🧙Gandalf aiding the Shirefolk

Ithrynluin · Jun 6, 2003

The Appendix to the LOTR has the following entry for the year 2758:

2758-9: The Long Winter follows. Great suffering and loss of life in Eriador and Rohan. Gandalf comes to the aid of the Shire-folk.

What exactly could Gandalf have done to help the Hobbits? Supply firewood and food? Use some of his 'magic' (perhaps connected to his Ring and his affinity with fire)?

There is also this from Unfinished Tales; The Quest of Erebor:

"And then there was the Shire-folk. I began to have a warm place in my heart for them in the Long Winter, which none of you can remember. They were very hard put to it then: one of the worst pinches they have been in, dying of cold, and starving in the dreadful dearth that followed. But that was the time to see their courage, and their pity one for another. It was by their pity as much as by their tough uncomplaining courage that they survived. I wanted them still to survive.

But there is no mention of Gandalf's deeds there and then. Rather, it implies that Gandalf sort of gave a 'nudge' to the Hobbits to work hard for themselves and try to survive. This was also his role in general - to help the peoples of Middle Earth, but not to do their work instead of them.

Still, I wonder what he had done? Just bring hope wherever he went and lifted the Hobbits' spirits?

Lantarion · Jun 6, 2003

I think he did just that; a morale-lifte and a comforter.
But I suppose he couldn't just sit among them and talk to them; what you said about him using fire-magic to help them sounds plausible (though he wouldn't have revealed it to them first-hand). Where else did the Hobbits get their 'legends' of Gandalf that were circulating in the Shire if not from his mingling among them?

"And then there was the Shire-folk. I began to have a warm place in my heart for them in the Long Winter, which none of you can remember. They were very hard put to it then: one of the worst pinches they have been in, dying of cold, and starving in the dreadful dearth that followed. But that was the time to see their courage, and their pity one for another. It was by their pity as much as by their tough uncomplaining courage that they survived. I wanted them still to survive.

That sentence gives me the idea that Gandalf was indeed among them, and could "see their courage".

BlackCaptain · Jun 6, 2003

Well remember Gandalf never was one to suply aid and such... Even in the War of the Ring he just convinced and gave hope to the Gondorians and Rohhirrim. I'm guessing he just offered tons of sentimental aid and such to the Halflings.

Iv'e always thought that Gandalf was there to really give the Hobbits (at least the mentionable ones) the courage to do great things. He has to be the single-most persuasive force in all of Arda!

Thorondor_ · May 15, 2005

Gandalf's aid shouldn't have been that visible, remember that in those times of hunger many threats (beasts and not only) would lie above Shire, and he could have diminished those threats either by his presence or by unseen actions.

Hobbit-GalRosie · May 16, 2005

You know, I can't personally think why he wouldn't have used just a little "fire-magic" openly in that case, since his fireworks are clearly well-known anyway among the Hobbits, and it doesn't seem there could be so much difference between them and what would be necessary to help keep all the Hobbit-hearths nice and toasty. I think his actions on Caradhras when he started the blaze going there are significant, though they could tell either way. He was willing to do this, but only under dire circumstances. I think this was more because he feared those who were watching on Caradhras than that he was generally unwilling to start fire, and the fact that he said that anyone observing them would know very clearly then that "Gandalf is here" might suggest that this was in some way a trade-mark action if you will. Though it's perhaps more likely that he only meant that evil forces were generally aware that he existed and that he had an affinity for fire, so it would be simple to deduce even if he'd never done such a thing before in all his long ages of life here and in Valinor. I don't know. I don't suppose anyone really knows.

Anyway, aside from that I agree more or less with what everyone else has said.

Thorondor_ · May 16, 2005

Hm... I don't think he would have used fire - we don't hear about Saruman or Radagast using it so doing so might give hints to his enemies about his particular afinity. Furthermore, I guess it was known among his chief oponnents that he is forbiden to use his power for every single matter - so using them for the Shire could have indicated a particular interest - which would atract the attention of Sauron & co. Anyway, he was enough of a good warrior to handle Shire threats the "normal" way.

Barliman Butterbur · May 16, 2005

Ithrynluin said:
The Appendix to the LOTR has the following entry for the year 2758:What exactly could Gandalf have done to help the Hobbits? Supply firewood and food? Use some of his 'magic' (perhaps connected to his Ring and his affinity with fire)?

I would suppose that since he could start a fire even in blizzard condition that would come in handy somehow, and he could bless food (Barley's ale). So I suppose he probably did something along those lines. All just speculation. He knew a lot about many practical matters, and so I suppose he taught them survival techniques and improved what they were alrady doing. Tolkien wasn't concerned enough to tell us the details...

Barley

Barliman Butterbur · May 16, 2005

Ithrynluin said:
The Appendix to the LOTR has the following entry for the year 2758:What exactly could Gandalf have done to help the Hobbits? Supply firewood and food? Use some of his 'magic' (perhaps connected to his Ring and his affinity with fire)?

I would suppose that since he could start a fire even in blizzard conditions that would come in handy somehow, and he could bless food (Barley's ale). So I suppose he probably did something along those lines. All just speculation. He knew a lot about many practical matters, so I suppose he taught them survival techniques and improved those they already had in effect. Tolkien wasn't concerned enough to tell us the details, so it's not a burning issue for me.

Barley

Thorondor_ · May 16, 2005

Perhaps he asked the help of Tom also... Gandalf seems to know the dude.

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🧙Gandalf aiding the Shirefolk

Ithrynluin

seeker of solace

Lantarion

no house

BlackCaptain

Vast Menace of Despair

Thorondor_

Well-Known Member

Hobbit-GalRosie

Cowgal Hobbit

Thorondor_

Well-Known Member

Barliman Butterbur

Worthy Keeper/Bree Roué

Barliman Butterbur

Worthy Keeper/Bree Roué

Thorondor_

Well-Known Member

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