Attitude

"I told you, coming here was a waste of time."

"No, not entirely."

"At least our team gained a master archer like Morgan."

"Not only that, I won two bets, too. Ha ha!"

"Hey, Bofur, you only won this one. You lost the bet last night."

"Don't you think you're all being a little too optimistic? This bet isn't over yet."

"Ha ha, I'll admit that Mr. Baggins prepared a splendid dinner for us last night."

"But that doesn't mean he has the courage to join us on an adventure."

"It's this late already. There's no way Mr. Baggins is going to show up."

"So I've won for sure."

On a forest path dappled with the morning light,

the members of the Expedition Team rode along, joking and laughing.

"Wait."

Just then, a clear, familiar voice suddenly called from behind them.

Everyone reined in their horses and turned around.

They saw a short figure in a wine-red coat sprinting barefoot toward them, waving something in his hand as he ran.

"Ha ha, look! It's Mr. Baggins."

"Damn, this is unbelievable. I thought that fellow would never catch up!"

"So don't be too quick to jump to conclusions."

"Bofur, you lost again. Ha ha ha ha!"

"I was just unlucky."

"Hey, it's good news that Mr. Baggins came. The rest of you, pipe down."

The Dwarves chattered away as Bilbo hurried over to them.

"I signed it!"

Bilbo waved the contract, which was longer than he was tall, as he joined the group.

Balin, the white-bearded Dwarf, took the contract and pulled out his reading glasses, carefully checking the signature at the bottom.

Only then did he look at Bilbo and say with a smile, "Welcome, Master Baggins, to Thorin Oakenshield's company."

At that, everyone in the Expedition Team smiled warmly.

A Hobbit who had never traveled far from home had given up his peaceful, comfortable life and dared to accept an invitation to go on an adventure.

That alone was worthy of respect, never mind anything else.

"Give him a pony."

Thorin Oakenshield looked at Bilbo as he spoke.

Bilbo had never been in a fight or gone on an adventure, so naturally, he didn't know how to ride a horse.

A full-sized horse could easily cause an accident, while a pony was much safer.

After all, a pony was about Bilbo's height. Even if he fell, he wouldn't get hurt.

Bilbo climbed onto the back of the small pony, still young and awkward, looking rather ill at ease.

The Expedition Team continued on its way.

Then Balin's voice came from up ahead. "Hey, Gloin, you owe up!"

At that,

whoosh,

a purse flew straight from the rear toward the front, and Balin caught it in one hand.

"Kili."

Morgan spoke up as well. Before he'd even finished, a purse came flying straight toward him, too.

Morgan reached up and caught it. He casually weighed it in his hand. The bet was ten silver coins—not a fortune, but not a small sum either. It was enough to buy himself a hearty meal with meat and wine.

"What are they doing?"

Bilbo carefully guided his pony closer to Gandalf and asked.

"They made a bet about whether you would show up."

"Most of them thought you wouldn't."

Gandalf spoke indistinctly, a pipe between his lips.

"What about you?"

Bilbo fell silent for a moment, then continued.

As soon as he'd spoken, a purse came flying from up ahead. Gandalf caught it and tucked it into the pouch on his belt.

Then he took the pipe from his mouth and said with a smile, "Bilbo, I never doubted you."

"I can vouch for that."

A voice came from behind them.

Bilbo quickly turned his head and saw Morgan riding up from behind.

"I won because I bet on you."

Morgan smiled, tossing the purse in his hand as he spoke to Bilbo.

"Thank you for believing in me."

Seeing Morgan's friendly manner, Bilbo smiled right back.

"Don't mention it. We're going to be adventure companions from now on."

Morgan said it casually.

He truly didn't look down on Bilbo or hold him in contempt, as the Dwarves did.

As the protagonist of The Hobbit, Bilbo had a unique charm all his own.

He stood for the story of how an ordinary little person could accomplish great things.

As the only Ring-bearer in all of Middle-earth who had ever willingly given up the One Ring, Bilbo's character needed no further explanation.

Morgan didn't have Bilbo's generous nature, and he couldn't have done the things Bilbo had done in the story he remembered.

But that didn't stop him from admiring someone like Bilbo.

Besides, Bilbo was the protagonist. Befriending him could only bring Morgan advantages, not trouble.

Even if Bilbo was still a complete novice who knew nothing about anything.

"Adventure companions."

Hearing Morgan use that phrase, Bilbo couldn't help pausing for a moment.

That's right. I'm a member of the company now. My own adventure has begun.

Maybe one day I'll accomplish as much as my great-great-grandfather and great-great-great-grandfather did.

Thinking of this, Bilbo felt a sudden thrill inside, and his anticipation for the adventure ahead grew stronger.

Morgan, of course, had no idea what Bilbo was thinking.

At that moment, he was quietly pondering the One Ring, which would soon become entangled with Bilbo for the rest of his life.

If the story stayed on course, the One Ring that would throw all of Middle-earth into turmoil

should still be in the hands of the mutated Hobbit Gollum, at the bottom of a mine in an underground Goblin Kingdom in the Misty Mountains.

Morgan wondered whether, if the journey ahead followed the same course as the story,

he should try to take the Ring from Gollum before Bilbo, once they reached that Goblin Kingdom.

Of course, Morgan wasn't the protagonist.

For one thing, he might not even run into Gollum.

And even if he did, whether he could take the Ring from him was another matter entirely.

After all, the thing could make its wearer invisible.

Gollum had killed his own kin and stolen the One Ring. He'd had it for so many years; there was no way he didn't know what it could do.

Only Bilbo, with the protagonist's good fortune, could fall down a cliff and happen to find the Ring so easily.

If it had been Morgan, things might not have gone the same way.

Middle-earth was a world where gods existed.

And from Morgan's perspective, Bilbo's journey always seemed to have a touch of destiny guiding him along.

Still, if Morgan had a chance to get his hands on the One Ring, he definitely wouldn't pass it up.

Whether he could withstand the Ring's temptation, whether his will was strong enough—that would be another matter after he got hold of it.

After all, an artifact that could make him invisible at any time was practically an extra life.

It would be a lie to say Morgan wasn't tempted.

As for what would happen to Bilbo afterward if Morgan took the Ring, that had nothing to do with him.

Admiring Bilbo's character was one thing.

His own interests were another.

Between the two, the latter obviously mattered more.

That would never change.

Of course, taking the One Ring wouldn't be easy. He would have to think it through carefully.