The Coming of a New Day

The birds outside were chirping as the bright sunlight of the early morning filtered through the round windows of Bag End. Upon the kitchen table, there stood bowls and plates of fresh fruit, pancakes, tea and toast. Bilbo looked at Frodo; his lad was biting into the pancakes that had been specially prepared for him.

“Uncle Bilbo, sit down and join me!” the enthusiastic tweenager motioned to the empty seat. “So delicious—how did you know pancakes are my favorite?”

For the first time in many lonely years, Bilbo had someone to smile with at the beginning of each day.

-------

Written for Julchen.