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Timeline Event

Frodo departs from Bag End

Event Type: General

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: September 23, 3018

Description:

An event in Frodo's Departure from the Shire; see that entry for an overview:
The next morning they were busy packing another cart with the remainder of the luggage. Merry took charge of this, and drove off with Fatty....

Frodo was restless and anxious, listening in vain for a sound of Gandalf. He decided to wait until nightfall. After that, if Gandalf wanted him urgently, he would go to Crickhollow, and might even get there first. For Frodo was going on foot. His plan — for pleasure and a last look at the Shire as much as any other reason — was to walk from Hobbiton to Bucklebury Ferry, taking it fairly easy.

'I shall get myself a bit into training, too,' he said.... He had not done any strenuous walking for a long time, and... looked rather flabby....

After lunch, the Sackville-Bagginses... turned up, much to Frodo's annoyance. 'Ours at last!' said Lobelia.... In the end she departed with... the promise that the other key would be left at the Gamgees'....

He took his own tea with Pippin and Sam Gamgee.... It had been officially announced that Sam was coming to Buckland 'to do for Mr. Frodo and look after his bit of garden'; an arrangement that was approved by the Gaffer, though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as a neighbour.

'Our last meal at Bag End!' said Frodo.... They left the washing up for Lobelia. Pippin and Sam strapped up their three packs and piled them in the porch. Pippin went out for a last stroll in the garden. Sam disappeared.

The sun went down.... Frodo wandered round the familiar rooms.... He went out and walked down to the gate..., and then on a short way down the Hill Road.....

'It's going to be a fine night,' he said aloud.... 'I can't bear any more hanging about. I am going to start, and Gandalf must follow me.' He turned to go back, and then stopped, for he heard voices, just round the corner.... One voice was certainly the old Gaffer's; the other was strange.... He... heard the Gaffer's answers, which were rather shrill....

'No, Mr. Baggins has... moved to Bucklebury.... No, I can't give no message. Good night to you!'

Footsteps went away down the Hill. Frodo wondered vaguely why... [that] seemed a great relief. 'I am sick of questions and curiosity about my doings, I suppose,' he thought.... He had half a mind to go and ask the Gaffer who the inquirer was; but he thought better... of it, and turned and walked quickly back to Bag End.

Pippin was sitting on his pack in the porch.... Frodo stepped inside the dark door. 'Sam!' he called....

'Coming, sir!' came the answer from far within, followed soon by Sam himself....

Frodo shut and locked the round door, and gave the key to Sam. 'Run down with this to your home, Sam!' he said. 'Then cut along the Row and meet us as quick as you can at the gate in the lane.... We are not going through the village tonight. Too many ears pricking and eyes prying.' Sam ran off....

They shouldered their packs and took up their sticks, and walked round... to the west side of Bag End. 'Good-bye!' said Frodo, looking at the dark blank windows. He... then turned and (following Bilbo, if he had known it) hurried after Peregrin down the garden-path. They jumped over the low place in the hedge at the bottom and took to the fields, passing into the darkness....

At the bottom of the Hill on its western side they came to the gate opening on to a narrow lane. There they halted.... Presently Sam appeared, trotting quickly and breathing hard; his heavy pack was hoisted high on his shoulders....

[Frodo] picked up his stick again. 'Well, we all like walking in the dark,' he said, 'so let's put some miles behind us before bed.'

For a short way they followed the lane westwards. Then leaving it they turned left and took quietly to the fields again.... In their dark cloaks they were... invisible.... Since they were all hobbits, and were trying to be silent, they made no noise.... Even the wild things... hardly noticed their passing.

After some time they crossed the Water, west of Hobbiton, by a narrow plank-bridge.... A mile or two further south they hastily crossed the great road...; they were now in the Tookland and bending south-eastwards they made for the Green Hill Country. As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw the lamps in Hobbiton far off twinkling in the gentle valley of the Water. Soon it disappeared in the folds of the darkened land, and was followed by Bywater beside its grey pool. When the light of the last farm was far behind, peeping among the trees, Frodo turned and waved a hand in farewell.

'I wonder if I shall ever look down into that valley again,' he said quietly.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 3, Three Is Company

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 25Jul07

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