"Ah!" said Gandalf. "That is a very long story.
The beginnings lie back in the Black Years,
which only the lore-masters now remember.
If I were to tell you all that tale, we should still be sitting
here when Spring had passed into Winter.
"But last night I told you of Sauron the Great, the Dark Lord.
The rumours that you have heard are true:
he has indeed arisen again and left his hold in Mirkwood
and returned to his ancient fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor.
That name even you hobbits have heard of,
like a shadow on the borders of old stories.
Always after a defeat and a respite,
the Shadow takes another shape and grows again."

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"You little prick," said Gandalf, "pull yourself together."