A Necessary History of Yesternonce, part 2

by Blondo Butterchurn
Schoolmaster of Merrydale
with approved text suitable for use
in all classrooms across the Several Shires.


The Gnummorong and the Closing of Dalenas
For many long years there was quiet and Baere the Fertile again greatly favored Erenth. Her Folk grew strong and Mulnechir which have leaf and root grew from the destruction which had been.

Then came the Third Age, it was after Yomallor departed, but still before the keeping of years. The Gnomm made a great noising outside of the Shires, such that across Dalenas all had heard it. Eventually they came to the Academy of Dalenas with tools of their own devising. For they were the first to affix rocks to shafts of wood and also to make blades of hammered copper. We have much to teach, they said, and at first the Hobbits were glad to have them.

But then the Gnomm saw what beauty there was in the Shires and said that they should dwell there, as well. But Bobel Greenthumb would allow it not, for he was Reeve of the Shires at that time. It was he who forewent planting to see to the tranquility of all. So the Gnomm were bitterly angry and went away and they compelled some of the Hobbits to go with them, but only to teach in the manner of sowing of reaping. But those Hobbits were never seen in the Shires again.

Later, the Gnomm returned and said that more teachers were needed by the other folk, but that none would be required if only the Gnomm might live in the Shires and read always from the library of the Academy of Dalenas. But Bobel would hear it not, and called upon Yomallor to return saying, “Spare only this home for which we have long labored so that its beauty will not pass.”

So Yomallor returned to Dalenas in secret and bid all of the Hobbits to depart save a few. And he showed them a new place called Dalefir where the Shires would be remade. And when the Hobbits had left Dalenas with great weeping, Yomallor returned riding upon a Spirit of Water. With him came a great and terrible host, riding like a great wave across all of Dalenas and chastening those who were there, but especially the Gnomm.  And so Dalenas was hidden, no more to be seen by mortal eyes until the coming of the Eighth Age. Thus we say, Next year in Dalenas.

In Dalefir the Hobbits first tasted natural death. For though they could be slain, they who dwelled in Dalenas could not pass on of neither disease nor age. Yet all the children born in Dalefir did know the sting of death and were forced to seek out Arvanaith upon their passing.

The First Emptying of Dalefir
Long after Dalefir was founded there was a second cousin of the Reeve of that time named Boblo. He was a Greenthumb by blood but called the Wanderer by all who knew him, for he was taken ill of mind by the Rage. Like Coglin before him, Boblo was given to long travels and foolishness in far off lands, though he did not walk as Coglin had.

It was in a fit of the Restless Rage, that Boblo crafted a boat from a fallen tree and rode the streams through Dalefir and laughed and splashed while others kept their gardens. He often rode the streams, but would not enter the great river that the streams joined, for it looked like certain death in his craft.

In those days, it was considered impolite to require those afflicted with the Restless Rage to leave. For the Hobbits of that age did not know that the affliction could be caught by others. So it was that several boats were seen upon the streams and making disturbances across all of Dalefir. This lasted until the day that Boblo piloted his craft upon the waters of Coursing River and bid farewell to all who were watching his departure.

After several days had passed, Boblo had not returned. Many said that he had returned to Dalenas and some made ready to join him. One by one they rode the streams to the Coursing River. So Dalefir knew its First Emptying and what became of those Hobbits who left was never known to the people of that age, but that place in which they settled came to be called Dale Merril.

Feast of Grimgoreniht
When Dalenas was hidden and the Third Age was ending, Grimgoren, the brother of Yomallor, came to Dalefir. He was clothed in flesh and his face shown with the glory of his kind, but his countenance was fallen and his tears were as streams.

It was the night of the winter solstice when he came and he brought with him many gifts for all the Hobbits. It was, he said, in restitution for the loss of Dalenas and for the shame of the Gnummorong which the Gnomm had wrought. His head was hung in shame, but the Hobbits gathered together for merrymaking and to accept the restitution offered. Thus a great festival was born and is celebrated each year.

By this time, Dale Merril had grown and while its people were taller and less stout than their forebears, they were nonetheless a Hobbit people. With the coming of Grimgoren to Dalefir, there came also news of their lost cousins. And so there was all the more reason for great celebration, for the two people became as one again and the filled the land between Dale Merril and Dalefir with their children, so that Merril came to be known as a shire of Dalefir.

Now to this very day the Hobbits still gather to mourn the Gnummorong in anticipation of the solstice. After six days of mourning, the seventh is set aside for the Grimgoreniht. There is great merrymaking and Gnomm still come bearing gifts in celebration. To mark the unification of the Dales, Hobbits still go door to door bringing foodstuffs and introducing themselves to friends they already know by reciting the long lines of their families.