بخش 03

Bilbo, the ring is still in your pocket.

I’ve thought up an ending for my book

And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days.

And I’m sure you will, my dear friend.

Goodbye, Gandalf.

Goodbye, dear Bilbo.

Until our next meeting.

It’s mine.

My own.

My precious.

Riddles in the dark.

Bilbo!

Bilbo!

My precious.

Precious.

He’s gone, hasn’t he?

He talked for so long about leaving I didn’t think he’d really do it.

Gandalf?

Bilbo’s ring.

He’s gone to stay with the elves.

He’s left you Bag End.

Along with all his possessions.

The ring is yours now.

Put it somewhere out of sight.

Where are you going?

There are some things that I must see to.

What things?

Questions.

Questions that need answering.

You’ve only just arrived.

I don’t understand.

Neither do I.

Keep it secret.

Keep it safe.

Shire!

Baggins!

The year 3434 of the second age.

Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor and the finding of the ring of power.

It has come to me.

The one ring.

It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom.

All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I will risk no hurt to the ring.

It is precious to me though I buy it with great pain.

The markings upon the band begin to fade.

The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared.

A secret now that only fire can tell.

Shire.

Baggins.

There’s no Bagginses around here.

They’re all up in Hobbiton.

That way.

There’s been some strange folk crossing the Shire.

Dwarves and others of a less than savory nature.

War is brewing.

The mountains are fair teeming with goblins.

Faroff tales and children’s stories, that’s all that is.

You’re beginning to sound like that old Bilbo Baggins Cracked, he was.

Young Mr. Frodo here, he’s cracking.

And proud of it.

Cheers, Gaffer.

Cheers.

Weel it’s none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders.

Keep your nose out of trouble, and no trouble’ll come to you.

Good night, lads.

Good night.

Good night, sweet maiden of the golden ale.

Mind who you’re sweet taking.

Don’t worry, Sam.

Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one.

Does she?

Good night, Sam.

Good night, Mr. Frodo.

Is it secret?

Is it safe?

What are you doing?

Hold out your hand, Frodo.

It’s quite cool.

What can you see?

Can you see anything?

Nothing.

There’s nothing.

Wait.

There are markings.

It’s some form of Elvish.

I can’t read it.

There are few who can.

The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.

Mordor!

In the common tongue, it says

One ring to rule them all

One ring to find them

One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

This is the One ring forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom.

Taken by IsiIdur from the hand of Sauron himself.

Bilbo found it.

In Gollum’s cave.

Yes.

For 60 years, the ring lay quiet in Bilbo’s keeping prolonging his life, delaying old age.

But no longer, Frodo.

Evil is stirring in Mordor.

The ring has awoken.

It’s heard its master’s call.

But he was destroyed.

Sauron was destroyed.

No, Frodo.

The spirit of Sauron endured.

His life force is bound to the ring, and the ring survived.

Sauron has returned.

His orcs have multiplied.

His fortress at Baraddûr is rebuilt in the land of Mordor.

Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness.

He is seeking it.

Seeking it All his thought is bent on it.

For the ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master.

They are one the ring and the Dark Lord.

Frodo he must never find it.

All right.

We put it away.

We keep it hidden.

We never speak of it again.

No one knows it’s here, do they?

Do they, Gandalf?

There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring.

I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum.

But the enemy found him first.

I don’t know how long they tortured him.

But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words

Shire!

Baggins!

Shire.

Baggins.

But that would lead them here!

Who goes there?

Take it, Gandalf!

Take it!

No, Frodo.

You must take it!

You cannot offer me this ring!

I’m giving it to you!

Don’t tempt me, Frodo!

I dare not take it.

Not even to keep it safe.

Understand, Frodo, I would use this ring from a desire to do good.

But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.

But it cannot stay in the Shire!

No.

No, it can’t.

What must I do?

You must leave.

And leave quickly.

Where?

Where do I go?

Get out of the Shire.

Make for the village of Bree.

Bree.

What about you?

I’ll be waiting for you at the inn of the Prancing Pony.

And the ring will be safe there?

I don’t know, Frodo.

I don’t have any answers.

I must see the head of my order.

He is both wise and powerful.

Trust me, Frodo.

He’ll know what to do.

You’ll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you.

That name is not safe outside the Shire.

Travel only by day.

And stay off the road.

I can cut across country easily enough.

My dear Frodo.

Hobbits really are amazing creatures.

You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month.

And yet, after a hundred years they can still surprise you.

Get down.