In the Fires of Mordor

Concerning Middle Earth - Prologue

Concerning Middle Earth

This is an extension of the books The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Series written by JRR Tolkien. Within these chapters, a reader may find themselves lost once again in the world of Middle Earth, so expertly done many years ago.

It is sixty years after the War of the Ring, and many places have changed quite a bit, and others not at all. Many cities rebuilt, bringing along new leaders and ways of life, but in a corner of Northwest lies some very familiar green plains.

You may know this area as the Shire, home of the hobbits. This wonderful place had to rebuild along with most others, but much of it stayed the same. For example, the hobbits are still merry, singing songs and hosting grande parties. They still are obliged to be fat in the stomach, and eat many meals a day(six, to be exact), and wear bright festive colors. As well, they continue to dislike and frown upon adventurers and wanderers and machines.These hobbits look the same as they used to, with their short stature(shorter than a dwarf, which is already quite short), slightly pointed ears, curly hair(almost always brown), and big leathery feet.

The only thing that has slightly changed in these parts(as most hobbits do not like change or unexpected things), is the wider use of shoes. They have found quite a few remnants of what had happened during the War of the Ring laying, now quite useless, in the grass. To prevent being accidentally punctured when going about business, they have adopted this new "invention" they call it. Although, like many of their things they have adopted from the 'Big Folk,' they have made these shoes their own. They are almost always made of a soft but thick leather, and slip off quite easily. A small point lays on top of the toes, and several(very drunk) hobbits have attached bells to the point for a humoristic dance at the saloon.

But all in all, the Shire is still the peaceful, quiet place it has been, and should always be. It has made a wonderful retirement for the beloved Mr. Frodo Baggins, and an excellent place for Mr. Samwise Gamgee to raise his children with his wife, Rosie Gamgee. Mr. Peregrin Took and Mr. Meriadoc Brandybuck have opened a successful toy store. Specializing, of course, in firecrackers and such.

Moving away from the lovely Shire, to the Southeast, is the Reunited Kingdom, Rohan and Gondor, led by King Aragorn. He has proved himself to be a wonderful leader, along with his beautiful wife, Queen Arwen. They have raised a single heir, Prince Eldarion, whom a reader may find a bit more about farther along in this book.

Legolas and Gimli traveled together for quite some time, going first to the Glittering Caves and later to Fangorn Forest. Gimli started a dwarf colony in the Glittering Caves, becing their Lord. Legolas later traveled back to Ithilien.

Gandalf wandered for many years, helping and giving much needed advice to many. He found a child of man abandoned in the Old Forest some time after the War of the Ring, and adopted her. He named her Meara, meaning jolly or jovial, and raised her as his own, teaching her skills in elven remedies and healing.

This story, though, does not concern the heroes of old. It concerns what happens after them. The next generation. Here is the year FO 58, and so begins a new tale.