Part 3
22 Halimath, S.R. 1401
One
year had followed another, each much like the last. Bilbo and Frodo had
made a nice life together in Bag End, but on this birthday, Frodo found
himself reluctant to celebrate. Oh, they had planned together to throw
this magnificent party--it would be the talk of the Shire. But then his
beloved Uncle Bilbo had one last joke to play on his neighbours and kin:
he was going to leave, to retire from the Shire, go off on one last
Adventure, and leave Frodo to take his place.
They'd discussed
this many times. Frodo knew Bilbo wouldn't be changing his mind now. But
this was the first birthday since he'd come to live at Bag End that he
wasn't looking forward to.
He washed up, dressed, and picked up
the package with the gift he was giving to his cousin. It was a
lodestone in a silver case--he'd ordered it over a year in advance, when
he had first learned of Bilbo's plan.
After their traditional
birthday breakfast, he presented the gift to Bilbo, who was delighted to
receive it. "This is perfect, my lad," he said. Then he reached into
his pocket and handed Frodo a small package. It felt very familiar--in
fact, he was reminded of his twenty-second birthday at Bag End. He
opened it slowly. Another silver fob, another key? He took off the rest
of the tissue and on the end of the fob-chain was Bilbo's golden ring.
He turned to stare at his cousin in astonishment. "Uncle Bilbo?"
Bilbo
grinned. "The key is the master key to Bag End. I don't need it now. As
to the ring, I'd like you to have it, lad. Go ahead, try it out."
Frodo
blinked, and took the ring from the chain and tried it on. There was a
sensation of chill. He blinked. The world seemed strangely leached of
colour, but he could still see himself. He stood up silently, looking at
Bilbo's amused expression.
"It feels rather odd, doesn't it?" Bilbo addressed the chair where he presumed Frodo still sat.
Frodo
moved silently behind him and placed his hand on Bilbo's shoulder as he
said "It certainly does!" He had the satisfaction of hearing Bilbo yelp
and seeing him jump under his hand.
"Bless my buttons, Frodo! You startled the daylights out of me!"
Frodo
took the ring off and put it back on the fob. The two hobbits looked at
one another and laughed. "Won't you need it for your joke?" he asked.
"No,
Gandalf's agreed to provide a little distraction so that I can slip
away without giving away the secret. He seems to think it would be best
for it to remain here in the Shire. Honestly, I think he worries about
it more than I do."
Frodo took a deep breath. "I'm going to miss you, Uncle."
"I'm going to miss you as well. But I am exceedingly proud of you. You will do well as the Master of Bag End."
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