Heart Of Stone

Prologue

A young Bilbo is sitting on a bench, smoking his pipe. He looks up in surprise and sees a hooded figure, weilding a staff, blocking the sun from his iew and beside that figure was a fairly short female with brown hair, brown skin, a thick figure, and bright blue eyes. Bilbo saw the points of two ears and she was dressed as a male warrior except for all the metal, but she did have two curved blades strapped to her back along with a silver bow.

Her eyes were kind and soft and they made Bilbo almost forget the taller figure. Keyword, almost.

Bilbo's gaze left her and refocused in the tall old man, his eyes filled with confusion. "Good morning."

The man frowned. "What do you mean? Do you mean to wish us a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether we want it or not? 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?"

Bilbo frowned and was at a loss for words and the girl chuckled.

"All of them at once, I suppose."

The man looked at Bilbo disapprovingly and then he and the girl looked at each other and shook their heads. Bilbo wore a look of complete and utter bewilderment.

"Can I help you two?"

The straightened and the female spoke this time, her silky voice slightly calming Bilbo's nerves. "That remains to be seen. We're looking for someone to share in an adventure."

Bilbo scoffs causing the girl to frown. "An adventure? Now, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner, hm, mm"

Bilbo gets up and checks his mailbox, grabbing some mail and sorting through it, clucking to himself. He's quite uncomfortable due to the fact the two strangers are still standing there. Puffing his pipe in vexation, he begins heading back inside, turning back slightly, halfway up the steps to look at them.

"Good morning."

"To think that I should have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I were selling buttons at the door."

Bilbo stopped and completely turned his body to face the two strangers. "Beg your pardon?"

The man placed his hands on his hips, a disappointed look on his face. The female, well, she stood in the background, watching Bilbo with a stoic gaze.

"You've changed and not entirely for the better Bilbo Baggins."

Bilbo's frown deepened as his gaze moved between the two strangers, now a little freaked out. "I'm sorry do I know you two?"

Gandalf sighed, letting his arms fall. "Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means ... me." He motioned to the female to come heather and she obeyed. "And this is my trusted traveling companion Fawn." She waved.

Bilbo didn't know her but the male, he now realized exactly who he was. "Gandalf...not Gandalf, the wandering Wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. Ha, ha! Well. Hmm, I had no idea you were still in business."

Gandalf frowned. "And where else should I be?" He said, he and Fawn cocking a brow.

"Ha, ha! Hm, hmm..." Bilbo puffed confusedly on his pipe as he stared at the two companions

"Well, I'm pleased to find your remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks. Well that's decided. It will be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others." Gandalf said the last part more to Fawn who nodded in agreement.

Bilbo reeled. "Inform the who? What? No. No. No! Wait. We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today, not-mm. I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water." He headed back up the satirs turning once again. "Good morning."

Bilbo, in frustration, retreats into Bag End. Once inside, he bolts the door and leans against it. He takes deep breathes. He frowned, hearing a curious noise, and puts his ear close to the door.

Alarmed, Bilbo looks out his side window, only to find Fawn's eye appear in front of him. He jumps back in fright and hides behind a wall. He looks out another window and sees Gandalf and Fawn hurrying away.

I know I have no right to make another story but I got bored and decided to have some fun.