Frodo Baggins was born on September 22, 1368 in the Shire calendar. His father was the honorable Drogo Baggins, and his mother was Primula Brandybuck.
Until the age of 12, Frodo lived in Brandyhall and was raised by his mother's people. Until Bilbo Baggins was 99 years old, he adopted Frodo as his heir and brought him back to live with him in Bag End in Hobbiton.
Frodo liked this "eccentric" uncle who had the same birthday as himself - Bilbo would teach him how to read, tell him various ancient legends and stories, and even teach him a word or two in Elvish. So Frodo lived happily with his uncle Bilbo for many years.
It was also at that time that Frodo met Gandalf, the King of the North and the wizard.
But unlike the kind and kind wizard, Frodo, to a certain extent, was more in awe and curiosity towards the famous silver king. Every time, when that majestic and towering man came to the Shire and Bag End to have a happy reunion with his uncle Bilbo, Frodo acted more as a bystander and a junior.
Frodo also heard a lot about Bilbo's adventure many years ago. But he really couldn't equate that big man who was almost famous in Middle-earth with the 'old friend' who chatted and laughed with his uncle Bilbo. Even Turka Aracano greeted him with a smile every time.
In fact, every time Turka came to the Shire to reunite with Bilbo, Frodo would hide far behind the door or even in the shadow of the cabinet, carefully watching the legendary King of the North and his own The uncle was chatting and laughing.
I will also be curious and ask my uncle about things after he leaves.
And every time, Uncle Bilbo would smile and say to him: Frodo, Lord Turka is a friend of Baggins in Bag End. You don't have to be so shy. Lord Turka is very gentle. If you are really curious. , you can ask him openly next time.
Each time, Frodo would tell himself, next time, next time, he would be braver. But every time, Frodo became submissive again when the big man arrived.
As if he were a Gamgee, not a Brandybuck or a Baggins.
Maybe it's because of his eyes.
Frodo said so much himself. The iconic vertical pupils of the silver-white king were so majestic. When Frodo was still young, he saw Turka Aracano's eyes for the first time. Frodo was frightened and cried on the spot - Xiao Huo Bit people can't imagine that a person actually has the eyes of a dragon.
This incident still haunted him into adulthood.
It was also from that time that Frodo became closer to the kind-hearted wizard than the majestic King of the North.
Therefore, Frodo seemed very happy to see the wizard again after three months - at that time, his uncle Bilbo happened to be celebrating his 111th birthday, and he had just come of age. All of Hobbiton was in some kind of carnival. Many people were invited, and many people came uninvited.
But whoever it was, they were given a grand reception that night.
Among them were the wizard and Balin who met unexpectedly.
In addition, after the banquet in the evening, the Silver King also took advantage of the night to come to the Baggins family's Bag End to celebrate the birthday of an old friend. So Frodo was particularly impressed.
"What makes you absent-minded? Gandalf." Young Frodo looked at him strangely, his blue eyes showing the agility and liveliness he should have at his age. "I thought you would go a long way this time. Time, just like you used to!”
"Ah? Ah."
The wizard smiled and said: "Because halfway through, I suddenly remembered something important, so I turned around and came back."
"Is it because the King of the North led his army to go on an expedition?" The young hobbit showed an expression that he thought he had seen through many things, and said enthusiastically: "Everyone in the Ivy Tavern on the Waterfront Road is spreading the news that Anu Minas sent a team of 20 thousand men! There are also elves and dwarves! And the enemy is the orcs in the mountains! Uh... Are there still orcs in Middle-earth? I thought they have all disappeared."
Seeing that young people now regard the evil race that once threatened the entire Middle-earth as a legend, Gandalf and Bilbo even felt that the young people had been beaten less.
"That's not funny." Bilbo still looks the same as he did all those years ago. This has almost become an anecdote that the entire Hobbiton and even the Shire are talking about. Many people praise him for his "talented appearance" and even his "immortality", but secretly, many people also think that this is not a good thing.
"This is unjust," they said, "and unfair. Old Baggins enjoys eternal youth, endless wealth, and happiness beyond that of any hobbit! The price here will definitely lead to retribution!"
However, Frodo always thought it was just jealousy on the part of those people. Because Bilbo has always been generous and well-connected, he is the most amazing hobbit he knows. That's why those people disliked him so much - the most despicable of them all was the Sackville Baggins family. Because they always planned to inherit the treasures in Bilbo's cave. But Bilbo's longevity and the emergence of a new heir foil their plans.
"You have never experienced being attacked by orcs and wolves; you have not seen them salivating with disgust, their eyes showing greedy light, baring their teeth and claws, and brandishing scimitars; you have not seen countless lives being trampled by them, and many people have been thrown away. A tragic scene of life." Bilbo looked at his nephew and said in an unprecedented serious tone: "But I have seen it! You don't know the world and think that the safety and tranquility outside fall from the sky! But the fact is, Frodo, you The legend I thought was not just a few cold words in a book! Every word and every sentence in the book was written by someone else with their living life and blood!"
The young man was a little embarrassed and at a loss. He wriggled his lips and said, "Then, I hope such a legend will never come to the Shire. Yes, that's it."
With that said, he ran out of the house in shame, just like those children who were criticized by their parents.
"You are too harsh on him," said Gandalf. "Frodo is a good boy. Perhaps you should be more patient."
Bilbo was stunned for a moment, and seemed to have just recovered from running away in anger at his nephew. "I, I actually... yes, he is a good child." He sat down on the chair in frustration and said distressedly: "Maybe I am not a good guardian. Maybe... I mean: I shouldn't adopt him , I can't even take care of myself..." Bilbo's fingers unconsciously placed on the pocket of his jacket, stroking the gold ring.
Yes, it is different from the original history.
Bilbo, who was supposed to have set off for Rivendell, was still in Hobbiton. He did not use his ring at his 111th birthday dinner. Therefore, even though the wizard had suspicions, he was still not sure that his old friend had it. It is the Supreme Lord of the Rings.
"You have done well, Bilbo. But sometimes, you are just too sensitive." The wizard squinted his eyes, as if to see through everything. "For example: Don't you think there is something you want to say to me?"
"What?" Bilbo became wary. He tightened his grip on the treasure in his pocket, and his tone was so harsh that he couldn't believe it: "I don't understand what you said, Gandalf!"
"Don't think of me as a fool! The person who does this is a fool!" The wizard felt an unsettling darkness coming from his old friend. This darkness was so familiar that he couldn't help cursing his own stupidity. The fact is so obvious, why have I turned a blind eye all these years?
He couldn't help shouting: "Eternal youth is not the fate of hobbits! Bilbo, what do you have in your pocket?"
"You are not allowed to ask me that question!" Bilbo almost jumped up and yelled in a hoarse voice: "What is in my pocket is my freedom!"
No one knows where the hobbit got the courage to look at the wizard or even resist. He was furious and said with a hint of grievance: "You sound as if I did something wrong, but in fact, I just entertained you." , Gandalf!”
The wizard's aura weakened, his tone softened again, and his eyes showed deep concern, "I just care about you, old friend. Don't you believe me?" He said: "And the same is true for Lord Turka, He asked me to come to the Shire to live with you during this time, do you understand? We are all worried about you."
Bilbo was stunned for a moment, a trace of struggle and doubt flashed in his eyes. A voice kept whispering in his heart, like the whisper of a devil.
Don't believe the wizard, he's lying to you! He wants to grab something from your pocket!
Our baby!
But finally, Bilbo let go of the ring and took his hand out of his pocket.
He said: "Master Turka asked you to come? How could it be?"
The wizard kept staring into his eyes until Qingming returned to his old friend, and Gandalf couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. He said: "Bilbo, my friend. Do you think that the peace and tranquility of the Shire, the hometown of the hobbits, are really just because all the bad people in the world have died? No, Bilbo, you don't know In this place, spies and rangers from the north have been secretly guarding the road to the south, blocking out all malice and evil from the outside world. This is how the Shire has enjoyed peace for decades..."
Bilbo opened his mouth. It was the first time he heard such secrets. The evil in his heart was temporarily overshadowed by curiosity. "Is this all true? Gandalf. Master Turka has been secretly protecting Charles, protecting..."
"Protecting you? Yes." The wizard said with emotion: "Master Turka has paid more than many people think! Many people have misunderstood him, including me!"
"But now, Bilbo, even Lord Turka is worried. The evil has grown beyond our imagination and expectations! That's why he asked me to protect you." There was a hint of gentleness in the wizard's voice, and a hint of Worried, he said: "If you have anything to tell me, please say it now! I know that there is a little secret between you and Lord Turka! A shocking secret!"
Bilbo hesitated.
Not only because of the wizard's persuasion, but because he finally knew that the wizard's arrival was indeed the intention of the Silver King.
Think of that promise.
Thinking of the secret that had been carried for decades, Bilbo couldn't help but said: "As you can see Gandalf. I don't look old, but deep down I begin to feel that I am old. Really, I am still 'well-maintained' "Yeah!" he scoffed. "Ugh! I feel so thin, like I've been stretched out, you know what I mean: like butter spread on a piece of bread that's too big. This is so wrong. I need it. A little change or something.”
Gandalf looked at him curiously and carefully. "Yes, that doesn't look right," he said thoughtfully, "and that's what worries me the most! There are no hobbits like you! You're in more shape than I thought, as far as I know , there is only one person like you. Gulu! I hope you haven’t completely forgotten this name!?”
Bilbo was silent for a moment.
Or a long time.
Then he said: "Yes, yes. Gulu, such a pitiful and sad name, how could I forget it." After that, he fell silent again.
The wizard didn't rush him either. But while staring at him closely, his mind kept thinking.
Until Bilbo spoke again: "Perhaps you can understand it this way: Gandalf, I picked up something in the orc's cave, a very beautiful thing! I own it! It is mine!"
"Yes, no one denies it. But go ahead."
Bilbo then continued: "Well, that's what happened. I picked up a ring! Lord Turka knows this! I used it to save the dwarves and myself. I also used it to save the old Smaug. The Heart of the Mountain was stolen from under his nose! Ah, the Arken Stone! The beautiful white diamond! You know, if you're curious, I can even show it to you! Thorin gave it to me, and you I can’t believe how beautiful it is!”
As he spoke, a force drove him to jump down from the chair, wanting to run away anxiously and urgently.
But the wizard saw through his intentions, or in other words, Gandalf knew that the power of the ring was affecting him. It sensed danger and was ready to save itself.
So he shouted: "Bilbo, I don't care about the dwarf treasure. Now, let us continue with the ring!" His figure soared, almost reaching the roof, and his eyes were majestic and bright, like an ancient king.
Bilbo was frightened. He backed up against the wall, breathing heavily and clutching his pockets. They stood face to face for a moment, the air in the room shaking. Gandalf's eyes were still fixed on the hobbit. Slowly, Bilbo let go of his hand and began to tremble.
"I don't know what's happened to you, Gandalf," he said. "You've never been like this before. What's all this for? It's mine, isn't it? I found it, if I hadn't kept it , Gulu has killed me long ago. No matter what he says, I am really not a thief."
"I never said you were," Gandalf replied, "and neither am I. I'm not trying to rob you, I'm trying to help you. I hope you'll trust me as you did before." He turned away, The shadow faded. He seemed to have shrunk into a gray-haired old man again, with a stooped figure and a worried expression. "And it was Lord Turka who asked me to come, don't forget that."
This name held some incredible magic in Bilbo's heart. He struggled, he was relieved, and finally he calmed down. "You are right, Master Turka will not harm me, he knows this!"
Gandalf was even more curious. He didn't understand what happened between the Silver King and the hobbits to make Bilbo choose to believe in the King of the North even when he was at his most 'stubborn'. He felt that the truth was about to be revealed.
