The Lost Visitor

It is a peaceful spring morning, and Bilbo Baggins is sitting at his desk writing in his book, as he has made it his custom. A year and a month have passed since he returned home from his unexpected journey. He is whistling a merry tune to himself when suddenly, he hears a knock on the door. He stands up from his chair to answer the door. On the way, he straightens one of the many paintings hanging on the walls of Bag end. He pushes down the door handle and pulls the door open.

"Thorin!" he cries and gladly embraces his companion. "Welcome back to the Shire, my dear friend!" Thorin smiles back at him kindly. "Thank you, dear Bilbo. It's wonderful to see you once more." He says and follows Bilbo's motion to step inside. Once inside, Bilbo becomes quite chatty. "Did you get here alright?" he enquires. "Or did you get lost again?" Thorin sighs at his comment yet replies with a smile. "No Bilbo. I got here just fine this time." "That's good very good, very good indeed." He leads his friend to the kitchen. "Do you care for some tea? I could make us something to eat." "Tea would be lovely, thank you." The dwarf accepts. "Have a seat please," says the host pulling out a chair from the table and busying himself with the fire. "How are the others? Is all well in Erebor? How about Dale? Have they recovered their strength after the battle?" Thorin smiles at sight of his friend in a joyful mood. "All is well in Dale and Erebor. Bard has made a swift recovery. We are also making peace with the elves of Mirkwood." He replies while Bilbo sets two teacups on the table, along with sugar and milk. He then proceeds to boil the water, humming a happy hobbit song whilst doing so.

Thorin looks at his companion's back. He seems so cheerful, but he must remind him of one simple truth. He inhales and exhales deeply. "Bilbo..." he begins quietly. As he speaks, bilbo goes rigid in the limbs. "Don't say it Thorin, don't say it again." The tone of Bilbo's voice and his manner changes as soon as his guest commences to talk. His voice takes on a sad and frustrated tone. "If you still value me as a friend, you won't say it." The dwarf stands up from the table, never looking away from the hobbit. "You are my greatest friend Bilbo, which is precisely why I have to tell you this again." Bilbo turns to face him. There are tears filling his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. "Don't you say it. Don't you say it." He repeats over and over through his sobbing.

As if to comfort him, Thorin takes Bilbo's small hands in his much larger ones. "You mustn't forget, my dear Bilbo." Bilbo closes his eyes. "You need to remember; I do not exist in the world of the living. You must remember... I am dead."

When Bilbo opens his eyes, his friend is gone. He closes his eyes once again and cries bitterly. But no number of tears shed will bring back the long lost dwarven king. He is all alone in the cruel, cold world once more.