little gentleman

Life in Bag End has returned to calm.

In the first few days after he came back, Bilbo had to keep driving away the neighbors who came to visit. They didn't believe that Bilbo came back alive, so they all wanted to confirm it with their own eyes.They'd welcome Bilbo home with excitement, and then lament to themselves that the Bag End property couldn't be put up for public auction.

"Don't think I don't know what they're up to, they don't want a dime!" said Bilbo angrily, tasting the tea that Sam had just made.

"Your newspaper." Sam put the letters in order, and handed Bilbo a newspaper.

Bilbo shook open the newspaper, and the headline on the front page was the news that the king under the mountain and the prince of Mirkwood had broken off their engagement. According to the official statement, it was Legolas who proposed that "even members of the royal family should not accept marriages for purely political purposes." ", and Thorin said that he "respects the request of Prince Legolas" and that "the covenant between Iruber and Mirkwood will not be affected in any way."

"Thranduil must be mad!" Bilbo gloated.

Sam sat down across from Bilbo. "Mr. Baggins, can you tell me about your adventures? What happened?"

"Didn't Frodo tell you?" Bilbo put down the paper.

"I cannot ask Mr. Frodo, he looks very ill," said Sam worriedly.

"It may take some time for the poor boy to recover." Bilbo felt sorry for Frodo.

In order to satisfy Sam's curiosity, Bilbo told their adventure stories, starting with him and Gandalf meeting Thorin and Gimli at the inn, then the joining of Aragorn and Boromir, the encounter with Bard, Falling off the cliff and being separated from others, and finally that fierce battle.He emphasized the appearance of the eagle, which he thought was the most exciting part of the whole story.

Sam tilted his head to listen to Bilbo's speech. Suddenly he asked, "Mr. Baggins, did you spend the night with Thorin down the valley? How did you get out of that valley?"

As for what happened down in the valley, Bilbo just mentioned it in a few words. He didn't want to go into details about it. He could only say to Sam, "It was a cold night. We burned branches to keep warm, but luckily no wild animals attacked us. The next morning we Going out along the small river, the bottom of the valley is dark and wet, and there are bugs everywhere, but after we crossed it, we found that it was closer than walking the mountain road, and then we met Frodo and them, and they were fighting with the goblins. Huan."

Just as they were talking, Merry and Pippin rushed in.

"Bilbo! Sam! They're back!" cried Pippin excitedly.

"Who's back?" asked Bilbo, frowning.

"It is the King! King Aragorn is back!" said Pippin.

"And his friend, I heard it's Mr. Boromir!" Merry was also very happy.

Bilbo and Sam looked at each other, and Bilbo asked, "Have they arrived? Where are they?"

"No, they haven't come yet," said Merry, "but his servants are at the Bank, and we talk to them, and they say that King Aragorn and his friends are coming back! The other hobbits are talking This matter!"

Bilbo didn't know what was going on in his heart for a moment, and his first thought was what would happen to Frodo.

But Frodo, who had just come out of the bedroom, had heard the news, and he could not help exclaiming a little, "Ah!"

All looked at Frodo at once.

"Your Aragorn is coming back, Frodo!" said Pippin excitedly. "He is yours again!"

"No, how is it possible?" Frodo smiled wryly. "I shall grieve no more for him, and if I see him again I shall only think of him as a dear friend, and that is all."

"I can't see it?" Bilbo teased, with a smirk.

"Bilbo!" cried Frodo unhappily, "I won't cry like a silly girl when I see him, he's just as normal a friend to me!"

Bilbo still smiled meaningfully, and there was no need to expose the embarrassment of Frodo crying in Aragorn's arms, anyway, Aragorn would be coming soon.

"If only the king and those honorable guests don't mistreat poor hobbits!" cried Sam, who couldn't forget how much Frodo had been hurt.

Everyone talked and laughed, although the topic was still inseparable from Aragorn, but Frodo seemed as indifferent as he said. He talked and laughed happily with his friends, as if he was no different from before he knew Aragorn.

Bilbo was still worried, he knew Frodo still loved Aragorn, but what did Aragorn think now?Why did Aragorn return to Hobbiton this time?

What worried Bilbo even more was why there was no news from Thorin at all?

To Bilbo's surprise, Aragorn and the others arrived in the afternoon, and they came to Bag End immediately.

"My God! The King is coming this way!" cried Pippin from the window.

The teapot in Frodo's hand almost fell to the floor, and the hot tea from the spout scalded the back of his hand.

Merry's strings screeched, ruining whatever he was playing.

In the yard, Sam, who was taking care of the plants, stood up and looked up: "There is another person with him, his dwarf friend Sorin!"

Bilbo's heart tightened suddenly. Thorin is here!He is still here!But why did he come?He looked at Frodo, and his nephew looked panic-stricken, as if it took all his strength to control himself so as not to run away on the spot.

While speaking, Aragorn and Thorin had already reached the gate of Bag End. They left their horses on the road and climbed the steps dotted with flowers and plants leading to the round green door.

The hobbits greeted their guests in the drawing room, with Bilbo at the head.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Baggins!" Aragorn greeted politely, his head hit the shaky chandelier as soon as he saluted.

As soon as Pippin laughed, Sam covered his mouth.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty." Bilbo smiled.

The others greeted their guests one by one, and Frodo, not daring to look up into Aragorn's eyes, made a hasty salute, and seated himself in the farthest chair of the room.

Sorin walked to the window after the simple greetings and looked at the garden outside the window.

Bilbo chatted with Aragorn: "Your Majesty, have you just arrived in Shire today?"

"Yes, just arrived today, I can't wait to meet my friends!" Aragorn said with a smile, "Also, please call me Aragorn, I don't want to carry a king in cozy and lovely Hobbiton I am tired enough to be in Gondor!"

Bilbo smiled: "You—did you two come all the way here?"

"Yes, not long after we parted, this guy Sorin came to Gondor to find me, and then we came here together." Aragorn explained.

Bilbo murmured in his heart, why did Thorin go to Gondor?And why did Aragorn suddenly want to come to Shire?Is there any connection here?But he couldn't ask these questions directly. He sneaked a glance at Thorin who was standing by the window.

"With the liberty of asking: are you going to stay in Hobbiton any longer?" asked Bilbo tentatively.

"Yes, I think I will stay at least a few weeks, and if possible, I will probably stay for a while longer." Aragon said.

Hearing this, Frodo, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said: "You are all very welcome, and I am very glad that you can come back to visit us!" He looked at Thorin's back, and added: "Of course, and you My friend, we welcome too..." His voice trailed off, and then he bowed his head in terror—Thorin had turned and looked at him, no smile on his face.Frodo feared that he had said something he should not have said, and looked to Bilbo for help.

Bilbo looked at Thorin. "We are indeed glad to see you again, Thorin. My door is always open to you if you will."

Thorin was not angry, he was only nervous, and Bilbo could see that.

"Thank you, this hole of yours is very warm and comfortable, I regret that I never visited before." Thorin said stiffly.He didn't like hobbits digging holes before, thinking their habits were like mice, but when he really went into Bag End as a guest, he realized that hobbits are a people who know how to enjoy life, and their caves are as good as anything. as livable as a human home.

After the two guests left, Pippin breathed a sigh of relief: "Next time they should be notified before they come, I have to stay away! That Thorin has a serious face, it's terrible!"

"Yes, why didn't Mr. Boromir come along?" Merry said regretfully.

Frodo turned pale, and he said to Bilbo with strength: "Ah, this meeting is over safely! I am confident that next time I can face Aragorn in the most ordinary state of mind."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." Bilbo winked at his nephew.

The next morning, before Frodo got up, there was a loud noise outside: "Frodo! Frodo! He is coming! Aragorn is coming again!" It was Pippin who rushed in, and Merry It is easy to catch him.

Bilbo rose from the table. "What? How could he come before breakfast? My God! Frodo get up!"

Bilbo lifted Frodo out of bed sleepily. "What's the matter, Bilbo?"

"Put on your clothes, for Aragorn is coming!" yelled Bilbo into Frodo's ear.

"Ah! Don't yell in my ear!" Frodo got up, covering his ears.

"Sam, come and help Frodo, the lazy fellow has no clothes on!" Bilbo called to Sam for help. "And you two, go into the drawing-room for me, and get out of your way!"

Frodo was tidied up at last, and when he came into the drawing-room he rubbed his eyes and said, "Good morning, Aragorn."

"Good morning, Frodo!" Aragorn looked completely different from yesterday, with a cheerful smile on his face, as if something great and good had just happened.

Bilbo sent Merry and Pippin out to play, and pulled Sam out of the drawing-room himself, leaving room for Frodo and Aragorn.

After ten minutes, Bilbo felt that he should go back, otherwise Frodo would be embarrassed to face Aragorn for too long, and he couldn't help wondering how the two were doing.

As soon as he entered the drawing-room, Bilbo was surprised to find that he had stumbled upon something: Aragorn and Frodo turned away suspiciously hurriedly, with unnatural expressions on both faces.Frodo's face was flushed, and his countenance was brighter and brighter.Seeing Bilbo come in, Frodo ran out as fast as he could.

Only Bilbo and Aragorn were left, and Aragorn bowed respectfully to Bilbo and said, "Mr. Baggins, I solemnly propose to my nephew Frodo Baggins, and I sincerely hope that you will allow our marriage! "

Bilbo agreed without hesitation: "My nephew is fortunate to have your favor, and I have no reason to refuse this marriage."

The pursuit of happiness is difficult, but it is always so simple when it comes.

"Thank you! Thank you very much!" Aragorn said excitedly.

Aragorn didn't stay long that day, but he promised to come back the next day. Because of the happiness of love, he became informal. Even if Pippin made too much trouble, he didn't care. I will bring Boromir with me next time.

After Aragorn left, Frodo hugged Bilbo uncontrollably. He was so happy that he couldn't calm down: "Oh! He said he loved me, Bilbo, he said he always loved me! I am so happy! Why did I get so much happiness all by myself? It’s not fair! My God, is this all true?”

"You deserve this gift, my boy!" Bilbo reassured his emotional nephew with a smile.

"I wish everybody could be as happy as I am! I can't be the only one who gets so much, but you should be as happy as I am, Bilbo!" Frodo said without logic.

"Me? If I'm lucky, maybe I can meet a Mr. Rosso like Merry!" Bilbo teased, "Until then, I'll continue to be a bachelor!"

There was no need for the host to be more polite, for Aragorn called every morning in the morning, and did not return until after supper, and he was almost bored with Frodo when he was at Bag End.

Boromir also often came to visit, and Aragorn kept the agreement and brought this friend here.Every time he saw Boromir, Merry and Pippin became more cheerful than usual, and Boromir was not bothered, he was very willing to be with these two noisy little guys, and he hugged them one by one. get up and play.

But Thorin never appeared again, and Bilbo asked Aragorn to learn that Thorin had gone to the city after his first visit to Bag End.This disappointed Bilbo, but he couldn't ask why Thorin had left so suddenly.He didn't want to disturb Frodo and Aragorn now, for asking too many questions would spoil the scenery, and he could not pour cold water on their hard-earned happiness.