The Hobbit: An Unexpected Discovery

Chapter two: In a hole in the ground

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"My dear Fae, Bilbo will be delighted to see us." Gandalf muttered happily.

"Gandalf, I am not sure he will remember us." Fae replied glancing at the portly Hobbit, who sat a couple of hundred yards away, eyes closed and smoking a pipe. He was rounder than she last remembered, with shorter hair and hairier feet. She laughed aloud at the sight of him. "Well this will be entertaining."

"He is coming on this adventure whether you like it or not!" Gandalf huffed.

"Mithrandir,I am not so sure this is the best idea. This is not just a short trip to Rivendell and back, we are going to be facing a dragon. He may not return and if he does he will never be the same." Fae argued.

"Oh,he will be fine!" Gandalf glanced at Fae again. "Ceri-cin ú-estel mellonnen? (do you doubt me my friend)" Gandalf asked.

"Ha na-ú-cin I im ceri-ú-estel Mithrandir.  (it is not you that i do not trust Mithrandir)" Fae answered "Thorin na-warui a breg na badhron.(Thorin is wary and quick to judge) I fear he will not take kindly to this hobbit."

"You always did worry too much." Gandalf replied with a small smile. Fae rolled her eyes as she approached the hobbit, only half a step behind Gandalf. He sat on his garden bench with his eyes closed, blowing smoke rings from the pipe he was smoking. Gandalf raised his eyebrows after a minute, when no movement had come from the hobbit. He looked at his companion with a gleam in his eyes and with a flick of his wrist the smoke ring he had just produced, flew back to its source, causing the poor hobbit to splutter and cough. After his small coughing fit had subsided, Bilbo Baggins looked at the two strange figures standing in front of him, holding back a smile, for they were quite a comical sight indeed. The man, taller than any he had seen before, with a pointy hat and long grey beard, loomed over his tiny companion who was the most gorgeous woman Bilbo had ever seen. She had long blond hair and her blue eyes held a hint of mischief.

"Good morning." Bilbo said.

"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish us a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not?" Gandalf stated, Bilbo's hint of a smile slipped from his lips as he gazed, perplexed at the strangers. "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?" Fae chipped in. "All of them at once, I suppose. Can I help you?" he said, looking even more confused than before. "That remains to be seen." Fae muttered so quietly that only Gandalf could hear, looking the flustered hobbit up and down.

"We're looking for someone to share in an adventure." Gandalf announced, holding back a smile when Bilbo continued to get even more flustered. He bounded up from the bench, pipe still in hand, and headed towards the mailbox. As he sorted through the post he said:

"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" and with that the Hobbit slammed the mailbox shut and ran up the steps to his front door. However, before he could close the door behind him, he turned around to address us one last time. "Good morning." At that, Fae face palmed and let out a long sigh. 'This was going to take some time' she thought to herself. Unbeknown to her Gandalf was thinking the exact same thing and started to get increasingly angry.

"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!" He shouted disapprovingly. At this the Hobbit halted and turned once again to look at the Wizard and elf that adorned his doorstep.

"Beg your pardon?"

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

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means ... me." A glimmer of recognition and excitement appeared on the Hobbits face, making Fae smile. Maybe there was hope after all.

"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." He muttered the last be quietly.

"And where else should I be? Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks." Bilbo then turned towards Fae.

"And you..."

"Ah yes! May I present to you the Lady Faerydae, daughter of the Lady Galadriel and my oldest friend." Gandalf announced affectionately, placing a hand on her shoulder as he spoke.

"It is a pleasure to see you again Master Baggins."

"And you. My what an honour. Hopefully you do not intend to put all this adventuring nonsense in my head as well Lady Faerydae"

"I'm afraid so Master Baggins. In fact, its decided. It will be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others." Fae announced, causing Gandalf to chuckle and the poor hobbit to almost explode.

"Inform the who? What? No. No. No! Wait." He stuttered "We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today, not­ ever. I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water." And with that he turned and went inside his house, calling one last "Good morning!" before slamming the door rather forcefully.

Gandalf chuckled and stomped towards the door, drawing a symbol just below the door knob. He turned to Fae and said, "Come my dear, I think we should go eat a hearty meal, for knowing dwarves I doubt we shall receive much tonight." Fae laughed and linked their arms and headed off deeper into the shire, excited for the days to come.