The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One: Chapters 1-4

He gave away presents to all and sundry — the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate.

There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices.

There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes.

The pain and alarm vanished at once, and the prostrate hobbits leaped to their feet.

Many young hobbits were included, and present by parental permission; for hobbits were easy-going with their children in the matter of sitting up late, especially when there was a chance of getting them a free meal. Bringing up young hobbits took a lot of provender.

Some perfunctory clapping by the elders; and some loud shouts of ‘Frodo! Frodo! Jolly old Frodo,’ from the juniors.

He took to wandering further afield and more often by himself; and Merry and his other friends watched him anxiously. Often he was seen walking and talking with the strange wayfarers that began at this time to appear in the Shire.

He said and did things then that filled me with a fear that no words of Saruman could allay. I knew at last that something dark and deadly was at work.

Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.

‘All the “great secrets” under the mountains had turned out to be just empty night: there was nothing more to find out, nothing worth doing, only nasty furtive eating and resentful remembering. He was altogether wretched. He hated the dark, and he hated light more: he hated everything, and the Ring most of all.’

It wandered off southwards and passed out of the Wood-elves’ ken, and was lost.

‘Well, sir,’ said Sam dithering a little. ‘I heard a deal that I didn’t rightly understand, about an enemy, and rings, and Mr. Bilbo, sir, and dragons, and a fiery mountain, and — and Elves, sir. I listened because I couldn’t help myself, if you know what I mean...'

A few held the theory — supported by the nods and hints of Mr. Baggins himself — that Frodo’s money was running out: he was going to leave Hobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Buckland among his Brandybuck relations.

After a time, as the stars grew thicker and brighter, the feeling of disquiet left them, and they no longer listened for the sound of hoofs.

The tidings were mostly sad and ominous: of gathering darkness, the wars of Men, and the flight of the Elves.