Middle-earth Journeys

#1

Christmas Day with Bilbo

© Miss L: All Rights Reserved

Bilbo and Gandalf had been traveling with Beorn for 15 days when they decided to rest for the night in a cave between the forest, the Wilderland River, and Mount Gundabad. That night when Beorn went off to find food, Bilbo awoke after having a quite upsetting dream about coming home to his hobbit hole and discovering that many of his belongings had been stolen.

Bilbo was quite upset about this dream, and so while Gandalf was still asleep, Bilbo explored parts of the cave he was visiting to forget about the frightening nightmare. “Oh, bother,” Bilbo thought, “I do believe I will be missing second breakfast tomorrow. Oh, dear. How I wish I could just go home and forget about all this nonsense of orcs and trolls, and oh, the lot of it. Right now I could be home in my cozy hobbit hole and not in a dark and cold cave.” As Bilbo stumbled through the cave muttering about the fact that this trip had not been well thought-out, his lantern shined on many birds hanging upside down from the ceiling. “Oh, dear, what on Earth are those?” he said aloud, “they look like birds hanging upside down!” Bilbo had no idea that these “birds” were bats, and to his misfortune, all his wondering about them awoke them all and the bats soon were chasing the group out of the cave. After quite a chase, and the words “Oh, my” coming out of Bilbo’s mouth a million times, Gandalf stared at Bilbo awhile and then said, “My, you have caused some trouble, haven’t you?” To this, Bilbo responded, “I thought they were birds.” Beorn ignored the comments and suggested that they all try and find somewhere else to stay for the night. “Yes, indeed,” Bilbo said, “surely I do not want to be grumpy tomorrow morning.”

After the disruption the night before, Bilbo and his friends continued the journey. Bilbo was upset that he had to awake earlier than usual, and so for quite a few hours, he thought about what would be happening if he were in The Shire instead of walking along nearing an orc fortress. Soon, Bilbo became bored, so out of the blue, he asked, “When are we having breakfast? I am still quite famished, because the last time I ate was over eight hours ago.” Gandalf answered, “Dear Bilbo, we do not have time for overeating. We have lots to do and tasks to be done. Many have survived not eating for days. Stopping to eat now would be foolish and would be doing nothing but wasting our resources.” “But it would be satisfying my hunger!” Bilbo responded. Beorn did not pay much attention to the conversation.

Before Bilbo could continue complaining, there was an awful screeching sound. “What on Earth was that?” Bilbo asked. Gandalf looked over toward the dark clouds to the East. “I’m afraid we have a storm coming,” he said, “and this storm may have powers we aren’t aware of.” “What ever do you mean?” Bilbo asked. Gandalf advised Bilbo to look around the tree. Bilbo stared in horror at what he saw--it was nothing like he’d never seen before. Bilbo rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was still there.

What Bilbo saw he described as a tall spinning cloud that reached all the way down to the ground from the sky. He was even more frightened at what it was doing. Everything behind its path was in major destruction. “Is this some sort of destructing device?” Bilbo asked. “I have heard about these,” Beorn said, “it is a spinning wind column that travelers around here call ‘twisters.’ They destroy everything in their path. We must take shelter immediately!” he warned. “What a horrible noise it makes!” Bilbo exclaimed in total panic. Poor Bilbo thought he was going to lose his hearing to the awful “twister.”

Bilbo, Beorn, and Gandalf all took shelter under a pile of rocks until the disastrous thing had left. Eventually, it wound back up in the clouds, but after it was gone, the thunder and lightning started up, and the cold and shivering Bilbo was back up on his feet to continue his adventure. They walked through the blustery winds and the freezing rain until they finally reached a point where the storm had diminished. The cold and wet Bilbo looked up and said “D-d-don’t ev-v-er make me do th-th-this ag-g-gain!” Gandalf laughed and patted Bilbo on the back. “Well, Mr. Baggins,” he said, “I must congratulate you. You made it through a twister and now we must face things that could be a lot worse.”

#2


The shortest day, the longest night,
'Midst forest trees a fire burned bright.
As moon on high lit up the trees
Red sparks danced skywards on the breeze.

In wearied comfort huddled there
Sat Bilbo, Gandalf, Beorn the bear.
'Neath starlit heaven’s ghostly light
They lay to rest through deepest night.

They talked of days just now passed by
Of goblins, trolls, and how, on high,
The eagles watched their toils below
And came to save them from their foe.

The suddenly there came the sound
Of swishing wings that wheeled around
Their glowing fire far below
Which lit their camp midst ice and snow.

Up leapt Beorn and Bilbo too,
Craning necks to get a view
What could it be up in the air
What creature gazed upon them there?

Beorn was first to spot the trail
Of fiery breath ‘gainst moon so pale;
From flaming mouth came forth that roar
That men so feared in days of yore.

Bilbo’s face creased in dismay
“A dragon! Run! We cannot stay
out here for such a beast to see -
into the forest we must flee!”

But as those whirring wings drew nigh
There came strange sounds from up on high
Of splintered branches, cries of woe,
And anguished pleas to those below:

“Help me strangers, give me aid!
Away from kin I boldly strayed
And now I cannot find my home
And I am scared and all alone.

I saw your fire and thought it might
Be my sweet mama, breathing light
As she came out to search for me -
But now I know it is not she.

I miss her so, where can she be?
And now I’m tangled in this tree
Please help to get me down from here
And help me find my kin so dear!”

And then to everyone’s surprise
Came tears of woe from dragon eyes;
The three below were moved to feel
True pity for his grief so real.

Now Gandalf stood and peered aloft
Then turned to Beorn and, speaking soft,
Said “You & I both know fine well
Where this young pup is sure to dwell.

I feel that I should give him aid
E’en though I know what path is laid
Before our feet, and where we’ll go,
To meet again, with him as foe.”

Beorn was silent; Bilbo too.
But deep inside the travellers knew
That they could not ignore the plight
Of one so young, on this dark night.

So even thought they knew that soon
‘Neath different stars and newer moon
This dragon pup would come of age
And in his wrath, would vent his rage

On them and maybe others too -
they knew exactly what to do;
So Bilbo climbed high in the tree
and set the hapless dragon free.

They dried his tears and in the light
Of moon and fire burning bright
They drew a map that showed the way
To guide him on at break of day.

And so their young guest took his leave
But midst their joy, all three did grieve;
For our friends knew that come the day
On distant mountains, far away

The dragon’s instincts would shine through
And friendship vows would not ring true.
And yet within their hearts that night
They knew that what they did was right.

#3



The 25th of ForeYule dawned gray and dreary, threatening snow and maybe worse. For the fifth consecutive morning, Bilbo noticed that Beorn had wandered away from their campsite to stare grimly ahead. They had been following the Grey Mountains, skirting along the edge of Mirkwood to stay hidden from unfriendly eyes.

The shapeshifter’s preoccupation with a distant peak had increasingly unnerved Bilbo, but he felt uncomfortable saying anything about it, particularly because Gandalf pointedly ignored Beorn’s dark mood. Bilbo shook himself and turned back to breakfast preparations, fussing inwardly, “Goodness me, Bilbo Baggins! Who in all of Arda do you think you are to contemplate meddling where even wizards fear to tread? Leave the bear-man alone!”

Gandalf had been smoking his pipe and contemplating the ominous weather with squinted eyes, but his brow smoothed as the hobbit approached with a bowl of porridge and dried fruit. “We are fortunate indeed to be traveling with an accomplished cook, dear Bilbo,” chuckled the wizard.

“Well, it’s the least I can do,” the hobbit replied. “I imagine you big folk would be getting along quite a bit faster without my ponies and short legs slowing you down. I’m ever so grateful for the company and the protection. Besides, if I’m cooking, then at least I can eat as often as I’d like!”

That raised a hearty laugh from Gandalf, and Bilbo surreptitiously glanced over to see if Beorn realized that breakfast was ready and would shortly be getting cold. But the big man didn’t budge, and Bilbo sighed in frustration. To his surprise, Gandalf murmured quietly, “Our friend is a bit obsessed with Mount Gundabad, isn’t he?”

Bilbo gawped as Gandalf added, “He has his reasons, my dear hobbit. Why don’t you take him some tea? The weather won’t hold back for long, and I’d like to cross the open fields over to those hillocks at the base of the Grey Mountains before it begins to snow in earnest. There’s a cave that would shelter us from the storm, but we’ll have to hurry.”

The offer of a mug of tea did the trick, although Beorn remained silent and withdrawn. In short order, the ponies and horse were packed and ready to go, and the three companions made their way toward Gandalf’s chosen destination. Soon, the snow began to come down in driving, heavy flakes, drastically limiting their vision. Beorn took charge of Bilbo’s ponies, and Gandalf murmured softly in Elvish to encourage the animals to their best efforts. Just as Bilbo began to fancy he might never again have any feeling in his feet, or ears, or fingers, or nose, a shadow emerged from the blinding, swirling whiteness. Gandalf urged them forward, and after a long struggle, he and Beorn cleared back snowy brush from the entrance to a large cave.

Once inside, Beorn gently lifted the shivering hobbit down and began unburdening and rubbing down their hard-working beasts, while Gandalf unwrapped bundles of wood and swiftly kindled a fire. Feeling useless, Bilbo limped about, stamping his feet and rubbing his hands together in an effort to warm up.

At the back of the cave, the hobbit was frightened half out of his wits by a sudden warning snarl erupting from a pile of debris in the murky gloom. Gandalf and Beorn rushed forward, the wizard brandishing Glamdring and his staff, which blazed with an unearthly light. Beorn thrust the hobbit behind him and transformed into his enormous bear-shape, answering the creature in the shadows with a deep growl.

Bilbo peeked between the bear-man’s haunches, and to his horror, an enormous shaggy wolf emerged from the shadows, blood dribbling from a nasty head wound. Just as Gandalf was about to strike, Beorn growled, “No!,” batted Glamdring effortlessly from the wizard’s hand, and transforming once again into a man, crept to the wounded wolf, murmuring brokenly, “Wulfgar . . . is that you?”

With a pitiful whine, the wolf collapsed, and to Bilbo’s astonishment, transformed into a thin, ragged man who croaked, “Beorn? By the Valar, am I dreaming?,” before lapsing into unconsciousness.

His frozen feet forgotten, Bilbo rushed to spread out their bedrolls by the blazing fire, as Gandalf and Beorn carried the man over and tended his injuries. Bilbo helped by heating water, finding bandages and medicines, preparing food, and feeding their tired beasts. At last, as Wulfgar drifted into a healing sleep, Beorn finally broke his silence, saying, “I am most grateful to you, my friends, for helping my kinsman.”

“Your kinsman?,” Bilbo marveled. “But you are a bear-man! He is . . . is a . . . a . . .”

“A werewolf?” replied Beorn, laughing grimly. “Nay, Wulfgar is not evil, and not all of my kinsfolk transform into bears. Some become foxes, deer, badgers, lynxes, and yes, even wolves.” He regarded Bilbo quietly, “We long feared Wulfgar had perished, seeking vengence upon the orcs of Gundabad for the deaths of his wife and son.”

“Long ago, Morgoth found that he could transform our folk through his terrible arts into wretched monsters enslaved to his will, much as when he mutilated elves into orcs. By the Valar’s grace, Morgoth is no more, but Sauron’s minions ever seek to befoul our children, especially those of wolf-kind, into his service.”

Suddenly, Beorn sobbed, “Bolg’s goblins tried to take Wulfgar’s son. His wife fought them like a demon, and when she could hold them back no longer, she slashed the boy’s throat and took her own life. We were too late!”

“Oh, my heavens!,” Bilbo cried, throwing his arms around the big man’s neck, “How dreadful for you and your people! No wonder you fought those orcs so fiercely at Erebor!”

Gandalf placed a comforting arm around Beorn’s shoulders. Then, he murmured, “Look! The storm has passed, as all storms . . . and all evils . . . must.” Outside, Earendil’s star flashed in the velvet sky. “Take heart! You have found your kinsman. There is always hope.”

#4


Bilbo and his friends set out
Mirkwood gladly leaving;
Travelled for a month about,
Their way homeward weaving.
Brightly shone the moon one night,
‘twas the eve of Yule.
Bilbo disappeared from sight
Gath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, Beorn, stand by me,
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder hobbit, where is he?
Is he trees a-felling?”
“Gandalf, he has vanished hence
(Wizardry discounting).
Has he lost his hobbit-sense
Since the Lonely Mountain?”

“Bring your staff and I’ll bring mine
To the forest thither!
Foolish Bilbo shall we find
And we’ll bring him hither!”
Beorn and Gandalf, forth they went,
Forth they went together.
Fruitless hours in search they spent
In the bitter weather.

Then came faint cries: “Help me now!
You are both much stronger!
I am caught, I know not how,
I can shout no longer!”
Right into a a trapper’s cage
Bilbo had trod boldly!
Rescuers forgot their rage,
Bilbo shivered coldly.

Weary back to camp they trod,
Soon the firelight glinted.
Safe and warm, began to nod;
“Rest now!” Gandalf hinted,
“You are none the worse for your
Episode distressing.
We‘ll keep watch o‘er you for sure -
And we’ll count our blessings!”

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Maybe people are finding it very difficult to choose, as I did! Four very good entries, all of which deserve votes. Thanks again to all who participated and provided such pleasure to us.