GWENDOLYN BAGGINS HAS BEEN AN OUTSIDER HER ENTIRE LIFE, so when Bilbo Baggins told her she was adopted, it didn't really come as a surprise. To be honest, her height, length and shape of her ears were a dead giveaway.
When the time comes that her b...
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PROLOGUE ━ the baby out of nowhere
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LIVING IN THE SHIRE WAS PEACEFUL, but Bilbo Baggins couldn't contain the thought of going back on an adventure. That was what he had been thinking of when he was smoking his pipe in his little garden. He had just put little Frodo to sleep and was enjoying the last bit of sunlight of the day.
A humming sound was heard and Gandalf appeared around the corner, driving his cart. His pipe was in his mouth and by the way he frowned, Bilbo could tell he was troubled.
Standing up, the hobbit greeted his friend with a wave of his hand. He pulled out his pipe and headed closer to the fence.
"Hello there, Gandalf," Bilbo said, giving the wizard a friendly smile. "How are you?"
"Could be better, my dear Bilbo," he said, taking a bundle off his back and into his arms. A small hand appeared out of it as it grabbed the wizard's beard.
"Is that a baby?" Bilbo exclaimed, as Gandalf tried to loosen the grip of the baby on his beard. "What are you doing here with a baby?"
Gandalf tucked the hand back into the covers before saying, "Maybe this is a conversation for inside."
"Of course," Bilbo said, pulling the gate open so Gandalf could come in. The wizard passed him and strode straight into the Hobbit hole. Bilbo darted after him.
"My dear Gandalf," the hobbit began. "What is the rush?"
"I need you to do something for me," the Grey Wizard said, turning around to face Bilbo. "A good friend of mine asked me to find someone who could take care of this baby girl." He paused and peered at Bilbo.
"Yeah?" Bilbo said, raising his eyebrows.
"You are that someone, Bilbo," Gandalf added.
"M-me?" Bilbo stammered, stumbling a couple of steps back. "You can't be serious, Gandalf. I have my hands full with Frodo." He shook his head. "I cannot take another child. Besides," he glanced suspiciously at the wizard, "where are her parents? Why wouldn't they want her?"
"Oh, but they do want her, my dear Bilbo," Gandalf said, sighing. "They just don't have a choice. If the girl stayed with them, she would be in danger."
Bilbo narrowed his eyes. "Who would harm an innocent little girl?"
"She is a half-blood, Bilbo," Gandalf told him, his voice barely above a whisper. "A very strong one. Royal blood flows in her veins."
Bilbo's eyes widened at the word half-blood. Of course, he knew what they could do. Half-bloods were known to be able to control the four elements, making them deadly in a fight.
Bilbo swallowed. "Why me?"
"They will never find her here," Gandalf spoke in a hushed whisper. "She'll be safe here."
"They?" Bilbo repeated, copying Gandalf's voice. "Who?"
Gandalf's blue eyes darted outside. "I cannot say more. You have to trust me on this." He was eying Bilbo now and the latter knew he had no choice but to take the girl in.
"Fine, I'll raise her," Bilbo said. His eyes darted down to the girl and they softened when they saw her tiny mouth, tiny nose and tiny slightly pointed ears. "What is her name?"
Gandalf smiled and placed the girl in his arms. She opened her eyes and Bilbo was met with a pair of brilliant grey eyes.
"Her name is Gwendolyn and one day, she will save Middle Earth."
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