“As they sang, the hobbit felt the love of beautiful things made by hands and by cunning and by magic moving through him, a fierce and jealous love, the desire of the hearts of dwarves. Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking stick.” ~ The Hobbit
I expect most of us, like Bilbo, have a bit of a Tookish side. The part of us that loves adventure and the thrill of peril and the glory of great deeds. The part that loves reading Tolkien or leafing through ancient epics, watching action and adventure movies, the sight of the road going ever on and on.
The part that wants to wear a sword instead of a walking stick.
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.” ~ Gandalf
If only he had stopped by at my house on the way to the Shire. The Tookish part of me is jumping up and down at the moment, “Pick me! Pick me! I’ll sign up!”
And I would in a heart beat.
If The Hobbit were set in modern times, I could see Gandalf writing up this ad and posting it on facebook, or craigslist, or somewhere online.
WANTED: Burglar to share in Great Adventure.
Requirements: small, stealthy, clever.
Destination: the Lonely Mountain.
Object: Gold.
Remuneration: treasures beyond imagining.
Employers: Thorin and Company.
Expected enemies: trolls, goblins, wargs, dragons, and other nefarious creatures that inhabit the dark places of Middle Earth.
Danger: High.
Chance of return: Slim.
Apply at the Prancing Pony in Bree, ask for Gandalf.
Note: Thorin and Company are not liable for any injuries to employees, including (but not limited to) loss of life, limb, or sanity, dismemberment by wargs, enslavement by goblins, or barbecuing by dragons.
As Gimli would say, “Certainty of death . . . small chance of success . . . what are we waiting for?”
I think you and i would make wondrous travelling companions on this venture, myself! You can stay calm and keep us all from going mad, and i'll run around poking everything with a stick, seeing if it's likely to kill me . . . and if it does, hey, I signed the contract, all my fault.
Can't waaaaaaait to see The Hobbit! Also, want to re-read the Silmarillion again. Haven't read it in years, as I don't have my own copy. Ah well. Christmas. I hope.
Ha! Very clever.
I love the "note:" on the bottom. "barbecuing by dragons." :D
Can't wait to see the Hobbit too!
Haha, Charley! Done deal. Adventure here we come.
I know! I can't wait to see the Hobbit. And I can't believe they're making three movies! So awesome.
Emileigh – that was my favorite part too! ;)
There is so much I absolutely adore about this post, Gillian! You are such an impressive young writer with the creative drive to go far. You can count on this former public school English teacher to cheer like crazy when you sign your first big contract! ;)
Oh Suzanne, that's so sweet of you to say! Glad you enjoyed the post. The upcoming Hobbit movie has me practically bursting with LOTR randomness.