The New Mr. Baggins of Bag End

Next Tolkien explained what happened after Bilbo left as Bingo became the new Mr. Baggins of Bag End. The name Baggins certainly carried baggage in the Shire at this point but Bingo seemed not to mind as he had a circle of close friends. As the year passed (with Bingo still celebrating Bilbo's birthday) he began to feel restless and had thoughts of following his uncle.

Gandalf began to turn up again and visit Bingo; often coming late at night and leaving before dawn or never leaving Bag End on extended stays. Only Merry and Frodo new of the visits. When Bingo was 47 (14 years after Bilbo's disappearance) Gandalf came more frequently and for longer intervals. "He began to be worried about Bingo; and also odd things were happening" (p. 252, The Return of the Shadow). Bingo had some knowledge of events beyond the Shire has he would visit with Elves or Dwarves passing through: tales of the Necromancer, Mordor, and the Black Tower (this is the first time these lands are given an approximate location).

The thrust of this new chapter was Gandalf's telling Bingo the history of the magic ring Bilbo found. They were sitting in silence after Gandalf said his peace; "Gandalf was thinking of a spring nearly 80 years before, when Bilbo had run out of Bag-end without a handkerchief" (p. 255, The Return of the Shadow). A nice nod to The Hobbit.

Bingo was understandably alarmed. Gandalf performs the final test by throwing the Ring into the fire and confirming it is indeed the One Ring. He recites for Bingo the Ring poem (One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them...). And he proceeded to tell Bingo about the forging of the One Ring.

As the conversation moved on (very similar to that in Fellowship) Gandalf turned his tale to Gollum and his role in the Ring lore. In fact, the wizard had found Gollum and interrogated him. At this point in time the Wood-elves of Mirkwood helped him find Gollum. "'He had developed a skill in climbing trees to find nests, and creeping into houses to find cradles. He boasted of it to me'" (p. 264, The Return of the Shadow). That little detail did not make the final cut. It certainly gives a cold ruthlessness to Gollum--eating babies? That's intense.

Unfortunately for Gandalf and Bingo Gollum found his way to Mordor before the wizard captured him. Ultimately Bingo decides to bear the burden and leave the Shire. Gandalf suggests that he leave soon but may not need to leave alone if he could think of someone he could trust and who would be willing to go. Even so, Gandalf cautioned Bingo from sharing too much even with his closest of friends.