So it all started one sunny Monday morning, when me and my brother Bilbo were having quite a normal day . I think then I was about 40 years old and Bilbo was 45 years old. I was just going to leave for work, when suddenly a very tall, old man dressed all in grey walked up to our front gate.
"Good morning..." Bilbo said to the figure.
"What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning, or that it is a morning to be good on?"
"..all at once I suppose. Why are you here?"
" what my brother means" I gave him a look " is are you enquiring after anyone here?"
He gave a low chuckle." I'm looking for someone to share an adventure with."
"An adventure...?" I suddenly remembered all the old stories we were told as children, and I was about to reply yes, when bilbo interrupted me.
"No. There are no adventurers here. You won't find anyone looking for adventures this side of bree, I'd imagine."
" Bilbo, wouldn't it be amazing though... I certainly want to go!"
"No Eleanor, it's too dangerous. We're quite happy here thank you very much. Who are you anyway?"
"Don't you recognise me?"
I finally realised who he was. "...Gandalf the grey!"
Bilbo's face lit up with the memories of our childhood. "The one who made such excellent fireworks?"
"Well at least you remember one thing about me."
"...but anyway, there will be no adventures here thank you."
"But..."
"No, Eleanor. It's..."
"Why, I'd never think I'd see the day when Belladonna Took's son would turn down an adventure! I remember when you were a young hobbit and you would have sprung at the chance of an adventure."
"Times have changed, and I've settled down. Well, good morning then Gandalf." Bilbo stood up from the bench he was seated on, and scurried inside. "Aren't you coming in Eleanor?"
"I came out to sit outside, so I'm going to sit outside."
Bilbo shut the door, and we could hear him boiling water for tea.
"Well Eleanor, I've got a surprise for you and your brother, so keep a look out for me, eh?" He spoke whilst carving two runes into our front door.
"Does damaging property count as part of the adventure Gandalf?" I said with a smile.
"It will disappear before you know it. I'll see you soon then." He gave me a nod, looked into the window-I'm presuming he was trying to scare bilbo- and walked off down the lane.
I looked at the countryside around me and all the hustle and bustle of daily life going on, and I thought then that I was quite ready for a change, but I would miss home. Well i had lived there all of my life.
A few days passed, and then someone came knocking at our door. They were the first of the unexpected visitors.
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