CHAPTER 17

"BOOM!"

"Again! Again!"

"Ba-ba Boom!"

I laugh at the twins' delight at something as simple as fireworks. Theodore entertains his sister with his own versions of exploding firepower in our moment of solitude. Grim and Kiliel have been roped into moving tables and chairs, while Nori has disappeared to avoid helping out at all, leaving me alone with my children for the first time since… well… since we arrived in Middle Earth. Theodore lets out another bellow and I'm just glad to hear his voice reach above the constant whisper that it's been as of late. One of Gandalf's fireworks bursts into brightly colored flowers across the sky and a cheer runs through the Shire.

"So many Uncle Bilbos."

"They aren't ALL Bilbo, Theodore." I correct my son with a laugh "Juuuust that one. He's telling the story about the trolls. Do you two want to go listen?"

"Yeah!" Thoria shouts, hyped up on adrenaline "Let's go, Theo!"

"Stay together!" I warn, though pause when they suddenly stop "What is it?"

"… Mama?"

"Yes, baby?"

"We'll see Papa soon?"

"That's the plan."

"If we don't?" Thoria interjects

"Well then," I kneel down and embrace the two to ease their worry. I'm happy that they miss Thorin, as odd as that sounds. They haven't so much as mentioned him since we left and I was beginning to wonder if I should say something about it or not "We'll just have to see him later."

"But what if-"

"Sooner or later, I'll always return to your father's side and you'll be there with me so don't worry." I Eskimo kiss the pair and nudge them in Bilbo's direction "We'll see Papa again, I promise."

The two exchange a glance before coming to a silent agreement. Giving me a nod of affirmation, they clasp hands and make their way to Bilbo's side to hear his version of the story. My own stories were always too safe and wholesome for their liking.

Leaning against a tree, I absently count the little hobbits scurrying around. '132, 133, 134. Gosh, that's a lot of mouths to feed.' Spotting Frodo and Samwise drinking from deep mugs, I wave but don't approach the duo, allowing them some freedom. Giving me a shy nod in return, the hobbit goes back to goading his friend into having a dance with, who I know to be, Rosie Cotton. Adorable name for an adorable hobbit.

"Ah, young love." I murmur to myself with a sigh as the two blush and make googly eyes at each other "Soon they'll popping them out like daisies."

"No, no... the big one." A harsh whisper makes it to my ears as I glance over to Gandalf's cart. Merry… or was it Pippin? They look so much alike to me. One of the curly-headed fuzz balls grabs a huge firework at his friend's urging "...the big one, Pippin!"

"Yeah." I agree with a low cheer, startling the two troublemakers "Get the big one, Pippin."

"Ah…" they both blink up at me, then each other, and then back again with wide grins "Whatever you say, Miss."

"Awesome!" I return

The three of us scramble into the back of Gandalf's wagon and pull out the biggest firework of all: The dragon. I let out a low whistle at the sheer size of the piece as the two hobbits try to light it. A few cracks later the fuse is lit and I hand the explosive to Merry.

"I'm just going to stand over there."

"What? But you'll miss the... best… part." As the flames crackle and pop, Merry shuffles from foot to foot nervously as I hide behind a tree to watch. He grimaces at his poor planning before hissing at his companion "You're supposed to stick it in the ground!

"It is in the ground!"

"Clearly not!"

"W-well, stop giving it to me!" Pippin retorts, shrieking lightly as Merry tosses the firework to him again "Give it to her!"

"Fight amongst yourselves!" I huff out from my hiding place "I'm here to start trouble, not get into it."

"Well someone's going to get it." Merry whines as the fuse gets shorter, throwing it back to his friend "What do we do?!"

"Just put it outside the cart!" I offer with a laugh "It's not that hard."

"It was your idea!" Pippin snaps, hopping out of the wagon smoothly and trying to toss the object at me "You do it!"

Luckily, at that moment the fuse meets the rocket and it rushes out of his hands. The boy is lucky it didn't blow his chubby little fingers clean off. I watch from a safe distance as it terrifies the hobbit community; turning into a large red dragon. At the sight of it, every hair on my body suddenly stands on end as goosebumps prickle my skin. My heart leaps in my chest as I'm brought back to my brief meeting with Smaug. For all the fronts I put up, that was one of the scariest things I've done in my life. With my shut tightly, I'm unable to differentiate between the cries of the hobbits and the memory of those in Laketown. Covering my ears in an attempt to block out the memory, I sink to my knees and do not rise even when the cries turn into cheers.

"That was good!" I deafly hear Merry exclaim, quickly followed by Pippin's "Let's get another one!"

"Meridoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took...I might have known!" Shakily, I try to pull myself together as Gandalf leads the boys away, despite them trying to blame the whole thing on me. Snitches. It isn't until I feel a hand on my shoulder that I peek open an eye at the wizard "Coaxing young hobbits into starting trouble, are we?"

"It was just a little." I whisper with a warped grin as I stumble to my feet. He steadies me with ease as I start to calm myself "I knew no one would get hurt."

"Everyone is fine, save yourself that is." he hums lightly, peering deeply into my eyes "Are you quite alright, Miss Malcolmson?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." I shake off the last remanence of unexpected fear "Just surprised myself is all."

"One dragon was enough for you it would seem."

"More than enough." The two of us sit at a table where we can watch over Merry and Pippin while Bilbo starts to give his much-awaited speech "But this isn't about me and dragons. It's about Bilbo and..."

"And…?" He questions, lifting an eyebrow "Bilbo and what, my dear?"

"Well… Nothing you don't already know of." I'm saved from having to say anything more as Bilbo begins his speech.

"My dear Bagginses, and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks...Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots..."

"Proudfeet!" One hobbit calls out, just as my little group begins to reassemble. Gandalf excuses himself and the thief immediately takes up his place. He looks thoroughly displeased. He leans against the table, tilting his torso so he can whisper only for me to hear.

"Heard you rode a dragon again." Nori comments in a chastisingly low voice "I knew I shouldn't have left you to your own devices."

"I didn't ride it, DAD." I groan in return, waving him away from my ear "Bilbo is talking. You'll want to see this, so be quiet."

"SEE it? Just what-"

"Hush!"

"Today is my 111 birthday. Yes, and alas...Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live amongst such excellent and admirable Hobbits!" the crowd applauds at the compliment and I just wait cynically for the fun to start "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."

"What's he doing?" Thoria asks curiously, climbing into my lap

"Just watch."

"I have… I have things to do and I have put this off for far too long..." Bilbo's eyes glaze over just as the familiar ringing starts in my ears. Our eyes meet as he fiddles with his pocket, pulling out what I know to be the ring, squeezing it until his knuckles turn white under the pressure "I regret to announce, this is the end. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell!"

"Cya." Grim burps drunkenly, but thankfully quietly, as an equally drunk Kiliel covers his frenemy's mouth with his arm. I pull the two down and shush them without taking my eyes off the scene "Heeeeey."

"It's shut up time, now." I sing through my teeth "So kindly. Shut. Up."

"No porooooblem but… um.. uh… Shut don't go up."

"Hussssssh Grimbeorn." Kiliel slurs "Be n-n-ni… um…nice! She's my Queenie"

"Aw, you right." I groan as Nori just watches the two in disappointed disgust "You right."

"Shh!"

"…" Bilbo gives me a hesitant look and I wave softly in a way that lets him know that it's alright. He nods minimally before heartbreakingly giving Frodo his attention "Goodbye."

And just like that, poof! He's gone. Kind of. Like always, I can see his faint outline and I run my hand through his hair as he glides past me. He only stops for a moment to take in my smile before continuing onto his house. Everyone else in attendance... well... THey start flipping out. The hobbits are looking all over for Bilbo, thinking the whole thing is a bad joke. I imagine this is what it looks like when I 'jump' from one place to another. Even poor Frodo looks lost and I almost want to tell him that everything will be more or less ok but I know it won't. Not for a while now. So instead, I just gather up my group to return to the house.

"What was that?" Nori demands, furiously pointing at the spot Bilbo previously occupied as we hustle along "What the fu-"

"That's enough, Nori." I interrupt swiftly before he can soil my kids' ears "Make yourself useful and get the boys to the house. Who told them to drink any ale? They are too young to be drinking."

"It's fine, I told them it was the drink of the strong." he answers moodily "They dove right in."

"Whatever, just…" Rolling my eyes, I take the twins by the hands and lead them away "Just get a move on."

When we get to the house, I direct the drunk and sleepy children to their individual beds, forcing Nori to stay and help despite his desire to listen in on Bilbo and Gandalf's conversation. 'No way am I letting him go without me.' Tucking the last child beneath the sheets, the two of us creep our way down the empty corridor for a better listen. Crouching low, I peek around the corner to watch the scene unfold. We are just in time to see Gandalf's shadow grow in darkness and length, filling the room with veiled power.

"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!" I can not see Bilbo past the wizard's enormous form but I know he must be terrified. Gandalf too can sense this, as it takes but a moment for him to return to his usual height and volume "I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help you."

"What has happened, Malcolmson?" Nori whispers, not understanding the events. At least he's saying my name now. Partially "What are they talkin' about?"

"The ring." I answer lowly

"A ring? Is that all?"

"Not A ring, Nori. Remember the conversation I had with Gandalf waaaay back at Beorn's on our way to Erebor?*" I cut my eyes at him only to confirm his slow nod "Yeah. Same thing. THE ring."

"You... you mean-"

"Shush!" I command as Bilbo whimpers in Gandalf's arms

"All your long years we've been friends...trust me as you once did." he strokes the hobbit's head before gripping his shoulders tightly "Had I known she left it with you... Bilbo, you must let it go!"

"You're right, Gandalf..." Bilbo's shoulders heave under the weight of his burden "The ring... it must go to Thia."

"Woah, woah, woah. Me?!" I squawk a little too loudly. It causes the two to snap their heads in my direction, giving away my position. Bilbo looks surprised but Gandalf? I guessed 'pissed' works. Not that it matters as I freely join the two in the foyer "No, Bilbo. That ring isn't supposed to come back to me. I probably shouldn't have had it in the first place!"

"And yet, you did have it." Gandalf retorts with a frown "You knew HIS power was safely contained so long as you were the one to hold that ring. Had I known you were foolish enough to give it back to Bilbo, I would not have-"

"Taken it for yourself? Walked into Mordor and tossed it in? Given it to the elves and just HOPED for the best?" the wizard does not respond, only pulling his lips into a thin line of agitation. I shake my head slowly "Its power is cloaked when I have it and I can't use it, true. But trust and believe that had I taken the ring back to my world after it had already awoken again in this one, the chaos would have been indescribable. The sheer number of people and advanced weapons... No. There was no way I was taking it back with me."

"You are back." Gandalf says softly "You can still take it now."

"If that ring is what I believe she is sayin' it is," Nori comes up to stand at my side, taking his duty seriously for the first time "then I cannot allow you to give it to her majesty."

"It belonged to you, long before I laid eyes on it, Thia. I can watch it no longer, so please." Bilbo hoists his backpack up onto his shoulders, readying himself for the trip. "It's late, the road is long... yes, it is time. Please take care."

"Burgular-" Nori starts only to be halted by Gandalf

"Bilbo?"

"Hmmm?"

"Not that I want it or anything but..." I say with a shrug

"The ring is still in your pocket." the wizard finishes

"Oh, yes…" he looks at me but I hold my hands up and take a step back "Thia, you must-"

"That isn't how this story goes." I cut off hastily, looking between all three males "Listen... The ring has a journey to make before this can end but it won't be with me. Who would you have given the ring to if I wasn't here?"

"Who? Well, I suppose…" he dips his head, not willing to look at us any longer "It would have been Frodo."

"Yes-"

"No!" he cries, shaking his head violently. Nori steps forward but pauses when I lift my hand "Frodo isn't strong enough. We are just hobbits, Thia, not heroes! We don't fight dragons or carry rings of unspeakable power! But you-"

"She cannot!" Nori bellows and I'm shocked by his defensiveness "Do not ask again, burglar."

"It will be Frodo." I confirm softly, much to Nori's acceptance and Bilbo's dismay. Walking forward and lifting his chin, I speak calmly "I couldn't carry it for you back then, nor can I carry it for him now. I'm not the hero of this story either."

"… Who was the hero in the first?" he asks, resting his invisibly weathered cheek in my palm. His tears collect in the creases of my hand before running down my wrist "You never did say."

"You, silly." I answer, wiping his eyes as Gandalf chuckles behind him with a knowing smirk "It's always, ALWAYS, been you, my dear sweet Bilbo."

"Me? How could it have been me?"

"You're brave."

"I-I-I am?"

"And Bilbo, you are smart."

"No more than any other…"

"And you are strong. Much stronger than you believe, think, or seem." Stepping back, I size him up and firmly nod "A hobbit can be a hero too. You all resist corruption better than any other race. Don't sell yourself short."

"Thia…"

"It's late, Bilbo." I step back and nod towards the door but keep my eyes firmly on his pocket "Isn't it time for you to go?"

So slowly that I barely notice the moment, Bilbo pulls out the ring and stares at it harshly. I know that the only thing he wants more than to throw it away from him is to keep it. Tilting his hand, the golden band slides out of his palm and bounces on the hardwood floors. We all watch as it rolls, almost as if it has a mind of its own, to rest at my feet. I ignore the hissing whisper to watch Bilbo stagger to the front door.

"What… What do you think would have happened to us if you weren't there, Thia." he asks, leaning heavily in the doorway "You know what would have occurred, don't you?"

"I do." I admit, feeling Nori's agitated presence at my back "It's why I came along. To change it."

"Maybe I'll write two versions of my story then. I've thought up an ending for my book you know."

"Have you?"

"Mmmm. It goes "And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days."

"I'm sure you will, my dear friend." Gandalf coos, gently helping him out the door

"Goodbye, Gandalf."

"Goodbye, Bilbo."

"And to you, your highness," Bilbo turns to me and bows deeply "I'll see you soon, Queen Thia?"

"Not if you keep talking like that, Mr. Superhero."

"Until our next meeting." Gandalf whispers lowly before coming back in and not bothering to close the door "I need to speak with you Master Dwarf."

"... Why would need to speak to hi-"

"Stay here." Nori orders and I'm about to tell him off when Gandalf hums in agreement "Just listen... for once in your life."

"In here, Master Dwarf."

The two males leave me in the entryway, annoyed and confused. What could they possibly need to talk about that I can't hear? 'There's only one way to find out.' I barely take a step forward to follow the two when I hear the ring calling me. I've given up on ignoring the fact that the little piece of jewelry can speak. It's not a call like desire but rather, someone really calling out to me.

Turning slowly, I gaze down at the falsely innocent-looking gold band while the cries get louder. It no longer looks like my original ring. I suppose over the years it shed the illusion. Now it's less imposing but infinitely more dangerous. It begs me to pick it up. To hold it. To love it. This feeling is nothing like what I expect the allure of the ring to be. It doesn't offer me power, but rather it begs to be a part of my own. Not willing to dive further and risk actually getting involved in the ring's journey, I shake my head only to find Gandalf staring at the fire and Nori nowhere to be seen. 'How long have I been staring at this thing?' Standing, I aim to ask but stop as Frodo rushes in through the open door.

"Bilbo! Bilbo!" he nearly steps on the ring and I catch myself before I chastise him for being so careless. He picks up the band but I feel no jealousy, furthering my confusion. He finally notices me and looks taken aback "Oh! Um... Hello again, Miss. Have you seen Bilbo?"

"My precious… my precious."

"Not for a little while now." I answer honestly, ignoring Gandalf's troubling murmurs

"He's gone, hasn't he?" he steps further into the house and I take it upon myself to close the door before any mosquitoes find their way in and eat us up "He talked for so long about leaving...I didn't think he'd really do it."

"It's not your fault." I console the boy, and guide us into the dining room where the wizard continues to mumble "He finally just decided to go for it."

"...my own."

"Gandalf?" Frodo calls only to jump in fright when he leaps into life again

"Bilbo's ring." With a huff, the sorcerer takes on the role of a lawyer and begins telling Frodo of his inheritance "He's gone to stay with the Elves. He's left you Bag End...along with all his possessions."

"Isn't that nice?" I interject as Gandalf silently orders the little hobbit to drop the ring into the envelope "He really likes you, Frodo."

"Miss Malcolmson is correct, as she often is." We share a look as he gathers his things to leave "Your Uncle thought highly of you, my dear boy. The ring is yours now. But keep it somewhere out of sight."

"Where are you going?"

"I have some things I must see to." he announces, grabbing his staff and hefting himself up "Miss Malcolmson and her companions will be staying the night and taking their leave in the morn as they also have things to attend to."

"What things?"

"For myself, they are questions. Questions that need answering." he turns to me with a slight frown "And as for the young queen, she adds to them. Now I must go."

"You've only just arrived!" Frodo all but whines as I pout "I don't understand..."

"Neither do we." I admit just as Gandalf turns around to offer the same answer "Time is in the wrong place from where I know it should be. Go, Gandalf, but return quickly. Time is... Much too short."

"That is... even more troubling." he states from his place by the door. Turning to Frodo, he gestures at the envelope "Keep it secret, keep it safe. Do NOT wear it."

"Gandalf!" I call just as he begins walking out the door "Might I suggest you start in the year 3434 of the Second Age? It isn't the beginning but it will give you a useful place to start."

"Hn." Is the only answer I get.

GANDALF POV

In the weeks that I have left the quiet Shire, much has been learned. I can only hope that my fears will not come to pass. Hiding in the shadows, every noise could be an enemy as I wait for Frodo to return to the house. The poor lad, such a heavy burden he carries without even the knowledge to brace himself on.
The door creaks open and I still my breath, waiting for the presence to announce itself. 'Friend or foe. Friend or foe. Friend or foe.' Darting forward to grab the creature, it dances out of my grasp at the last moment but in that, it reveals itself. My unease lessens marginally upon discovering it to be just the creature I have been waiting for. Not sensing the cursed object on his person, I inquire about it quickly.

"Is it secret?" I demand "Is it safe?"

"Gandalf…?" Even in his confusion the lad is a quick learn and leads me to the object. Snatching it up I toss it into the fire with no hesitation even as he cries out in alarm "What are you doing?!"

"Hold out your hand, Frodo…" I command after the flames have eaten away the paper envelope, leaving only the golden band behind. Lifting it out, I guide it towards him "It is quite cool. What can you see? Can you see anything?"

"Nothing...there's nothing." I breathe a sigh of relief but it is quickly snatched away "Wait..."

"..." Letters etch themselves into the band, burning away at the material with red scratches appearing almost from within "…these are markings."

"It's some form of Elvish..." he turns the ring over and over in his hand, deaf to the angry whispers it howls into the air "I can't read it."

"There are few who can... the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.

"Mordor?" Frodo tilts his head slightly to the side in thought "Does this by chance have anything to do with Miss Queen?"

"Thia Malcolmson. Once but she would hope not any longer, regardless…" the ring hisses, almost happily, at the mention of the girl, furthering my suspicions of her importance. I'd hoped we were wrong, that she was wrong and this was one of the other rings but... Her husband will not be pleased to hear of it "In the common tongue it says, 'One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.'

"That sounds... dangerous." the lad states, placing the ring on the table gingerly "What is this about, Gandalf?"

"This is the one ring forged by the dark lord, Sauron, in the fires of Mt Doom...taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself."

"Bilbo found it...in Gollom's cave. He said it belonged to his friend... she'd lost it somehow."

"That friend would be Miss Malcolmson."

"But... how? Is she not from the race of men?"

"She is..."

"Then how? I don't understand." he cries out softly in disbelief "Men do not live nearly long enough for that to be true."

"Yet it is, for she is no ordinary daughter of man. That much is more than clear, but I can say no more about her origins." be it her favor with the guardians or her existence itself, no, Thia Malcolmson is not ordinary "After the ring left Miss Malcolmson, or rather when she left it, for sixty years the band lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping. It prolonged his life, delaying old age...but no longer, Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor. The ring has awoken. It has heard its master's call."

"… Did it delay her aging as well? Is that why…"

"No. She is a special case. I would seem that the ring has no effect on her, good or bad."

"Then would it not be easier to simply let her have it?" a low whisper of black speech echoes through the dark house, growing from the ring. It all but trembles in agreement with the previous statement pulling understanding from me as to why the young Queen would not wish to carry to awakened object. "I-I-I-Is she connected to Sauron? He was destroyed...Sauron was destroyed so… is it calling for Miss Queen?"

"No, Frodo. The spirit of Sauron has endured. His life force is bound to the ring and the ring survived. Sauron has returned."

"But then why does it react so strongly to Miss Queen if it desires its master?"

"That, my dear boy, I have yet to uncover. It is imperative that we keep it out of the hands of darkness." Pacing the floor, I work through the information I've gathered "Sauron's Orcs have multiplied...his fortress of Barad-Dur is rebuilt in the center of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands in the second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it, all his thought is bent on it."

"So giving it to Miss Queen for safe keeping…" Frodo places his fists under his chin in thought "would only place her and those children in danger."

"Even in her hands, it would do no good. The ring yearns, above all else, to return to the hand of its master: they are one, the ring and the dark lord." My brow creases in displeasure at the truth of the matter. Even so, I do not mention that if the ring calls for Miss Thia Malcolmson... then the dark lord seeks her out as well "Frodo, he must never find out."

*An Adventure of a Lifetime, chapter 35