I was supposed to have written this last night, only I was distracted by the incredible awesomeness of Captain America: Winter Soldier. sigh Such a good movie!

Anyway, our next fantasy reflection has to do with … you guessed it … food!

I know, I know. Not as earth-shatteringly difficult as some of the others we’ve answered. But it’s not a bad idea to give our brains a break every now and then and just have fun!

And this isn’t actually quite as easy as it looks. I mean, anyone who’s ever read the Redwall books with all of their mouthwatering feasts–the critters of Redwall are the only questers who ever feast like kings while journeying in the wild–knows how difficult this could be.

I will have to go with lembas. Ever since the first time I read Lord of the Rings, I’ve been dying to try just a mouthful. That or the fruit from “inside” the stable in The Last Battle. Can you imagine?

Righto, me lads and lassies, pull out your thinking caps for another fantasy reflection. It’s the best way to start your day and end your week with a mind-boggled headache … and still have a fantastic time!

Our question for the day is …

Wise old sages. Gotta love ’em. They serve such a necessary yet so often under-appreciated role in a hero’s journey. And quite often die tragically before the end.

They don’t have to be particularly old – contrary to common perception, a long gray beard is not a requirement – and may not even be considered especially wise by their peers, but I think it’s safe to say that most heroes wouldn’t get far on their epic journeys without the help of a wise old sage of some shape or form.

I have to say … I would choose Gandalf. In a heart beat. He can be a bit tough and crotchety. Fool of a Took! But as long as I refrain from touching things that shouldn’t be touched, or throwing things that shouldn’t be thrown, or staring into things that shouldn’t be stared into, or putting on things that shouldn’t be put on … I think we’d get along just grand.

Lost … on a desert island … with only a notorious villain for company. Sounds thrilling, doesn’t it? Actually, not really. I’m fairly certain I would never want to really be in this position.

Especially armed with just a knife. Excuse me? A knife? Couldn’t we have some better weaponry over here? Like a grenade launcher … or a celestial bronze sword … or a horde of angry dwarves at my beck and call.

Okay, okay, on to the question. Who is the villain … and how do you survive? Do you defeat/outwit/make an ally out of the villain?


The problem with fantasy villains is they’re so terribly terrifying! You wouldn’t want to get within five feet of most of them, let alone be trapped with them on a desert island!

I could see myself crash landing on a desert island with Gollum/Smeagol. (Because we all know Smeagol is there all the time. Gollum has just smothered him.) To survive, I’d suggest a game of riddles (with the understanding that no mention be made of pockets … or handses … or rings, precious!). I would treat Gollum as a hobbit, not a monster, to bring out the Smeagol side, and use the lembas bread as a deterrent if the Gollum side starts to win out.

Of course, I would need to take care at night, lest Gollum throttle me in my sleep. (Not very nice, precious.) But so long as there is plenty of fish for Smeagol to catch, and I can sleep with one eye open, I should be good until rescue can arrive.

And what with all that riddling, not sleeping, and fishing, I certainly won’t get bored.

As always, you can answer the question in the comments! Feel free to share this post or copy the picture to your blog and continue the discussion there. Please just link back to my original post!