03

"The presence… did you feel it?" Gandalf remarked looking into the fireplace.

Orion watches with no expression at all and comments "yes, the evil energy… i felt it to"

Gandalf frowned and said nothing, both wizards waited patiently. Few minutes later, like magic, the door swung open on itself and closed as quickly. No one was seen to come in, but the sound of loud, hurried footsteps told otherwise. Both of them heard a giggle and just like that, Bilbo became invisible again. Laughing cheerfully, the old hobbit played with a golden ring, tossed in the air, catching it, before putting it in his pocket. Taking a wooden staff from the wall he hummed a melody as he wandered into the study.

"I suppose you think that was terribly clever." Bilbo jumped with a startled gasp as a voice boomed. Glancing up, he was met with Gandalf looming over him and his hard gaze. Orion wasn't in the picture, his presence blending into the darkness. But one thing was for sure, he was annoyed.

>The stars are changing, i don't know if its good or bad<

>We will see<

"Oh come on Gandalf" Bilbo said, and walked towards his desk placing his staff against it "Did you see their faces?" an amusing smile bloomed on his face.

"There are many magic rings in this world Bilbo Baggins and none of them should be used lightly"

"It's just a bit of fun" Bilbo stated playfully but sighed when he saw Gandalf stern expression didn't change. Walking to the fire and taking his pipe he said in deffit

"Oh, you're probably right as usual"

He glanced around and asked "Where's Orion?"

"He is still partying with Sam and the others"

"Figures, that boy has so much energy to spear, I should ask for some," jocked Biblo, trying to lighten the mood. Orion brought out his chest, like he accomplished something.

"You will keep an eye on Frodo will you?" Bilbo's hope in his words didn't go unnoticed by two wizards to which Gandalf replies with his own sentence earning a huff from Orion in quiet silence.

"Two eyes"

"Four" announces a small whisper, unheard from the two.

"Yes" Bilbo nodded and started packing, moving things around the room "I'm leaving everything to him."

"And what about this ring of yours? Is that staying too?" Gandalf mentioned.

"Yes, yes" Bilbo said annoyingly waving with his hand "It's in the envelope over there on the mantelpiece" after a few moments his hand freezes as if recalling something.

"No. Wait, it's in my pocket" the hobbit voice became a small murmur, his vocals shucked. His hand reached into his waist pocket, bringing out a plain, gold ring. The blaze from the fireplace made the ring shine in its glory, Bilbo held it gently within his palm.

"Isn't that odd now?"

Bilbo turned it over and over within his fingers, his eyes became unfocused as gazing into the ring.

"After all, why not? Why shouldn't i keep it?" his voice mumbling softly, like a chant.

"I think you should leave the ring behind Bilbo," Gandalf said firmly, "Is that so hard?"

Bilbo turned in alert, eyes glancing from the ring to Gandalf: back and forth, until it stopped at the ring. "Well no, and yes." he hesitated and something within him snapped.

"Now it comes to it. I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it! It came to me!" his voice rose in volume. It became harsher, darker.

"There's no need to get angry", both wizards said at once, one more louder than the other. Both frowning, one in astonishment and the other in worry.

Bilbo glanced at the wizards, showing his face full of anger his body shucked as he snapped "Well if i'm angry then it's your fault! It's mine. Mine own!" gazing back at his ring, he stroked it gently, voice filled from pure admiration "it's mine. My precious"

"My precious?" Gandalf repeated in concern "It's been called that before, but not by you"

Hearing that, the old hobbit snapped completely, he let out a shriek of anger "What business is it of yours what i do with my own things?!" moving his body closer to the door, he was on alert for anyone trying to rob from his precious.

"I think you've had that ring long enough" Gandalf looked offended and Orion could tell the old man's nerves were becoming thinner and thinner. The tension in the room was already thin, but now it is thick. He didn't like the idea of his friend arguing with each other and even if he tried to help, he would only make it worse. So he sat in the dark with a frown on his face and a fast beating heart.

"You want it for yourself!" Bilbo retorted back at him, shoving off his skills of fighting fists, to which Orion found it amusing. How could those small fists hold any power? He came back to his senses when he felt magic, his eyes snapped at the old wizard.

"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf yelled. Letting the old hobbit make a few shaky steps back, his back hit the wall and his breath got stuck in his throat. "Do not take me for a conjurer of cheap tricks" Gandalf's voice became deeper, the room started to be consumed by the darkness, the flickering fire went out as wind blew in. Wind became stronger and the surrounding began to crack, the house was forced in an unnatural way.

"I'm not trying to rob you"

As quickly as it came, the darkness left. The house came back to its usual shape, the fireplace was again lit, but books, papers and other things were scattered around the room. Gandalf calmed down, smiled down at the hobbit and declared "i'm trying to help you"

Bilbo gave a small cry as he came for a hug. Gandalf embraced him and patted his back, Orion tensed back relaxed at the scene.

"All these long years we've been friends. Trust me as you once did. Let it go."

"You're right Gandalf" Bilbo sniffed back his tears, regained his senses. "The ring must go to Frodo" The old hobbit took his bag and swung it to his back, walking to the front door he took his staff.

"I must go away. The road is long." He opened his green door with a creak and took a step out, but halted when he heard a stern voice. "Bilbo… the ring is still in your pocket"

The old hobbit looked back and gave a nervous laugh "Oh yes" taking out the ring, he looked at it for the last time. With shaking hands, he let the ring fall down the wooden floor, hearing gold collide with wood. Orion knew the ring was left behind, seeing Bilbo back walking down the road from the window. He concluded that his old friend was happy from his smiling face.

>Now we finally tell Gandalf that we are in trouble<

>Do you have to destroy the mood< Orion retorted back, not pleased.

>No. It's the part of the fun.<