Bilbo returned the high-backed chair to its place at the desk and brought a letter with him back to the center of the rug. “My turn,” was all he said before he began reading.

My dearest Bilbo,

Your gift is in the leather garment bag hanging on the coat rack next to the door.

Everyone turned to look at what had been completely overlooked when they entered the room. A non-descript typical wooden coat rack stood just to the left of the door, between the door and the window ledge. A single ancient leather bag attached to a wooden hanger hung from the backmost peg on the rack. Frodo was standing closest to the object, so he retrieved it and brought it into the center of the room. Bilbo folded the letter and handed it to Frodo so that he could undo the clasps on the dusty leather bag.

The last clasp was removed and Bilbo pulled his gift out from the darkness of the leather. Suddenly the room glowed with a silvery light, and thousands of rainbows danced throughout the room.

Hamfast whistled in appreciation. Daisy gasped and shielded her suddenly-blinded eyes.

It was a mithril coat. It glowed silver in the late afternoon sunlight filtering into the room. Gems embedded in the neckpiece sparkled with every color imaginable. The rings of the suit of mithril mail softly chinked as Bilbo turned it around for all to see.

“Is that… Is that what I think it is?” Faramir asked in astonishment.

“Can’t be any else,” Ruby said.

“There’s not another like it in all Middle Earth,” Robin said.

Bilbo handed the mithril coat to Tom and continued reading his letter.

The mithril coat belongs to you as much as it belonged to your namesake, my beloved guardian and cousin, Bilbo Baggins. He wore it whilst on his adventure, as did I when on my Quest. But you probably know all about that. The mail is much more comfortable to wear than is apparent by simply holding it. My Uncle Bilbo and I are of completely different body shapes, yet the coat somehow conformed to fit us as if it were made by a tailor. Another Elvish mystery I shall have to inquire about when I reach Tol Eressea. But I digress.

I do not think you will need it for a long time, but I cannot clearly see what awaits your journey. The mirrors are becoming more and more obstinate to being controlled by my thoughts, and I am having a difficult time seeing you in them. But I am certain that some day you will take an adventure of your own.

When that day comes, wear the mithril (even while sleeping) and I will have done my duty. If you don’t, your father will never let me forget it. He still blames me for your wanderlust and that time you fell off the roof of Farmer Cotton’s barn. Or he will blame me for your wanderlust. Forgive me. My time grows short, yet yours lengthens. Anyway, wear it when you go on your adventure. You will need it.

With love (wear the coat),
Uncle Frodo

“Do you think he wants you to wear the coat?” Robin snickered.

“I think Uncle Frodo wants him to wear the coat,” Elanor smiled and winked. Bilbo was well known in the family as being rather clumsy. He was the only one of all the children who had ever seriously injured themselves while trying to recreate one of adventures.

“Maybe you should put it on right now, Bilbo,” Rose teased. “Bag End’s a dangerous place, Bilbo.”

“Is not,” Frodo said in his best mock-insulted voice. “I keep it safe and secure so that the children aren’t injured.”

“Maybe you better put it on, Bilbo,” Pippin laughed. “Remember, Merry’s got a sword now. And I think you owe him some money…”

Bilbo huffed and then smiled at the good-natured teasing. He slipped the mithril coat back into its garment bag and redid the clasps.

“So, where are you going, Bilbo?” Goldilocks asked. “Uncle Frodo says you’re going on an adventure. Where are you going?”

“I’m going home right now, if you all don’t stop the teasing,” he jested back at her. He sat back down at the roll top desk. “Ruby. Your turn,” he called out over his shoulder. “And don’t think I’m going to walk your letter over to you either. No special privileges just because you’re pregnant.”

She grunted and heaved herself out of the easy chair. “Right, Big Brother. Whatever you say, Big Brother.”

Tom leaned over and whispered into Bilbo’s ear. “Does anyone else know about our plans?”

“No,” Bilbo whispered back. “I didn’t tell anyone. I wish Uncle Frodo hadn’t spilled the beans about the journey. We’ll have to wait awhile before we can leave. I’ll talk to you about it some more in the morning. All right?”

“All right,” his brother whispered back.

“Here you go, love,” Bilbo smiled sweetly as he handed the letter to Ruby.