Hello again, dear friend!
First, I want to thank you for being patient with me for this post. I meant to send it out this past weekend, but my goodness, am I ever grateful for my Subscribers who understand parenting and stick by my side while I navigate this new thing of taking some time for this work, while never neglecting the most important people in my life.
My health was also quite a struggle this past week. I am feeling much better now as I finish editing this post, and I know I will get into a rhythm the more I write in spite of my chronic pain and taking care of my mental health!
You are the best fellowship any hobbit could ask for!
As I make my way through these final chapters for the first time, I am more grateful now than when I began this journey.
The details. The understanding of the correct storyline. The deepening friendships. The life experiences. The guidance given along the journey. The providence. The writing of it all here…
Gandalf: “You’ll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back.”
Bilbo: “Can you promise that I will come back?”
Gandalf: “No. And if you do, you will not be the same.”
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), dir. Peter Jackson
I am not the same.
I don’t know why, but I believed I would just be reading the on-screen version of this story on printed pages. As I mentioned in my last post Books Are Always Better Than The Movie there was a complete paradigm shift I had to go through in order to grasp this story in a new way.
Along this journey, I’ve also gained my own friendships! I just hit 10 subscribers in less than one month of starting this Substack journey. It’s given me hope, encouragement and the motivation to finish this project… I can’t thank you enough!🌻
This week, I read chapters 11-15 of The Hobbit and I can’t wait to share my wanderings and ponderings with you! Let’s dive in!
On The Doorstep
A deep breath in. An even deeper breath out. We’re here.
Now what?
This moment matters to me.
Because I am a firm believer that a) everything happens for a reason and b) we are only given opportunities based on who we currently are.
There is no way in Mordor that Bilbo would have been capable of standing in front of that ominous mountain had it been the first stop on the journey. His woolly toe hair would have stood on end and he may have just succumbed to his dreaming of being back in his armchair by the fire in his little hobbit hole, leaving the dwarves at the foot of the death trap.
But no.
Bilbo’s becoming has been my favorite part of this tale.
The dwarves’ as well.
Each step of the journey gave them the knowledge, guidance, experience, skill and fortitude for the next. Whether good or bad (let’s be honest, mostly bad) they’ve grown into who they needed to be to stand in the face of that great shadow, the smallest sliver of moonlight shining on the crag and reminding them of how big their next task actually was.
They have become the hobbit and dwarves the Lonely Mountain required. Much like us big folk, when we are attempting to go on our own journey or achieve something new, there is a becoming that takes place along the way. That, my dear friend is what this journey of life is all about.
The way the dwarves have gained such admiration and respect for Bilbo has been a surprise to all (except the Wandering Wizard, I’m sure) and now as the key turns in the no-longer-hidden door into the mountain, I am confident that not only respect soared in this moment, but hope as well.
Inside Information
“Now you are in for it at last, Bilbo Baggins,” he said to himself. “You went and put your foot right in it that night of the party, and now you have got to pull it out and pay for it! Dear me, what a fool I was and am!” said the least Tookish part of him. “I have absolutely no use for dragon-guarded treasures, and the whole lot could stay here for ever, if only I could wake up and find this beastly tunnel was my own front-hall at home!”
He did not wake up of course, but went still on and on, till all sign of the door behind had faded away. He was altogether alone.”
~The Hobbit, Chapter XII: Inside Information, J.R.R. Tolkien
But not alone… for the red-golden dragon was down there.
Yep. I knew it. I’m a Baggins.
Keep your royal treasures. Keep your shiny mail. If we go chasing dragons, we will all end up in… Mordor.
Ahem.
So here again, I relate so strongly with the part of Bilbo that was quite content staying at home. No doubt in this very moment, had he been back in the Shire, he would have just tucked into supper at his little wooden table behind his little round door (with no sign on it).
I am not as well to do as a Baggins, but after my years on Earth I desire not the shiny things of distraction, the wants and clamorings for “more”, the never ceasing people pleasing at the expense of my sanity or peace. No… all I want is a quiet place to call home, surrounded by my favorite people, nourished by food I grew myself and lovingly turned into something exceptionally delicious.
No dragon riddles for me, thank you! I had enough riddles with that Gollum to last me an age!
This next scene was, in my opinion, phenomenally captured in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey film! I was pleasantly surprised with this chapter and Benedict Cumberbatch did Smaug’s voice such justice, it was all I heard as I read his and Bilbo’s banter in the red glow of the dragon.
Note to self: don’t steal from a dragon… or give him hints of where you came from… or flatter him too much lest he catch on to your stalling… in fact it’s best if I don’t speak to (or laugh at) live dragons at all…
Silly dwarves… Don’t send the burglar in to burgle and then gaslight him for burgling! But once again, their high respect of him gave him to confidence to lead in what was to be done next.
Insert magical bird number one.
We have several different types of birds that frequent our property. A scaled quail that sits on the fence post and “chip-churrs” at us while were outside. A pair of Eurasian collared-doves that were born in a nest outside our living room window that now sit on the tall feeder in the front yard beckoning with their “Coo-oo-oo-oo” for more seed. Ravens that “brronk” as they fly by overhead, looking for that rabbit that ran through my garden just a moment ago. But none like this Thrush of prophecy that sat listening to every word Bilbo spoke to the dwarves, and would go on to become a hero of his own.
Not At Home
As the great dragon makes his way toward Laketown, the echo of their breath in the empty halls rings in my ears.
Down further into the darkness was where Bilbo gained more than just a golden ring in a goblin cave. The Arkenstone. A small coat of mail called mithril with a belt of pearls and crystals. And a fresh almost-winter easterly breeze accompanied by the sun.
It is best not to complain about the cold wind after escaping a dragon and the maze of the mines he commandeered, but lessons learned here are that we must brave the darkness if we seek to come back with the treasure!
Not much else in this chapter to speak of… nothing West, East or South… except for birds. Very many birds.
Fire and Water
Ah!! There he is! I was beginning to wonder when Bard would show up and if he really was the one who destroyed Smaug! Whew.
And here is the Thrush of prophecy himself, enacting providence right as the moment required it.
I used to have a cockatiel I was trying to train how to speak, but this is next level. Can you imagine rallying your town against a massive beast such as this and as you are drawing back your black arrow from your father in your bow, a little bird lands on your shoulder and tells you where to aim? Ha! It’s a miracle the arrow hit its mark… I probably would have lost my head because I would have been asking too many questions.
There have been times in my life where I have lost everything. Although not by fire, I can relate to the people of Laketown having to leave in a hurry and figure out where to go; how to start over with nothing but my life and some clothes and dishes.
All thoughts, including Bard’s were now set on the unguarded treasure, and many in vain… friend, this is why I do not set my heart on worldly treasure, because it is too great a chance that I would have been among the ones who didn’t make it off of the western shores of Esgaroth. None of us are promised the very next moment!
“Then even as he was speaking, the thought came into his heart of the fabled treasure of the Mountain lying without guard or owner, and he fell suddenly silent. He thought of the Master’s words, and of Dale rebuilt, and filled with golden bells, if he could but find the men…”
‘‘Now everywhere Bard went he found talk running like fire among the people concerning the vast treasure that was now unguarded…”
“Many took ill of wet and cold and sorrow that night, and afterwards died, who had escaped uninjured from the ruin of the town; and in the days that followed there was much sickness and great hunger.”~The Hobbit, Chapter XIV: Fire and Water, J.R.R. Tolkien
“19Lay not up treasures for yourselves upon the earth, where the moth and canker corrupt, and where thieves dig through and steal. 20But lay up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither the moth nor canker corrupteth, and where thieves neither dig through nor steal. 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21, 1599 Geneva Bible
“13And one of the company said unto him, Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?
15 Wherefore he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of [b]covetousness: for though a man have abundance, yet his [c]life standeth not in his riches.
16 [d]And he put forth a parable unto them, saying, The [e]ground of a certain rich man brought forth fruits plenteously.
17 Therefore he [f]thought with himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where I may lay up my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and therein will I gather all my fruits, and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, live at ease, eat, drink, and [g]take thy pastime.
20 But God said unto him, O fool, this night will they fetch away thy soul from thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that gathereth riches [h]to himself, and is not rich in God.
Luke 12:13-21, 1599 Geneva Bible
To spend any amount of time, let alone my last days pining for riches is foolishness. Are riches evil? No. But to gather earthly riches solely for one’s personal gain is exactly how Dragon Sickness is incubated in the heart.
Winter is coming… oh wait, wrong book.
Ahem.
Thanks be to Bard for his leadership in the face of the cowardly Master of the Men of the Lake. And for the good and kindly Elvenking and his people changing their course from the Mountain to the people of Laketown who needed their precious resources in that moment. No doubt the thought of gold never fully left Bard’s mind, but thankfully the thought of the people and their needs won out and he was able to delegate tasks to the able-bodied to prepare for the oncoming winter.
I have so many thoughts on the masculinity and leadership aspect of Bard now that I know more of his story… perhaps a separate post for another time—most likely to include Bilbo and his own fashion of masculinity and leadership of the dwarves when the moment demanded it of him. (Insert Galadriel’s voice— “The most unlikely leader…”)
The Gathering of the Clouds
I’m fascinated that it was the birds who announced the death of Smaug throughout the land, to friend and foe alike. Why did they do this? Why didn’t they keep it quiet? They put the lives of the dwarves in danger by drawing all eyes to the mountain now that the dragon is gone… I don’t like gossip. And these pesky birds just let it rip!
I researched why the birds all flew around heralding to all that the dragon was dead, and found that “the birds gathering after Smaug’s death symbolizes hope, freedom, and the restoration of balance” according to Brainly.
Alright… I’ll allow it.
Hello, again, ye Thrush of prophecy! If only the dwarves had been able to understand they would have likely bowed low to the bird and offered him all the treasure (and snails) he desired! It is a very good thing that thrushes can understand dwarves, and are familiar with the other birds in the land…
When I was a little girl, I often had vivid dreams of being animals of various kinds and being able to speak their language. The most frequent one was of me as a seal, diving and twirling around the zoo exhibit as I knew it, talking to them in words. Then, when my dad would take me to the zoo, I would tell the real seals about it. There was one in particular that I truly believe understood me, because every time I visited that dark cave and sat in the furthest window to the back, the grey seal with dark brown specks and shiny eyes sat with me for as long as I was there, and followed me up to the outside, window by window where it was open and would bob there on the surface of the water, looking at me as we walked away. I never wanted to leave.
I believe we were able to talk to animals in the Garden of Eden and will be able to talk to them again when YHWH brings the new Heaven and Earth. I am straight giddy just thinking about it, honestly!
They might have bowed low to the bird, but it seems not so with Bard… a bit ungrateful, even for dwarves, no?
Now, I cannot say that I would have fully disagreed with Thorin’s words toward Bard, especially when it came to the mistreatment of him and his Company in the halls of the Elvenking. He may have been good and kindly to the men of Laketown, but where was this charity when he held the dwarves in his home? They especially get nothing… but one twelfth to Bard for the rebuilding of Dale, plus more out of the goodness of Thorin’s heart for the people of the Lake is a big ask, precious.
“The whole place still stinks of dragon,” he grumbled to himself, “and it makes me sick. And cram is beginning simply to stick in my throat.”
~The Hobbit, Chapter XV: The Gathering of the Clouds, J.R.R. Tolkien
After the hopeless banter between the King Under the Mountain and the Lord of Dale, I empathize with Bilbo… I’m finished adventuring, fam, can I go home now?
Thank you, dear friend, for reading these words, for walking with me through the refining fire of reading Tolkien’s works for the first time, for being on this journey of life with me. I do not take it lightly that you are here, using your precious time to sit and have a cup of tea with this little hobbit. I love it more than I have words to express!
The next episode, chapters 16-19 will be the last in this series. After that, I am going to announce the next work of Tolkien I will be diving into, and what that will look like for you, my Substack Subscribers! I can’t wait!
Until then, grab a cup of your favorite brew and be sure to get on the waiting list for something really special I’m putting together for those who love receiving little Shire-inspired parcels of joy in the mail like I do! You can get on the waiting list HERE!
Many Blessings,
~Allison
