Wasn't I just afraid you'd suddenly pull that thing out?
Garrett thought, turning around with a helpless expression as he retrieved several bottles of milk from his inventory.
That ring was like a beacon, definitely needed extra precautions.
The small experint targeting the One Ring began promptly.
Step one: lava.
"Bilbo, do you see that block of lava?"
"I see it, but do you an with 'block'?"
"It's a unit of length I'm used to using, about the distance of one step for an adult human."
"I understand. So what do I do next?"
Bilbo withdrew the ring and looked up at Garrett.
The ring sparkled dazzlingly next to the lava, as if trying its best to announce its presence.
"Throw it in."
"Pardon?"
"Throw it away, Bilbo. If it's really gone, I'll get it back for you, I'll find you a new one."
"...Very well."
Without heeding the One Ring's subtle resistance, Bilbo closed his eyes and tossed it into the lava.
There was no expected sound of it being burned.
Not only did the One Ring not get destroyed, it actually floated back to the surface, as if protected by so invisible force, showing no signs of damage after a long ti.
Garrett collected the lava with a bucket, and Bilbo retrieved the ring.
After soaking in the scorching lava for so long, it remained completely cool to the touch.
"Co with ."
Not long after, the two arrived near the Nether portal.
Garrett looked around, then glanced up at the sky. After confirming nothing unusual was present, he addressed Bilbo, "Try throwing the ring into this portal."
"Is this so kind of magical gateway? I'm quite curious about its function."
Despite his words, Bilbo showed little hesitation and tossed the ring into the portal.
The result: the ring passed straight through and clattered to the ground, as if the Nether portal didn't exist for it.
"I see."
Garrett pulled out a small container. "Bilbo, place it in here."
Afterward, he took the container and began testing.
Couldn't be stored in his inventory.
Couldn't be placed in a chest.
Couldn't be transported through a portal.
All conventional storage thods for inanimate objects failed.
In other words, it appeared that, by definition, this thing might actually be... a living entity?
It could be carried, but not systematically stored.
"It's fine now, take it back."
It seed that so things couldn't be destroyed simply because one desired it. After all, doing so would be like abruptly ending a lody mid-performance, bringing an orderly progression to a sudden halt, no continuation, no finale, just an awkward end.
Sothing like this was commonly known as a "bad ending."
Such behavior really should be avoided.
After finishing what Bilbo thought were so rather baffling experints, he didn't imdiately leave. Instead, he stayed for a few more days.
"Sotis I truly cannot distinguish between this place and Rivendell."
Standing at a high point, overlooking the entire territory, Bilbo sighed.
"Apart from having sowhat less natural wilderness, everything here is no inferior to Rivendell. Even the people, they appear genuinely happy."
"If you want, you can live here as long as you like."
Faced with Garrett's invitation, Bilbo hesitated.
An Elven lord in Rivendell had extended the sa offer.
After a mont, he said, "Thank you kindly. But I believe my Bag End is quite lovely as well. If you're ever free, please co visit and stay as long as you like. Simply enter, no need to knock. There's always abundant tea and cakes."
"Then you'd better be careful your snacks don't run out."
"If you can consu that much, then please attempt it," Bilbo replied, glancing up at the weather, then added, "It's about ti. I should return ho. Bag End must be frightfully cold by now, I need to go back and kindle the hearth."
"Alright, I'll co with you. Don't forget, you left a stack of golden apples with , a stack ans 64, in case you were wondering."
Bilbo swallowed the words he was about to say.
That very day, the two departed the stronghold together, strolling leisurely toward the Shire at an unhurried pace, like travelers on a pleasant journey.
It wasn't until the third day after leaving the stronghold that snowflake fell.
This ti, winter had truly arrived.
By the ti they reached Bilbo's ho, a thick layer of snow had already covered the ground. It piled up in the garden, untouched, beautifully white.
"The good news is that no one visited my ho while I was away this ti. The unfortunate news is... the house is probably no warr than the outside right now."
It took quite so ti before Bilbo managed to get the fireplace burning, finally bringing so warmth to the house.
After storing the golden apples in Bilbo's pantry, Garrett asked for directions to the Sackville residence and then headed directly there, intending to pay a visit to this troubleso hobbit family.
Out of concern, mostly for the Sackville-Bagginses, Bilbo quickly followed after him.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the sound of knocking, there was imdiate stirring from within. A voice, growing louder as it approached the door, called out, "Who is it? If you're a caller, this really isn't the ti. We're not prepared to receive any visitors—"
Creak.
The door opened, and the words stopped abruptly.
"Bilbo?"
The hobbit who answered frowned deeply.
"What are you doing here? I'll have you know, we already returned everything of yours. We didn't retain a single item, so if you've lost sothing, don't co accusing us!"
"No, no, no. I'm not the one who ca to see you, Otho."
Bilbo sighed and gestured to the figure beside him.
"It's my friend."
"Hello there."
"A Big Person? What do you want—"
Otho's words cut off the mont he looked up properly.
This outfit… where have I heard about it before?
Was it at The Green Dragon? Or perhaps at the market?
"You probably don't know very well."
As he spoke, Garrett firmly pushed the door wider and ducked to enter. The commotion alerted Lobelia, Otho's wife, who ca out holding a frying pan, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"Uninvited guests aren't welco in this ho!" she snapped harshly.
"Yes, yes, that's not ideal, of course. In that case, allow to introduce myself."
Bilbo reached out, attempting to interject, but Garrett gently stayed his hand.
"I'm an adventurer. That's what I'd tell most people."
He slowly stepped forward, his imposing stature and dark armor radiating an oppressive presence, forcing the Sackville-Bagginses to involuntarily retreat.
He continued, "But if you'd like to know more, I could also be: Bane of the Orcs, Wight Slayer, Arch-Enemy of the Misty Mountains Orcs and Mordor, Ally of the Eldar and Khazad, Dragon Slayer, Lord and Guardian of the Free Settlents, my na is Garrett."
He suddenly smiled as he spoke.
By now, the Sackville-Bagginses had been driven into the corner of the room, trembling like leaves in a gale.
With each title he ntioned, their courage diminished further, their spirits wilted more. By the end, it was as if they had been placed under a spell, they dared not move a muscle.
No one would doubt that if Garrett took even one more step forward, they would burst into tears on the spot.
"Relax. I'm not going to do anything to you."
He said gently, "I just heard that not only did you try to seize my friend's ho, you also planned to auction off the gift I gave him."
"Is that true?"
At those words, the Sackville-Bagginses' hearts sank. They couldn't hold back their tears any longer, one of them burst into tears right away.
It was over.
He was allied with Bilbo!
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