{1 - The Wizard}

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Bilbos P.O.V.

45 years later

I sat in my front yard in bag ends of the shire, peacefully smoking a pipe. I liked the life I lived. Peaceful, no trouble, no war. All there was to worry about was if I was late or early, but I was always right on time. It was perfect. Everything was tidy and organized. Everything was always expected.

Who knew that a certain wizard could completely flip that upside down in just one meeting and a simple conversation.

With my eyes closed, I peacefully made smoke circles with my pipe, sitting on my bench and just enjoying being able to bathe in the sun, smelling the flowers and smoke.

I made another circle puff with the pipe but it seems that this one decided to take the shape of a butterfly and flutter back into my face. I open my eyes in shock at this, letting out a sneeze. And there in front of me, stood a tall being dressed in long grey robes and a grey pointy had to complete it. He was old, his features weathered and his long hair and beard gray. He leaned on a wooden staff that would look like a normal stick of wood if it weren't for the twisted top that looked to be hiding something.

I thought he was going to walk on by, but he stays, staring at me, with a twinkle in his eye, not saying a word. I got tired of it.

I cleared my throat, "good morning," I say casually.

"What do you mean?" He responds, still staring at me, he shifts slightly, "do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not," I stay silent, with my pipe in my mouth as he continues "or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning, or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on," I stare at him, my mouth slightly open and brow furrowed, this guy. When I was sure he was done riddling me, I responded.

"I'm not completely sure, it's just something that people tend to say when they see each other in the morning, I've never thought too deeply into it because I would think that it would be a waste of time. Just to figure out what exactly 'good morning' means in any context." I respond with a little bit of a bite, moving my, now unlit, pipe as I speak. He looks down at me and sighs. I start to turn away because it's getting too intense but turn back. "Can I help you?" I finally ask.

"That remains to be seen," he says, still staring at me, he sighs again, "I am trying to find someone that I can share an adventure with." I take the pipe out of my mouth again, surprised. Who is this?

"Well, sorry to disappoint but I don't think that you will find anyone west of Bree that would be willing to go on an adventure." I point west with my pipe before I get up, walking to my mailbox. "It'd be very unlikely for someone close to here who would want to exit the safety of their homes to go wandering around only to run into a whole bucket of trouble. They'd be late for dinner." I grabbed the stuff from my mailbox, flipping through the letters while mumbling to myself, occasionally looking up to see that the wizard —which had finally come to mind during our conversation— dressed in gray had not left and was standing there staring at me. I said good morning again and turned around to go inside.

"I think I should've lived to have more than a good morning by Belladonna Took's son," that made me stop, "as if I was selling buttons at the door!" He said this in an angered tone. Who was this wizard, how did he know my mother, and what did he want from me?!

"Excuse me?" I asked, slightly offended. Not many people mentioned my mother, not many people even knew her.

"You are not the same as when I first came by you and I don't believe it's a good change, Bilbo Baggins." He says in all seriousness.

I look around. "My apologies, but do I know you?" I ask confused, for I have no recollection of a tall gray-robed-clad wizard at all.

"Oh, you probably know my name, but I highly doubt that you remember that I belong to it, I'M GANDALF!" He raises his voice when he says his name, "and Gandalf means..." he pauses for a moment and I'm not sure if he's thinking or catching his breath "Me." He finally finishes his sentence. I recognized the name immediately.

"Wait, you can't possibly be Gandalf the wizard that was able to create such excellent fireworks on midsummer's eve!" I let out a short laugh of disbelief, slightly smiling. Gandalf coughs, "I had no idea that you were still wandering around these parts!"

"And where else might I be?" Gandalf questions. I move my pipe around not entirely pointing in a specific direction. Gandalf continues "I'm happy you remember at least something about me, even if it's only my fireworks." He sounded... disappointed, that I didn't remember more of him. I guess. He tilts his head down in a way of nodding. "Well, then it has been decided. I think it would do you well and be most amusing for me, I must tell the others!" He seemed excited and I didn't like it one bit.

"Tell the others? Tell them what exactly?" I had a feeling this wasn't going to end well.

"Well, the company, of course, I bet they'd be happy to hear." Gandalf starts to turn around.

"What? No, I'm sorry but noooo" I say, waving my pipe side to side as if the end were shaking its head. I rush up the step to my rounded green door. Turning around, I continue to say "There will be absolutely no adventures in Bag Ends!! Thank you very much but it is just NOT happening! Not today, not tomorrow, not ever!" I exclaim irritatedly. I get that this man is a wizard, but I will not tolerate being dragged into any nonsense. "I suggest you try another shire, or even across the water. But not here," I had reached my door and was wildly waving my hands. "Good morning!" I say one final time before entering my home and bolting the door behind me.

"Who does he think he is! Walking up to the shire and telling me he's taking me on an adventure, that I DO NOT WANT TO GO ON! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" I say into the emptiness of my home. I sigh. "I'm content with being here," I state firmly.

I start to move away from the door when I hear scratching. Humph. I carefully peered out the window that is beside my door. Nothing to be seen. I slowly go back to my feet, having had to stand on my tiptoes to look out, but just as I did, the sharp blue eyes and wrinkled face of Gandalf pop into the window. I yelp and fall backward, landing on my buttocks.

I stand back up, rubbing my backside, and look out the window. He seemed to have finally left and everything was quiet. I open the door and peek outside, looking back and forth. I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I had been holding. Good, the old wizard was gone. 

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A/N - thanks y'all for reading (if readers exist). The story starts out a lot like the movie but it'll (possibly) change. This was super fun to write but if I have any grammatical issues, please do tell! 

I have decided that my posting schedule is going to be every Wednesday, I will try my best to hold to it considering that school is ending soon and I have a lot more work. 

Have a great day y'all!

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