Page 209 - The Hobbit

"I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely. "And I

name you elf-friend and blessed. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing
would be too easy)! Farewell!"
Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road

home.
He had many hardships and adventures before he got back. The Wild was still
the Wild, and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins; but
he was well guided and well guarded-the wizard was with him, and Beorn for

much of the way-and he was never in great danger again. Anyway by mid-winter
Gandalf and Bilbo had come all the way back, along both edges of the Forest, to
the doors of Beorn's house; and there for a while they both stayed. Yule-tide was

warm and merry there; and men came from far and wide to feast at Beorn's
bidding. The goblins of the Misty Mountains were now few and terrified, and
hidden in the deepest holes they could find; and the Wargs had vanished from the
woods, so that men went abroad without fear. Beorn indeed became a great chief

afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the mountains and the
wood; and it is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of
taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in heart like

Beorn, if less in size and strength. In their day the last goblins were hunted from
the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild. It was
spring, and a fair one with mild weathers and a bright sun, before Bilbo and
Gandalf took their leave at last of Beorn, and though he longed for home. Bilbo

left with regret, for the flowers of the gardens of Beorn were m springtime no less
marvellous than in high summer. At last they came up the long road, and reached
the very pass where the goblins had captured them before. But they came to that
high point at morning, and looking backward they saw a white sun shining over

the out-stretched lands. There behind lay Mirkwood, blue in the distance, and
darkly green at the nearer edge even in the spring. There far away was the Lonely
Mountain on the edge of eyesight. On its highest peak snow yet unmelted was
gleaming pale.

"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!" said Bilbo,
and he turned his back on his adventure. The Tookish part was getting very tired,
and the Baggins was daily getting stronger. "I wish now only to be in my own

arm-chair!" he said.