(Bilbo)

Sunlight streams into my bedroom. I awake squinting and yawning from the kiss of my early morning light show. My ears pick up and my eyes widen. Its quiet. Jumping out of bed I silently tip toe out into the rest of the house. I sneak along the hallway peering into all of the doorways. They are all empty.

"Hello?" I call but there is no reply.

The horrid mess from the party last night is gone. All that remains are spick and span tables and fluffed pillows. It's as if it never happened. Victorious, I waltz into the sitting room. Gazing at the tidiness of the room I smile.

"Elena?" I call out "Those pesky dwarves are gone!"

There is still silence that fills the Hobbit hole. Furrowing my brow, I swiftly make it to the guest room. Tapping on the door I call out again "Elena, are you awake?"

Creaking the door open I peer in. All that is left is any empty room and made up bed. All the clothes I'd given her are gone along with the bag she brought and Elena herself. Slowly my joy deflates leaving me almost defeated. On the bed it a scribbled down letter with my name on the exterior. Picking it up I hurry back to the sitting room to unfold it and read. Just as I my eyes go to scan the first words written; my attention falls elsewhere. On my table lye's the contract with Thorin and Balin's name scribbled at the bottom. However, the last line remains blank. It's almost beckoning me the longer I stare at it. That old but familiar itch returns. An itch that I could never scratch as a child unless I found myself out in the wood. However, this itch is determined to be scratched.

I dart out of my home and down the hill. The heavy pack strapped around my shoulders seems light as a feather. The contract in my hand whips in the air as I run. I jump over fences, animals, and crops. My neighbors look befuddled and shake their heads in disapproval, but I'm in too big of rush to care. Just as I jump the last fence, I see Mr. Worrywort.

"Mr. Bilbo, where are you off to?"

"Can't stop I'm already late!" I call back.

"Late for what?"

"I'm going on an adventure!"

With a grin, I leave my home behind me and rush into the world ahead. Unbeknownst to me I had dropped Elena's letter and it now lays on the wooden floor awaiting my return.

The Company is trotting down a dirt road just on the outskirts of the Shire. Their all mounted on ponies and I see Elena by Gandalf's side. Breathless I call out to them as I continue running "Wait!"

As they all stop their horses and turn their eyes see me. I wave the contract above my head and grin as I come up to them "I signed it!"

Handing the contract to Balin he pulls out his eyeglasses. As he reads it over, I look to Elena who is grinning excitedly from ear to ear. She's wearing one of the I bought for her along with the pair of odd blue pants.

Balin smiles at me "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield."

All the dwarves give an applause. Some cheering more happily than others, but none quite so happily as Elena. However, Thorin looks thoroughly unimpressed "Give him a pony."

Nervously I shake my head "No,no, that won't be necessary, I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once-ahhh!"

Fili and Kili come up from behind and place me on a pony. Both brothers chuckle as I awkwardly grip the reigns. I shrivel my nose at the animal catching its dirty scent. Sneezing I groan and fumble to find my kerchief "Ah, all this horsehair. I'm having a reaction. Panicked I can't find my kerchief "Oh no...I can't..."

"Bilbo?" Elena calls and I look seeing her extending her own kerchief "You need this more than me."

Smiling I take it graciously blowing my nose. The grey wizard grumbles shaking his head as we ride on. We pass through vast, rolling hills and plains. Forests are visible in the distance and as far as we can see. Darkness creeps between the tree's as if it is watching us.

Gandalf speaks to Elena and I both as we ride "You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach out journey's end. You were born to the rolling hills or the Shire, and Elena, world beyond ours. Home is now behind you; the world is ahead."

Now, the company treks up a mountainside, which looms over the flat plains below. The sun is setting, and nightfall will be on us soon. As we reach the bottom we enter into a thick woodland area. Clouds roll in and a down pour of rain falls onto our heads, soaking us to the bone. Every one of us seems cold, wet, and miserable. Everyone except for Gandalf.

Dori calls out through the hiss of the rain "Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?"

"It is raining master dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done..." Gandalf calls back "If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any other wizards?" Elena asks from under her oversized raincoat lent to her by Bomber.

Gandalf smirks at her appearance and nods "There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the white."

Elena raises a brow "Sounds like the name of a villain in a story book."

Gandalf only chuckles "Saruman is a decent wizard and very wise. He would never fall into any forms of evil in this world."

Elena nods but I can see the uneasiness in her eyes. As we ride on Gandalf continues talking "Then there are the two blue wizards...you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

"And who is the fifth?" I ask from behind Gandalf.

"Well, that would be Radagast the brown."

"Is he a great wizard of is he more like you?"

"Bilbo!" Elena snaps looking behind her shooting me a look.

"What?" I whisper, awaiting Gandalf's answer.

Slightly offended Gandalf sighs "I think he is a very great wizard I his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye to the vast forest lands to the east, and a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."