Bilbo! He's gone hasn't he? He talked for so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it. Gandalf?

Hmm. Bilbo's Ring. He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bagend. Along with all his possessions. The Ring is yours now. Put it out of sight.

Where are you going?

I have some things I have to attend to.

What things?

Questions. Questions that need answering.

You've only just arrived! I don't understand.

Neither do I. Keep it Secret. Keep it Safe.

Murder! Shire! Baggins!

The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, the High King of Gondor, and the finding of the Ring of Power.

It has come to me, the One Ring, and it shall be an heirloom of my Kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I shall risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me. Though I buy it with a great pain.

The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell.

SSsHirrre! Bagginssss!

There's no Bagginses round here. They're up in Hobbiton. That way!

Hey ho, to the bottle I go!

To heal my heart and drown my woe.

Rain may fall and wind may blow.

But there still be – many miles to go!

Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain,

and the stream that falls from hill to plain.

Better than rain or rippling brook

There's a mug of beer inside this Took!

There's been some strange folk crossing the Shire. Dwarves, others of a less than savoury nature

War's brewing. The mountains are fair teeming with goblins.

Children's stories that's all that is. You're beginning to sound like that old Bilbo Baggins! Cracked he was!

Young Mr Frodo here, he's cracking!

And proud of it! Cheers Gaffer!

Cheers

Well it's none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders. Keep your nose out of trouble and no trouble will come to you.

Good Night lads

Good night, sweet maiden of the golden ale!

Oi! Mind who you're sweet talking!

Don't worry Sam, Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one!

Does she ?

Good Night Sam

Is it secret? Is it safe?

Ha! What are you doing!

Hold out your hand Frodo. It's quite cool. What can you see? Can you see anything?

Nothing. There's nothing. Wait.

There are markings. It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it.

There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.

Mordor!

In the common tongue it says:

One Ring to Rule Them All

One Ring to find them

One Ring to bring them all

and in the darkness bind them!

This is the One Ring. Forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom. Taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself.

Bilbo found it. In Gollum's Cave

Yes, for sixty years the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping prolonging his life. Delaying old age. But no longer Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor.

The Ring has awoken. Its heard its master's call.

But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed.

No Frodo. The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His orcs have multiplied. His fortress at Barad-Dûr is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it. All his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it.

Alright. We put it away. We must never speak of it again. No one knows its here. Do they?

There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum but the enemy found him first. Admist the endless screams and inane babble they discerned two words.

Shire! Baggins! But that will lead them here!

Who goes there?

Take it Gandalf!

No Frodo.

You must take it!

You cannot offer me this Ring

I'm giving it to you

Don't! Tempt me Frodo. I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo I would use this Ring from a desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine

But it cannot stay in The Shire!

No! No it can't

What must I do ?

You must leave, and leave quickly.

Where? Where do I go?

Get out of The Shire. Make for the village of Bree

Bree? What about you ?

I'll be waiting for you. At the Inn of the Prancing Pony

And the Ring will be safe there ?

Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he'll know what to do. You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you. For that name is not safe outside The Shire. Travel by day and stay off the road.

I can cut across country easily enough.

My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to know about them in a month and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you.

Get down!

Confound you Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?

I haven't been dropping no eaves. Sir honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there. If you follow me.

A little late for trimming the verge don't you think ?

I heard raised voices

What did you hear ? Speak!

Nothing important That is I heard a good deal about a ring and a dark lord and something about the end of the world, but please Mr Gandalf Sir, please don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything... unnatural

No? Perhaps not. I've thought of a better use for you.

Come along Samwise, keep up!

Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service. Birds, Beasts. Is it safe? Never put it on for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember Frodo the Ring is trying to get back to its Master. It wants to be found.

This is it.

This is what ?

If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.

Come on Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say. Its a dangerous business going out your door. You step onto the road and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.

Sam!

Wood elves!

They're going to the harbour beyond the white towers To the Grey Havens

They're leaving Middle Earth

Never to return

I don't know why.... It makes me sad

Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great root sticking into my back

Just shut your eyes and imagine you're back in your own bed, with a soft matress and a lovely feather pillow.

Its not working Mr Frodo Oh! I'm never going to be able to sleep out here.

Me neither Sam.

Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom The hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my Council. For that is why you have come, is it not? My old friend.

Saruman.

You are sure of this?

Beyond any doubt.

So the Ring of Power has been found

All these long years it was in The Shire under my very nose.

And yet you did not have the wits to see it. Your love of the Halflings' leaf has clearly slowed your mind.

But we still have time. Time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly.

Time! What time do you think we have ?

Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak Gandalf. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.

The Eye of Sauron.

He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth.

You know this? How?

I have seen it.

A palantir is a dangerous tool Saruman.

Why? Why should we fear to use it?

They are not all accounted for. The lost seeing stones. We do not know who else maybe watching.

The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Morgul

The Nine!

They crossed the River Isen on Midsummer's Eve disguised as riders in black.

They've reached The Shire?

They will find the Ring and kill the one who carries it.

Frodo.

You did not seriously think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron ? There are none who can. Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise my friend

Tell me. Friend... When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?

I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly. But you.. have elected.. the way of pain!

Mr Frodo? Frodo! Frodo! I thought I'd lost you.

What are you talking about?

It's just something Gandalf said.

What did he say?

Don't you lose him Samwise Gamgee and I don't mean to.

Sam! We're still in The Shire. What could possibly happen!

Frodo! Merry! Its Frodo Baggins!

Hello Frodo!

Get off him! Frodo, are you alright?

What's the meaning of this?

Hold these

You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!

And these.

Hoi! You get back here! Wait till I get this through you! Get out of my fields! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!

Dunno why he's so upset! Its only a couple of carrots

And some cabbages and those few bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And the mushrooms the week before.

Yes Pippin, my point is, he's clearly over reacting! Run!

Ooh! that was close!

Oh! I think I've broken something

Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!

What? It was just a detour. A shortcut

A shortcut to what?

Mushrooms!

I think we should get off the road.

Get off the road! Quick!

Ssh.. be quiet

What was that?