Please do read this short story first, if you have not already – the following article is merely an unjustified and unrequested attempt at an author’s commentary upon that work!
This is a short creative work that I was inspired to write some months ago, by way of a prompt offered by an artist group I’m part of. The prompt itself was simply to explore ‘Faerie’ (and perhaps inspired this entire blog series!) and, from the first, I knew that I wanted to examine it through a slightly novel perspective.
I love Bilbo. I have always loved Bilbo as a character, as a study, and as a heroic figure. He represents much of ‘hobbitishness’ to me, but elevated beyond the often base and worldly sensibilities of the Shire. As such, it made a lot of sense for me to work on him through the prompt.
Further, I quickly decided that if I was going to attempt something fairly unique, it would be best to consider Bilbo from an outsider’s perspective…and not just any outsider, but the Elves of Rivendell. It may seem a strange choice, for upon Bilbo’s first coming to Rivendell, the Elves seem to think of him (not unjustly) as a fairly banal figure; amusing and good-hearted, but of little consequence.
Yet it struck me that this perspective must have been altered by the time Bilbo returns to Rivendell to dwell there, following his 111st birthday. Not only is Bilbo a character altered by his experience, he is (I would contend) altered to the point of being amazing…even to the Eldest. For now, he is girt with a blade out of their own ancient history, bedecked in mail surpassing that of many of their captains and lords, with tales of dragons and eagles and gollums. Bilbo is not just strange, he is wondrous, even to an Elvish perspective.
And he is ungreyed by age. Half a century and more has passed – a small span of time to an Elf, but not so small as to be wholly unremarkable. The Elves are not unfamiliar with mortals, they know how swiftly they wither and perish…yet Bilbo does not, Bilbo has not.
And, of course, there is the matter of his magic ring. Of course, none truly guessed that it was the One at this time (and how much greater would their wonder have been upon realising what he had truly borne!), but for a mortal to have stumbled across, worn, and willingly given up even a lesser ring, one of the essays in the craft…even that is extraordinary. Even that is a feat.
So not only is Bilbo exceedingly strange, he must be strange to the fairies themselves. It’s a rare thing, I think, for an Elf to truly experience that Faerie wonder…yet I am sure that Bilbo must have inspired it in them. He is extraordinary, quite simply, even to Faerie creatures. And I felt like trying to explore at that and pick at it was a worthwhile attempt.
I’ve never really thought of myself as being a ‘fanfic’ writer and I don’t really intend to start – but this felt like a really fun way to contextualise and reconsider one of the Legendarium’s best-realised and least-appreciated characters, and to consider an Elvish perspective that I think can be difficult to realise. As such, I do hope you enjoyed it, and that this brief digression might clear up what exactly the silly thing is all about!
Finally, I must thank the Other Minds & Hands writing group for their feedback, criticisms and suggestions in reading and considering this trifle of a piece – I am pleased to say that any remaining mediocrities are entirely my own work, and their advice really helped me to bring it to a form that is (with any luck) not wholly dissatisfactory and even mildly effective. Thank you!
And thank you for joining me for this year’s September Series (whether now, or in some future month that is perhaps not even a September) – I trust this consideration of Hobbit and Faerie and some of its manifestations and aspects has been of interest, and look forward to returning in September 2025…and returning to ‘normal’ (i.e., irregular and unpredictable) articles over the coming eleven months!
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