The Last Stage

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"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
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The Last Stage
Chapter of The Hobbit
Number19
Synopsis
EventBilbo rests in Rivendell before returning to his smial home.
LocationRivendell
The Shire
Navigation
<  The Return Journey

The Last Stage is the 19th and final chapter of The Hobbit.

Synopsis

Bilbo and Gandalf arrived in Rivendell on May 1. As they made their way into the Last Homely House, the Elves began to sing of the glories of their adventures. They were warmly welcomed, and Gandalf spoke of their adventures, while Bilbo listened. In this way, Bilbo was able to discern what Gandalf had been doing all the while he was away. He learned that Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, and that they had driven the Necromancer from his domain in the south of Mirkwood. Many other tales were told during that evening, until Bilbo's head was spinning, and he fell asleep.

Upon waking, he found himself in a white bed, and heard many elves singing by a stream. He listened to them for a time, in peace, and spoke with them, noting that "a little sleep does a great cure in the House of Elrond", before going back to bed.

His weariness was swiftly cured in Rivendell, and he made merry with many elves, but began to long for his own home under the hill. After a week, he said his farewells to the elves and Elrond, and with Gandalf, left for The Shire.

They crossed into the wild, and Bilbo recounted many of the moments he had had on his Quest, such as the encounter with the Trolls. They found the gold of the trolls which they had buried a year earlier, put it on their ponies, and continued on their journey.

At last, they came to The Shire, and Bilbo began singing The Road Goes Ever On. "You are not the Hobbit that you were", Gandalf said to him kindly. And so they came back to Bag End: Bilbo's home.

But he arrived to find his house milling with strangers, and an auction of his items taking place. He had been gone so long that he had been presumed dead! He suspected the Sackville-Bagginses to be behind the commotion. They had always wanted Bag End. Bilbo lost not only many of his items, but also his reputation as a quiet, simple hobbit. Forever after he was known as a friend of elves and wizards. He kept his magic ring a secret, and used it only when unwanted visitors came knocking.

One day, years later, he took to writing his memoirs when Gandalf and Balin came to visit him. From them, he learned that Dale had been rebuilt by Bard, and Lake-town was prospering. Bilbo was happy, and Gandalf said to him "You are a very fine person, Mr Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!"