil-Galad who needed to gather his giggling, hiccupping and falsely singing Herald together from under the table.

"At least was it better in my case." he heard Glorfindel say.

"How come?" Elrond asked in confusion.

"Well, I don't have a wife to begin glaring at me disapprovingly and also don't have three elflings staring at they strict ada for getting drunk like that." as he finished could the dark haired peredhel only groan when he noticed the four gazes directed in his direction.

The tents began to go up. There was a specially large pavilion, so big that the tree that grew in the field was right inside it, and stood proudly near one end, at the head of the chief table. Lanterns were hung on all its branches. More promising still (to the hobbits' mind): an enormous open-air kitchen was erected in the north corner of the field. A draught of cooks, from every inn and eating-house for miles around, arrived to supplement the dwarves and other odd folk that were quartered at Bag End. Excitement rose to its height. Then the weather clouded over. That was on Wednesday the eve of the Party. Anxiety was intense. Then Thursday, September the 22nd, actually dawned. The sun got up, the clouds vanished, flags were unfurled and the fun began. Bilbo Baggins called it a party, but it was really a variety of

entertainments rolled into one. Practically everybody living near was invited. A very few were overlooked by accident, but as they turned up all the same, that did not matter. Many people from other parts of the Shire were also asked; and there were even a few from outside the borders. Bilbo met the guests (and additions) at the new white gate in person. He gave away presents to all and sundry – the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate. Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays. Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system. Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year it was somebody's birthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week. But they never got tired of them.

"We will not estabilise that rule." come it form Elrond, Thranduil, Celeborn and Galadriel at the same time before the kids could even attempt asking.

On this occasion the presents were unusually good. The hobbit-children were so excited that for a while they almost forgot about eating. There were toys the like of which they had never seen before, all beautiful and some obviously magical. Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before, and had come all the way from the Mountain and from Dale, and were of real dwarf-make.

When every guest had been welcomed and was finally inside the gate, there were songs, dances, music, games, and, of course, food and drink. There were three official meals: lunch, tea, and dinner (or supper). But lunch and tea were marked chiefly by the fact that at those times all the guests were sitting down and eating together. At other times there were merely lots of people eating and drinking – continuously from elevenses until six-thirty, when the fireworks started.

The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him; and the special effects, set pieces, and flights of rockets were let off by him. But there was also a generous distribution of squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps. They were all superb. The art of Gandalf improved with age.

There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices. There were green trees with trunks of dark smoke: their leaves opened like a whole spring unfolding in a

moment, and their shining branches dropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits, disappearing with a sweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces. There

were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees;

"Considering form your sigh was it this the one which you had the fortune to met on a closer inspection." whispered Thranduil to Erestor.

"Aya, I seem to have been fortunate on this mishmash." he said with a little smile which the king returned.

"It must have been a sight to be hold to be surrounded by them." Thranduil continued they little chat.

"It was and experience to remember as was Glorfindel screaming like an elleth." at this both chuckled earning a few raised eyebrows from those sitting farther away while Celeborn and the trio from Green Wood exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a

forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes.

"You don't know how long it took me to stop Maera from leaving after that landed in her bedchamber." Elrond groaned at the memory as he desperately tried to get the cook to stay.

And there was also one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceedingly, as Gandalf intended. The lights went out. A great smoke went up. It shaped itself like a mountain seen in the distance, and began to glow at the summit. It spouted green and scarlet flames. Out flew a red-golden dragon – not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, and many fell flat on their faces. The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion.

And there were those fond grins again which unnerved most of the noldorins present.

'That is the signal for supper!' said Bilbo. The pain and alarm vanished at once, and the prostrate hobbits leaped to their feet. There was a splendid supper for everyone; for everyone,

that is, except those invited to the special family dinner-party. This was held in the great pavilion with the tree. The invitations were limited to twelve dozen (a number also called by the hobbits one Gross, though the word was not considered proper to use of people); and the guests were selected from all the families to which Bilbo and Frodo were related, with the addition of a few special unrelated friends (such as Gandalf). Many young hobbits were included, and present by parental permission; for hobbits were easy-going with their children in the matter of sitting up late, especially when there was a chance of getting them a free meal.

"Not as long as I live." said all parents in perfect sincro, they children kept them up as babes enough at nights thank you very much.

Bringing up young hobbits took a lot of provender.

There were many Bagginses and Boffins, and also many Tooks and Brandybucks; there were various Grubbs (relations of Bilbo Baggins' grandmother), and various Chubbs (connexions

of his Took grandfather); and a selection of Burrowses, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Brockhouses, Goodbodies, Hornblowers and Proudfoots. Some of these were only very distantly connected

with Bilbo, and some of them had hardly ever been in Hobbiton before, as they lived in remote corners of the Shire. The Sackville-Bagginses were not forgotten. Otho and his wife

Lobelia were present. They disliked Bilbo and detested Frodo, but so magnificent was the invitation card, written in golden ink, that they had felt it was impossible to refuse. Besides, their

cousin, Bilbo, had been specializing in food for many years and his table had a high reputation.

"Golden ink?" they all knew only one person who used such an ink.

"Ai, seems as if he made good use of it." was the king's only reply.

All the one hundred and forty-four guests expected a pleasant feast; though they rather dreaded the after-dinner speech of their host (an inevitable item). He was liable to drag in bits of what he called poetry; and sometimes, after a glass or two, would allude to the absurd adventures of his mysterious journey.

"I would say the company was really a bit absurd that I need to admit, but not the adventure." stated Angränor.

The guests were not disappointed: they had a very pleasant feast, in fact an engrossing entertainment: rich, abundant, varied, and prolonged. The purchase of provisions

fell almost to nothing throughout the district in the ensuing weeks; but as Bilbo's catering had depleted the stocks of most stores, cellars and warehouses for miles around, that did not

matter much.

After the feast (more or less) came the Speech. Most of the company were, however, now in a tolerant mood, at that delightful stage which they called 'filling up the corners'. They

were sipping their favourite drinks, and nibbling at their favourite dainties, and their fears were forgotten. They were prepared to listen to anything, and to cheer at every full stop.

'My dear People, began Bilbo, rising in his place. 'Hear! Hear! Hear!' they shouted, and kept on repeating it in chorus, seeming reluctant to follow their own advice. Bilbo left his place and went and stood on a chair under the illuminated tree. The light of the lanterns fell on his beaming face; the golden buttons shone on his embroidered silk waistcoat. They

could all see him standing, waving one hand in the air, the other was in his trouser-pocket.

My dear Bagginses and Boffins, he began again; and my dear Tooks and Brandybucks, and Grubbs, and Chubbs, and Burrowses, and Hornblowers, and Bolgers, Bracegirdles,

Goodbodies, Brockhouses and Proudfoots. 'ProudFEET!' shouted an elderly hobbit from the back of the pavilion. His name, of course, was Proudfoot, and well merited; his feet

were large, exceptionally furry, and both were on the table.

roudfoots, repeated Bilbo. Also my good Sackville- Bagginses that I welcome back at last to Bag End. Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday: I am eleventy-one today! 'Hurray! Hurray! Many Happy Returns!' they shouted, and they hammered joyously on the tables. Bilbo was doing splendidly. This was the sort of stuff they liked: short and obvious. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am. Deafening cheers. Cries of Yes (and No). Noises of trumpets and horns, pipes and flutes, and other musical instruments. There were, as has been said, many young hobbits present. Hundreds of musical crackers had been pulled. Most of them bore the mark DALE on them; which did not convey much to most of the hobbits, but they all agreed they were marvellous crackers. They contained instruments, small, but of perfect

make and enchanting tones. Indeed, in one corner some of the young Tooks and Brandybucks, supposing Uncle Bilbo to have finished (since he had plainly said all that was necessary),

now got up an impromptu orchestra, and began a merry dance-tune. Master Everard Took and Miss Melilot Brandybuck got on a table and with bells in their hands began to dance

the Springle-ring: a pretty dance, but rather vigorous. But Bilbo had not finished. Seizing a horn from a youngster near by, he blew three loud hoots. The noise subsided. I shall

not keep you long, he cried. Cheers from all the assembly. I have called you all together for a Purpose. Something in the way that he said this made an impression. There was almost

silence, and one or two of the Tooks pricked up their ears. Indeed, for Three Purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that eleventy-one years is too

short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. Tremendous outburst of approval.

I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. This was unexpected and rather difficult. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment.

Secondly, to celebrate my birthday. Cheers again. I should say: OUR birthday. For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew, Frodo. He comes of age and into his inheritance today. Some perfunctory clapping by the elders; and some loud shouts of 'Frodo! Frodo! Jolly old Frodo,' from the juniors. The Sackville-Bagginses scowled, and wondered what was meant by 'coming into his inheritance'. Together we score one hundred and forty-four. Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total: One Gross, if I may use the

expression. No cheers. This was ridiculous. Many of his guests, and especially the Sackville-Bagginses, were insulted, feeling sure they had only been asked to fill up the required number,

like goods in a package. 'One Gross, indeed! Vulgar expression.'

Miriel glared at her king and brother-in-law as if to tell him to not show amusement about this in front of the prince.

It is also, if I may be allowed to refer to ancient history, the anniversary of my arrival by barrel at Esgaroth on the Long Lake; though the fact that it was my birthday slipped my

memory on that occasion. I was only fifty-one then, and birthdays did not seem so important. The banquet was very splendid, however, though I had a bad cold at the time, I remember, and could only say 'thag you very buch'. I now repeat it more correctly: Thank you very much for coming to my little party. Obstinate silence. They all feared that a song or some poetry was now imminent; and they were getting bored. Why couldn't he stop talking and let them drink his health? But Bilbo did not sing or recite. He paused for a moment.

Everyone looked at the book waithing what Bilbo was about to say.

Thirdly and finally, he said, I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT. He spoke this last word so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who still could. I regret to announce that – though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you – this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!

"WHAT!" yelled Thranduil startling everyone except the ones who come with him and Celeborn. "Bilbo, what are you planning meldir." he said in a disbelieving tone while Legolas was gesturing to the other kids that this was a normal by his ada so no need to panic.

"I think it will be soon explained." said Galadriel in a disapproving tone.

"Well excuse me that I'm concerned about a friend." Thranduil shoot back as Celeborn stepped in.

"Peace, let Celebrian continue." he said while looking at both elves who nodded, albeit not before sending a glare to one another for one last time.

"And this is a second story we need to find out." added in Glorfindel to a confused Elrond.

He stepped down and vanished. There was a blinding flash of light, and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen. One hundred and fortyfour

flabbergasted hobbits sat back speechless. Old Odo Proudfoot removed his feet from the table and stamped. Then there was a dead silence, until suddenly, after several deep breaths, every Baggins, Boffin, Took, Brandybuck, Grubb, Chubb, Burrows, Bolger, Bracegirdle, Brockhouse, Goodbody, Hornblower, and Proudfoot began to talk at once.

"Just what are you planning to do mellonen?" asked Thranduil silently.

It was generally agreed that the joke was in very bad taste, and more food and drink were needed to cure the guests of shock and annoyance.

"Just how can one eat so much?" Orophin asked in confusion.

"Different races have different cultures and ways in doing things." explained Celeborn gently to the young elf who nodded.

'He's mad. I always said so,'

At this received the book some glares from those knowing Bilbo and not liking the comment at all, he was an odd creature, but not mad.

was probably the most popular comment. Even the Tooks (with a few exceptions) thought Bilbo's behaviour was absurd. For the moment most of them took it for granted that his disappearance was nothing more than a ridiculous prank.

But old Rory Brandybuck was not so sure.

"At least one of them has some inkling of sense." grumbled Thranduil defensively.

Neither age nor an enormous dinner had clouded his wits, and he said to his daughter-in-law, Esmeralda: 'There's something fishy in this, my dear! I believe that mad Baggins is off again. Silly old fool. But why worry? He hasn't taken the vittles with him.' He called loudly to Frodo to send the wine round again.

Frodo was the only one present who had said nothing. For some time he had sat silent beside Bilbo's empty chair, and ignored all remarks and questions. He had enjoyed the joke, of

course, even though he had been in the know. He had difficulty in keeping from laughter at the indignant surprise of the guests. But at the same time he felt deeply troubled: he

realized suddenly that he loved the old hobbit dearly. Most of the guests went on eating and drinking and discussing Bilbo Baggins' oddities, past and present; but the Sackville-Bagginses

had already departed in wrath. Frodo did not want to have any more to do with the party. He gave orders for more wine to be served; then he got up and drained his own glass silently to

the health of Bilbo, and slipped out of the pavilion.

As for Bilbo Baggins, even while he was making his speech, he had been fingering the golden ring in his pocket:

Little Legolas felt his ada suddenly tense, his hands giving a slight tremble, looking around he saw all adults do the same and stare at the book, they eyes showing worry, as if they would be scared of something. Snuggling closer to the warm chest tried the princeling to give some comfort for the worry he didn't know about.

Meanwhile was worry making its way through all adults and both Elrond and Galadriel touched they rings unconsciously. It couldn't be that…

his magic ring that he had kept secret for so many years. As he stepped down he slipped it on his finger, and he was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again.

Now even the other children could sense the strange tension hanging in the air and it made them worry.

He walked briskly back to his hole, and stood for a moment listening with a smile to the din in the pavilion and to the sounds of merrymaking in other parts of the field. Then he went in. He

took off his party clothes, folded up and wrapped in tissuepaper his embroidered silk waistcoat, and put it away. Then he put on quickly some old untidy garments, and fastened round his waist a worn leather belt. On it he hung a short sword in a battered black-leather scabbard. From a locked drawer, smelling of moth-balls, he took out an old cloak and hood.

They had been locked up as if they were very precious, but they were so patched and weatherstained that their original colour could hardly be guessed: it might have been dark

green. They were rather too large for him.

For a few minutes the tension eased again as the kings group smiled about the fact that he held the cloak in such high regard that he had kept it for all those years while the others noted the past colour of the item and could guess from where it might have come from.

He then went into his study, and from a large strong-box took out a bundle wrapped in old cloths, and a leather-bound manuscript; and also a large bulky envelope. The book and bundle he stuffed into the top of a heavy bag that was standing there, already nearly full. Into the envelope he slipped his golden ring,

The kids were really confused, why were the adults acting so strange because of a ring? Most of them wore one so what was the problem with it?

and its fine chain, and then sealed it, and addressed it to Frodo. At first he put it on the mantelpiece, but suddenly he removed it and stuck it in his pocket. At that moment the door opened and Gandalf came quickly in.

'Hullo!' said Bilbo. 'I wondered if you would turn up.' 'I am glad to find you visible,'

All adult elves tensed again, dark memories trying to force themselves back into they minds from the depths they had banned them so long ago.

"Seas, no don't let it be…" Elrond said faintly.

"Bilbo… mellonen, get away form that accursed thing…" come it from Thranduil who had let his head drop, his face hidden by a curtain of long blonde hair.

"It could be only a horrifying coincidence." said Glorfindel his emotions of worry, anger, horror, relief, joy and excitement battling with each other.

"Continue iel nín." said Celeborn to his child, one hand reaching over Erestor to hold that of the king, while his other held out to his wife. They were all dreading for what was about to come, then there were to much coincidences for it to not be the real thing.

Suddenly had the title 'The Lord of the Rings' become clear for them as the memory of the prophecy come back to they minds in a haunting voice "One Ring to rule them all…".

replied the wizard, sitting down in a chair, 'I wanted to catch you and have a few final words. I suppose you feel that everything has gone off splendidly and according to plan?'

'Yes, I do,' said Bilbo. "Though that flash was surprising: it quite startled me, let alone the others. A little addition of your own, I suppose?'

It was. You have wisely kept that ring secret all these years, and it seemed to me necessary to give your guests something else that would seem to explain your sudden vanishment.'

'And would spoil my joke. You are an interfering old busybody,' laughed Bilbo, 'but I expect you know best, as usual.'

'I do – when I know anything. But I don't feel too sure about this whole affair. It has now come to the final point. You have had your joke, and alarmed or offended most of your relations,

and given the whole Shire something to talk about for nine days, or ninety-nine more likely. Are you going any further?'

The children chuckled at this, but they parents and guardians all remained stone faced.

'Yes, I am. I feel I need a holiday, a very long holiday, as I have told you before. Probably a permanent holiday: I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I don't mean to, and I have made

all arrangements.

'I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed!' he snorted. 'Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean:

like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something.'

Gandalf looked curiously and closely at him. 'No, it does not seem right,' he said thoughtfully. 'No, after all I believe your plan is probably the best.'

'Well, I've made up my mind, anyway. I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains, and then find somewhere where I can rest. In peace and quiet, without a lot of relatives prying around, and a string of confounded visitors hanging on the bell.

"Or counsellors breaking your office door in, right ada?" asked little Legolas smiling as he attempted to chare his father up, it seemed to work because the king smiled and poor Feanor blushed at the mentioning of the incident.

"Ai, you are then truly lucky híren that Erestor was till now never that desperate for you to sign a document." joked Glorfindel at which he received the dark gazes of the two mentioned elves.

I might find somewhere where I can finish my book. I have thought of a nice ending for it: and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days. '

Gandalf laughed. I hope he will. But nobody will read the book, however it ends.'

"I wonder what that book is about." commented Haldir curiously.

"I hope he thinks about visiting us." Miriel said, it would make the king happy.

'Oh, they may, in years to come. Frodo has read some already, as far as it has gone. You'll keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?'

'Yes, I will – two eyes, as often as I can spare them.'

'He would come with me, of course, if I asked him. In fact he offered to once, just before the party. But he does not really want to, yet. I want to see the wild country again before I die,

and the Mountains; but he is still in love with the Shire, with woods and fields and little rivers. He ought to be comfortable here. I am leaving everything to him, of course, except a few oddments. I hope he will be happy, when he gets used to being on his own. It's time he was his own master now.'

'Everything?' said Gandalf. 'The ring as well? You agreed to that, you remember.'

"HE KNEW AOBUT WHER IT WAS!" yelled the angered adult elves.

"Don't you think that the adults are acting a bit strange?" asked Orophin as he leaned closer to the twins.

"Yes, they are freaking out about a ring." agreed Elrohir, but Elladan was looking intently at the adults together with Haldir, there was more to this then they knew at the moment.

'Well, er, yes, I suppose so,' stammered Bilbo.

'Where is it?'

'In an envelope, if you must know,' said Bilbo impatiently. 'There on the mantelpiece. Well, no! Here it is in my pocket!' He hesitated. 'Isn't that odd now?' he said softly to himself. 'Yet after all, why not? Why shouldn't it stay there?'

"Just get rind of that evil thing." hissed Thranduil as he remembered all the losses they had because of that thing, it already cost the life of his father, he didn't wish to loose a friend also to its dark power.

Gandalf looked again very hard at Bilbo, and there was a gleam in his eyes. 'I think, Bilbo,' he said quietly, 'I should leave it behind. Don't you want to?'

'Well yes – and no. Now it comes to it, I don't like parting with it at all, I may say. And I don't really see why I should. Why do you want me to?' he asked, and a curious change came over

his voice. It was sharp with suspicion and annoyance.

The adults let they heads drop, hearts sinking, it was now confirmed what they have feared. The darkness would soon return.

"He has a strong will and spirit for being able to hold out for such long with it near him." Celeborn said in a reassuring tone to the elf with whom he had so often spent time with in his youth and considered his little brother.

"Aya." replied Thranduil with a faint smile.

"I need to agree, many had become twisted creatures after a short time in the presence of that ring, but seems to still be in most parts fine, if nothing his constant acts of kindness should be and indication to go by." added Erestor with a little smile of his own.

'You are always badgering me about my ring; but you have never bothered me about the other things that I got on my journey.'

'No, but I had to badger you,' said Gandalf. 'I wanted the truth. It was important. Magic rings are – well, magical;

Even thought the situation was tense could no one hold back a snort at the sentence.

And they are rare and curious. I was professionally interested in your ring, you may say; and I still am. I should like to know where it is, if you go wandering again. Also I think you have had it quite long enough. You won't need it any more. Bilbo, unless I am quite mistaken.'

"If it would have been properly destroyed then we would not need to deal with it." growled Thranduil as he sent a glare at a guilty looking Elrond who could only nod sadly. He should have made sure that Isildur destroyed it or have done it himself.

Bilbo flushed, and there was an angry light in his eyes. His kindly face grew hard.

"This is the dark power of that ring, it taints the soul of others wearing it who are not its master." explained Feanor to the younglings who nodded fearfully, they didn't like that ring, it made people scary.

'Why not?' he cried. 'And what business is it of yours, anyway, to know what I do with my own things? It is my own. I found it. It came to me.'

"That insolent mortal could not even get his duty done properly." Thranduil growled as he held his child close, the darkness tainting thy home was growing with each passing year costing the life of many of his people, his queen included.

'Yes, yes,' said Gandalf. 'But there is no need to get angry.'

'If I am it is your fault,' said Bilbo. 'It is mine, I tell you. My own. My precious. Yes, my precious.'

The wizard's face remained grave and attentive, and only a flicker in his deep eyes showed that he was startled and indeed alarmed. 'It has been called that before,' he said, 'but not by you.'

'But I say it now. And why not? Even if Gollum said the same once. It's not his now, but mine. And I shall keep it, I say.'

Gandalf stood up. He spoke sternly. 'You will be a fool if you do. Bilbo,' he said. 'You make that clearer with every word you say. It has got far too much hold on you. Let it go! And then

you can go yourself, and be free.'

Everyone nodded in agrement at the sugestion.

'I'll do as I choose and go as I please,' said Bilbo obstinately.

'Now, now, my dear hobbit! ' said Gandalf. 'All your long life we have been friends, and you owe me something. Come! Do as you promised: give it up! '

"Bilbo, just give it up already, seas." Thranduil moaned while leaning back slightly, it was for most who only rarely saw him to see the prod king so distraught, but they didn't know about the hardship which had befallen thy forest through the Necromancer.

'Well, if you want my ring yourself, say so!' cried Bilbo. 'But you won't get it. I won't give my precious away, I tell you.' His hand strayed to the hilt of his small sword.

Gandalf's eyes flashed. It will be my turn to get angry soon,' he said. If you say that again, I shall. Then you will see Gandalf the Grey uncloaked.' He took a step towards the hobbit, and

he seemed to grow tall and menacing; his shadow filled the little room.

Bilbo backed away to the wall, breathing hard, his hand clutching at his pocket. They stood for a while facing one another, and the air of the room tingled. Gandalf's eyes

remained bent on the hobbit. Slowly his hands relaxed, and he began to tremble.

'I don't know what has come over you, Gandalf,' he said. 'You have never been like this before. What is it all about? It is mine isn't it? I found it, and Gollum would have killed me, if I hadn't kept it. I'm not a thief, whatever he said.'

'I have never called you one,' Gandalf answered. 'And I am not one either. I am not trying to rob you, but to help you. I wish you would trust me, as you used.' He turned away, and the

shadow passed. He seemed to dwindle again to an old grey man, bent and troubled.

Bilbo drew his hand over his eyes. I am sorry,' he said. 'But I felt so queer. And yet it would be a relief in a way not to be bothered with it any more. It has been so growing on my mind lately. Sometimes I have felt it was like an eye looking at me.

They blanched again, the memories of the last war now fighting even harder to resurface with all they dark pictures of grief, loss, death, blood and falmes.

And I am always wanting to put it on and disappear, don't you know; or wondering if it is safe, and pulling it out to make sure. I tried locking it up, but I found I couldn't rest without it in my

pocket. I don't know why. And I don't seem able to make up my mind.'

'Then trust mine,' said Gandalf. 'It is quite made up. Go away and leave it behind. Stop possessing it. Give it to Frodo, and I will look after him.'

Bilbo stood for a moment tense and undecided. Presently he sighed. 'All right,' he said with an effort. I will.' Then he shrugged his shoulders, and smiled rather ruefully. 'After all that's what this party business was all about, really: to give away lots of birthday presents, and somehow make it easier to give it away at the same time. It hasn't made it any easier in the end, but it would be a pity to waste all my preparations. It would quite spoil the joke.'

'Indeed it would take away the only point I ever saw in the affair,' said Gandalf.

'Very well,' said Bilbo, 'it goes to Frodo with all the rest.' He drew a deep breath. 'And now I really must be starting, or somebody else will catch me. I have said good-bye, and I couldn't bear to do it all over again.' He picked up his bag and moved to the door.

'You have still got the ring in your pocket,' said the wizard.

In any other situation would have some members of the group laughed, but not this time, they all felt a dangerus feeling of dread descending on them.

'Well, so I have!' cried Bilbo. 'And my will and all the other documents too. You had better take it and deliver it for me. That will be safest.'

'No, don't give the ring to me,' said Gandalf. 'Put it on the mantelpiece. It will be safe enough there, till Frodo comes. I shall wait for him.'

Bilbo took out the envelope, but just as he was about to set it by the clock, his hand jerked back, and the packet fell on the floor. Before he could pick it up, the wizard stooped and seized

it and set it in its place. A spasm of anger passed swiftly over the hobbit's face again. Suddenly it gave way to a look of relief and a laugh. 'Well, that's that,' he said. 'Now I'm off!'

The Wood Elves let out a relieved sigh, at least was they hobbit friend fine now that he was away from that ring and hopefully the Isthari will know what to do.

They went out into the hall. Bilbo chose his favourite stick from the stand; then he whistled. Three dwarves came out of different rooms where they had been busy.

'Is everything ready?' asked Bilbo. 'Everything packed and labelled?'

'Everything,' they answered.

'Well, let's start then!' He stepped out of the front-door. It was a fine night, and the black sky was dotted with stars. He looked up, sniffing the air. 'What fun! What fun to be off again, off on the Road with dwarves! This is what I have really been longing for, for years! Good-bye! ' he said, looking at his old home and bowing to the door. 'Good-bye, Gandalf!'

"He would." come it from five of the elves.

'Good-bye, for the present, Bilbo. Take care of yourself! You are old enough, and perhaps wise enough.'

'Take care! I don't care. Don't you worry about me! I am as happy now as I have ever been, and that is saying a great deal. But the time has come. I am being swept off my feet at last,' he added, and then in a low voice, as if to himself, he sang softly in the dark:

"Nana, sing it seas." said Arwen suddenly making her mother smile, it would probably lift the mood.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Everyone clapped at the end which made the Lady of Imraldis blush.

He paused, silent for a moment. Then without another word he turned away from the lights and voices in the fields and tents, and followed by his three companions went round into his garden, and trotted down the long sloping path. He jumped over a low place in the hedge at the bottom, and took to the meadows, passing into the night like a rustle of wind in the grass.

Gandalf remained for a while staring after him into the darkness. 'Goodbye, my dear Bilbo – until our next meeting!' he said softly and went back indoors.

Frodo came in soon afterwards, and found him sitting in the dark, deep in thought. 'Has he gone?' he asked.

'Yes,' answered Gandalf, 'he has gone at last.'

' I wish – I mean, I hoped until this evening that it was only a joke,' said Frodo. 'But I knew in my heart that he really meant to go. He always used to joke about serious things. I wish I had

come back sooner, just to see him off.'

"Such things only make it harder to part." Elrond said soberly as he remembered the painful parting from his twin and the pain burning his body about the knowledge that they would not met again.

I think really he preferred slipping off quietly in the end,' said Gandalf. 'Don't be too troubled. He'll be all right – now. He left a packet for you. There it is!'

Frodo took the envelope from the mantelpiece, and glanced at it, but did not open it.

'You'll find his will and all the other documents in there, I think,' said the wizard. 'You are the master of Bag End now. And also, I fancy, you'll find a golden ring.'

'The ring!' exclaimed Frodo. 'Has he left me that? I wonder why. Still, it may be useful.'

'It may, and it may not,' said Gandalf. 'I should not make use of it, if I were you. But keep it secret, and keep it safe! Now I am going to bed.'

"Not before you explained it to him what that thing is Mithrandir." snapped most of the elves though Galadriel said it a bit more softly, she had always had a soft spot for the Isthari no matter what he did.

As master of Bag End Frodo felt it his painful duty to say good-bye to the guests. Rumours of strange events had by now spread all over the field, but Frodo would only say -no doubt

everything will be cleared up in the morning-. About midnight carriages came for the important folk. One by one they rolled away, filled with full but very unsatisfied hobbits. Gardeners

came by arrangement, and removed in wheel-barrows those that had inadvertently remained behind.

Night slowly passed. The sun rose. The hobbits rose rather later. Morning went on. People came and began (by orders) to clear away the pavilions and the tables and the chairs, and the spoons and knives and bottles and plates, and the lanterns, and the flowering shrubs in boxes, and the crumbs and cracker-paper, the forgotten bags and gloves and handkerchiefs, and the uneaten food (a very small item). Then a number of other people came (without orders): Bagginses, and Boffins, and Bolgers, and Tooks, and other guests that lived or were staying near. By mid-day, when even the best-fed were out and about again, there was a large crowd at Bag End, uninvited but not unexpected.

Frodo was waiting on the step, smiling, but looking rather tired and worried. He welcomed all the callers, but he had not much more to say than before. His reply to all inquiries was simply this: 'Mr. Bilbo Baggins has gone away; as far as I know, for good.' Some of the visitors he invited to come inside, as Bilbo had left 'messages' for them.

Inside in the hall there was piled a large assortment of packages and parcels and small articles of furniture. On every item there was a label tied. There were several labels of this sort:

For ADELARD TOOK, for his VERY OWN, from Bilbo,- on an umbrella. Adelard had carried off many unlabelled ones.

For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo, - on a large waste-paper basket. Dora was Drogo's sister and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century.

"Could we please skip the list if it is not important?" whined Glorfindel he was getting bored with the list and it had only now started, but something told him that it would be a long one.

"I think that is possible, her are many names."

This is only a small selection of the assembled presents. Bilbo's residence had got rather cluttered up with things in the course of his long life. It was a tendency of hobbit-holes to get

cluttered up:

"As does the rooms of a certain pair of gwanűn." said Elrond while looking pointedly at his innocently smiling sons.

"Wow ada, why did you never tell us that you and uncle Elros never cleaned your chambers." come the double comment at which most of the others started chuckling while a certain father flushed.

"It was Elros who made always a mess, I cleaned." the elven lord mumbled which only increased the sound of laughter. At least were they all calming down from the bad new of the One Ring being back.

for which the custom of giving so many birthdaypresents was largely responsible. Not, of course, that the birthday-presents were always new, there were one or two old mathoms of forgotten uses that had circulated all around the district; but Bilbo had usually given new presents, and kept those that he received. The old hole was now being cleared a little.

Every one of the various parting gifts had labels, written out personally by Bilbo, and several had some point, or some joke. But, of course, most of the things were given where they would

be wanted and welcome. The poorer hobbits, and especially those of Bagshot Row, did very well. Old Gaffer Gamgee got two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woollen waistcoat, and

a bottle of ointment for creaking joints. Old Rory Brandybuck, in return for much hospitality, got a dozen bottles of Old Winyards: a strong red wine from the Southfarthing, and now quite

mature, as it had been laid down by Bilbo's father. Rory quite forgave Bilbo, and voted him a capital fellow after the first bottle.

There was plenty of everything left for Frodo. And, of course, all the chief treasures, as well as the books, pictures, and more than enough furniture, were left in his possession. There was,

however, no sign nor mention of money or jewellery: not a penny-piece or a glass bead was given away.

Frodo had a very trying time that afternoon. A false rumour that the whole household was being distributed free spread like wildfire; and before long the place was packed with people

who had no business there, but could not be kept out. Labels got torn off and mixed, and quarrels broke out. Some people tried to do swaps and deals in the hall; and others tried to

make off with minor items not addressed to them, or with anything that seemed unwanted or unwatched. The road to the gate was blocked with barrows and handcarts.

In the middle of the commotion the Sackville-Bagginses arrived. Frodo had retired for a while and left his friend Merry Brandybuck to keep an eye on things. When Otho loudly demanded to see Frodo, Merry bowed politely.

'He is indisposed,' he said. 'He is resting.'

'Hiding, you mean,' said Lobelia. 'Anyway we want to see him and we mean to see him. Just go and tell him so!'

"I wonder how fast a certain royal would manage to dispose those relatives?" whispered Glorfindel amusedly to Elrond who also smirked.

"I think the glare he is currently sending the book would be enough." he answered.

"Oh yes, good thing he was born an elf, I would hate to find out how he would be like as a dragon of Blarog." at the images both of them shuddered.

"Is something wrong?" Celebrian asked as she looked at her side.

"Nay." both of them answered hurriedly, they would be in a world of pain if she ever found out about what they have been talking.

Merry left them a long while in the hall, and they had time to discover their parting gift of spoons. It did not improve their tempers. Eventually they were shown into the study. Frodo was

sitting at a table with a lot of papers in front of him. He looked indisposed – to see Sackville-Bagginses at any rate; and he stood up, fidgeting with something in his pocket. But he spoke

quite politely.

The Sackville-Bagginses were rather offensive. They began by offering him bad bargain-prices (as between friends) for various valuable and unlabelled things. When Frodo replied that only the things specially directed by Bilbo were being given away, they said the whole affair was very fishy.

Many of the adult elves bristled at such a behavior in someone elses house, relatives or not.

'Only one thing is clear to me,' said Otho, 'and that is that you are doing exceedingly well out of it. I insist on seeing the will.'

Otho would have been Bilbo's heir, but for the adoption of Frodo. He read the will carefully and snorted. It was, unfortunately, very clear and correct (according to the legal customs of hobbits, which demand among other things seven signatures of witnesses in red ink).

'Foiled again!' he said to his wife. 'And after waiting sixty years. Spoons? Fiddlesticks!' He snapped his fingers under Frodo's nose and slumped off. But Lobelia was not so easily got

rid of. A little later Frodo came out of the study to see how things were going on and found her still about the place, investigating nooks and comers and tapping the floors. He

escorted her firmly off the premises, after he had relieved her of several small (but rather valuable) articles that had somehow fallen inside her umbrella. Her face looked as if she was in the throes of thinking out a really crushing parting remark; but all she found to say, turning round on the step, was:

'You'll live to regret it, young fellow! Why didn't you go too? You don't belong here; you're no Baggins – you – you're a Brandybuck!'

'Did you hear that, Merry? That was an insult, if you like,' said Frodo as he shut the door on her.

'It was a compliment,' said Merry Brandybuck, 'and so, of course, not true.'

Then they went round the hole, and evicted three young hobbits (two Boffins and a Bolger) who were knocking holes in the walls of one of the cellars. Frodo also had a tussle with young Sancho Proudfoot (old Odo Proudfoot's grandson), who had begun an excavation in the larger pantry, where he thought there was an echo. The legend of Bilbo's gold excited both curiosity and hope; for legendary gold (mysteriously obtained, if not positively ill-gotten),

"It was more then well deserved." snapped Thranduil in annoyance, this was it, he would make a visit to his old friend this summer, lets see with what those annoying relatives will come up with.

"If things go on like this will the curiosity kill me." said Glorfindel sighing, till now they only got that it had probably to do something with the king and his people, Mithrandir, the hobbit Bilbo, a treasure, dwarves and a dragon. No much, but enough to torment ones mind.

is, as every one knows, any one's for the finding – unless the search is interrupted. When he had overcome Sancho and pushed him out, Frodo collapsed on a chair in the hall. It's time to close the shop, Merry,' he said. 'Lock the door, and don't open it to anyone today, not even if they bring a battering ram.'

There was laughter again at the image of relatives visiting and using a ram on the front door. Mostly the twins would have loved to see such a stunt by they daerparents while said pair only hoped to the Valar that when they grandsons grow older they never visit like that. They were still banned from they realm for a good fifty years.

Then he went to revive himself with a belated cup of tea.

He had hardly sat down, when there came a soft knock at the front-door. 'Lobelia again most likely,' he thought. 'She must have thought of something really nasty, and have come back

again to say it. It can wait.'

"She really should learn manners fit for a lady." said Galadriel before glaring at Thranduil who hid his snort behind a cough, Celeborn only sighed. Back then as he had introduced them to each other had he hoped that the two of his most important elves would get along, but needed to realize that it become a war and he was the booty. And the sad thing was, he was not ready to give either his 'little brother' or wife up.

He went on with his tea. The knock was repeated, much louder, but he took no notice. Suddenly the wizard's head appeared at the window.

'If you don't let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right down your hole and out through the hill,' he said.

"Elladan, Elrohir don't even think about it." Elrond warned his grinning sons while the others laughed.

"We would never do such a thing ada." Elladan said, but his father only raised an eyebrow.

"And I'm dwarf." was the lords reply.

"Nice that you are truthful to yourself." said the king grinning at which Elrond wanted to shoot back, but Celebrian was already reading again to stop a hours long argument.

'My dear Gandalf! Half a minute!' cried Frodo, running out of the room to the door. 'Come in! Come in! I thought it was Lobelia.'

'Then I forgive you. But I saw her some time ago, driving a pony-trap towards Bywater with a face that would have curdled new milk.'

'She had already nearly curdled me. Honestly, I nearly tried on Bilbo's ring. I longed to disappear.

'Don't do that!' said Gandalf, sitting down. 'Do be careful of that ring, Frodo! In fact, it is partly about that that I have come to say a last word.'

"Finally he explains."

'Well, what about it?'

'What do you know already?'

'Only what Bilbo told me. I have heard his story: how he found it, and how he used it: on his journey, I mean.'

'Which story, I wonder,' said Gandalf.

'Oh, not what he told the dwarves

"You mean to tell me that those…" Thranduil only hardly held back the insults, Legolas should not learn foul language mostly not from him "…they knew about the ring." he growled while Miriel tried to calm him down.

and put in his book,' said Frodo. 'He told me the true story soon after I came to live here. He said you had pestered him till he told you, so I had better know too. "No secrets between us, Frodo," he said; "but they are not to go any further. It's mine anyway."'

'That's interesting,' said Gandalf. 'Well, what did you think of it all?'

'If you mean, inventing all that about a "present", well, I thought the true story much more likely, and I couldn't see the point of altering it at all. It was very unlike Bilbo to do so, anyway; and I thought it rather odd.'

'So did I. But odd things may happen to people that have such treasures – if they use them. Let it be a warning to you to be very careful with it. It may have other powers than just making you vanish when you wish to.'

The elves who happened to pass by the garden could hera a series of frustrated growls and several shouts of 'Mithrandir!' comming from it.

'I don't understand,' said Frodo.

'Neither do I,' answered the wizard. 'I have merely begun to wonder about the ring, especially since last night. No need to worry.

All of the adults snorted darkly at this, this was not a pharse they would use with that acursed thing.

But if you take my advice you will use it very seldom, or not at all. At least I beg you not to use it in any way that will cause talk or rouse suspicion. I say again: keep it safe, and keep it secret!'

'You are very mysterious! What are you afraid of?'

"Do you wish to hear the whole list or the shortened version?" asked Glorfindel while gesturing with his arms.

'I am not certain, so I will say no more. I may be able to tell you something when I come back. I am going off at once: so this is good-bye for the present.' He got up.

'At once!' cried Frodo. 'Why, I thought you were staying on for at least a week. I was looking forward to your help.'

'I did mean to – but I have had to change my mind. I may be away for a good while; but I'll come and see you again, as soon as I can. Expect me when you see me! I shall slip in

quietly. I shan't often be visiting the Shire openly again. I find that I have become rather unpopular. They say I am a nuisance and a disturber of the peace. Some people are

actually accusing me of spiriting Bilbo away, or worse. If you want to know, there is supposed to be a plot between you and me to get hold of his wealth.'

"Idiots." but all to soon noticed Glorfindel the wide eyes looking at him and he finally remembered why since his arrival had he not heard the elven king curse like usual when being faced with either him or Elrond outside of something formal.

"Glorfindel!" yelled the adults mostly as Arwen asked her ada what that word meant and Rumil started repeating it gleefully.

"Ooopss…" was the only thing he could say.

'Some people!' exclaimed Frodo. 'You mean Otho and Lobelia. How abominable! I would give them Bag End and everything else, if I could get Bilbo back and go off tramping in the country with him. I love the Shire. But I begin to wish, somehow, that I had gone too. I wonder if I shall ever see him again.'

'So do I,' said Gandalf. 'And I wonder many other things. Good-bye now! Take care of yourself! Look out for me, especially at unlikely times! Good-bye!'

"He has a certain gift for that." stated Elrond which earned him many nods.

Frodo saw him to the door. He gave a final wave of his hand, and walked off at a surprising pace; but Frodo thought the old wizard looked unusually bent, almost as if he was

carrying a great weight. The evening was closing in, and his cloaked figure quickly vanished into the twilight. Frodo did not see him again for a long time.

"So, this was the first chapter, after the next one we will have a little snack." Celebrian said as she pushed the book over to Glorfindel. "If you are so bent on teaching the children bad language then you can put your mouth to work and read." she said to the blinking elf.

"Fine." he said and flipped to the next page before biting back a groan. "Lovely title." he said before starting to read. "The Shadow of the Past"

All adults exchanged dark glances at this, it seemed as if soon the children will face what they once had, and they could only hope that this time there would be fewer losses like the last time.

To be continued…