Return to our Destiny.

3. Very Old Friends

Outside Bag End, Gandalf stops his cart. "Whoa, whoa." He gets down and goes through the gate which bears a sign saying: 'No admittance except on party business.' Gandalf knocks on the door with his staff. "No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!" Bilbo calls from within, "And what about very old friends?" Gandalf calls back, Bilbo opens the door. Bilbo is amazed, "Gandalf?"

"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf greets with a huge smile, "My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo greets back moving with arms out wide so he can give Gandalf a hug, the wizard knees so they can both reach, "Good to see you! One hundred and eleven years old — who would believe it? You haven't aged a day." Bilbo and Gandalf laugh as Bilbo bids Gandalf inside. "Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome! Oh, here we are." Bilbo beckons, 

"Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger?" he asks as they step inside, "I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left. Twelve ninety-six — very good year. Almost as old as I am! Hahaha!" Bilbo hangs up Gandalf's hat and disappears down the corridor on his hunt for refreshments. Gandalf looks around and sees nothing of the house he'd seen back when the hobbit was a young man, the house only looked half taken care off, 

"It was laid down by my father. What say we open one, eh?" Bilbo called through the house, "Just tea, thank you." Gandalf calls back, bent a bit, he backs into the chandelier. He steadies it, but then bumps his head onto the beam and utters an "Ooooh!". Nursing the pain he enters Bilbo's study and sees the map of the Lonely Mountain mounted on a frame. He picks it up to examine it. Meanwhile, Bilbo is pottering around in the kitchen.

"I was expecting you sometime last week! Not that it matters, you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle... Oh, there's some cheese here — oh no, that won't do. Err, we got raspberry jam and an apple tart... Not much for afters, I'm afraid. Oh, no — we're all right! I've found some sponge-cake. I could make you some eggs if you like — oh. Gandalf?"

Bilbo returns with food only to not see Gandalf around, but the wizard suddenly appearing startles him, "Just tea, thank you." he states, Bilbo smiles, "Oh, right!" with mouthful of sponge-cake he asks, "You don't mind if I eat, do you?" Gandalf shakes his head, "Oh no, not at all." Gandalf sits down on a chair just inside the kitchen entrance. There is a knocking on the door and a woman shouting: "Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins!" 

Bilbo ducks back against one of the walls, and whispers "I'm not at home!" He tiptoes up to the front window and peers out to identify the unwanted visitor. "It's the Sackville-Bagginses!" Bilbo gasps, "I know you're in there!" she shouts, "They're after the house. They've never forgiven me for living this long!" Bilbo explains, still with his sponge-cake, Bilbo disappears into the kitchen. Gandalf stands up, 

"I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace!" Bilbo says tiredly, Bilbo puts down his cake and stares out his window while Gandalf tries to make himself comfortable at Bilbo's hobbit-sized table. "I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf! And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea!" He hurries to prepare the tea.

"So, you mean to go through with your plan, then." Gandalf asks and Bilbo looks a bit confused but then remembers Gandalf is quite informed, "Yes, yes. It's all in hand. All the arrangements are made." he explains as he moves to the tea pot, Gandalf lifts up the lid of a tea pot, Bilbo starts to pour water into it. "Oh, thank you." Bilbo thanks him. "Frodo suspects something." Gandalf informs, 

"'Course he does. He's a Baggins! Not some block-headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle." Bilbo says, "You will tell him, won't you?" Gandalf insists. "Yes, yes." Bilbo says turning from Gandalf to put the pot down. "He's very fond of you." Gandalf adds, "I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him." Bilbo chuckles, "I think, in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire: the woods, the fields... little rivers." he says as he leans heavily against the table. 

"I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart." Gandalf's gaze is drawn downwards to Bilbo's waistcoat pocket as the Hobbit's fingers begins to fidget with something inside it. Gandalf frowns. "I feel thin — sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread." Bilbo explains as he sits down wearily at the table. "I need a holiday — a very long holiday — and I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to!" he says. 

Gandalf watches him, with caring and worried eyes, "I know what will lift your spirits," Gandalf says, Bilbo looks at Gandalf a bit confused. "Rynnyl's pregnant, she's expects the baby will be born some time in the summer of next year," Gandalf said, Bilbo's eyes lit up. "Really?!" Gandalf nodded. "Her and Thranduil made the announcement a few weeks ago, it was one of the reasons, I was a bit late getting here." Gandalf said. 

Bilbo stood with renewed energy and clapped his hands, I must make sure I have something to give her," he said and Gandalf smiled. 

***

Evening falls on Hobbiton. Bilbo and Gandalf sit peacefully smoking pipe outside Bag End having calmed down some from the news earlier. Below them, in the party field, sounds of laughter and revelry float up from a growing crowd of Hobbits preparing for their evening's entertainment. Torches and candles light a festive scene and everywhere food is rapidly filling up the space on wooden trestles.

"Old Toby. The finest weed in the Southfarthing." Bilbo says as he blows a large ring of smoke which hangs gently in the still air. Gandalf sucks his cheeks in and out, blows a majestic, full-rigged ship that he blows through the ring. "Ahh! Gandalf, my old friend. This will be a night to remember!"