[mark12_30]

Frodo Baggins

Frodo and Bilbo have been together a great deal in the West, but there have been times when both Bilbo and Mithrandir have encouraged Frodo to pursue other friendships in the hopes that he would find healing and hope in them. In addition to Elrond and Galadriel, these friendships also include Finrod, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Aegnor, and Gil-Galad. Each of these elves had experience either in the struggle against the darkness, or especially in the case of Aegnor and Elrond, in the permanent loss of something held very dear. Galadriel and Elrond conversed much with him about the Ring specifically.

Some of this time spent with these elves was spent in vocal discussion, but as years passed, Frodo's skill in osanwe grew, and more and more his time spent with elves was spent mind-to-mind.

Bilbo he maintained his old spoken friendship with, and with Bilbo his humor remained sharp and his wit keen. But in all his other relationships, he learned to let down his guard, and became ever more open and trusting, knowing that he was surrounded by those who watched out for him and held him in high regard. He now slips openly, honestly, and easily into osanwe, and excepting Bilbo, he is comfortable maintaining all his deeper relationships that way.

Lindo (master of the Snowhobbits; Loremaster); Retya (Snowhobbit); Tem (Snowhobbit); Tocca (Snowhobbit)

All four were born in Gondolin, imprisoned in Ladros, and most recently come from Dorthonion, or Tol Fuin.

Lindo has been introduced in a previous post.

All three Snowhobbits are teenagers (Retya and Tem, 16; Tocca, 15.) The term "Snowhobbit" originated in the prison camps of Ladros, because fourteen teenage hobbits (then mostly 13 to 14 yrs of age) got into a snowball fight with Lindo, and finally tackled him and buried him in the snow. Lindo wrote a song about the fight. The hobbits formed a brotherhood of sorts, and Lindo took their training upon himself, styling it after the elvish schooling he had recieved in Gondolin (see Lindo's summary.) When the hobbits won their freedom, Lindo adopted the three orphans, Retya, Tem, and Tocca.

Retya(16) is a leader and a bit of a rascal, very handy and natural with ponies, sensitive to Lindo's moods, unusually protective and defensive of him, and is rapidly becoming Lindo's closest friend.

Tem(16) and Tocca(15) are followers, firmly attatched to Retya and each other, likewise protective of Lindo and fairly sensitive to him. They are both obedient to most orders from either Retya or Lindo. Tem speaks his mind too freely and is often in trouble for it; Tocca is usually careful, diplomatic, rational, thorough, the least reckless of the three.

All three brothers are affectionate and fiercely loyal to each other and to Lindo.

Gamba (17), Roka (7), Asta (7), Ban (5), and (Little)Maura Tuk (4)

Gamba and the four young boys came from the prisons of Meneltarma. They were all orphans. Gamba (and his older brother Phura) had lived with the Old Loremaster for many years, but as the rescue approached, there were many casualties, including Gamba's young sweetheart Esta, for whom he still grieves.

The four boys were orphaned from various families. They attatched themselves to Gamba, tagging along behind him and curling up near him at night. He made sure they got fed, and watched after them. While they were never officially adopted by the Old Loremaster, they bonded with Gamba as their older brother/ father figure, and the Old Loremaster went along with it.

When Gamba followed Cami to the Anduin, there was no question that the four boys would go with Gamba. Due to his loss of Esta, and his parting from his brother Phura and from Old Loremaster, thereafter he clung tenaciously to "his boys". While they lived in Cami's house, he maintained a strong control over them at all times, making sure he remained the center of their affection and devotion.

Cami steadfastly loved them all, but her patient, persistant attempts to break into the tight circle met with limited success over the years.

Gamba is headstrong, exhasperatingly stubborn, and at times arrogant especially when feeling insecure; however he can also be quite lavish with affection. While many think him slow to learn, Cami is unusual in that she is reliably able to present information in a form that Gamba can easily absorb and understand.

Having understood her instruction, whether he submits to it is another matter.

Gamba has a strong and accurate throwing arm, likes to swim, sings well, and hates to be underground-- most unnatural for a hobbit. He prefers trees.

Roka and Asta are normal seven-year-old boys, adventurous, playful and unpredictable. Ban is quieter and very fond of Azra (Rose Goodchilde.) Gamba takes little Maura everywhere, sometimes forgetting about his safety in the process. Little Maura is doted over by both Gamba and Cami; he lacks nothing and is very trusting and unsuspecting.

All five boys are fascinated by wilderness and nature and mezmerised by anything new.

[ February 25, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]