From the beginning, I suppose

Prologue

   Bilbo Baggins watched as the shoreline faded behind the stern of the dainty elvish ship. A mellow calm had settled over him as he half-listened to Gandalf and Elrond conversing quietly by the mainmast. The soft calmness was so inviting. So tempting. It was all he could do to guide himself to the chair facing back west before he let the calm enfold him, sinking into a soft darkness that echoed with the gentle roll of the surf.