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Horsemen； and Southrons； and oliphaunts – did you really see one； Sam？ – and caves and towers
and golden trees； and goodness knows what besides。
'I evidently came back by much too straight a road from my trip。 I think Gandalf might have
shown me round a bit。 But then the auction would have been over before I got back； and I should
have had even more trouble than I did。 Anyway it's too late now； and really I think it's much more
fortable to sit here and hear about it all。 The fire's very cosy here； and the food's very good； and
there are Elves when you want them。 What more could one want？
_The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began。
Now far ahead the Road has gone；
Let others follow it who can！
Let them a journey new begin；
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn；
My evening…rest and sleep to meet。'_
And as Bilbo murmured the last words his head dropped on his chest and he slept soundly。
The evening deepened in the room； and the firelight burned brighter； and they looked at Bilbo as
he slept and saw that his face was smiling。 For some time they sat in silence； and then Sam looking
round at the room and the shadows flickering on the walls； said softly：
'I don't think； Mr。 Frodo； that he's done much writing while we've been away。 He won't ever
write our story now。'
At that Bilbo opened an eye； almost as if he had heard。 Then he roused himself。 'You see； I am
getting so sleepy；' he said。 'And when I have time to write； I only really like writing poetry。 I
wonder； Frodo my dear fellow； if you would very much mind tidying things up a bit before you go？
Collect all my notes and papers； and my diary too； and take them with you； if you will。 You see； I
haven't much time for the selection and the arrangement and all that。 Get Sam to help； and when
you've knocked things into shape； e back； and I'll run over it。 I won't be too critical。'
'Of course I'll do it！' said Frodo。 'And of course I'll e back soon： it won't be dangerous any
more。 There is a real king now and he will soon put the roads in order。'
'Thank you； my dear fellow！' said Bilbo。 'That really is a very great relief to my mind。' And with
that he fell fast asleep again。
The next day Gandalf and the hobbits took leave of Bilbo in his room； for it was cold out of
doors； and then they said farewell to Elrond and all his household。
As Frodo stood upon the threshold； Elrond wished him a fair journey； and blessed him； and he
said：
'I think； Frodo； that maybe you will not need to e back； unless you e very soon。 For
about this time of the year； when the leaves are gold before they fall； look for Bilbo in the woods of
the Shire。 I shall be with him。'
These words no one else heard； and Frodo kept them to himself。
_Chapter 7_
Homeward Bound
At last the hobbits had their faces turned towards home。 They were eager now to see the Shire
again； but at first they rode only slowly； for Frodo had been ill at ease。 When they came to the Ford
of Bruinen； he had halted； and seemed loth to ride into the stream； and they noted that for a while
his eyes appeared not to see them or things about him。 All that day he was silent。 It was the sixth of
October。
'Are you in pain； Frodo？' said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo's side。
'Well； yes I am；' said Frodo。 'It is my shoulder。 The wound aches； and the memory of darkness is
heavy on me。 It was a year ago today。'
'Alas！ there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured；' said Gandalf。
'I fear it may be so with mine；' said Frodo。 'There is no real going back。 Though I may e to
the Shire； it will not seem the same； for I shall not be the same。 I am wounded with knife； sting； and
tooth； and a long burden。 Where shall I find rest？'
Gandalf did not answer。
By the end of the next day the pain and unease had passed； and Frodo was merry again； as merry
as if he did not remember the blackness of the day before。 After that the journey went well； and the
days went quickly by； for they rode at leisure； and often they lingered in the fair woodlands where
the leaves were red and yellow in the autumn sun。 At length they came to Weathertop； and it was
then drawing towards evening and the shadow of the hill lay dark on the road。 Then Frodo begged
them to hasten； and he would not look towards the hill； but rode through its shadow with head
bowed and cloak drawn close about him。 That night the weather changed； and a wind came from
the West laden with rain； and it blew loud and chill； and the yellow leaves whirled like birds in the
air。 When they came to the Chetwood already the boughs were almost bare； and a great curtain of
rain veiled Bree Hill from their sight。
So it was that near the end of a wild and wet evening in the last days of October the five
travellers rode up the climbing road and came to the South…gate of Bree。 It was locked fast； and the
rain blew in their faces； and in the darkening sky low clouds went hurrying by； and their hearts sank
a little； for they had expected more wele。
When they had called many times； at last the Gate…keeper came out； and they saw that he carried
a great cudgel。 He looked at them with fear and suspicion； but when he saw that Gandalf was there；
and that his panions were hobbits； in spite of their strange gear； then he brightened and wished
them wele。
'e in！' he said； unlocking the gate。 'We won't stay for news out here in the cold and the wet；
a ruffianly evening。 But old Barley will no doubt give you a wele at _The Pony_； and there
you'll hear all there is to hear。'
'And there you'll hear later all that we say； and more；' laughed Gandalf。 'How is Harry？'
The Gate…keeper scowled。 'Gone；' he said。 'But you'd best ask Barliman。 Good evening！'
'Good evening to you！' they said； and passed through； and then they noticed that behind the
hedge at the road…side a long low hut had been built； and a number of men had e out and were
staring at them over the fence。 When they came to Bill Ferny's house they saw that the hedge there
was tattered and unkempt； and the windows were all boarded up。
'Do you think you killed him with that apple； Sam？' said Pippin。
'I'm not so hopeful； Mr。 Pippin；' said Sam。 'But I'd like to know what became of that poor pony。
He's been on my mind many a time and the wolves howling and all。'
At last they came to _The Prancing Pony_； and that at least looked outwardly unchanged； and
there were lights behind the red curtains in the lower windows。 They rang the bell； and Nob came
to the door； and opened it a crack and peeped through； and when he saw them standing under the
lamp he gave a cry of surprise。
'Mr。 Butterbur！ Master！' he shouted。 'They've e back！'
'Oh have they？ I'll learn them；' came Butterbur's voice； and out he came with a rush； and he had
a club in his hand。 But when he saw who they were he stopped short； and the black scowl on his
face changed to wonder and delight。
'Nob； you woolly…pated ninny！' he cried。 'Can't you give old friends their names？ You shouldn't
go scaring me like that； with times as they are。 Well； well！ And where have you e from？ I never
expected to see any of you folk again； and that's a fact： going off into the Wild with that Strider；
and all those Black Men about。 But I'm right glad to see you； and none more than Gandalf。 e in！
e in！ The same rooms as – before？ They're free。 Indeed most rooms are empty these days； as
I'll not hide from you； for you'll find it out soon enough。 And I'll see what can be done about supper；
as soon as may be； but I'm short…handed at present。 Hey； Nob you slowcoach！ Tell Bob！ Ah； but
there I'm forgetting； Bob's gone： goes home to his folk at nightfall now。 Well； take the guests'
ponies to the stables； Nob！ And you'll be taking your horse to his stable yourself Gandalf； I don't
doubt。 A fine beast； as I said when I first set eyes on him。 Well； e in！ Make yourselves at
home！'
Mr。 Butterbur had at any rate not changed his manner of talking； and still seemed to live in his
old breathless bustle。 And yet there was hardly anybody about； and all was quiet； from the
mon Room there came a low murmur of no more than two or three voices。 And seen closer in
the light of two candles that he lit and carried before them the landlord's face looked rather
wrinkled and careworn。
He led them down the passage to the parlour that they had used on that strange night more than a
year ago； and they followed him； a little disquieted； for it seemed plain to them that old Barliman
was putting a brave face on some trouble。 Things were not what they had been。 But they said
nothing； and waited。
As they expected Mr。 Butterbur came to the parlour after supper to see if all had been to their
liking。 As indeed it had： no change for the worse had yet e upon the beer or the victuals at _The
Pony_ at any rate。 'Now I won't make so bold as to suggest you should e to the mon Room