A Long Strange Journey

The Last Stage

It was on May the First that the three came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell, where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House. It was evening, their ponies were tired, especially the one that carried the baggage; and they all felt in need of rest. As they rode down the steep path, Bilbo heard the elves still singing, as if they had not stopped since he left; and as soon as their riders came down into the lower glades of wood they burst into a light song that went something like this:

The dragon is withered,
His bones are now crumbled;
His armour is shivered,
His splendour is humbled!
Though sword shall be rusted,
And throne and crown perish
With strength that men trusted
And wealth that they cherish,
Here grass is still growing,
And leaves are yet swinging,
The white water flowing,
And elves are yet singing
Come! Tra-la-la-lally!
Come back to the valley!

The stars are far brighter
Than gems without measure,
The moon is far whiter
Than silver in treasure:
The fire is more shining
On hearth in the gloaming
Than gold won by mining,
So why go a-roaming?
O! Tra-la-la-lally
Come back to the Valley.

O! Where are you going,
So late in returning?
The river is flowing,
The stars are all burning!
O! Whither so laden,
So sad and so dreary?
Here elf and elf-maiden
Now welcome the weary
With Tra-la-la-lally
Come back to the Valley,
Tra-la-la-lally
Fa-la-la-lally
Fa-la!

Then the elves of the valley came out and greeted them and led them across the water to the house of Elrond, for whom Hannah had brought back a couple of jars of the exceptional honey from Beorn's hives as a gift. There a warm welcome was made them, and there were many eager ears that evening to hear the tale of their adventures. Gandalf it was who spoke, for Bilbo and Hannah had fallen quiet and drowsy. Most of the tale Bilbo knew, for he had been in it, and had himself told much of it to the wizard and Hannah on their homeward way or in the house of Beorn; but every now and again he would open one eye and listen, when a part of the story which he did not yet know came in.

It was in this way that he learned where Gandalf had been to; for he overheard the words of the wizard to Elrond. It appeared (from the hobbit's point of view) that Gandalf had been to great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood. Well Bilbo had it mostly right, except of course, that the only 'white wizard' present had been Saruman, and the other members of the White Council had been none other than Lady Galadriel, Gandalf, and Lord Elrond himself. And the wizard and the elf-lord were discussing how the four members of the Council had united against their most terrible Enemy.

"Ere long now," Gandalf was saying, "The Forest will grow somewhat more wholesome. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, I hope. Yet I wish that he were banished from the world!" Unfortunately, the best they could manage was to force Sauron to reveal himself to them too early, while he was still weak and had yet to regain his former strength, and to banish him to the South. Saruman seemed to think that was enough, but Gandalf was not so certain.

"It would be well indeed," said Elrond; "but I fear that will not come about in this age of the world, or for many after."

When the tale of their journeyings was told, there were other tales, and yet more tales, tales of long ago, and tales of new things, and tales of no time at all, till Bilbo's head fell forward on his chest, and he snored comfortably in a corner.

He woke to find himself in a white bed, and the moon shining through an open window. Below it many elves were singing loud and clear on the banks of the stream.

Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!
The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.