EARTHBOUND | the lord of the rings

05 | LOOMING SHADOWS

While everyone assumed that Bilbo's grand exit had Gandalf's magic written all over it, that certainly wasn't the case if the wizard felt troubled at his disappearance. Mags felt just as troubled at the party, shivering relentlessly from the chilly air, except she had been sweating at the same time. She downed a couple more ales to wash her uneasiness away, however, no amount of alcohol affected her clear vision or numbed her hammering heart.

"You've had plenty of those tonight," Frodo slurred as he pushed her mug away from her. He dug inside his pocket and handed her his handkerchief. Mags suddenly felt antsy about how disheveled she must've looked. She swatted the handkerchief from his hand and quickly wiped her loose strands off her sweaty forehead. Frodo looked a bit startled. "Mags, are you alright?"

"B-bilbo," she stammered. "There's something odd with him."

Frodo laughed wholeheartedly, belting above the cadence of music. "Yes, that's quite the saying here in the Shire. While his exit was shocking, it certainly wasn't unsurprising. Come on, let's get you home."

Mags was about to shake her head, but when she noticed Frodo swaying in place and his eyes closing for seconds too long after each blink, she reluctantly agreed. Mags followed the little hobbit and chuckled to herself as Frodo stumbled almost every other step he took. "What are you laughing at?" Frodo hollered as he turned to face her. The girl burst into laughter upon seeing his deeply flushed face and his eyes beginning to cross together.

"Let's get you home quickly," Mags teased. She nudged her hobbit friend forward and helped guide him up the hill.

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"Bilbo!" Frodo shouted as he opened the door. Orange candle light bounced off the Baggins' cylindrical walls. Warmth radiated inside the home and faint cracklings of the fireplace echoed in the silence. Cloaks, bags, and Gandalf's gray hat hung on hooks to the side. Though the hobbit-hole offered much welcome and comfort, Mags felt her breath quicken and stepped away from the house. "Bilbo!" Frodo yelled once more.

Frodo picked up a small, shiny item from the tiled floor. Mags curiously approached inside and hunched over her friend's shoulder to get a glimpse. She found a plain, golden ring resting in Frodo's palm. Her mind felt relieved upon staring at it, but her shallow breaths and her neck tensing to turn away said otherwise.

"He's gone, hasn't he?" Frodo asked, not to her, but to someone else inside. Mags blinked herself back to the present and recognized the familiar scent of smoky pipe weed. "He talked for so long about leaving. I didn't know he'd really do it."

Mags traced her hand along the roof as she crouched towards the living room. She took a seat next to Gandalf by the fireplace. "Gandalf, where's he gone?" Mags asked. The sound of lively crickets and gentle grunts of the two horses outside rang in the quiet atmosphere. A puff of smoke blossomed from the wizard's breath.

The girl rested her hand on Gandalf's shoulder. "Hmm," he hummed. As he turned to face Frodo, his eyes darted straight to the ring in his palm. "Bilbo's ring," he mumbled. "He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bag End, along with all his possessions." Mags could only imagine how stunned Frodo must have felt. Even she felt surprised at the news.

Gandalf slid an envelope into his grasp and held it open for Frodo. The hobbit seemed confused, then figured he should slip the ring inside it. "The ring is yours now," Gandalf said hastily. He sealed the envelope with red wax. The wizard held it tightly on the paper's edge, careful of letting his fingers wander, and handed it to Frodo. "Put it out of sight!"