A Chance Meeting

On a time Thorin, returning west from a journey, stayed at Bree for the night. There Gandalf was also. He was on his way to the Shire, which he had not visited for some twenty years. He was weary, and thought to rest there for a while.

Among many cares he was troubled in mind by the perilous state of the North, because he knew then already that Sauron was plotting war, and intended, as soon as he felt strong enough, to attack Rivendell. But to resist any attempt from the East to regain the lands of Angmar and the northern passes in the mountains there were only now the Dwarves of the Iron Hills. And beyond them lay the desolation of the Dragon Smaug. The Dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect. How then could the end of Smaug be achieved?

It was even as Gandalf sat and pondered this that Thorin came before him, and said: "Master Gandalf, I know you only by sight, but now I should be glad to speak with you. For you have often come into my thoughts of late, as if I were bidden to seek you. Indeed I should have done so, if I had known where to find you."

Gandalf looked at him with wonder. "That is strange, Thorin Oakenshield," he said. "For I have thought of you also, and though I am on my way to the Shire, it was in my mind that is the way also to your halls. For I guess that we share one trouble at least. The Dragon of Erebor is on my mind, and I do not think he will be forgotten by the grandson of Thror."

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"I grieved when Thorin fell." said Gandalf. "And now we hear that Dain has fallen, fighting in Dale again, even while we fought here..."

"Yet things might have gone otherwise and far worse. When you think of the great Battle of the Pelennor, do nor forget the battles in Dale and the valour of Durin's Folk. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and swords in Rivendell. There might be no Queen in Gondor. But that has been averted--because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring in Bree. A chance meeting, as we say in Middle Earth."

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That's the longest bit of text yet, I think. But I had to give context for the quote, and I wanted to convey the scene as it appears. If it makes you feel better, I did cut some out.

Don't you just love it when all these elements come together? Gandalf using Thorin's name, which we saw referenced here: [link] and starting on the journey that eventually ends in his awesome charge here: [link] . AND a reference to Dain's last stand. [link] (In case anyone was wondering, yes, I used that line of Gandalf's in the Dain picture too. So sue me.)

I always was fascinated by this scene. It's the meeting of two great heroes--by chance--in some random bar (I pictured it as the Prancing Pony, but that's a guess). And a momentous meeting that ends up shaking all of Middle-Earth. I really hope they have this scene in the movie.

Also, that speech of Gandalf's at the end? About not forgetting the valour of Durin's Folk? Practically what this whole series is about. Dwarves fought in the war too, it wasn't JUST Gimli helping out the elves and men. The dwarves may be off on the sidelines for most of the books, but they still do awesome stuff.

Okay. Ranting done.

-Deeds of the Dwarves-

The Dwarves of Belegost: [link]

The King Under the Mountain: [link]

The Fall of Azog: [link]

Alas! My Axe is Notched: [link]

Thorin "Oakenshield": [link]

The Last Stand of Dain: [link]

The Ruin of Doriath: [link]

The Orcs are Behind the Wall!: [link]

Baruk Khazad!: [link]

I Say Neither Yea nor Nay: [link]

The Undying Lands: [link]