It had been about two days ever since Lucy's last visit to Narnia, and Lucy was just wondering whether to try and bring her siblings or not. She had several times tried to convince them, but they had refused to listen to her.

So finally, she decided to just go by herself.

The thought of going by herself filled her with tears.

It was not that she was afraid. It was because she felt that none of her siblings wanted to listen to her.

Of all of them, Edmund had been quite horrid. At least Peter and Susan had not been so mean.

But it didn't matter.

She would go by herself, come what may.

What she didn't know was how Edmund himself was feeling.

Edmund could not help kicking a stone on the grounds as he walked.

It was nearing sunset and Edmund could not help but feel gloomy.

He was frustrated and angry about many things.

Mainly, it was the fact that he and his siblings were sent away from their parents, all thanks to the war.

If their father had not gone away to fight, would he have prevented them from being sent away, or would he have supported the decision to send them away?

He had once believed the former, but now he had started to believe the latter.

He felt angry at his mother. While she did write to him and his siblings, it was not very regular. Of course, the war made it hard, but still, that knowledge did not help.

And most of the time, there was always the question of his behavior. And he felt bothered by it. For him, it was almost like no one cared about what he felt.

And Peter only made it worse by being too hard on him.

He was angry with his parents and siblings.

But he couldn't talk about it to anyone. If he tried, they would just call him a bad boy.

He was desperate for some form of relief.

Just then, he saw Peter and Susan coming into the ground.

He walked away and into the house. He was in no mood to face Peter, since an hour ago, they had had a terrible argument.

Little did he realize just what was about to happen.

He entered the house and saw Lucy walking alone.

He followed her and saw her enter the same room she had been obsessively talking about.

He waited for a few moments and then went into the room to find the wardrobe door almost closed.

He called out, "Come out Lucy, I know you're in there."

When Lucy did not come out, Edmund stepped into the wardrobe and began to make his way through the coats.

Expecting to find the back of the wardrobe, he went on, and found it, except…

It was not the back of the wardrobe he found, but a pine tree, and next, he found himself falling on grass.

He looked around him.

He realized he was in some sort of forest, and that it was quite dark.

And then it all hit him.

Whatever Lucy had been going on about was actually true.

He said softly, "Lucy, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. You were right all along. Come out please."

But there was no response.

Meanwhile, a huge celebration was going on at the Shire. Hobbits were pouring in from all directions and shaking hands with Bilbo.

It was then that Bilbo saw Lucy in front of him saying, "Happy Birthday Mr. Bilbo." and holding out a small bag of chocolates.

Bilbo took it from her and joyfully exclaimed, "Why thank you Lucy Pevensie. I'll introduce you to a friend of mine."

With that, he led her to a tall man, definitely not a hobbit with long gray hair, gray robes and a gray pointed hat.

Bilbo called out, "Gandalf, this is Lucy Pevensie whom I told you about. Lucy, this is Gandalf. He's a wizard."

"A wizard?!" Lucy exclaimed before saying, "Pleased to meet you Mr. Gandalf."

Gandalf smiled and said, "It warms my heart to meet one as innocent as you. And please, just call me Gandalf."

Just then, Lucy noticed Tumnus standing not very far away from the musicians, hobbits and animals.

She went up to him and called out, "Mr. Tumnus, why don't you go play your pipe?"

Tumnus held it in his hand and said, "It wouldn't matter. I'm no good player."

Lucy encouragingly said, "Come on!" and pulled him towards the hobbit musicians who eagerly grabbed him crying out, "Come on, join us!"

Even as Tumnus took out his pipe and started playing along, some hobbits roared with joy and some animals cheered him.

She then noticed another hobbit, with yellow brown hair, looking quite young and looking lost.

She went up to him and asked, "Good evening. What's your name?"

The hobbit turned to her and had a surprised look in his eyes, which went away quickly and he said, "Samwise Gamgee. Gardner to Bilbo Baggins and a good friend of his. Call me Sam."

Lucy beamed and said, "I'm Lucy Pevensie. I'm a friend of Bilbo. Is anything wrong?"

Sam said, "It's alright. It's nothing."

It was then that Lucy noticed a female hobbit with curly hair dancing around without a partner and suddenly, she realized something was up.

She turned to Sam and asked, "She doesn't have a partner. Why don't you go with her?"

Sam said, "I can't ask Rosie. What if she doesn't…"

But before he could say anything else, Lucy went up to the female hobbit, Rosie, and said, "Excuse me, I have a friend who would love to go with you. Would you mind if he did?"

"Of course not," Rosie replied, "Show me?"

Lucy led her to Sam and before he could realize what was happening, he was swept into Rosie's arms even as she led him to the dancing ring, causing Lucy to laugh in delight.

Near a tent, Gandalf laughed even as he pulled out a few fireworks rockets out of a cart and went away to amuse the children.

As soon as he went, a big brown rabbit, the size of a hobbit, hit the side of the tent and a hobbit with brown hair emerged from underneath whispering, "Come on Thumper, let's go."

Thumper led the way to the cart and the hobbit jumped in and started looking around.

"Get the big one Pippin, the one that looks like a dragon." Thumper whispered.

Pippin the hobbit finally found the rocket, a big red one with the head of a dragon and he and Thumper slipped off.

Meanwhile, Lucy was enjoying Bilbo's tale of how he and some dwarves had once had a run in with some trolls and they had been discussing ways to eat them and how he had tried to delay them till morning. In the end, the trolls were turned to stone.

After the story, Bilbo got up and went to Lucy saying, "I quite hope you enjoyed that story. You must be hungry."

It was then that Lucy noticed his face turning pale and his right ear twitching.

Bilbo whispered in panic, "Sackville Baggins'! Hide!"

Lucy needed no prodding even as Bilbo led her to the back of a tent.

Sure enough, the mean old hobbits that had fought with Bilbo some days ago were looking for them.

Fortunately, they passed the tent where Bilbo and Lucy were hiding and did not see them.

Even as Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief, Lucy asked, "Bilbo, are you alright?"

Bilbo turned to her and said, "In all these years, I've been a very selfish man. I've lived all alone for years, no family, no nothing. In fact, if there's anyone I would consider family, as a nephew or niece, you are the first one I've come across."

Lucy said, "That must be very hard for you Bilbo."

Biblo continued, "Yes, it was, it was even harder after I found out that my younger cousin Frodo and his parents drowned in the river many years ago. Though I suspect Jadis may have had a hand in it."

Meanwhile, Thumper and Pippin had just lit the rocket and Pippin was holding it.

Thumper said, "You're supposed to stick it into the ground."

Pippin looked in shock and said, "Stick it into the ground?! Why, I didn't know! Here take this." and passed the rocket to Thumper.

Thumper passed it back to him saying, "No you do it."

They passed it back and forth and suddenly the rocket shot up, carrying the tent they were in with it.

Meanwhile, everyone else noticed the rocket fly upwards. Only Bilbo wasn't looking.

The rocket turned into a fiery dragon and began to fly towards them.

Even as people began to get down, Lucy cried out, "Bilbo get down! There's a dragon coming!"

Bilbo said, "Nonsense. There hasn't been one seen in 60 years."

Lucy pulled him down and the dragon just flew over their heads.

It flew away and exploded in a series of fireworks bursting, causing many to cheer in delight.

Meanwhile, Thumper and Pippin, who had black faces, were smiling at the scene.

Pippin said, "That was great."

Thumper said, "Let's get another one."

Just then, they felt their ears being pulled and the voice of Gandalf calling out, "Thumper Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, I might have known."

Soon, they were washing dishes as punishment for their mischief.

Meanwhile, Edmund was walking around in the forest, looking desperately for Lucy.

And then, he heard some sound.

It sounded like the clip clop of horses.

Edmund waited to see what it was, and soon, the source of the sounds came within his sights.

Seated in what looked like some sort of chariot, drawn by two black horses, was a tall woman, dressed in white, wearing what looked like some sort of crown made of spikes of ice.

He also noticed a small man dressed in a greenish brown outfit and a red cap, sporting a grayish black beard, driving the chariot.

He simply stared in curiosity even as the chariot passed by.

And then suddenly, it stopped a little ahead and the driver got out and began running towards him, with a knife.

Edmund was frightened by the act and began to run even as the man cried out in a harsh voice, "Come here you little rat! How dare you come here! Haven't you heard no humans in the Shire?!"

Edmund tried to flee but tripped and fell. The driver caught up with him and turned him up on his back before holding a knife to his neck.

Just then, they heard a voice, from the woman, "What is it now, Ginabrik?"

Edmund cried out, "Make him let me go! I didn't do anything wrong!"

Ginabrik, the driver angrily yelled, "How dare you address the Queen of Narnia!"

Edmund cried out, "I didn't know!"

Ginabrik raised his knife yelling, "You will know hereafter!" and was about to bring it down when suddenly, the woman shouted, "Wait!"

Ginabrik stopped what he was doing and turned to the woman who had stepped out of the chariot.

She looked at Edmund even as his attacker released him and let him stand, and asked gently, "What is your name, Son of Adam?"

Edmund said nervously, "Edmund."

He was asked by her, "And how have you entered my dominion?"

He replied, "I'm not sure. I was just following my sister, Lucy."

"Your sister?" the woman asked, "How many of you are there?"

"Four," Edmund replied, "Lucy's the only one that's been here before. Peter and Susan didn't believe her. I didn't either. She said something about Narnia and a faun called Tumnus."

The woman turned to him and smilingly said, "You must be cold. Come sit with me."

Edmund followed the woman to her chariot and sat by her even as she wrapped him up in her fur cloak and hugged him.

Edmund smiled. He liked the attention he was getting. At that moment, he felt quite at home, after all the bitterness he had been feeling for several days.

The woman asked, "How about something hot to drink?"

Edmund asked, "Hot chocolate, please, Your Majesty?"

The woman smiled and pulled out a vial of a certain green liquid. Opening it, she let a drop fall into the grass below and out of the spot, emerged a huge silver cup of hot chocolate.

Ginabrik picked it up and handed it to the woman, who passed it to Edmund, who drank it with great relish.

He asked, "How did you do that?"

The queen replied, "I can make anything you like.

Edmund asked, "Can you make me taller?"

The queen laughed before asking, "Would you like something to eat?"

Edmund thought for a moment and asked, "Turkish Delight?"

The woman smilingly let another drop fall into the ground and out came a box.

The box was passed to Edmund who opened it to find nothing else but Turkish Delight.

He took a piece of it and ate it, and it was wonderful.

The woman took a piece of it, broke it into two, fed one to Edmund and ate the other one.

She then asked, "I'd very much like to meet the rest of your family. Could you bring them here?"

Edmund replied, "No, not really. They wouldn't believe me. They're nothing special."

The queen said, "I have no children of my own. And I can see someone with the likes of you becoming the Prince of Narnia, perhaps even King. But you need to be with your family."

Edmund smiled and said, "I guess I could bring them. Wait, does that mean Peter would be King too?"

"Oh no!" The woman laughingly replied, "You alone. But a king does need sense."

She then proceeded to hand the box to Ginabrik who began to greedily devour what was left.

Edmund smiled and suddenly felt a sense of longing. He hugged the queen, and she hugged him back saying, "Oh Edmund, my sweet Edmund. You are so cute that I just want you all to myself."

She lifted him and placed him in her lap. She then kissed his cheek and whispered, "I'd just love to eat you up." She then made some noises and pretended to eat Edmund's cheeks, causing him to squeal and laugh.

She then stood him up and said, "You'd better go now. It is night, and it is not safe here. There are dark rulers in this world, who would love to seek you out and harm you. Especially the Dark Lord Sauron."

"Sauron?" Edmund asked.

Jadis replied, "Yes. He was once the ruler of this land, and he harmed many, especially children. I will never do to you what he did to them. He is still at large, and will seek your family out, but if you bring your family to me, I can protect you all. I have large rooms, filled with Turkish Delight."

She then pointed to two hills and said, "See those two hills? In between them is my house. Bring your siblings there. Come as soon as you can, and you will all be safe."

Edmund nodded and said, "I will, Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, Bilbo Baggins was standing on a raised platform, in front of a huge cake with many candles. He blew them out even as everyone else clapped.

He then began to speak, "My Dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tools and Brandybucks, Grubbs and Chubbs, Burrowses and Hornblowers, Bolgers and Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Buckhouses and Proudfoots, animals, fauns, all my fellow Shire folk!"

"Proudfeet!" Someone shouted in the midst of the clapping and cheering, causing some laughter.

Bilbo spoke, "Today's my 111th birthday. The last 111 years have been too short of a time to live amongst such excellent and admirable folk. I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

This caused everyone to look at each other in confusion.

Lucy turned to Tumnus who was next to her and asked, "What does he mean?"

Tumnus replied, "I didn't catch it either."

Bilbo began to stumble, "I uh… have things to do." and fumbling into his pocket for something, he muttered, "I've left this far too long."

He then continued rather seriously, "I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm leaving now. I wish you all a very fond farewell." He looked at Lucy in particular as he said, "Goodbye."

And then suddenly, he disappeared from the spot, causing a series of gasps from the audience.

Lucy gasped and asked, "What's happened?!"

Tumnus said, "I don't know, but whatever it is, stay close."

Gandalf moved to Tumnus and said, "I will take care of this. Tumnus, take the girl to your house for now. I suspect something is afoot."

The gate to Bilbo's house was opened by an invisible figure who walked up the steps, into the house, and closed the door. And then, he became visible, laughing and holding a ring in his hand.

It was none other than Bilbo Baggins, caressing the ring in his right hand.

He tossed it into the air, caught it and put it in his pocket.

Soon, he had picked up a walking stick and was moving towards a bag when he suddenly heard a voice calling out, "I suppose you think that was terribly clever."

Bilbo was startled and turned to see none other than Gandalf.

Bilbo laughingly said, "Come on Gandalf, did you see their faces?" even as he packed a few scrolls in his bag.

Gandalf said, "There are many magic rings in this world and none of them should be used lightly."

"Come on," Bilbo protested, "It was just a bit of fun. Oh you're probably right as usual."

Picking a pipe off the mantel above the fireplace, he turned to Gandalf and said, "You will keep an eye on Lucy won't you?"

"Two eyes," Gandalf replied, "As often as I can spare them when she comes here."

Bilbo took a book and put it in his bag saying, "I'm leaving everything to her. She's the niece I never had. When she is away, the Beavers will look after this place."

"And what about the ring?" Gandalf asked, "Is it staying here too?"

"Yes," Bilbo replied, "It's there in an envelope on the mantelpiece."

Even as Gandalf went to look for it, Bilbo's expression suddenly became serious and he said, "No wait, it's in my pocket."

He took it out, and feeling it with his fingers, he said, "Isn't that odd? After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?" He ended in a whisper.

Gandalf said, "I think you should leave the ring behind. Is that so hard?"

Bilbo turned to him with a rather sour expression and said, "Well no, and yes."

He turned back to the ring.

He then spoke rather harshly, "Now when it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it, it came to me."

Gandalf calmly said, "There's nothing to get angry about."

Bilbo turned to Gandalf and spoke with such anger that was not his own, "Well if I'm angry, it's your fault!"

Gandalf was shocked at that. Bilbo turned back to the ring and said, "It's mine. My own. My precious."

"Precious?" Gandalf said, with eyes wide open at the last word, "It's been called that before, but not by you."

Bilbo turned to Gandalf with a nasty face and shouted harshly, "Bah, business of yours isn't what I do with my own things!"

Gandalf said calmly but seriously, "I think you've had that ring quite long enough."

Bilbo balled his fists and shouted, "You want it for yourself."

Gandalf suddenly roared, "BILBO BAGGINS!" with a fury that caused the light in the room to dim and Bilbo to move back towards the wall in fear, "DO NOT TAKE ME FOR SOME CONJURER OF CHEAP TRICKS!"

He ended by saying a little gently, "I am not trying to rob you."

With that, the light went back to its normal level and Gandalf smiled compassionately at Bilbo and said, "I'm trying to help you."

Ashamed of his behavior, Bilbo, on the verge of tears, went up to Gandalf and hugged him. The wizard hugged him and kneeling down to his level saying, "All your long years, we've been friends. Trust me as you once did."

Bilbo looked at Gandalf and said, "You're right Gandalf. The ring must go to Lucy."

Gandalf asked, "Are you sure you would rather give it to Lucy rather than Tumnus or the Beavers?"

Bilbo replied, "Absolutely. She's nothing but a sweet innocent girl, unlike me, a selfish man. She will use it properly for good. I know she will do the right thing."

He then picked up his bag and said, "It's late. The road is long; yes it is time."

With that, he opened the door and was about to leave when Gandalf called out, "Bilbo, the ring is still in your pocket."

Bilbo stopped and took the ring out of his pocket. He held it in his hand for a long time, battling the burning desire to keep it, and finally turned his hand and let it fall on the floor before exiting the house.

He then breathed in deeply and turning to Gandalf, said, "I've thought of an ending for my book, 'He lived happily ever after, to the end of his days.'"

Gandalf knelt down and said, "And I'm sure you will, my friend."

Bilbo said, "Goodbye Gandalf." and held his hand out.

Gandalf clasped the hand with both his hands and said, "Goodbye Dear Bilbo." with a smile of affection.

The two friends parted and Gandalf watched as Bilbo walked through the gate and away.

Soon, Gandalf was sitting in the living room of Tumnus' house with the faun and Lucy.

Lucy asked, "Will I see him again?"

Gandalf said, "I doubt it, Lucy. He means to stay away forever from this place. Unfortunately, he has been through quite a lot."

Lucy looked down even as Tumnus put an arm around her to comfort her.

Gandalf then said, "Bilbo has come to see you as the niece he never had. And before he left, he said he wanted everything he left behind, including his house to be yours."

Lucy looked up in shock and said with tears in her eyes, "But I don't want it! I'm grateful that he wants to give me the house but it will not be the same without him!"

Gandalf hugged her and let her release her tears into his robes.

After she had calmed down, he said, "Bilbo may have left, but he will always keep you in his heart. He already has. In fact, he wanted this to go to you."

He then held out an envelope to Lucy and said, "Lucy Pevensie, there is a magic ring concealed within this envelope. Bilbo used it to become invisible when he wanted to. He wants you to have it in the hope that you will do the right thing. However…"

He trailed off, with an expression of worry on his face.

Lucy asked, "Gandalf, is something wrong?"

Gandalf said, "I suspect there is more to this ring than I have seen. Keep it safe. Don't trust anyone except Tumnus. I would say do not come back here. The White Witch Jadis is constantly on the hunt for the likes of you. If you must come here however, do not go anywhere but to Bilbo's or Tumnus' house. When you are away, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver will be looking after it. They are both trustworthy Beavers and are good friends with us. Trust only them and Tumnus. No one else."

Lucy said, "Yes Gandalf."

Gandalf then said, "I will come back to the Shire on and off. If we meet again and I have found out about this ring, I will tell you at once. Now you had better go back home."

Lucy said, "I can go myself."

Gandalf asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? You need to be safe."

Lucy said, "I've been back and forth before. I can do it."

Gandalf then said, "Then go. And be safe."

Meanwhile, Edmund was standing by himself where the Queen of Narnia had been with him.

He was happy.

The Queen loved him.

He felt like he had gotten what he so desperately needed.

Love, recognition, respect.

And then, he heard footsteps.

He turned round and saw none other than Lucy Pevensie running up to him.

"Edmund, oh Edmund!" Lucy cried out as she reached him and hugged him, "You got in too! Isn't it wonderful?"

Edmund asked, "Where have you been?"

Lucy replied, "I was just with Mr. Tumnus and a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. They're fine! We had a birthday party. You missed it! I wish you had come! And the White Witch doesn't know anything about me with them."

Edmund looked at her and asked, "The White Witch?"

Lucy said, "She calls herself the Queen of Northern Narnia, but she really isn't."

Even as Edmund paled at that, Lucy asked, "Are you alright? You look awful."

Edmund lied, "Yeah, I mean, it's night and it's cold. How do we get out of here?"

Lucy smiled, and taking his hand, she said, "This way."

Neither of them was aware that an old tall man with gray robes and a gray beard was watching them from a distance, unobserved.

Gandalf said, "Be safe Lucy." even as he watched them go.