Final Thoughts: My Unexpected Journey

Wow, the end of what I thought to be an unrealistic undertaking. Reading through Tolkien's Middle-earth in chronological fashion. Many times I found myself figure out late in the game when I was going to read what and even then I made some mistakes along the way. The mythology of Middle-earth is immense. And fantastic. And life-changing. I had always been intrigues my Tolkien's thoughts on the applicability of his writing and because of that I kept my eyes open along the way for what I thought might be applicable to my life. I thought I might find something. I found a lot. Wise words for wise living. Hope and strength to fight the battles in my life. Reflections on how I am doing as a husband, father, and friend. Encouragement, over and over again, to my faith.

Don't get me wrong--I love Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Dragons, Hero's, Wizard's, Ringwraiths, Orcs, Skin-Changers, Bombadil's, Eagles, Ents, Valar, etc. I love all of the epic battles, quests, and adventures. I love the cool languages and depths that make Middle-earth feel like some forgotten history. I love that noblity and honor are codes of conduct. I love the fantasy nature of this story. But I found it truer to life than most of what I read. I think you'll find it speaks to the depths of your experiences as well. It is a timeless tale full of applicability for all who read no matter your background or worldview. Thank you Professor Tolkien. Read on my friends.

I just finished 365 posts for 2013. One for each day in my chronological read. I will now list my top ten posts from this past year and a little synopsis of why:

1. Faerie Stories & Middle-earth: An Introduction (here) -- This post set the stage for my entire blog. It was the 1st time I had read Tolkien's essay on Faerie Stories; it was powerful and a great encouragement in my faith in Christ. I also looked at the introduction of The Lord of the Rings in order to deepen my understanding of applicability. After these two reads I am confident that my own thoughts interspersed through this blog are my application of reading Tolkien's work. 
2. The Battle of Unnumbered Tears (here) -- Perhaps the most epic battle in Middle-earth. So many twists and turns and characters. Hands down, the actions of Húrin in this story provided for me the most lucid moment of clarity and applicability it my life. In my personal struggles I will often think of this story and cry out in my heart: Aure Entuluva!
3. The Debate of Finrod and Andreth (here and here) -- This was a fascinating post. This was the 1st year I incorporated some small readings from The Histories of Middle-earth which I had never read before. This story was a gem of Silmaril value. A discussion on the nature of Elves and Men between an Elf and a woman. Lots of thought provoking words. The description of hope (elessar) is beautiful. 
4. The Red Book (here) -- What I enjoy most about Tolkien's work is that it truly does read like a history (which has always been my favorite subject). I enjoy this post because it ties together, from several writings, what the Red Book is and how this important "historical" document came to be. It even allowed for some of my own speculation which is always amusing.
5. The Battle of Pelennor Fields (here) -- I am a sucker for the battles. But this one has so many intimate moments I finds myself in tears every time I read it (or see it on screen). Eowyn's defense of Theoden's gets me every time. One of my favorite readings in all of Middle-earth. 
6. The Oats of Cirion and Eorl (here) -- This may sound strange but I love how the men in Tolkien's writings act like men. Here we see the leaders of two people's (Gondor and Rohan as it will be) declaring support for one another's countries in times of need. Even better: we'll read that this oath is fulfilled time and time again in the next 500 years. Men of honor, speaking words of honor, and acting in honor. Love it. 
7. In the Beginning (here) -- "There was Eru, the One..." (p. 15, The Silmarillion) and thus I began my plunge into Middle-earth for the next year. This is a really cool writing on the creation of Middle-earth. Very biblical in its scope as well. 
8. Beorn (here) -- Beorn, a skin-changer, is a fascinating character. However, the real reason why this is one of my favorite posts is Gandalf. I can't say enough about the Grey Wizard but this story just incapsulates him to me. The way he guides the Dwarves into the presence of this unpredictably skin-changer is all at once brilliant, hilarious, cunning, executed perfectly, and wise. Maybe I forgot an adjective or two. It's just Gandalf and it's perfect. 
9. Black Riders and High Elves (here) -- I enjoyed this reading because it is one of the more intense, nail-biting, parts in the story as Frodo leaves the Shire with Ringwraith's on his trail. But it also contains, in a small way, one of Tolkien's many euchatastrophe's--that unlooked for hope and joy; as when Frodo unexpectedly meets some High Elves on the way. 
10. Thror and Azog (here) -- Many of the top-ten posts lean toward the deeper end of things. Not this one. Purely epic. In fact, this post is mostly direct quote from Tolkien. They don't call Azog the Defiler for nothing.

If you've read your way through this blog perhaps let me know what some of your favorite posts were. Or at the very least your favorite Tolkien passages. 

As for 2014 my plan is to keep the posts coming. Although not one a day. My goal for 2014 is to read the Histories of Middle-earth in their entirety. I've just now received my last couple of missing books. 12 volumes--one for each month. My tentative plan is for one post a week--as the bulk of this reading will be completely new and challenging for me. But, I hopeful I'll find a few more bits and pieces that I can add into future chronological reads. 

May 2014 bring you Elves and Dwarves, peace and joy, and euchatastrophe's of great significance. 

A New Shadow

Some time after The Lord of the Rings Tolkien turned his attention back to the Fourth Age, of which very little is written. He began a story, The New Shadow, that took place in the days of Eldarion son of Aragorn. It was a time of peace but Men were growing restless. Indeed, Tolkien discusses part of the inspiration of the story is man's "quick satiety with good" (p. 410, The People's of Middle-Earth). Reminds of of the human heart with God. The story involves two men Borlas, youngest son of Beregond, but now very old and Saelon, a young man who had been friends with Borlas' son. They are sitting in Borlas' garden when Borlas says to himself: "'Deep indeed run the roots of Evil,' said Borlas, 'and the black sap is strong in them. That tree will never be slain. Let me hew it as often as they may, it will thrust up its shoots again as soon as they turn aside. Not even at the Feast of Felling should the axe be hung upon the wall!' (p. 411, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

This caught Saelon's attention and began a tense conversation. Saelon confessed how he had been, it seems, rather infatuated with Orcs since Borlas had rebuked him long ago for destroying unripe apples from the garden--as the old man had said, it was Orc's work. Borlas was unsettled by Saelon's words and offered an apology: "'Alas!' he said, 'we all make mistakes. I do not claim wisdom, young man, except maybe the little that one may gleam with the passing of years. From which I know well enough the sad truth that those who mean well may do more harm than those who let things be. I am sorry now for what I said, if it roused hate in your heart'" (p. 412, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

They debated Man's role with nature--hewing and burning and consumption of it. Again Borlas answers wisely: "'The evils of the world were not at first in the great Theme, but entered with the discords of Melkor. Men did not come with these discords; they entered afterwards as a new thing direct from Eru, the One, and therefore are called His children, and all that was in the Theme they have, for their own good, the right to use - rightly, without pride or wantonness, but with reverence'" (p. 413, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

Saelon turned the conversation back to Borlas' first thought--the Evil tree that could not be slain. "His voice sank low and could scarcely be heard above the murmur of a sudden chill wind in the leaves, as the sun sank behind the Mindolluin. 'You have heard then the name?' With hardly more than breath he formed it. 'Of Herumor?'" (p. 414, The Peoples of Middle-earth). That name left Borlas speechless. Saelon wondered how Borlas could know of such a cunning secret; he went on to tell how not all were content since Aragorn died and those that heard the call of that name were growing.

The two men went back and forth trying to determine how the other knew of Herumor and how much did he know. Finally Borlas turned to go into his home since the conversation was going nowhere. Saelon then invited Borlas to journey with him, during the full night, clad in black, to if he wished to know more. Borlas was left to himself reflecting on how the conversation even came to be. Rumors had been spreading across Gondor told to him by his son Berelech and his friends Othrondir and Saelon--it was these the old man had been reflecting on and spoke aloud to himself with Saelon sitting near.

Borlas replayed to conversation with Saelon, really the only one who checked on his well being while his son served in the navy, trying to determine if he was involved in this new shadow growing. Borlas thought it useless that he go with Saelon--useless because he would never convert and useless because even if he did convert Borlas was too old to do anything. Then it dawned on him it would be better if he were out of the way. He resolved to meet Saelon come what may. He walked toward his house to ready himself thinking:

"'Perhaps I have been preserved so long for this purpose: that one should still live, hale in mind, who remembers what went before the Great Peace. Scent has a long memory. I think I could still smell the old Evil, and know it for what it is.' The door under the porch was open; but the house behind was darkling. There seemed none of the accustomed sounds of evening, only a soft silence, a dead silence. He entered, wondering a little. He called, but there was no answer. He halted in the narrow passage that ran through the house, and it seemed that he was wrapped in a blackness: not a glimmer of twilight of the world outside remained there. Suddenly he smelt it, or so it seemed, though it came as it were from within outwards to the sense: he smelt the old Evil and knew it for what it was" (p. 418, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

Wow. Thus concludes J.R.R. Tolkien's last writings on Middle-earth. A new shadow is rising though we will never know who or what this shadow is. But after reading chronological history of Middle-earth I am confident that there will be people who will bear the burden and fight the long defeat for the good of all. Just like in our world today, though evil is ever present there are men and women across the world who stand up to it. I personally love that about Tolkien's writing--characters full of nobility and honor who stand up to evil because it is the right thing to do.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, circa 220
Today's reading comes from: The People's of Middle-earth, pages 410-418

Frodo's Dreme

This is actually one of the many poems from The Tolkien Reader which are attributed to the Red Book. The poem is entitled The Sea-Bell but it is noted that at the top, hand-scrawled, is Frodo's Dreme. "That is remarkable, and though the piece is most unlikely to have been written by Frodo himself, the title shows that is was associated with the dark and despairing dreams which visited him in March and October during his last three years" (p. 194, The Tolkien Reader).

It is a dark poem indeed. The author is searching, it seems for peace, and ever it evades him. The last stanza's end like this:
"Never again, as in sad lane, in blind alley and in long street
ragged I walk. To myself I talk; for still they speak not, men that I meet" (p. 247, The Tolkien Reader).

Perhaps this was hobbit lore surrounding Frodo or maybe he described his dreams in detail. Either way it's a fitting last reference to Frodo who walked a dark road but, even so, came as he could.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age
Today's reading comes from: The Tolkien Reader, pages 194 and 244-247

The Red Book

I'd like to take a look at where these histories and legends of Middle-earth came from. Tolkien wrote this story as a history. History comes about by historians, historical documents, and oral traditions. I'll explore those sources in this post.

Hobbits became rather interested in the world around them after the downfall of Sauron. Suddenly, the Shire was a well-known and well-received region of Aragorn's kingdom. "By the end of the first century of the Fourth Age there were already to be found in the Shire several libraries that contained many historical books and records" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). The major source of historical material in the Shire was the Red Book of Westmarch. "It was in origin Bilbo's private diary, which he took with him to Rivendell" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo's writings consisted of what we know as The Hobbit, poetry he enjoyed and created, translations of the Elvish language and "The ancient legends of the First Age, in which Bilbo's chief interest lay..." (p. 313, The Return of the King). The translations of Elvish and legends of the First Age make sense given Bilbo spent his final years in Middle-earth in Rivendell with Elrond, Glorfindel, and other ancient Elves of much lore.

Bilbo gave Frodo his book to record his own adventure. "Frodo brought it back to the Shire, together with many loose leaves of notes, and during S.R. 1420-1 he nearly filled its pages with his account of the War" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). The S.R. stands for Shire Reckoning and corresponds with Third Age 3020-21. When it was completed it was bound in red leather (hence the name Red Book) in four volumes along with a fifth concerning records and genealogies of the Shire as well as information concerning various members of the Fellowship of the Ring. Since Frodo gave the book to Sam when he left Middle-earth. It is likely that Sam put together much of the remaining information. The original Red Book was lost but many copies were made for Sam's many descendents (he and Rose had thirteen children--wow).

However, a most important copy survived. "It was kept in the Great Smials, but it was written in Gondor, probably at the request of the great-grandson of Peregrin, and completed in S.R. 1592 (F.A. 172). Its southern scribe appended this note: Findegil, King's Writer, finished this work in IV 172" (p. 23-24, The Fellowship of the Ring). F.A. coincides with Fourth Age 172 one of the latest historical dates of Tolkien's Middle-earth. Aragorn had requested a copy of the Red Book and Pippin brought it to him in Fourth Age 64 when he and Merry came to Gondor in the last years of their lives. Information concerning Dwarves in these histories were "...probably derived from Gimli the Dwarf, who maintained his friendship with Peregrin and Meriadoc and met them again many times in Gondor and Rohan" (p. 313, The Return of the King).

In Gondor mostly corrections were made but the tale of Aragorn and Arwen was added to the copy of the Red Book, at least in part. "The full tale is said to have been written by Barahir, grandson of the Steward Faramir, some time after the passing of the King. But the chief importance of Findegil's copy is that it alone contains the whole of Bilbo's 'Translations from the Elvish'" (p. 24, The Fellowship of the Ring). Although not explicitly apart of the Red Book Merry also added some interesting information. Merry compiled histories of Rohan (given Rohan's long years of alliance and friendship with Gondor it is not likely such information came from Merry), Herblore of the Shire, Reckoning of Years, and Old Words and Names in the Shire. His Reckoning notes sought to reconcile the Shire Calendar with those of other people, and his Old Words book investigated the relation of hobbit vocabulary to other languages. Pippin, given his connection with Gondor, compiled the only records in the Shire concerning the Second Age: focused on the Númenoreans and the rise of Sauron.

Indeed the Tale of Years (from which I highlighted portions at the end of Ages Two, Three, and Four) was most likely written by Merry with assistance from Rivendell where he would visit. "There, though Elrond had departed, his sons long remained, together with some of the High-elven folk. It is said that Celeborn went to dwell there after the departure of Galadriel; but there is no record of the day when he sought the Grey Havens, and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth" (p. 25, The Fellowship of the Ring).

I love the notion of how this history, albeit feigned, came together. Bilbo living in Rivendell with Elrond and many other ancient Elves recording his adventure, Elvish language, and legends from the First Age given his interest in the Elves (with some poetry dabbled in there as well). Frodo recording the his quest in detail. Sam keeping tabs of the Fellowship after Frodo's departure. The history of Rohan added by Merry and his close association with those people. Much of the Second Age information is Númenorean centric, which makes sense since that's Aragorn's ancestor's and claim to the throne. So given Pippen's close ties to Gondor I see where that information may have from. It all fits beautifully together. You can see how these legends, myths, and histories were passed down from Age to Age to finally be recorded in the Red Book. And the fact that much of it may have been through hobbit eyes--perhaps that has give Peter Jackson some latitude in his movie adaptation of The Hobbit?

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 172
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 23-24; The Return of the King, page 313; The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 24-25

Fourth Age Timeline

Here are a few important dates attributed to the Fourth Age; mostly happenings concerning members of the Fellowship of the Ring:

• 5, Sam becomes mayor of the Shire and Pippin gets married. "King Elessar issues an edict that Men are not to enter the Shire, and he makes it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre" (p. 377, The Return of the King). 
• 8, "Faramir, son of Peregrin, born" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 9, "Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise, born"(p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 10, Merry becomes the Master of Buckland; Eomer and Eowyn send gifts
• 12, Pippin become Thain--head of the Took clan. "King Elessar makes the Thain, Master, and the Mayor Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Master Samwise is elected mayor for the second time" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 14, Aragorn visits the Shire but does not enter, of course. 
• 19, Sam elected Mayor again. 
• 26, Sam elected Mayor for the fourth time
• 30, Aragorn gifts Westmarch of the Far Downs to the Shire (Sam's daughter Elanor had married Fastred of that region)
• 33, Sam elected Mayor for the fifth time
• 40, Sam elected Mayor for the sixth time
• 41, "Faramir Took marries Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise" (p. 378, The Return of the King)
• 47, Sam elected Mayor for the final time being 96 years old at the end of his term
• 60, "Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day. On September 22 Master Samwise rides out from Bag End. He comes to the Tower Hills, and is last seen by Elanor, to whom he gives the Red Book afterwords kept by the Fairbairns. Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over the Sea, last of the Ring-bearers" (p. 378, The Return of the King)
• 62, King Eomer became ill and called for Merry. He and Pippin left the Shire, never to return, and visited him before he died. They then went to Gondor and remained their until their deaths. 
• 120, "In this year on March 1st came at last the Passing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over the Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring" (p. 378, The Return of the King)

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 5-120

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 377-378

Of Languages

Here are some highlights concerning spoken language in Middle-earth:

• By the time of the War of the Ring (3018 Third Age) nearly all races used the Westron or Common Speech exclusively, save the Elves. Even folks like the Wild Men of Drúadan who spoke their own language could use the Common Speech as a secondary language. 
• There were two types of Elvish language: Quenya which was the high tongue spoken beyond the Sea and used only in ritual in Middle-earth. Sindarin was originally spoken by the Elves who did not go to Valinor. By the time the Exiles had returned to Middle-earth the two tongues were sundered. Yet the Sindarin tongue was adopted by the Exiles. "Noblest of all was the Lady Galadriel of the royal house of Finarfin and sister of Finrod Felagund, King of Nargothrond" (p. 406, The Return of the King). 
• The Common Speech was spoken by Men, in particular of the Three Houses that aided the Elves against Melkor in the First Age. These Men, who had learned the Elven tongues out of reverence, were given Númenor and their speech, Adunaic, was influenced by the Elves. The Sea-kings established colonies in Middle-earth. "There Adunaic was spoken, and mingled with many words of the languages of lesser men it became a Common Speech that spread thence along the coasts among all that had dealings with Westernesse" (p. 407, The Return of the King). 
• Hobbits adopted the Common Speech and there is no record of any language native to their kind.  It seems they adopted the speech of the Big Folk they lived near. This perhaps explains why some of the language the Rohirrim was recognizable to the hobbits. For example holbytla meaning 'hole-builder' which King Theoden and others of Rohan called Merry. 
• At the end of the Third Age the Ents were the most ancient people in Middle-earth. "They were known to the Eldar in the ancient days, and to the Eldar indeed the Ents ascribed not their own language but the desire for speech. The language that they had made was unlike all others: slow, sonorous, agglomerated, repetittive, indeed long-winded..." (p. 409, The Return of the King). 
• Orcs also had there own manner of speech but none of it was original. "It is said they had no language of their own, but took what they could of other tongues and perverted it to their own liking; yet they made only brutal jargons, scarcely sufficient even for their own needs, unless it were for curses and abuse" (p. 409, The Return of the King). 
• Sauron created the Black Speech and some words were adopted by Orcs.
• During the War of the Ring a new kind Orc appeared in Mirkwood and Mordor. They were bred by Sauron. "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race, strong, agile, fierce and cunning, but harder than stone. Unlike the older race of the Twilight they could endure the Sun, so long as the will of Sauron held sway over them. They spoke little, and the only tongue that they knew was the Black Speech of Barad-dur" (p. 410, The Return of the King).
• Dwarves had their own language. "Yet in secret (a secret in which unlike the Elves, they did not unwillingly unlock, even to their friends) they used their own strange tongue, changed little by the years; for it had become a tongue of lore rather than a cradle-speech, and they tended it and guarded it as a treasure of the past" (p. 410, The Return of the King). They would not even reveal their true Dwarvish names to anyone. "Not even on their tombs do they inscribe them" (p. 411, The Return of the King).
• There was one Dwarvish saying that was well-known and well-translated across Middle-earth: "Baruk Khazad! Khazad aimenu! 'Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!'" (p. 411, The Return of the King).

Middle-earth timeline: End of Third Age-Beginning of Fourth Age

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, page 405-416

Of Writing

Here are some highlights concerning written language in Middle-earth:

• "The scripts and letters used in the Third Age were all ultimately of Eldarin origin, and already at that time of great antiquity" (p. 395, The Return of the King). This is Tolkien's bread and butter: language. 
• There were two main forms of writing: Tengwar or letters and Cirth or runes.
• Tengwar was created by the Noldor; the oldest form was made by Rumil. The most common form was created by Fëanor. "They were brought to Middle-earth by the exiled Noldor, and so became known to the Edain and Númenoreans" (p. 395, The Return of the King). 
• Cirth was created by the Sindar, those Elves that had not traveled to the Blessed Lands. Men, Dwarves, and Orcs fashioned much of their own writings from this style. 
• "Their richest and most ordered form was known as the Alphabet of Daeron, since in Elvish tradition it was said to have been devised by Daeron, the minstrel and loremaster of King Thingol of Doriath" (p. 397, The Return of the King). 

Middle-earth timeline: End of Third Age-Beginning of Fourth

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 395-416

Of Calendars

In the appendices of The Return of the King Tolkien gives many back-stories and timelines in regards to the histories of Middle-earth. If you had any question of the depth of Tolkien's 'sub-creation' there are extensive family trees for Hobbits, calendars--for Hobbits, Elves, and Men; grammar rules for Elven tongues, and various histories of other languages spoken in Middle-earth. It is extensive (nearly 40 pages worth) and detailed. I have the feeling it is only the tip of the iceberg in Tolkien's mind. If you've read Leaf by Niggle and see the artist's consumption with his ever expanding work of art you have to wonder if it Tolkien is writing a commentstory of his life. Here are some highlights I'd like to point out regarding the calendars:

• An Elvish year was 52, 596 days. Essentially 144 years to humans. Though being immortal I don't know that they even needed this delineation. 
• In the Shire calendar every month had 30 days; the beginning of the week was Saturday and the last day of the week was Friday. 
• To equal 365 days a year the Shire calendar had several holidays that did not fall on a day of the week: Lithe 1, followed by Midyear's Day, followed by Lithe 2 (these fell in between June and July), and at the end of the year was Yule 1 and Yule 2. 
• Shire Reckoning started in 1601 Third Age; when the Hobbits inhabited the Shire. Therefore there is a 1600 year difference between Shire Reckoning and Númenorean/Dúnedain calendar. For example, the overthrow of Sauron took place in 3019 Third Age or 1419 Shire Reckoning. 
• March 25th marked the New Year in the Númenorean/Dúnedain calendar
• "The Fourth Age was said to have begun with the departure of Master Elrond, which took place in September 3021; but for purposes of record in the Kingdom Fourth Age I was the year that began according to the New Reckoning in March 25, 3021 old style" (p. 390, The Return of the King). 
• In Aragorn's kingdom a feast was held at the end of September as festival honoring Frodo. In Leap Year's an extra day of feast was added called Cormare or Ringday. 

Middle-earth timeline: End of Third Age/Beginning of Fourth

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 384-395

Of Gimli and Legolas

Two of my favorite characters from the Fellowship of the Ring: Legolas and Gimli. Elves have always been my favorite of the Middle-earth races. They are just so ethereal and high; graceful and noble, wise and immortal. It saddens me that the Third Age is the twilight of the Eldar and their time to depart from Middle-earth. The Silmarillion is my favorite of Tolkien's works with its myths and legends of the First Age dominated by Elves. In light of all this I appreciate Legolas' part in the Tale. Dwarves are an peculiar race to me but Gimli seems different than his kin. He seems to have a profound respect for that which is beautiful rather than the desire to hoard what is valuable. I remember three instances during his walking with the Fellowship (a most intense time that does not naturally lend itself to the appreciation of beauty) where he pauses when he encounters beauty: pausing to view the beautiful Mirrormere, his encounter with Galadriel, and his discovery of the Glittering Caves. What most strikes me is that Gimli is appreciative of natural beauty--items not made by the hands of Dwarves or any mortal.

Here lies the exploits of Gimli and Legolas after the War of the Ring. Gimli became renowned for his role in the Quest as well as his peculiar friendship with Legoas. "He was named Elf-friend because of the great love that grew between him and Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and because of his reverence  for the Lady Galadriel. After the fall of Sauron, Gimli brought south a part of the Dwarf-folk of Erebor, and he became Lord of the Glittering Caves. He and his people did great works in Gondor and Rohan. For Minis Tirith they forged gates of mithril and steel to replace those broken by the Witch-king. Legolas his friend also brought south Elves out of Greenwood, and they dwelt in Ithilien, and it became once again the fairest country in all the westlands" (p. 361-362, The Return of the King). Long they lived in friendship but when Aragorn died Legolas departed from Middle-earth, following the desire in his heart for the Sea. This final note concerning Legolas and Gimli reads:

"We have heard tell that Legolas took Gimli Gloin's son with him because of their great friendship, greater than any that has ever been between Elf and Dwarf. If this is true, then it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it. But it is said that Gimli went also out of desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and it may be that she, being mighty among the Eldar, obtained this grace for him" (p. 362, The Return of the King). What a great ending for their part in the tale!

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, circa 120-125
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 361-362

The Passing of Aragorn and Arwen

Aragorn and Arwen had lived together for 60 years. She was now a mortal woman forsaking the gift of Erú for the Eldar: immortality. She had parted from her father Elrond in bitterness. For it was her doom to lose all that she had gained. Aragorn felt that his life was waning and she understood. She asked if he would pass before his time when all the people looked to him. Aragorn was confident their son, Eldarion, was ready to be King. Aragorn gave the crown to his son and laid himself down in the House of Kings. Arwen, now understanding the sting of death, went with him. "'Lady Undomiel,' said Aragorn, 'the hour is indeed hard, yet it was made even in that day when we met under the white birches in the garden of Elrond where none now walk...Take counsel with yourself, beloved, and ask whether you would indeed have me wait until I wither and fall from my high seat unmanned and witless. Nay, lady, I am the last of the Númenoreans and the latest King of the Elder Days; and to me has been given not only a span thrice that of Men of Middle-earth, but also the grace to go at my own will, and give back the gift'" (p. 343, The Return of the King).

Arwen finally understood the fall of the Númenoreans and had pity on them. Still she said to Aragorn: "'For if this is indeed, as the Eldar say, the gift of the One to Men, it is bitter to receive'" (p. 344, The Return of the King). Aragorn encouraged her not to despair; they would not be bound to the confounds of Middle-earth. He was certain there was more than just memories once they passed the threshold of death. He kissed her hand and the passed away. "Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together" (p. 344, The Return of the King). Arwen was left grief. Saying goodbye to Eldarion she walked the abandoned woods of Lorien until winter came. She died on Cerin Amroth.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 120
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 342-344

Of King Eomer

Here lies the account of Eomer Eadig, King of the Mark. "Eomer became a great king, and being young when he succeeded Theoden  he reigned for sixty-five years, longer than all their kings before him save Aldor the Old" (p. 351, The Return of the King). He gained renown in the War of the Ring and the friendship of Aragorn and Imrahil of Dol Amroth. "In the last year of the Third Age he wedded Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil. Their son Elfwine the Fair ruled after him" (p. 352, The Return of the King). Eomer's friendship with Aragorn lasted throughout his life. In fact he reaffirmed the Oath of Eorl. "Often he fulfilled it. For though Sauron had passed, the hatreds and evils that he bred had not died, and the King of the West had many enemies to subdue before the White Tree could grow in peace. And wherever King Elessar went with war King Eomer went with him; and beyond the Sea of Rhûn and on the far fields of the South the thunder of the cavalry of the Mark was heard, and the White Horse upon Green flew in many winds until Eomer grew old" (p. 352, The Return of the King).

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 2991 to Fourth Age, 63
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 351-352

Sam Gamgee and His Children

One of the fun aspects of reading Middle-earth chronologically has been discovering bits of the mythology outside of Tolkien's main published works. Some could argue that these bits are not really canon since they were abandoned, however, my goal has been to gain a fuller view of this universe. With that in mind readings like today are super fun.

Several years after Frodo departed from Middle-earth we catch a glimpse of Sam Gamgee at home with his children: Elanor, Rose, Goldilocks, Daisy, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Hamfast (with five not yet born!). There are two versions of the story but each revolves around the children asking their Sam-dad about his adventures in the wide world beyond the Shire. "He had been reading aloud (as was usual) from a big Red Book on a stand..." (p. 114, Sauron Defeated).  The children ask all sorts of questions about Elves, horses, members of the Fellowship, Orcs, Entwives, etc. One version of the story (I haven't yet made up my mind which I rather like better) shows a delightful conversation while the other has Sam jotting down notes, based on the children's questions, in preparation for his entries into the Red Book.  I will highlight some of Sam's answers:

Concerning Moria and Orcs: "'I guess it will take a lot of trouble and daring deeds yet to root out the evil creatures from the halls of Moria. For there are certainly plenty of Orcs left in such places. It is not likely that we shall ever quite get rid of them'" (p. 122, Sauron Defeated).

Concerning Ents and Entwives: "'I should like the Entwives to be found too; but I am afraid that trouble is too old and deep for Shire-folk to mend. I think, maybe, the Entwives do not want to be found; and maybe Ents are now tired of look'" (p. 123, Sauron Defeated).

Concerning a secret he tells Elanor: "'I am a very rich hobbit. And there is another reason, which I shall whisper to you, a secret that I have never told before to no one, nor put in the Book yet. Before he went Mr. Frodo said that my time maybe would come. I can wait. I think we haven't said farewell for good. But I can wait'" (p. 125, Sauron Defeated).

At the end of each version it's revealed that King Aragorn has requested to meet with Sam and his family in about one week's time. They most go and meet him at the borders of the Shire because of the law of the land. Sam suspects they will go with Aragorn and Arwen to a lake house for a season. Finally, after the children are in bed, there is a tender moment between Sam and his Rose. This would have been the end of The Lord of the Rings, had Tolkien not been persuaded to cut out this epilogue.

"'March the twenty-fifth!' he said. 'This day seventeen years ago, Rose wife, I didn't think I should ever see thee again. But I kept on hoping.' 'I never hoped at all, Sam,' she said, 'not until that very day; and then suddenly I did. About noon it was, and I felt so glad that I began singing. And mother said: 'Quiet, lass! There's ruffians about.' And I said: 'Let them come! Their time will soon be over. Sam's coming back.' And you came.' 'I did,' said Sam. 'To the most belovedest place in all the world. To my Rose and my garden.' They went in, and Sam shut the door. But even as he did so, he heard suddenly, deep and unstilled, the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth" (p. 128, Sauron Defeated). I must admit I wish this ending was included, although, I suppose now it is.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, circa 15
Today's reading comes from: Sauron Defeated, pages 114-119 and 121-128

King Aragorn's Edict

"And so indeed it has befallen: the One and the Seven and the Nine are destroyed; and the Three have passed away, and with them the Third Age is ended, and the Tales of the Eldar in Middle-earth draw to their close" (p. 299, The Silmarillion). I thought this was an eloquent synopsis of the beginning of the Fourth Age. King Aragorn issued an edict declaring the Shire was the domain of Hobbits alone and not for the dominion of Men. What follows is the Shire perspective of Aragorn: "'Our King, we call him; and when he comes north to his house in Annuminas restored and stays a while by Lake Evendim, then everyone in the Shire is glad. But he does not enter this land and binds himself by the law that he has made, that none of the Big People shall pass its borders'" (p. 324, The Return of the King). It's noted that Pippin and Sam would visit Aragorn often; and Sam had good reason. "His daughter Elanor the Fair is one of the maids of Queen Evenstar" (p. 324, The Return of the King).

Now may be a good time to talk about unique attributes of the Northern Dúnedain. For they were taller and lived longer than any other mortals in Middle-earth. Even so, through the long years of the Third Age their lifespan diminished. "The dwindling of the Dúnedain was not a normal tendency, shared by peoples whose proper home was Middle-earth; but due to the loss of their ancient land far in the West, nearest of all mortal lands to the Undying Realm" (p. 287, Unfinished Tales). One of the reasons the Dúnedain (or Númenoreans you may recall) lost their land was due to the fact that they would not lay down their lives and accept their mortality. Because of this the Valar began to take away their lifespan. Yet they still lived twice as long as other Men by the beginning of the Fourth Age. "Aragorn indeed lived to be one hundred and ninety years old, longer than any of his line since King Arvegil; but in Aragorn Elessar the dignity of the kings of old was renewed" (p. 324, The Return of the King).

One other people group in Middle-earth, beside the Dúnedain, dwindled as well: Hobbits. "The much later dwindling of hobbits must be due to a change in their state and way of life; they became a fugitive and secret people, driven (as Men, the Big Folk, became more and more numerous, usurping the more fertile and habitable lands) to refuge in forest or wilderness: a wandering and poor folk, forgetful of their arts, living a precarious life absorbed in the search for food, and fearful of being seen" (p. 287, Unfinished Tales). No timetable is given for this dwindling of the hobbits so I would assume it's much later in the Fourth Age. But this is a sad note for a people so renown in the defeat of Sauron.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 5 and beyond
Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, page 299; The Return of the King, page 324; Unfinished Tales, page 287

Poems of Gondorian Influence

I have decided to insert a couple of poems here from The Tolkien Reader. These two poems are clearly influenced by Gondor. Since Merry and Pippin visited Rohan and Gondor often and spent their remaining years in Gondor I can picture the inclusion of these poems in the Red Book through them.

One poem is called The Man in the Moon Came Down Too Soon and it was about the Man in the Moon longing for more and taking a rather disappointing adventure to the earth. It was an easy read (some of Tolkien's poetry is not for me) but nothing really stood out to me.

Not so with the second. It is called The Last Ship. It is about a mortal woman who encounters a ship of Elves leaving Middle-earth so it must be dated early in the Fourth Age as the Elves faded and began to leave Middle-earth. Fíriel, the woman wanders to a river and hears music followed by the sight of a ship. She asked if they were going to some secret forest or uninhabited isle and the Elves answered:

"'Nay!' they answered. 'Far away on the last road faring, 
leaving western havens grey, the seas of shadow daring,
we go back to Elvenhomme, where the White Tree is growing,
and the Star shines upon the foam on the last shore flowing'" (p. 249, The Tolkien Reader).

The Elves, in turn, declare their ship is not full and has room for one more. The ask Fíriel if she hears the call and invite her to board their ship. She responded:

"Fíriel looked from the river-bank, one step daring;
then deep in clay her feet sank, and she halted staring.
Slowly the elven-ship went by whispering through the water:
'I cannot come!' they heard her cry. 'I was born Earth's daughter!'" (p. 250, The Tolkien Reader).

One more look at the difference between Elves and Men. Erú gave each race a separate gift: to Elves immortality to walk in Middle-earth until the end; to Men the gift of death and freedom beyond the confines of Middle-earth.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, circa 1-60
Today's reading comes from: The Tolkien Reader, pages 221-224 and 248-251

Third Age Notes: The End of an Age

Here are some of the last of the chief events of the Third Age. Again, some of these may have been covered but I find that Tolkien uses great imagery in his highlights and they are fun read:

• March 27th, 3019, "Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm drive the enemy from Dale" (p. 376, The Return of the King)
• March 28th, 3019, "Celeborn crosses Anduin; destruction of Dol Guldur begins" (p. 376, The Return of the King)
• April 6th, 3019, "Meeting of Celeborn and Thranduil" (p. 376, The Return of the King)
• August 28th, 3019, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Sam and others meet Saruman. He travels toward the Shire after they depart
• September 22nd, 3019, Saruman arrives at the Shire (Frodo and Bilbo's birthday)
• November 3rd, 3019, "Battle of Bywater, and Passing of Saruman. End of the War of the Ring" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• May 1st, 3020, Sam marries Rosie Cotton
• March 25th, 3021, (In the Gondorian calendar this day marked year one of the Fourth Age) Birth of Elanor the Fair to Rosie and Sam. "She became known as 'the Fair' because of her beauty; many said that she looked more like an elf-maid than a hobbit" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• September 29th, 3021, "Frodo and Bilbo depart over the Sea with the Three Keepers. The end of the Third Age" (p. 377, The Return of the King)

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, March 27th 3019-September 29th, 3021

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 376-377

Third Age Notes: The War of the Ring

This is a continuation of the Third Age timeline. Tolkien covers the events of the War of the Ring in order here; much of which has already been covered in detail. I'll try to point out bits that were not covered as much when reading through The Lord of the Rings:

• July 4th, 3018, Boromir departs from Gondor toward Rivendell
• July 10th, 3018, Gandalf taken captive by Saruman in Orthanc
• August, 3018, Gollum is lost; thought to have disappeared into Moria
• September 18th, 3018, Gandalf escapes
• September 21st, 3018, "Gandalf meets Shadowfax, but the horse will not allow him to come near. He follows Shadowfax far over the fields" (p. 372, The Return of the King)
• September 22nd, 3018, "The Black Riders reach Sarn Ford at evening; they drive off the guard of the Rangers. Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax" (p. 372, The Return of the King)
• September 23rd, 3018, Five Black Riders pursue the Rangers while the other four enter the Shire; Frodo departs from Bag End just in the nick of time
• September 28th, 3018, Gandalf reaches Sarn Ford
• September 29th, 3018, "Gandalf visits the Gaffer" (p. 372, The Return of the King)
• September 30th, 3018, "Crickhollow and the Inn at Bree are raided in the early hours. Frodo leaves Bree. Gandalf comes to Crickhollow, and reaches Bree that night" (p. 372, The Return of the King)
• October 3rd, 3018, Gandals is attacked by the Nazgul at Weathertop
• October 6th, 3018, Frodo is attacked by the Nazgul at Weathertop
• October 9th, 3018, "Glorfindel leaves Rivendell" (p. 372, The Return of the King)
• October 18th, 3018, "Glorfindel finds Frodo at dusk. Gandalf reached Rivendell" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• October 24th, 3018, "Boromir  arrives at Rivendell at night" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• October 25th, 3018, "Council of Elrond" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• December 25th, 3018, The Fellowship of the Ring departs from Rivendell
• January 13th, 3019, The Fellowship reaches Moria. "Gollum begins to trail the Ring-bearer" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• January 15th, 3019, Gandalf falls in battle with the Balrog
• January 23rd, 3019, "Gandalf pursue the Balrog to the peak of Zirak-zigil" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• January 25th, 3019, "He casts down the Balrog, and passes away. His body lies on the peak" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• February 14th, 3019, "Gandalf returns to life and lies in a trance" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• February 16th, 3019, The Fellowship leaves Lorien; Gollum is still following Frodo
• February 17th, 3019, "Gwaihir bears Gandalf to Lorien" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• February 26th, 3019, The death of Boromir and the breaking of the Fellowship
• February 27th, 3019,  "Eomer against Theoden's orders  sets out from the Eastfold about midnight to pursue the Orcs" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• February 29th, 3019, Eomer destroys the Orcs, Merry and Pippin meet Treebeard, Frodo and  Gollum meet, Faramir sees Boromir's boat
• March 1st, 3019, "Aragorn meets Gandalf the White...Faramir leaves Minis Tirith on an errand to Minis Tirith" (p. 373, The Return of the King)
• March 9th, 3019, "Faramir leaves Henneth Annun" (p. 374, The Return of the King)
• March 11th, 3019, "Gollum visits Shelob, but seeing Frodo asleep nearly repents...Eastern Rohan is invaded From the North. First assault on Lorien" (p. 374, The Return of the King)
• March 12th, 3019, "The Ents defeat the invaders of Rohan" (p. 374, The Return of the King)
• March 15th, 3019, Battle of Pelennor Fields we know about. But there were other battles on this day. "Battle under the trees in Mirkwood; Thranduil repels the forces of Dol Guldur. Second assault on Lorien" (p. 374, The Return of the King)
• March 17th, 3019, "Battle of Dale. King Brand and King Dain Ironfoot fall. Many Dwarves and Men take refuge  in Erebor and are besieged" (p. 375, The Return of the King)
• March 22nd, 3019, Lorien is attacked for the third time
• March 25th, 3019, The Ring is destroyed; Sauron defeated

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, July 4th, 3018-March 25th, 3019

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 371-375

Third Age Notes: Before the War of the Ring

In the appendix Return of the King J.R.R. Tolkien gave a timeline for the Third Age. I thought I would read through it and make note of some items I may have missed or weren't mentioned as I worked through the texts. First I rather enjoyed this summary of the Third Age: "These were the fading years of the Eldar. For long they were at peace, wielding the Three Rings while Sauron slept and the One Ring was lost; but they attempted nothing new, living in memory of the past. The Dwarves hid themselves in deep places, guarding their hoards; but when evil began to stir again and dragons reappeared, one by one their ancient treasures were plundered, and they became a wandering people" (p. 365, The Return of the King). So here goes, each bullet point starts with a year in the Third Age (for reference if you see the term Periannath that means the Hobbits; this was the Gondorian name for that people):

• 3, The shards of Narsil are brought to Rivendell by Ohtar
• 130, Elrond's sons, Elladan and Elrhoir are born
• 241, Arwen is born
• 1050, Evil rises in Mirkwood and the Hobbits first enter Eriador and the records
• circa 1100, the Stronghold of Dol Guldur is discovered. "It is thought to be one of the Nazgul" (p. 366, The Return of the King)
• circa 1300, Evil multiplies; the Misty Mountain Dwarves are assaulted by Orcs. Hobbit migrate westward; many of which settle in Bree
• 1437, "Burning of Osgiliath and loss of the palantir" (p. 367, The Return of the King). 
• 1601, "Many Periannath migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II" (p. 367, The Return of the King)
• 1636, The Great Plague. The White Tree dies; Hobbits suffer great loss
• 1640, "King Tarondor removes the King's House to Minar Anor, and plants a seedling of the White Tree. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. Mordor is left unguarded" (p. 367, The Return of the King).
• 1975, "The palantir of Annuminas and Amon Sul are lost" (p. 367, The Return of the King) and the Witch-king disappears
• 1977, The Eotheod come into the North
• 1979, "Bucca of the Marish becomes first Thain of the Shire" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• 1999, Erebor is founded
• 2002, Minas Ithil and its palantir fall to the Nazgul
• 2063, Gandalf searches Dol Guldur and Sauron flees
• 2460, Sauron returns to Dol Guldur with more power
• 2463, "The White Councul is formed. About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• 2470, "About this time Smeagol-Gollum hides in the Misty Mountains" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• circa 2570, Dragons begin to reappear and attack Dwarf kingdoms
• 2589, "Dain I slain by a dragon" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• 2590, "Thror returns to Erebor. Gror his brother goes to the Iron Hills" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• circa 2670, "Tobold plants 'pipe-weed' in the Southfarthing" (p. 368, The Return of the King)
• 2890, Bilbo Baggins is born
• 2901, Henneth Annun is built
• 2907, Gilraen, mother of Aragorn is born
• 2930, Denethor is born
• March 1st, 2931, Aragorn is born
• 2939, Saruman discovers Sauron's servants are searching the Gladden Fields for the One Ring. "He is alarmed, but says nothing to the Council" (p. 370, The Return of the King) 
• 2941, "The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River" (p. 370, The Return of the King)
• 2944, "Bard rebuilds Dale and becomes King. Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins his search for the 'thief' of the Ring" (p. 370, The Return of the King)
• 2956, Aragorn and Gandalf meet and form their friendship
• 2968, Frodo Baggins is born
• 2977, "Bain son of Bard becomes King of Dale" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• 2978, Boromir is born
• 2980, "About this time Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• 2983 Faramir and Samwise Gamgee are born
• 2989, "Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• 2994, "Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony is destroyed" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• circa 3000, "Saruman dares to use the palantir of Orthanc, but becomes ensnared by Sauron, who has the Ithil Stone. He becomes a traitor to the Council. His spies report that the Shire is being closely guarded by the Rangers" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• 3007, "Brand son of Bain becomes King of Dale" (p. 371, The Return of the King)
• 3009, Gandalf and Aragorn search for Gollum who is captured by Sauron
• 3017, Gollum is released from Mordor and captured by Aragorn; Gandalf reads the scroll of Isildur

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 1-3017

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 365-371

Of Gandalf in the Third Age

Truly one of the most iconic and interesting characters in Tolkien's Middle-earth is Gandalf (who is perfectly portrayed by Ian McKellen in the movies in my humble opinion). Here are assorted excerpts concerning Gandalf from Unfinished Tales that make sense now that the Wizard has departed from Middle-earth. Indeed, of Sauron's overthrow the resistance mainly consisted of Men. Tolkien notes that the Elves were, by and large, not concerned to the point of action. "Galadriel, the greatest of the Eldar surviving in Middle-earth, was potent mainly in wisdom and goodness, as a director or counsellor in the struggle, unconquerable in resistance (especially of mind and spirit) but incapable of punitive action" (p. 395, Unfinished Tales).

To some degree she was akin to the Valar; concerned but not overtly active. Specifically Tolkien notes she is like Manwë. "Manwë, however, even after the Downfall of Númenor and the breaking of the old world, even in the Third Age when the Blessed Realm had been removed from the 'Circles of the World', was still not a mere observer. It is clearly from Valinor that the emmissaries came who were called the Istari (or Wizards), and among them Gandalf, who proved to be the director an coordinator both of attack and defence" (p. 395, Unfinished Tales). Gandalf did not fail as the other Istari did. Saruman's fall is well chronicled in the historical accounts of the Third Age. The two Blue Wizards never seemed to make an impact on Middle-earth and therefore it can be thought that they failed. Perhaps failure is not the appropriate term for Radagast but to say he was distracted from his mission by lesser things would be accurate.

Some, particularly when a shadow of evil arose later in the Kingdom, wondered if perhaps Gandalf was simply Manwë in disguise; but that was not true. "Manwë will not descend from the Mountain until the Dagor Dagorath, and the coming of the End, when Melkor returns. To the overthrow of Morgoth he sent his herald Eonwë. To the defeat of Sauron would he not then send some lesser (but mighty) spirit of the angelic people, one coeval and equal, doubtless, with Sauron in their beginnings, but not more?" (p. 395, Unfinished Tales). Perhaps the magnitude who Gandalf is will remain enshrouded mystery. Or perhaps better stated being the wandering Grey Wizard is enough; as the following poem illustrates. "Wilt thou learn the lore that was long secret of the Five that came from a far county? One only returned. Others never again under Men's dominion Middle-earth shall seek until Dagor Dagorath and the Doom cometh. How has thou heard it: the hidden counsel of the Lords of the West in the land of Aman? The long roads are lost that led thither, and to mortal Men Manwë speaks not. From the West-that-was a wind bore it to the sleeper's ear, in the silences under night-shadow, when news is brought from lands forgotten and lost ages over seas of years to the searching thought. Not all are forgotten by the Elder King. Sauron he saw as a slow menace..." (p. 395-396, Unfinished Tales).

Indeed, Gandalf came to Middle-earth around the same time as Sauron rose to power again. Though he is seldom mentioned in the annals of history of the Third Age. "Probably he wandered long (in various guises), engaged not in deeds and events but in exploring the hearts of Elves and Men who had been and might still be expected to be opposed to Sauron" (p. 397, Unfinished Tales). Though he wandered many places most of his time, and the focus of opposition to Sauron in the Third Age, was spent in the North and North-west of Middle-earth. This dated back to the days of resistance against Morgoth. "...that was so because the movement of Elves, and of Men afterwords escaping from Morgoth, had been inevitably westward, towards the Blessed Realm, and north-westward because at that point the shores of Middle-earth were nearest to Aman. Indeed this fact shows why Gandalf's chief allies were Elrond, Aragorn, and the Dúnedain.

The Hobbits also lived in this region of Middle-earth and they too caught Gandalf's eye. No other being in Middle-earth would have paid attention to the Little People. Perhaps in wisdom or foreknowledge Gandalf perceived just how important they would be. If nothing else Gandalf was drawn to those who seemed to have little worth. "Gondor attracted his attention less, for the same reason that made it more interesting to Saruman: it was the centre of knowledge and power" (p. 399, Unfinished Tales). How true in this world; we are often drawn to those that are perceived to have the most knowledge and power. Most of Gondor's rulers were too proud to listen to a wandering Wizard and it was only as the War of the Ring drew near that Gandalf became more concerned about this southern region.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 1000-3021
Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 395-400

Bilbo's Last Song and Other Poetry

I can picture Sam perusing the red book that Frodo gave him sometime after returning home to Rosie and Elanor. I can see him looking through Bilbo and Frodo's memoirs about their adventures and reminiscing about his dear friends. I can hear him chuckle at the hobbit poetry that was included in it as well. Lastly I can imagine him finding a little gem before the pages go blank called Bilbo's Last Song. Perhaps scribbled by the old hobbit at the Grey Havens while final farewells were being exchanged.

It's a short little poem where Bilbo is saying goodbye to his friends and life in Middle-earth. And where he looks ahead to what lies ahead. I'll quote a couple of poignant stanzas:

"Day is ended, dim my eyes but long journey before my lies.
Farewell, friends! I hear the call. The ship's beside the stony wall....
Ship, my ship! I seek the West, and fields and mountains ever blest..." (Bilbo's Last Song)

In my zeal to read all things Middle-earth I bought Bilbo's Last Song hoping it would add significant detail to the mythology. While a decidedly short poem it is a perfect cap to Frodo and Bilbo's last journey. In fact I think it can be a comfort to all those who are in the last stages of their own journey on this earth. If nothing else this little book is handsomely illustrated by Pauline Baynes. Now back to the Middle-earth chronology.

It's also easy to picture Sam adding his own details to the red book. Most likely events in the lives of the Fellowship as well as his own poetry. In fact a few poems are attributed directly to Sam: The Stone Troll, Perry-the-Winkle, and Cat. The first two involve trolls as main characters. The last of the three is noted as being more likely general hobbit lore that Sam simply touched up. The Stone Troll is a humorous tale of a troll gnawing on a bone when a passerby realizes it's his "nuncle". Perry-the-Winkle tells of a lonely troll as evidenced by the first stanza:

"The Lonely Troll he sat on a stone and sang a mournful lay:
O Why, o why must I live on my own in the hills of Faraway?
My folk are gone beyond recall and take no thought of me;
alone I'm left, the last of all from Weathertop to the Sea' (p. 228, The Tolkien Reader).

But the lonely troll forms an unlikely friendship with Perry-the-Winkle of the Shire that is centered on food (what else!). Much of hobbit poetry is rather nonsensical but it also seems that there could be more beneath the surface. Perhaps Sam's whimsical tale of Perry-the-Winkle was also noting the dominion of Men. The Elves are departing, the Wizards are no more, perhaps trolls were beginning to fade from MIddle-earth and that was Sam's motivation for writing.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3021 through Fourth Age, 5
Today's reading comes from: Bilbo's Last Song and The Tolkien Reader, pages 226-231; 237

The Ring-Bearers Depart

"Time went on, and 1421 came in'" (p. 305, The Return of the King). This is the final year of the Third Age of Middle-earth. Frodo was ill again in March but with Rosie and Sam expecting a child he hid it. March 25th was the date of birth and Sam was in a fix. He and Rosie had decided they would name their firstborn after Frodo but it turned out it was a girl. Frodo encouraged Sam to go with the Shire custom of naming a girl after a flower. Sam thought Frodo was right and gives one of the best dad statements ever, being the father of a little girl now this line resonates with me: "'...it must be a beautiful flower, because, you see, I think she is very beautiful, and is going to be beautifuller still'" (p. 306, The Return of the King). After some thought Frodo suggested elanor the golden flower that bloomed in the grasses of Lothlorien. Sam was delighted with that name.

Autumn came on and it was September when Frodo asked Sam to go on a  journey with him; he promised it wouldn't be long seeing as how Elanor was not quite six months old yet. It seemed that Frodo wished to visit Bilbo on his 131st birthday (beating the age of the Old Took!). Sam found himself torn in two but Frodo assured him it wouldn't always be so. Frodo ordered his things before they left and gave his keys to Sam along with a large red book. It was filled with Bilbo and Frodo's writings; a full eighty chapters worth. Bilbo had written many titles on the first page including: "My Unexpected Journey. There and Back Again" (p. 307, The Return of the King). Each of the many titles had been crossed out. After Bilbo's titles ended came Frodo's handwriting:

"THE DOWNFALL OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE RETURN OF THE KING (as seen by the Little People; being the memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire, supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise.) Together with extracts from Books of Lore translated by Bilbo in Rivendell" (p. 307, The Return of the King). Sam was excited to see the almost finished book. "'I have quite finished, Sam,' said Frodo. 'The last pages are for you'" (p. 307, The Return of the King). On September 21st the two companions set out together. On the 22nd they reached the tree they hid behind when the Black Rider first came. Sam was lost in memories when he noticed Frodo singing Bilbo's traveling song with the lyrics slightly altered. Before he could ponder the meaning the song was answered by Elvish singing.

"There was Gildor and many fair Elven folk; and there to Sam's wonder rode Elrond and Galdariel" (p. 308, The Return of the King). Elrond wore Vilya, the greatest of the Three, a blue stone set in gold. Galdriel wore Nenya unveiled, a white stone set in mithril. Behind them rode Bilbo. They greeted Sam and Frodo. Galdariel commended Sam on his use of her gift. Bilbo said he was ready for his next journey and asked Frodo if he was coming. "'Yes, I am coming,' said Frodo. 'The Ring-bearers should go together.' 'Where are you going, Master?' cried Sam, though at last he understood what was happening. 'To the Havens, Sam' said Frodo. 'And I can't come.' 'No, Sam.'" (p. 309, The Return of the King). Frodo explained that Sam needed to be one and whole and it was not his time. Sam began to cry wondering why Frodo couldn't stay in the Shire. Frodo explained he was hurt too deeply; indeed, often when something needs saving, like the Shire, the rescue comes at the sacrifice of someone else.

Sam rode on with Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel, and many High Elves who were sad to leave Middle-earth but not bitter. They came at last to the Havens and were there met by Círdan the Shipwright: "'All is ready'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Círdan led them to a white ship and waiting for them, wearing Narya with a red stone last of the Three, was Gandalf. Indeed, the Third Age was ended. The power of the Three Rings was ended."In that time the last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth forever" (p. 304, The Silmarillion). As they made ready to board the ship, with Sam full of sorrow, Merry and Pippin rode up with haste. They had been summoned by Gandalf, to say farewell to Frodo and so that Sam would not have to journey back alone. With kisses and tears the hobbits said good-bye. Gandalf spoke to them: "'Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin watched the ship depart in silence. "In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and song (p. 304, The Silmarillion).

"And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned to the Shire comforted by each other. Sam, now heir of Bag End, went home. "And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said'" (p. 311, The Return of the King). If you are reading the story as Tolkien wrote it, which is a non-traditional and suspenseful way to go about it, these are the last words of The Lord of the Rings. And it is a very satisfying ending (if you aren't going on the appendices of course). I'll have several more readings since I'm going chronologically.

Andrew Peterson is a musical artist wrote a song called The Havens Grey on his album The Far Country and it is a beautiful picture of Frodo's closing act. Though the Story goes ever on.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3021 March through September
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 305-310; The Silmarillion, page 304; The Return of the King, pages 310-311

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Hobbit Lore

While much of my chronological read through Middle-earth has fit seamlessly there have been a few spots where speculation on my part has been made. Perhaps a bit of knowledge or writing without a concrete date associated with it. I've done my best to place these bits where they seem to fit most appropriately, though no doubt other Tolkien enthusiasts may disagree with me assessments. Today's reading is one such situation. In The Tolkien Reader there are several poems that are associated with the Red Book (of which we will learn more). Included in the Red Book are the memoirs of Bilbo's unexpected journey and Frodo's historical narrative concerning the Downfall of the Lord of the Rings. During Frodo's last visit with Bilbo the older hobbit gave the younger his writings and wished for them to be finished.

As Frodo faded from the daily affairs of the Shire it makes sense to me that he spent most of his time writing--this would have been from the Winter of 3019 through the fall of 3021. While Frodo would have spent the majority of time working on the story of his journey it's not hard to imagine he made time to write on other topics: chiefly silly poems that hobbits adore. The first two poems discuss (and revisit) the ever elusive Tom Bombadil: The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Bombadil Goes Boating. The first is older hobbit lore and likely was derived when the hobbits first moved into the Shire region likely encountering Tom.

One stanza stood out to me, the moment Tom decided to marry Goldberry:
"He caught her, held her fast! Water-rats went scuttering,
reeds hissed, herons cried, and her heart was fluttering.
Said Tom Bombadil: 'Here's my pretty maiden!
You shall come home to me! The table is all laden:
yellow cream, honeycomb, white bread and butter;
roses at the window-sill and peeping round the shutter.
You shall come under Hill! Never mind your mother
in her deep weedy pool: there you'll find no lover!'" (p. 201, The Tolkien Reader).

The second poem follows Tom on a visitation to a friend in the Shire. It's noted that this was likely composed after Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin encountered Tom. Perhaps the four friends reminisced over their adventures and made it themselves. I found it very interesting that the poem highlights the connection between Tom and Farmer Maggot as we'll pick up after the two meet:

"Laughing they rode away, in Rushey never halting,
though the inn open stood and they could smell the malting.
They turned down Maggot's Lane, rattling and bumping,
Tom in the farmer's cart dancing round and jumping.
Stars shone on the Bamfurlong, and Maggot's house was lighted;
fire in the kitchen burned to welcome the benighted" (p. 207, The Tolkien Reader).

They went on to have a lively party with the rest of Farmer Maggot's family.

I read several other poems--all of which are attributed to Hobbit Lore. They could have been written down for posterity sake by Frodo (or perhaps other hobbits later): Princess Mee, The Mewlips, Oliphaunt, Fastitocalon, and Shadow-bride. Most of these are rather nonsensical (which hobbits enjoy) with a few minor references to things in Middle-earth with a good dose of mistrust for the Sea and things unknown--which makes very good sense for a hobbit.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019-3021
Today's reading comes from: The Tolkien Reader, pages 197-210; 215-217; 232-236; and 239