The incident all those years ago has been a story that Hobbiton - or rather, the whole of the Shire - comments on and even fears. People regard the tragic events that happened that night - especially the decapitation of old Knox's head - as fireside stories told to hobbit children to scare those disobedient cubs.
The protagonist in the story gradually changed from Bilbo Baggins, who disappeared inexplicably that night, to his nephew and nephew Frodo.
Because after that night, Frodo moved out of Bag End. He sold the cozy and pleasant cave under the hill, which was rumored to contain countless jewels and gold coins according to the residents of Hobbiton, to Sackville, who had been thinking about him, at a 'low price'. The Baggins family.
Then moved alone to Bucksland, where his mother's family was.
We have said that Frodo's mother, Primula Brandybuck, was the youngest daughter of Gorbadoc Brandybuck and Mirabella Took. The Brandydeer family has been living in the Brandy Hall in Buckland and is a very large family.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Frodo to use the reason that Bilbo had traveled far away and he did not want to stay alone in the cold home of Bag End to return to live where his mother's family was.
As for the truth, to be honest, people don't really care that much. People are more concerned about how much of a bargain the Sackville Baggins family got - although Bag End was indeed turned upside down by murderers riding big horses and wearing black robes that night, but according to people familiar with the matter, The price is still lower than people imagine. Talking about whether they find the fabled treasure in the tunnels of Bag End.
In the end, even Frodo began to be gradually forgotten by the people in Hobbiton, or became a legendary figure.
Because since then, Frodo Baggins has rarely appeared in the eyes of the public. Instead, he lives alone in an old house near the Willow River and no longer communicates with people outside Buckland.
ah.
Seeing this, many people must have guessed that the ring (thering) most likely fell into the hands of Frodo Baggins as it did in the original history.
In fact, Frodo didn't understand why the King of the North gave the ring to him at first. It wasn't until he collected the ring for several years that he vaguely understood it. And the reason why he lived alone so far away from the hobbit village was precisely to get the protection of Tom Bombadil. Because only the legendary mysterious figure will not be swayed by the ring's whispers and inexplicable ability to attract people to do evil.
But he also has many good friends, especially among the younger hobbits (mostly the descendants of old Took): these people have liked Bilbo since they were young and often go to Bag End. Falco Boffin and Frederic Bolger were two of them, but Frodo's closest friends were Peregrine Tooker (usually known as Pippin) and Merry Brandybuck (he His full name was Meriadock, but few people remember him).
Frodo traveled with them throughout the Shire, but more often he roamed alone. He was sometimes found far away from home, walking in the mountains and forests under the stars. Merry and Pippin suspect that he, like Bilbo, occasionally visits the elves.
In fact, this is indeed the case. Sometimes, the elves will obey Turka's orders and come to care about his life and physical and mental health; sometimes, it is Turka himself who comes in person.
Due to the sensitive nature of their identities, Frodo could only meet them on an excuse to take a stroll, in a starlit forest or in the dead of night; in an unlit drawing room.
Of course, there are more wizards who are always mysterious and come and go.
Over the years, Frodo has rarely seen the old man with snow-white hair and beard. No one knows where he has been and what he has been doing. All I know is that every time Gandalf appeared when Frodo was unexpected, he observed Frodo carefully and worriedly for a while, and then left in a hurry.
Just a reminder: Be sure not to leave the old forest too far!
It was only after he knew the power of the ring that Frodo understood how much the wizard and Turka cared about him.
Such days passed for a long time, and as time passed, Frodo also showed signs of being "well-maintained": he still maintained the appearance of a hobbit who was just over twenty years old, and he was physically strong. Good health and energetic. Even when Frodo was approaching fifty, an age that should have seemed more stable, his appearance remained the same as it had been many years ago, without any change.
At this time, Frodo began to feel regret for not leaving with Bilbo. He found himself yearning for the wilderness from time to time, especially in autumn; and he also found himself dreaming of strange and strange sights, mountains and mountains he had never seen before. He began to think to himself: "Maybe one day I should cross the river myself." But to this, the other half of his consciousness always answered: "The time has not come yet."
Therefore, he could only try again to live quietly in the old house in Bucksland. Whenever this happens, he is always lucky that he still has Tom Bombadil as a friend.
Due to a meeting many years ago, this mysterious old man is more active than in the original work. Not only did he take on the important task of protecting the One Ring, but he also became good friends with Frodo after many years of dating.
Sometimes, Old Tom would invite Frodo to his home deep in the old woods. Sometimes, he would appear alone in front of Frodo's old house on a stormy night and bring Frodo to his house. Startled.
At this time, happy and warm-hearted old Tom would always laugh loudly and sing songs that had no specific meaning but were always very happy.
So, during those years, Frodo either played with Pippin and Merry; or he ran alone to the depths of the old forest to chat with Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry. The days passed quietly and contentedly, and nothing sad happened.
Until, even Frodo himself began to become a 'monster' and a 'legend' in others' mouths. Until, the high elves from the west began to return to Middle-earth, and the outside world underwent earth-shaking changes. Finally, one afternoon in early April, Gandalf appeared again after a long absence. This time he also brought a strange and mysterious man with him.
"He is the Strider." The wizard took off the pointed hat on his head, put his staff and the elf sword beside the wall of Frodo's old house, and then showed a long-lost smile: "You can call him Allah Gon. My dear Frodo, how are you? You look almost the same as Bilbo did! I mean: you haven't changed at all!"
Frodo happily busied himself between the living room and kitchen of the old house, serving tea and snacks to the long-lost guests and inviting them to sit down - in this regard, he had inherited Bilbo's hospitality and hard work very well. ——Frodo didn't stop until the guests sat down on the elm chairs with satisfaction, stretched out their tired legs, and enjoyed the hobbits' kindness and enthusiasm.
"Everything is fine." Frodo said: "You know, life in the Shire is always the same, beautiful and peaceful." At that time, Frodo was eager to know the wizard's whereabouts over the years and what happened with the outside world. . A long-lost cheerful smile appeared on his face, and his big eyes revealed excitement and curiosity.
"This is more important than anything else." The strange man whom Gandalf called Strider took off the dark green cloak on his head, revealing his melancholy and cold face, and his voice was low and contagious: "Now In this world, there is nothing more worthy of cherishing and precious than beauty and tranquility.”
He has fluffy black hair and gray eyes as sharp as swords. The finger bones of both hands are thick and slender, and a pair of high soft leather boots that have been worn for a long time but fit perfectly are still stained with mud. Together with a long sword that is not inferior to Gandalf's elf sword, the whole person looks great. It seemed dusty and dangerous.
Frodo was made uncomfortable by the sharp sword-like eyes of the 'new friend' brought by Gandalf, and he always felt that he regarded him as a bad guy. In other words, Mr. Aragon, nicknamed "Strider", is examining something.
Frodo glanced at him uneasily, and then said to Gandalf: "Gandalf, where have you been all these years?"
Gandalf looked older, more worried and haggard. It seems that these years of wandering around have not been easy. Of course, it's possible that he always looked like this and Frodo and the others thought he had changed.
Gandalf drank tea and ate dessert, and then slowly smoked his long pipe. Amidst the mellow smell of long-leaf tobacco and the flickering sparks, the wizard spoke. "My dear Frodo, I can only tell you that I have experienced more things in these years than any hobbit has experienced in a lifetime." He said: "But none of this matters anymore, Frodo. The ring Do you still keep it?"
After hearing this most important thing, Aragorn couldn't help but sit up straight, and his eyes looking at Frodo became even sharper.
Frodo twisted uneasily, wondering why he was talking about the magical ring in front of the 'stranger'. "Yes." Frodo said dullly, as if he didn't want to talk about this topic.
But Gandalf and Aragorn stared at him with piercing eyes, making him extremely uneasy.
"Take it out, Frodo." Gandalf put down the pipe and said in a solemn and undeniable tone: "I think it's time to let you know the truth of the matter."
Frodo was stunned, and his long-standing confusion seemed to be released. At the same time, a voice inside me was loud and mighty: The time has come!
So, Frodo stood up nervously, pulled out a silver chain from the collar around his neck, and a golden ring was hanging on it.
