The New Hobbit Hole

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole
Concerning Hobbits
The New Hobbit Chronicles

This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:

Our discussion has been light:

It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog

However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB

Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr

Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog

Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB

Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed

To the very philosophical:

…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla

To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…

…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB

Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog

…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1

Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed

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Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom

…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253

Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed

So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.

[Corin Stormhands]

We do emphasize the REASON for Easter, the rest is just for fun. But if you want to do it, think about little things like markers, driveway chalk, etc.

We played the Santa Claus game with our oldest, and probably will continue with the young one. But we made sure he knew the real story of St. Nicholas. We celebrate St. Nicholas Day in early December and everyone gets a St. Nick cookie in their shoe (you leave one by the door).

But we never pretended about the Easter Bunny. Pretty early on Corin, Jr. figured out who put the baskets together. So the next year, he gave us his "order" for what he wanted...

[RosieCotton]

I LOVE Mandarin Orange...every time you mention it I remind myself to get some next time I'm at the store...and then I forget. Sleepytime is good, too, but I have to be in the mood for it.

I REALLY like their Honey Lemon Ginseng green tea, but that's caffeinated (sp?), so I only drink it during the day. It's gooood.

As for Earl Grey, I have trouble finding it in decaf. But it's one of my favorites. Twinings is THE proper brand for that!

[Corin Stormhands]

Gee... maybe I'm not mssing anything in not having a high school reunion to look forward to.

If I'm around I'll go back to my high school reunion because my mom is still in town. When I left high school I was pretty emotionally torn up about not seeing those people. That lasted up until about 3 weeks into college. I went to a small Christian college and am much closer to my college friends than I ever was to high school friends.

[RosieCotton]

My parents did Santa Claus for awhile, but when we started celebrating St. Nicholas day (I was maybe five or six, I think), it got confusing to have both Santa and St. Nick. I don't think that was the whole reason they changed the story, but maybe part of it.

But my parents would tell us that the Christ Child brought the gifts, which is cool because it's TRUE, if you really think about it! We would leave carrots out for the donkey, and in the morning run out to see if we could find any hoof prints in the snow.

[Corin Stormhands]

That's pretty neat. We've sometimes had a birthday celebration on Christmas morning. And years ago my wife made an advent tree that we start on December first and go through the whole gospel story. Then on Ephiphany, we undecorate the advent tree in reverse order.

[Corin Stormhands]

Darn, we're so close to the triple precious. But my wife needs the PC and I need to get to bed anyway. Somebody's gonna wake up in the middle of the night and come steal it...

[RosieCotton]

I stayed up late to update my antivirus software and...download the LOTR word document from the Yahoo hole. Here is part about Aragorn in Lothlorien that I was thinking of:

At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. Arwen vanimelda, namárië! he said, and then he drew a breath, and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled.

Sigh...I'm still more impressed with the book Aragorn than with the movie one!

[JenB]

That's a cute story! We never did Santa, we focused on the real story, and on making gifts other members of our family would like. I think Santa's a thing that kids can do without, personally...

[Corin Stormhands]

Well Rosie, I'm leaving for the night. It looks as though the triple precious may be yours for the taking.

Keep it secret. Keep it safe. G'nite.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

You never know who might show up, when a triple-naught-Precious is near...

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes...

I think the movie made me care more about their relationship... And understand Aragorn better.

Look at how much more sweet this segment from Rivendell is, than if we didn't have the scene at the bridge in our minds:

"...Frodo halted for a moment, looking back. Elrond was in his chair and the fire was on his face like summer-light upon the trees. Near him sat the Lady Arwen. To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast. They spoke together, and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo that Arwen turned towards him, and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart..."

At Lothlorien:

"...At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. Arwen vanimelda, namárië! he said, and then he drew a breath, and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled.

`Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth,' he said, `and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me! ' And taking Frodo's hand in his, he left the hill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man...."

And from RoTK...

"...Upon the very Eve of Midsummer, when the sky was blue as sapphire and white stars opened in the East, but the West was still golden and the air was cool and fragrant, the riders came down the North-way to the gates of Minas Tirith. First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver, and then came Glorfindel and Erestor and all the household of Rivendell, and after them came the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlórien, riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk of their land, grey-cloaked with white gems in their hair; and last came Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men, bearing the sceptre of Annúminas, and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode Arwen his daughter, Evenstar of her people.

And Frodo when he saw her come glimmering in the evening, with stars on her brow and a sweet fragrance about her, was moved with great wonder, and he said to Gandalf: ‘At last I understand why we have waited! This is the ending. Now not day only shall be beloved, but night too shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away!’

Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted; and Elrond surrendered the sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up into the High City, and all the stars flowered in the sky. And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfilment."

_______

Here is the part where he parts with Eowyn:

"...When the light of day was come into the sky but the sun was not yet risen above the high ridges in the East, Aragorn made ready to depart. His company was all mounted, and he was about to leap into the saddle, when the Lady Éowyn came to bid them farewell. She was clad as a Rider and girt with a sword. In her hand she bore a cup, and she set it to her lips and drank a little, wishing them good speed; and then she gave the cup to Aragorn, and he drank, and he said: ‘Farewell, Lady of Rohan! I drink to the fortunes of your House, and of you, and of all your people. Say to your brother: beyond the shadows we may meet again!’

Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that she wept, and in one so stern and proud that seemed the more grievous. But she said: ‘Aragorn, wilt thou go?’

‘I will,’ he said.

‘Then wilt thou not let me ride with this company, as I have asked?’

‘I will not, lady,’ he said. ‘For that I could not grant without leave of the king and of your brother; and they will not return until tomorrow. But I count now every hour, indeed every minute. Farewell!’

Then she fell on her knees, saying: ‘I beg thee!’

‘Nay, lady,’ he said, and taking her by the hand he raised her. Then he kissed her hand, and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and did not look back; and only those who knew him well and were near to him saw the pain that he bore.

But Éowyn stood still as a figure carven in stone, her hands clenched at her sides, and she watched them until they passed into the shadows under the black Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountain, in which was the Gate of the Dead. When they were lost to view, she turned, stumbling as one that is blind, and went back to her lodging. But none of her folk saw this parting, for they hid themselves in fear and would not come forth until the day was up, and the reckless strangers were gone.

And from the End...

"...But the Queen Arwen said: ‘A gift I will give you. For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter. But in my stead you shall go, Ring-bearer, when the time comes, and if you then desire it. If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed. But wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven!’..."

[JenB]

Now that is well-researched! Kudos.

[RosieCotton]

I think Santa's a thing that kids can do without, personally...

I agree...I never saw the point. (Which makes me intolerant and Scrooge-like by some standards, I guess...)

[JenB]

By the way, since you're the unofficial ThreadMomPerson, can we start the sneak yet? I need to go to bed.

[HairOfTheDog]

Is this brother that your are contributing-to-the-delinquency-of the one that we know? That connection just occured to me!

[RosieCotton]

Ah...good work! You delved far deeper than I...thanks!

Now I nead to read it all...

I have to admit, the book Aragorn gets to me. Sam is still my favorite, but Aragorn is pretty incredible. Way out of my league (which I guess is why I'm not as into him...), but incredible .

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, while you were looking for your quote, I was collecting all of mine!

[HairOfTheDog]

NO.

[RosieCotton]

Is this brother that your are contributing-to-the-delinquency-of the one that we know?

Nope, that one is legal (and lives in CA, at that!). So is the one that wanted the cider. It's another one (who was along for the ride) that got us all in trouble. ;-)

[HairOfTheDog]

It just wouldn't be proper.