Gandalf at the end of ROTK (book and probably movie SPOILER- unboxed!!!)

Cafe Society
21

I think it’s in Unfinished Tales (or maybe Untold Tales) that Gandalf sits down with the Hobbits in Mina Tirith to discuss why Bilbo was chosen. It basically boiled down to “It seemed like a good idea at the time”.

Gandalf makes it clear that he was already concerned about the dragon in the north and the damage it could do should Sauron use it. He then meets Thorin Oakenshield in Bree and is asked to help recover the gold. The dwarves being of the opinion that they’ll kill the dragon, get the gold and have their revenge on Smaug. Gandalf realized 2 things. 1 stealth might work and 2 Thorin needs some air let out. Enter our burglar. Even so Bilbo actions “bobbing on the door mat” almost ruin it, as Thorin will have nothing to do with him until Gandalf vouches for his usefulness. I read it at that point that Gandalf had a premonition confirming his choice.

22

The One Ring is not easily forced to do the will of others, unless that will be to control. There were many magic Rings before the Seven, the Nine, and the Three. And Bilbo’s did seem to harm him, and it was lost far, far to the south.

23

Qadgop, it is my fondest hope that someday I will make a statement that is actually correct. Until that day, thank you for your oh-so-tasteful corrections.

In the meantime (and it may well be a long meantime), come on over to some of the music threads and say something well-intentioned so that I can help you see the light. :slight_smile:

I’ve read LotR countless times and always assumed that “the secret fire” was the ring. Bummer. <sigh>

24

Well, isn’t it nice for those of us who continually re-read it to keep discovering new things about it?? :smiley:

25

Heck I’ve always read it as “flame of Arnor”. I could never figure out why the North Kingdon would have had anything to do with Gandalf. :smiley:

26

I remember that the elven rings didn’t have quite the same lineage as the other rings–Sauron never touched them. That may be why they didn’t “know” the One Ring the same way.

There seems to be something about the elven rings that is about preserving, rather than overcoming. (E.g., Rivendell and Lothlorian.) It doesn’t give a power, just makes the person difficult to conquer. This may be why Gandalf’s ring doesn’t seem so useful. On the other hand, (sorry about that), it could be what preserved him from Saruman and from the Balrog.