Happy Hobbit is celebrating their reaction video to the Desolation of Smaug trailer going viral on this day seven years ago (6/11/13) by releasing a new video including recently rediscovered footage from the magical day.

Happy Hobbit’s new video

Kellie and Alex, known to fans of their long-running webseries as Kili and Fili, uploaded their reaction video as their means of participating in TheOneRing.net’s staff reactions to the trailer. It was then shared by Peter Jackson’s Facebook page, along with a video of the Elven cast including Evangeline Lily, Orlando Bloom, and Lee Pace (Tauriel, Legolas and Thranduil) reacting to the fan enthusiasm called “Happy Elves.” Happy Hobbit then filmed their overwhelmed reaction to the cast’s reaction. This series of reaction videos was aptly dubbed “Hobbitception” in reference to the dream within a dream sequence of the film Inception. The playlist below includes all of the videos in order.

This whirlwind adventure truly was a dream come true!

Stay up to date by subscribing to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and by following them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok!

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our regular monthly feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. Each month we will feature a small selection of the poems submitted, but we hope you will read all of the poems that we have received here in our Great Hall of Poets.

So come and join us by the hearth and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

The lonely shepherd 

by David McGlinchey


I watch the sunrise.
I have watched it from the First Age. 
And you, you were there at my side and would always sing at it’s rising.
But the days dawning is silent now.

You are gone.

I would wander out amongst the growing woods and trees.
Coaxing them, 
Befriending them, 
Teaching them to talk.

We were as one.

You, my love, would show them the beauty of the fruit and the flower.
Sharing your gift with your sisters in bringing colour and joy to this new world.
Bringing an order to the hills and vales.

Divided now by brown earth and stone.

Fimbrethil.
We were the guardians.
Charged with protecting the forests and trees.
Faithfully we have tended to their needs
Though none, there seemed, stood by us.
Driven away you were with the rising of the Darkness.

I am alone

Still.
Your name alone brings me comfort.
We are fated to meet ere the setting of the last sun.
I know this will be I will wait.
Until that day though.

I am alone.

~~ * ~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Thanks to Ringer GJC15344 we have a look at what if Lego had gotten around to making a Minas Tirith set. Over a short period of time we got several very cool Middle-earth themed sets from Lego. Unfortunately we never got Minas Tirith. However, I know after seeing these maybe, just maybe, if we can get enough emails sent to them we could get this. This set looks like it would be incredible. I for sure would love to own it.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – What if a Lego Minas Tirith was made?”

If you’re ready for another race, welcome to “Racing to Rivendell” where we are following Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Arwen/Glorfindel, and Asfaloth (the horse who carried Frodo) as they race to outrun the Black Riders from Weathertop to Rivendell.

(If you weren’t able to join us last week, you can still earn your Shire Sprint bib and certificate. Just check out the post from May 1 for instructions.)

This virtual 5k race (3.1 miles) can be run or walked at home or any location you choose (please follow your town’s current rules). You can run, jog, walk, use a treadmill, climb your stairs, or us an elliptical – whatever is most convenient and safe for you. 30 minutes of exercise can also count as 1 mile. Run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself – our 5k’s are on the honor system.

Before you start each race, download a RACE BIB here or from TORn’s “The World and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien” Facebook page. Write your name, nickname, or race time in the white box, then you can stop by our Facebook page and post a photo wearing your bib, or post in the comments below.

Once you have completed each race, let us know! Download your finisher certificate and share another photo.

HERE ARE THE FINISHER CERTIFICATES:

Click on this link if you want to download a .pdf. Or the .jpg is below. They are also available for download on our “World and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien” Facebook group.

https://www.theonering.net/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TORn_Rivendell_Race_Certificate-.pdf

If you complete all four races, an additional special certificate can be yours! If you’re so inclined, reading the section in “The Fellowship of the Ring” that corresponds to this race might add a bit of color to your journey. Above all else, have fun. On your mark, get set, go!

There will be a total of four 5k races in all. Check back on Friday for a new race.

Bibs and certificates designed by TORN staff member Mithril, aka Nancy Steinman.

TheOneRing.net is hosting a series of four VIRTUAL 5K RACES in May. Each race will reflect a leg of the Fellowship’s journey through Middle-earth (though not in actual miles, of course). A new race will be posted on the first four Fridays in May.

The 5k races (3.1 miles) can be run or walked at home or any location you choose (please follow your town’s current rules). You can run, jog, walk, use a treadmill, climb your stairs, or us an elliptical – whatever is most convenient and safe for you. 30 minutes of exercise can also count as 1 mile. Run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself – our 5k’s are on the honor system.

Before you start each race, download a RACE BIB here or from TORn’s “The World and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien” Facebook page. Write your name, nickname, or race time in the white box, then you can stop by the Facebook page and post a photo wearing your bib. Once you have completed each race, let us know! Download a PDF of your finisher CERTIFICATE HERE and share a photo to our Facebook page. If you complete all four races, an additional special certificate can be yours!

Our first 5k is THE SHIRE SPRINT. It virtually follows the footsteps of the Hobbits as they race from Hobbiton to the Inn of the Prancing Pony at Bree with the Black Riders on their heels. If you’re so inclined, reading the same section of “The Fellowship of the Ring” might add a bit of color to your journey. Above all else, have fun. On your mark, get set, go!

Bibs and certificates were designed by TORN staff member Mithril, aka Nancy Steinman.

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our regular monthly feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. Each month we will feature a small selection of the poems submitted, but we hope you will read all of the poems that we have received here in our Great Hall of Poets.

So come and join us by the hearth and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Helm the Hammerhand

by D. McGlinchey

Over Suthburg’s walls the snow fell thick, covering a land of despair.
Whilst throughout the barren and cheerless halls,
Cold death had filled the air.
For the pride of his people had Helm smote King Freca, High Lord of the Dunlending race.
In challenging his right to the Rohirrim lands and insulting his fair daughters grace.

Soon Edoras had fallen to Freca’s son Wulf, with Dunlending’s and Corsair’s conspiring.
At the Great Golden Hall, Prince Haleth had died, in honour with courage inspiring.
Whilst down by the Isen his fathers fate turned.
Defeated, retreated to Suthburg’s high walls,
Whilst the rest of the Riddermark burned.

Desperate, surrounded with no help to call, Helm defended his folks last great keep.
With fire in his eyes and steel in his fists,
His enemies lives he would reap!
For such was the fear in the enemies camp
Of the Suthburg’s ‘Dark Wraith of the Snow’.
The ‘Hammerhand’ some said of the Rohirrim King
Who killed all he faced with one blow!

The terrible long winter would not let them go, famine and disease soon descending.
Yet still Helm strode out like a fearsome Snow Troll,
With fury and vengeance unending!
Bitter the wind and the ice and the gales,
And the fuel of his rage spurred him on.
But one man cannot bitter East winds long withstand.
Soon the fire in his heart it was gone.

Frozen in death but still ready to fight, the legend of Helm it has grown.
And from out of the Hornburg his spirit will rise,
Whenever the Great War Horn is blown.
To the Mound of the Kings was Helms body returned,
With reverence to sleep the long sleep.
Forever remembered and beloved of his folk.
Whom he’d helped to survive at ‘Helms’ Deep.

~~ * ~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.