Chp. 19, the Last Stage

People he actually enjoys company with!

The dead are buried, and Dain is crowned the new King under the Mountain. Bard is the new Master of Lake Town. Soon, it is time for the hobbit to return home. He travels with Gandalf and Beorn, taking the long way north around Mirkwood, for nothing could make him to enter that forest again. They spend most of the harsh winter at Beorn’s house. Finally, Bilbo and Gandalf travel the last, long stretch of road back to the hobbit lands. Approaching his home, Bilbo receives a wonderful surprise. He has been presumed dead, and the contents of his hill are being auctioned off. Bilbo is never again really accepted by the other hobbits. They view his adventuring with skepticism, and his return with gold and tales of dragons and war only confirms the hobbits’ suspicion that Bilbo has gotten in over his head. Most important, he's still alive and enjoys the visit of his other friends.