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Timeline Event

Bilbo returns to the Shire with the One Ring

Event Type: Artifacts

Age: 3rd Age - The Stewards

Date: June 22, 2942

Description:

The final event in the Quest of Erebor; see that entry for an overview.
2942
Bilbo
returns to the Shire with the Ring.

The Return of the King, LoTR Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age

[Bilbo] returned to his home at Bag End on June the 22nd in his fifty-second year (S.R. 1342)....

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Prologue, Of the Finding of the Ring

After his return to his home he never spoke of [the ring] again to anyone, save Gandalf and Frodo; and no one else in the Shire knew of its existence, or so he believed. Only to Frodo did he show the account of his Journey that he was writing.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Prologue, Of the Finding of the Ring

Gandalf ... continued to be very curious about the ring. Eventually he got the true tale out of Bilbo after much questioning, which for a while strained their friendship; but the wizard seemed to think the truth important. Though he did not say so to Bilbo, he also thought it important, and disturbing, to find that the good hobbit had not told the truth from the first: quite contrary to his habit. The idea of a 'present' was not mere hobbitlike invention, all the same. It was suggested to Bilbo, as he confessed, by Gollum's talk that he overheard; for Gollum did, in fact, call the ring his 'birthday present', many times. That also Gandalf thought strange and suspicious; but he did not discover the truth in this point for many more years....

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Prologue, Of the Finding of the Ring

Indeed Bilbo found ... he had lost his reputation. It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards and all such folk as ever passed that way; but he was no longer quite respectable. He was in fact held by all the hobbits of the neighbourhood to be 'queer' - except by his nephews and nieces on the Took side, but even they were not encouraged in their friendship by their elders. ...

[He] did not mind. He was quite content; and the sound of the kettle on his hearth was ever after more musical than it had been even in the quiet days before the Unexpected Party. His sword he hung over the mantelpiece. His coat of mail was arranged on a stand in the hall (until he lent it to a Museum). His gold and silver was largely spent in presents, both useful and extravagant - which to a certain extent accounts for the affection of his nephews and his nieces. His magic ring he kept a great secret, for he chiefly used it when unpleasant callers came. He took to writing poetry and visiting the elves; and though many shook their heads and touched their foreheads and said 'Poor old Baggins!' and though few believed any of his tales, he remained very happy....

The Hobbit, Ch 19, The Last Stage

His sword, Sting, Bilbo hung over his fireplace, and his coat of marvellous mail, the gift of the Dwarves from the Dragon-hoard, he lent to a museum, to the Michel Delving Mathom-house in fact. But he kept in a drawer at Bag End the old cloak and hood that he had worn on his travels; and the ring, secured by a fine chain, remained in his pocket.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Prologue, Of the Finding of the Ring

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 25Jul06

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