The timeline for The Lord of the Rings is something we’ve been taking a closer look into the past few weeks.
It all started with Lithe 1, it’s a specific day in the Shire Calendar, however, for our calendars, Lithe 1 falls on July 1st. July, or Afterlithe, doesn’t actually start until our July 4th. All the months, according to the Shire Calendar, have 30 days, and there are holidays that have their own day, Lithe 1, Mid-years Day, Lithe 2, Yule 1, and Yule 2. Regardless, the yearly structure is the same, 365 days, but the months and days didn’t match up all the time.
When we started putting together an actual On This Day in Middle-earth calendar we didnt realize we would be facing this conundrum. Do we state events as they happen according to the Shire Calendar or as they happen for our calendar? As we’ve tossed and turned these two options in our heads we must reference The Appendices of The Lord of the Rings, from there Tolkien states the following:
“The Shire Reckoning and dates are the only ones of importance for the narrative of the War of the Ring. All the days, months, and dates are in the Red Book translated into Shire terms, or equated with them in notes. The months and days, therefore, throughout The Lord of the Rings refer to the Shire Calendar. The only points in which the differences between this and our calendar are important to the story at the crucial period, the end of 3018 and the beginning of 3019 (S.R. 1418, 1419), are these: October 1418 has only 30 days, January 1 is the second day of 1419, and February has 30 days; so that March 25, the date of the downfall of the Barad-dûr, would correspond to our March 27, if our years began at the same seasonal point. The date was, however, March 25 in both Kings’ and Stewards’ Reckoning.”
Like the text above suggests if we followed how the Shire Calendar matches with ours, the day that the Ring is destroyed would actually be March 27th for us and not March 25th. The actuality of celebrating that date on March 27th instead of March 25th is less exciting, even if it is accurate. While the rest of the world will be celebrating on March 25th we don’t want to be the one group who roles in two days later stating, actually, it was today that the Ring was destroyed. The month and day have been enshrined in Tolkien history more than the actual Shire Calendar and how that matches up to ours. So as much as it pains me personally, to disregard the actuality of Tolkien’s words, we’ll continue our On This Day in Middle-earth postings to match our calendar. Although, we’re not happy with completely disregarding how our Calendar matches up with the Shire’s so, we are working on a side by side calendar for all the purists out there.
This calendar will detail out the events of The Lord of the Rings and state how the Shire Calendar matches our own so, essentially, if you would rather live your life by the Shire Calendar we’re happily putting something together that will allow you to do that. I for one cannot wait to celebrate this coming Yule!
Let us know your thoughts on our decision. Should we cave and post the events to our calendar, or should we adopt the Shire Calendar for Of Blades and Kings? Thank you for your time and remember, renewed shall be blade that was broken.
– The Wandering One
On This Day in Middle-earth
July 10th
Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc.
Unknown to Gandalf, Saruman had been working towards finding the Ring for many years. The first recording of his interest in the Ring begins in the year 2851. Gandalf discovered that the master of Dol Guldur was, in fact, Sauron and he urged the White Council to attack before his strength grew even more. Saruman, the head of the White Council, overruled Gandalf and began searching for the Ring near the Gladden Fields. He had hoped that if Sauron were still at large the Ring would reveal itself.
When we first meet Saruman in The Lord of the Rings he had become completely enamored with finding the One Ring. He feigned loyalty to Sauron, offering his help to the Dark Lord receiveing resources and knowledge in return. Saruman’s loyalty, however, was extended only to himself, he never wished to fully be Sauron’s disciple but to find them Ring and overthrow Sauron. This is the plan he laid before Gandalf, to use the Ring together and defeat the Dark Lord.
Gandalf sensing the sinister nature behind Saruman’s “plan” retorted with sound logic.
“only one hand at a time can wield the One, and you know that well, so do not trouble to say we! But I would not give it, nay, I would not give even news of it to you, now that I learn your mind. You were head of the Council, but you have unmasked yourself at last. Well, the choices are, it seems, to submit to Sauron, or to yourself. I will take neither. Have you others to offer?”
Saruman then imprisoned Gandalf on the pinnacle of Orthanc, this was the “third choice.”
Thank you for your time, and remember, the old that is strong does not wither.
– The Wandering One
Playing the First Star Wars Battlefront
The Star Wars Battlefront franchise has been around for quite some time. While we played Star Wars: Battlefront II on Xbox religiously, we hadn’t had the chance to gear down and experience the first game of the franchise. To be clear, we’re talking about the OG Battlefront games, the ones that came out on PS2 and Xbox.
Some months ago the first Battlefront game became available as a free download on Xbox 360 (yes I’m still rocking the 360). Immediately, I jumped on this chance and now I’ve truly been able to fully experience this game hands on. Here’s some of my initial thoughts on the game.
First off, I haven’t beaten the game yet, I’ve just been playing the story mode, but I’m very impressed by how difficult this game is. I am playing on the hardest difficulty, but I can’t just sit there and rack up kills while my team captures bases. I feel like that’s pretty realistic though, an individual can certainly influence a battle, but if the entire company isn’t gaining any ground the mission will fail. Sometimes it’s upsetting, but it also makes the game more challenging. SW Battlefront really forces you into the action where I felt for some levels during SW Battlefront II you could let your team capture bases while you racked up the kills.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the 3rd person shooter mechanics in this game, the ability to lay down as a sniper, or any gunner, is a huge perk. I can’t remember laying down being a feature on SW Battlefront II.
So far, my favorite class and organization has been the Trade Federation’s Battle Droid Sniper. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s incredibly entertaining playing a Droid Sniper, and just being a boss. I feel like that should be an expanded story. In the LEGO Freemakers show there’s a reprogrammed Battle Droid named Roger (R0-GR), it’d be neat to see a Sniper Droid running around in the galaxy going on adventures. Maybe a rogue Jedi reprogrammed one, or maybe a reprogrammed Droid Sniper runs into a rogue Jedi and they become partners. That’d be a potentially fun pairing. Yes it’s super fun playing as the Clones during the Clone Wars, but I got my fill of that during SW Battlefront II. Playing as Battle Droids was completely new for me and I enjoyed it. Wasn’t it? I can’t remember if SW Battlefront II had Droids or not. At least the story mode didn’t, you played as Clones. Regardless, it’s obvious I never picked the Droids, and SW Battlefront forces you to play as them during the story campaign.
I’m still early on in the story line, but at this point I’ve been incredibly happy with this game so far. It’s challenging at times, but still fun to play. I’d recommend you pick it up where you can, dust off the PS2 or Xbox, and give it a go, it’s worth it.
Thank you for your time, what’d you think about the first Star Wars Battlefront game? Let us know in the comments.
Remember, deep roots are not reached by the frost.
– The Wandering One
On This Day in Middle-earth
Mid-year’s Day (July 2nd)
Wedding of Elessar and Arwen.
Gandalf meets Radagast.
We finally made it, today is an amazing day as King Aragorn Elessar and Arwen now get to being their lives together. Aragorn wasn’t wasting anytime, it had only been one day since Arwen had entered the city.
Rejoice and celebrate!
Another moment to note is that Gandlaf met with Radagast on this day, well more like stumbled upon him. Radagast was sitting on the side of the road when Gandalf found him. Radagast then informed him that the Nazgûl were looking for the Shire and that Saruman offers his help should he want it.
And interesting event, but it doesn’t trump Aragorn and Arwen’s wedding day. We hope you join us as we celebrate this happy day! We’re going to bust out the Extended Edition Return of the King!
Thank you for your time, and remember, renewed shall be blade that was broken.
– The Wandering One
Character of the Week
Oliver Wood
Determined, hardworking, passionate, and possibly a tad bit over concerned with Quidditch.
A tad bit over concerned? What’re we talking about? As far as we’re concerned, more team captains should have the passion and drive for success like Oliver Wood. This is the main reason why Wood has received our Character of the Week title. As a young wizard at Hogwarts he did everything he could to achieve success on the Quidditch pitch, when we say “everything” we mean within the rules. He may have pushed his team further than they thought they could go, he might have pushed them towards injury or within the vicinity of injury, but he never asked him team to do anything he wasn’t prepared to do himself. Those are qualities of a good leader, was he perfect? No, but for a teenage Quidditch player he had the qualities that make up a great player.
Just think for a second what Oliver’s workload was like during his final years at Hogwarts. He studied for Wizarding exams like O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. all while coming up with new training regimens to try to win the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor. Whether or not it was just a game for other students/teachers Oliver Wood took this game seriously and shouldered the wins, losses, and responsibilities that came with it, on top of his school work.
Clearly, he had talent because after graduating Oliver was able to play with Puddlemere United as a reserve. The books of course focus on Harry’s talents as a Seeker, but Wood was a force guarding the goals posts.
Who can forget Woods reaction in Prisoner of Azkaban when Gryffindor finally wins the Quidditch Cup? Overcome with emotion Wood rushed towards Harry and sobbed uncontrollably in his shoulder. Finally, this goal Wood had been fighting to obtain his entire career at Hogwarts is his. We should all feel incredibly happy for Wood in this moment. All the players worked so hard, but when you have a captain who fights like Wood it means more.
We hope you join us this week as we celebrate Oliver Wood with the Character of the Week title.
Thank you for your time and remember, not all those who wander are lost.
– The Wandering One
On This Day in Middle-earth
1st Lithe (July 1st)
Arwen comes to the City.
After a long journey that took two months to complete Arwen and her company have finally reached Minas Tirith. When news of their approach reached Aragorn he told the messengers to let them come and make the City ready for their arrival.
In rode the host of Arwen, first to arrive were her brothers, Elrohir and Elladan, then Glorfindel, Erestor, and all the household of Rivendell, after then came Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, and last came Elrond. Beside him was Arwen, her beauty shone through the City and Frodo realized why he had been waiting.
“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!”
This arrival is incredibly amazing and we couldn’t have been happier for Aragorn. Arwen has finally reached the City and there will be more celebrations to come.
One note about the Shire Calendar, we’ve already seen in February that the Shire Calendar is different from our own. We try to keep things as simple as possible for our On This Day in Middle-earth posts but things can get mismatched at times. The first Lithe day is it’s own day, tomorrow will be the Mid-years Day holiday, after that will follow another Lithe Day, and then the month of July will begin its calendar days.
Thank you for your time, and remember, the crownless again shall be king.
– The Wandering One
Remembering Sir Ian Holm
“There’s always been a Baggins, living here, under the hill, in Bag End, and there always will be.”
In our hearts we know that Bilbo Baggins’ memory will forever remain in Bag End.
On Friday, June 19th, 2020 Sir Ian Holm passed away and joined others before him in the great beyond. Bilbo Baggins has finally left the world behind, and while Sir Ian Holm performed in more movies than The Lord of the Rings, his role as Bilbo Baggins sticks in our hearts. There are many inconsistencies between the books and the movies but Bilbo Baggins was played perfectly. While Bilbo had the appearance of an older Hobbit, he was young and spry for his age. Sir Ian Holm played the part with enthusiasm and emotion that provided viewers with an accurate Bilbo Baggins. It was a Bilbo we could all connect with and wish for happiness. We have to thank Sir Ian for that.
We will sorely miss this fallen member of the Fellowship, recently Josh Gad reunited the cast of The Lord of the Rings for a video chat. While Sir Ian Holm was noticeably absent, he wrote a note to his fellow cast members.
“Dearest friends from the Ring,
I am sorry to not see you in person. I miss you all and hope your adventures are taking you to many places. I am in lockdown in my Hobbit home, or Holm. With all my love,
Ian Holm”
His presence was truly missed by the members of the cast, and the viewers, but his parting words provided a good consolation.
We hope you join us as we remember Sir Ian Holm and we echo his parting words, we hope your adventures are taking you to many places.
Thank you for your time, we’d like to close with a full rendition of Bilbo Baggins’ poem.
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
– The Wandering One
Character of the Week
Juba
Slave, gladiator, warrior, companion, brother in arms, and in the end a free man.
Juba was truly a brother in arms for Maximus throughtout the movie, The Gladiator. They met when Maximus was sold by slavers to be a gladiator for a famous trainer named Proximo. In Maximus’ first match as a gladiator he was paired with Juba, and together they destroyed the stadium. While Maximus’ military training provided his group of gladiators with an advantage, Juba, his right hand, was a fearful warrior in battle. They fought their was through to slums of Mauretania Caesariensis to Rome’s famed Colosseum.
At the Colosseum, Juba fought alongside Maximus, winning many battles with odds staked against them. In the end, Juba was made a free man and he holds the final scene of the movie. He buries the figurines of Maximus’s wife and son at the spot where Maximus died. He spoke a promise to see Maximus again, but not yet. While, yes, The Gladiator is about Maximus, Juba deserves his own recognition.
We hope you join us this week as we celebrate Juba with the Character of the Week title.
Thank you for your time and remember, deep roots are not reached by the frost.
– The Wandering One
On This Day in Middle-earth
June 25th
King Elessar finds the sapling of the White Tree.
While tales of traveling have been told of late, we now drift back to a momentous event in Gondor. Others have returned to their homeland to set their lands in order and the remaining members of the Fellowship (Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas, and Gandalf) spent time talking amongst each other and exploring the great city.
One morning Gandlaf was no where to be found, he had taken Aragorn to a path only the Kings of old had crossed. There on Mount Mindolluin they stood surveying the land before them.
“And Gandalf said: ‘This is your realm, and the heart of the greater realm that shall be. The Third Age of the world is ended, and the new age is begun; and it is your task to order its beginning and to preserve what may be preserved. For though much has been saved, much must now pass away; and the power of the Three Rings also is ended. And all the lands that you see, and those that lie round about them, shall be dwellings of Men. For the time comes of the Dominion of Men, and the Elder Kindred shall fade or depart.’”
Aragorn looked for a sign that the Tree of Gondor would be restored, for the Tree in the Court of the Fountain was still withered. If the tree were to grow and blossom the line of Kings would endure.
“‘Turn your face from the green world, and look where all seems barren and cold!’ said Gandalf.”
There, in the waste of snow and stones, Aragorn found a sapling tree no more than 3 feet high already growing leaves.
“And Gandalf coming looked at it, and said: ‘Verily this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the fair; and that was a seedling of Galathilion, and that a fruit of Telperion of many names, Eldest of Trees. Who shall say how it comes here in the appointed hour? But this is an ancient hallow, and ere the kings failed or the Tree withered in the court, a fruit must have been set here. For it is said that, though the fruit of the Tree comes seldom to ripeness, yet the life within may then lie sleeping through many long years, and none can foretell the time in which it will awake. Remember this. For if ever a fruit ripens, it should be planted, lest the line die out of the world. Here it has lain hidden on the mountain, even as the race of Elendil lay hidden in the wastes of the North. Yet the line of Nimloth is older far than your line, King Elessar.’”
A beautiful sentiment indeed, the richness and glory of your Kingdom lies within how well you treat the nature around you. Take care of the three, plant and grow it’s fruits, that is your duty as King.
Aragorn gently removed the sapling, without hurting the tree, and carried it back to the city. They removed the withered tree, with reverence, and laid it to rest in Rath Dínen, they did not burn it. Aragorn then planted the new tree.
“‘The sign has been given,’ said Aragorn, ‘and the day is not far off.’ And he set watchmen upon the walls.”
A seemingly small event can sometimes have the greatest importance. Aragorn finding the sapling was further proof that his rule was the rightful one and that a new age was to begin.
Thank you for your time, and remember, the old that is strong does not wither.
– The Wandering One
Characters Who Don’t Get Enough Love
The Lord of the Rings: Elladan and Elrohir
The twin sons of Elrond are mighty warriors and faithful companions of Aragorn.
Unfortunately, these guys are not in the movie so their lack of recognition makes sense. It’s hard to gain a fandom when you’re not in the blockbuster movie, but these guys still deserve recognition.
Elladan and Elrohir have a close relationship with the Ranger’s of the North and have fought with them on many occasions. In The Lord of the Rings, Elladan and Elrohir join Halbarad and the Rangers on their quest to aid Aragorn.
“Word came to Rivendell, they say: Aragorn has need of his kindred. Let the Dúnedain ride to him in Rohan!”
Elladan and Elrohir were not necessarily called to join, but they had a message for Aragorn, and they desired to go to war. They knew Aragorn would need help and they wanted to make sure he had theirs. From that point on, the pair accompanied Aragorn through the Paths of the Dead, into the Southern Realms of Gondor, they fought through the Battle of Pelennor Fields, and were the first to join Aragorn as he planned to attack the Black Gates of Mordor.
Then said Elrohir: “From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.”
With zero doubt and hesitation they agreed to follow Aragorn. That’s what they were there for, to help him, and nothing could waiver their commitment.
A lot can, and should, be said about the companions Aragorn kept by his side. He had a lot of help to get him to the Throne of Gondor. Sadly, Elladan and Elrohir’s part doesn’t get talked about. These brothers are Elven-Lords taking their time away from home and family to fight alongside Men. Make no mistake, Elladan and Elrohir are great companions and deserve to be treated as such. When Aragorn was taken in by their father, they took him in as a brother. They fought along side him when he was a Chieftain for the Ranger’s in the North, and they stood by his side through his toughest trials.
If you’re thinking to yourself, “These warriors deserve their own story!” You’re not alone, but we can talk about that another time.
We hope you join us in celebrating the twin sons of Elrond: Elladan and Elrohir.
Thank you for your time and remember, the crownless again shall be king.
– The Wandering One
Of Blades and Kings 