**WARNING. SPOILERS FOR THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES!**
Today, I will finish my book. Somewhere nice and somewhere quiet. Perhaps by the waterfall, or perhaps on the stone bench under the shade of the trees.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS36sVvBTn
My dear Reader, today I vow to finish my tale of adventure. Today I shall have to delve into the darkest parts of my memory and relive the most painful of my thoughts. For up until this point, my adventure has been fraught with danger and peril but not death. Never death.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGSIS9fR54
Today I will finish my chapter on the battle. Reader, I will try my best for you. I was, I hate to admit, unconscious during the battle. I remember clearly waking up to the news that they had fallen. That the two young ones had fallen victim to the foulness of the orcs. My heart was immediately saddened, and I do hope my memoirs do not bring down your mood awfully so. I mean only to honour their memory.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWFJROSiBm
I remember that day clearly (except, of course, the parts I do not remember). It was sunny outside the mountain. The birds had flocked back. But inside it was dark. Inside Thorin was isolated and angry and oh, how he shouted and stomped those iron-clad feet of his. What a character he was! The memory of him makes me smile sadly into my pipe. His last words to me I remember exactly.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYEQwV46iT
Bilbo, he said to me, if more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. Oh, how I wish that were true! We would not have gotten ourselves into that mess in the first place, would we?883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7lu9U257n
His death stuck with me the most.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfRUgQqplY
I cannot help but feel I am to blame. I caused the war, by giving Thranduil and the Bowman the Arkenstone. Perhaps his death could have been avoided. I beg you reader, be forgiving of me when you read my tale. I could not bear for you to judge me altogether too harshly.
I will finish my tale today, Reader. I will do justice by my dwarves friends - for they are my friends, indeed. Indeed not too long ago it was when I last visited them in the very same mountain. Dain rules there now, but I cannot help but think Thorin suited the crown better.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSdAHxPkah
I wish I could describe for you the beauty of the Lonely mountain, Reader, but I cannot, for to me the landscape is stained with the blood of many. I feel that I let you down, my dear friend, but let us say it is beautiful and say no more on the subject.
I saw my nephew today, Reader. I wonder if I shall include that in my tale; that another Baggins is off to have an adventure. Although his is one fraught with much more danger, and Reader, it is my fault. I do not try to hide it. I am ashamed of it. I brought the burden to Frodo. It was I that took the ring from that creature in the goblin tunnels. It was I that have laid this trouble at Frodo’s door. It because of the actions of myself, and no other, that my dear nephew must face the source of all evil.
Reader, do not blame me, although I must blame myself. For my mistakes when I was young, I do hope you will not look on me too harshly. You may blame me for the end of the line of Durin, and blame me for the quest my nephew must now take, but I beg of you Reader, allow me to inform you that none of this was ever my intention.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqlEIVVVrA
I truly am sorry for all the sorrow I have both encountered and caused.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaF7P4yk34
I do hope my memoirs serve you in the way that you wish.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg34za7eTpN
Good day, my dear, dear Reader, I must now away to finish my book, or you shall never read it!883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX4opgJ915
Yours,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7J4WIsOIp
Bilbo Baggins
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AN - Character is obviously Bilbo from The Hobbit/LOTR. (I am listening to the song 'The Breaking of the Fellowship' by Howard Shore from the LOTR soundtrack and I advise listening to this whilst reading as it certainly inspired me to write this!)883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPGXdM9RVR
