The Tales Retold
Sevilodorf
November 2003
Before the hearth in the front parlor, hands behind his back and careful to avoid a singsong rhythm, Hamfast Gamgee intoned solemnly,
"Like granite boulders, Thunder rolled; rain in sheets Of chilled crystal poured."
Her head to one side, face scrunched in thought, Goldilocks said slowly, "Maybe. Does it have to be raining?"
"It was raining," her brother retorted, giving her blond curls a tug. "Everyone mentions it. How the lightning showed the thousands and thousands of attacking orcs."
Goldilocks shuddered. She could not understand why her brother was determined to write a poem about a battle.
"Don't you think..."
"No."
Indignantly, she exclaimed, "You didn't even let me finish. How can you say no?"
"You're going to say I should write something 'proper' for a hobbit." The small furrow his mother called his stubborn streak had appeared on Hamfast's forehead. "I don't care what UncleTom says or Uncle Jolly or ... or... anyone."
He pulled himself to his full height of three feet three inches and said determinedly, "Mr. Pippin said that when he next escorts Elanor south to serve Queen Arwen, he'd take me along. I've got to have something good to recite. And it won't be about mushrooms or gardens or pipeweed."
Goldilocks stared round eyed as her brother stormed out of the room. Ham had always been dreamy, but ever since he and Papa had met that group of elves in the woods last fall, he'd become obsessed with the idea of becoming a poet. Mama said it was a phase he was going through. The three older boys had survived it, and Ham would too. Papa laughed and said poetry was all fine and good, so long as Ham didn't neglect his chores.
Straightening the papers her brother had left behind, Goldie returned them to the folder bearing a copy of the map of Old Mister Bilbo's journeys. With a sigh, she traced the image of the dragon hovering over a mountain with her fingertip. Mr. Bilbo had gone away long before she was born, but Papa would tell the stories when the boys begged for them. While Goldie would listen open mouthed to the tales, she never asked for them herself. She had no desire to travel far away and see the sights. The Shire was enough for her.
Opening the folder, Goldilocks read the lines again. Wouldn't the whole thing be better if he focused on the nicest part of the story?
Thoughtfully tapping out the rhythm of the poem, Goldie picked up the pen and dipped it into the inkpot. She scribbled quickly,
"A rider, clad in white Shining in the rising sun, Gandalf had arrived."
~~~~~~ It is mentioned in the annals that Elanor the Fair received the Red Book from her father Master Samwise before he departed from the Gray Havens. Few are aware that many of the later entries were the result of the collaborative efforts of Master Hamfast Gamgee and his sister, Goldilocks, who married Master Faramir Took.
Sevilodorf
November 2003
Before the hearth in the front parlor, hands behind his back and careful to avoid a singsong rhythm, Hamfast Gamgee intoned solemnly,
"Like granite boulders, Thunder rolled; rain in sheets Of chilled crystal poured."
Her head to one side, face scrunched in thought, Goldilocks said slowly, "Maybe. Does it have to be raining?"
"It was raining," her brother retorted, giving her blond curls a tug. "Everyone mentions it. How the lightning showed the thousands and thousands of attacking orcs."
Goldilocks shuddered. She could not understand why her brother was determined to write a poem about a battle.
"Don't you think..."
"No."
Indignantly, she exclaimed, "You didn't even let me finish. How can you say no?"
"You're going to say I should write something 'proper' for a hobbit." The small furrow his mother called his stubborn streak had appeared on Hamfast's forehead. "I don't care what UncleTom says or Uncle Jolly or ... or... anyone."
He pulled himself to his full height of three feet three inches and said determinedly, "Mr. Pippin said that when he next escorts Elanor south to serve Queen Arwen, he'd take me along. I've got to have something good to recite. And it won't be about mushrooms or gardens or pipeweed."
Goldilocks stared round eyed as her brother stormed out of the room. Ham had always been dreamy, but ever since he and Papa had met that group of elves in the woods last fall, he'd become obsessed with the idea of becoming a poet. Mama said it was a phase he was going through. The three older boys had survived it, and Ham would too. Papa laughed and said poetry was all fine and good, so long as Ham didn't neglect his chores.
Straightening the papers her brother had left behind, Goldie returned them to the folder bearing a copy of the map of Old Mister Bilbo's journeys. With a sigh, she traced the image of the dragon hovering over a mountain with her fingertip. Mr. Bilbo had gone away long before she was born, but Papa would tell the stories when the boys begged for them. While Goldie would listen open mouthed to the tales, she never asked for them herself. She had no desire to travel far away and see the sights. The Shire was enough for her.
Opening the folder, Goldilocks read the lines again. Wouldn't the whole thing be better if he focused on the nicest part of the story?
Thoughtfully tapping out the rhythm of the poem, Goldie picked up the pen and dipped it into the inkpot. She scribbled quickly,
"A rider, clad in white Shining in the rising sun, Gandalf had arrived."
~~~~~~ It is mentioned in the annals that Elanor the Fair received the Red Book from her father Master Samwise before he departed from the Gray Havens. Few are aware that many of the later entries were the result of the collaborative efforts of Master Hamfast Gamgee and his sister, Goldilocks, who married Master Faramir Took.