| 1 |
Tell me again lad, where are we going?
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| 2 |
Frodo, any chance of seeing that old Ring of mine again? The one I gave you?
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| 3 |
I think I'm quite ready for another adventure.
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| 4 |
Oh! Well here is a sight I have never seen before.
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| 5 |
Oh, pity. I would have like to have held it one last time.
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| 6 |
My old sword, Sting, Here, take it, take it.
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| 7 |
My my old ring. Well I should very much like to hold it again, one last time.
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| 8 |
I'm sorry I brought this upon you my boy, I'm sorry that you must carry this burden, I'm sorry for everything
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| 9 |
Yes Yes, Made by the elves you know. The blade glows blue when orcs are close and its times like that my lad, when you have to be extra careful. Here's a pretty thing. Mithril! as light as a feather and as hard as dragon scales. Let me see you put it on, go on.
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| 10 |
Hello, Hello, Fatty Bolger, Lovely to see you, Welcome, Welcome
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| 11 |
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| 12 |
Mrs Bracegirdle, how nice to see you. Welcome welcome. Are all these children yours?
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| 13 |
Good gracious you have been productive!
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| 14 |
Sackville-Bagginses! Quickly! Hide!
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| 15 |
Oh! Thankyou my boy You're a good lad Frodo. I'm very selfish you know. Yes, I am. Very selfish. I don't know why I took you in after your mother and father died, but it wasn't out of charity. I think it was because, of all my numerous relations, you were the one Baggins that showed real spirit.
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| 16 |
So there I was at the mercy of three monstrous trolls and they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit or whether they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly. They spent so much time arguing the witherto's and whyfor's that the sun's first light cracked open over the top of the trees. Poof! and turned them all into stone!
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| 17 |
No. Well yes, b-b-b but thats not the point. The point is, Frodo, you'll be alright.
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| 18 |
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| 19 |
The 22nd day of September in the year 1400,by Shire reckoning. Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, West Farthing, The Shire, Middle Earth. The Third Age of this world.
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| 20 |
Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years. quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk. Middle Earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted amongst the very wise.
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| 21 |
There and back again, A Hobbit's tale, by Bilbo Baggins. Now, where to begin? Ah, yes. Concerning Hobbits.
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| 22 |
Frodo, someone at the door. In fact, it has been remarked by some that Hobbits' only real passion is for food. A rather unfair observation, As we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales,and the smoking of pipeweed. But where our hearts truly lie, is in peace and quiet,and good tilled earth. For all Hobbits share a love of all things that grow. And yes, no doubt to others, our ways seem quaint, But today of all days, it is brought home to me it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.
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| 23 |
Frodo, the door! Sticklebacks, where is that boy! FRODO!
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| 24 |
Dragon! Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years.
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| 25 |
My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bulgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots.
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| 26 |
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| 27 |
And so life in the Shire goes on, very much as it has this past age. Full of its own comings and goings with change coming slowly, if it comes at all. For things are made to endure in the Shire, passing from one generation to the next. There's always been a Baggins living here under the Hill, in Bag End.
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| 28 |
And there always will be.
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| 29 |
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| 30 |
Today is my One Hundred and Eleventh birthday!
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| 31 |
Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. 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.
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| 32 |
No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers or distant relations!
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| 33 |
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| 34 |
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| 35 |
Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome. Oh, here we are.
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| 36 |
It was laid down by my father, what say we open one eh?
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| 37 |
Tea or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left, 1296, a very good year, almost as old as I am.
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| 38 |
I was expecting you sometime last week. Not that it matters; you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will.
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| 39 |
Oh right. You don't mind if I do, do you?
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| 40 |
I'm not at home! It's the Sackville-Bagginses.
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| 41 |
You've caught me a bit unprepared I'm afraid urm we've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle oh and there's some cheese here, oh no that wont do! Urm we've got raspberry jam, an apple tart, but we've not much for afters. Oh no we're all right, I've found some sponge cake! I can make you some eggs if you ' oh'. Gandalf?
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| 42 |
Of course he does, he's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle.
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| 43 |
They're after the house! They've never forgiven me for living this long. I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace. I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf. And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea!
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| 44 |
Yes, yes, it's all in hand. All the arrangements are made. Oh, thank you.
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| 45 |
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| 46 |
I know, he'd probably come with me if I asked him to. I think in his heart Frodo's still in love with the Shire, the woods, the fields and the little rivers. I am old Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel thin, sort of stretched like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday, a very long holiday. And I don't expect that I shall return. In fact, I mean not to.
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| 47 |
Old Toby, the finest weed in the Southfarthing.
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| 48 |
Gandalf my old friend, this will be a night to remember.
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