@Engee: I was just kidding. 😛
@always: I kind of am. I'm really hoping they made him well.

Ok so MORE SPOILERS!!!!
Alright well I believe 2 days ago or so the DoS Annual has been released and can be bought online 🙂
Well, I do not own it sadly but did find some who have given spoilers to what it contains, so here you go!

- The company is chased to Beorn's house by Beorn himself (Beorn doesn't like dwarves, but when he discovers they're running from Azog he helps them instead).
- 'Beorn is the last shape-shifter in the whole of Middle-earth. Most of his kind were killed by Azog, so when Beorn finds out that The Company are fleeing from Azog, he agrees to help them.'
- Beorn tells Gandalf that the rumours of 'a great evil' in Dol Guldur are true, which is what makes Gandalf decide to go there himself and leave Thorin & co to face Mirkwood alone.
- Thranduil has ordered that his elves are not to leave the forest, and they're not to have anything to do with any other race (especially the dwarves).
- When Thorin & co are captured, Thranduil guesses they're going to the Lonely Mountain and will release the dwarves to go on their way, for a promise of a cut of the gold. But Thorin refuses, so he imprisons them.
- Legolas isn't as set in his ways as his Dad.
- Tauriel is at odds with Thranduil and doesn't understand, or agree with, his segregation. She's 'very headstrong' and 'doesn't always follow orders'.
- Tauriel is 'quite unlike other Elves' and it's hinted that she quite likes the dwarves (or is, at least, intrigued by them).
- The wood elves give chase through the forest when the dwarves escape in barrels, but don't follow them out of the forest.
- Except for Tauriel, who does follow then to Lake-town (defying Thranduil) and Legolas who decides to follow Tauriel (because he's 'very protective of her').
- Bilbo may get separated at some point in the escape.
- Bard discovers the dwarves as they wash up in their barrels (because he's a 'great hunter and often spends his time in the hills around the river leading from Mirkwood into the Long Lake'), and eventually decides to trust them and take them to Lake-town.
- Bard has three children: Bain, Sigrid and Tilda (which explains the 'injured girl' in the piece above and is possibly part of his motivation for helping the dwarves?)
- Gandalf may do some of the following in Dol Guldur: unlock a gate; see things that aren't really there/things appear other than they are; cast a spell making it look like there's more than one of him; cast a protection spell; have to work out where to walk as there are trick stones that lead to traps.
- Lastly, there's a suggestion that Smaug is also looking for the Arkenstone.

Lot's of goodies in there aye? Well yay this confirms nothing between Tauriel et Thranduil, but I suspected it anyways. Also there is a new shot of Beorn in Bear form 😉 As well as others of everyone I guess 😛

Beorn... *weeps* Just promise me that this new version of you will be worth it. Granted, I don't think I mind the whole "the Dol Guldur rumours are true" part.
Tauriel... *pulls a groaning, writhing, foaming Smeagol* You'd better make yourself interesting and non-detrimental to the plot. If not, I shall have to be greatly displeased with you. And if you want to know just how "greatly displeased" I can be, just ask PC-Peter and TTT-Faramir.
Thranduil... I hope you're much more interesting than just that.

Thanks for sharing, Eria.

I find it interesting that Beorn chases them, but I guess we'll see how it plays out on screen.

I don't think I mind the whole "the Dol Guldur rumours are true" part.

I was wondering what you meant, I guess I should say which rumors? 🙂

Heh Ariel, 😆 I agree although I don't think I would want to see how displeased you can be 😛
Tauriel is a hard topic to discuss considering we haven't seen her in action yet >.<
I know I haven't been the most believing in her, although I want to hit myself every time I criticize her, because I will probably come out LOVING her character if I do 🙄 Anyways, I am kind iffy about her, I personally think female characters who are skilled in fighting or in a particular skill can be great, I think also that Tauriel could be a great addition to the movies, if her role is kept to a minimum. Although I wouldn't want her role to overshadow the main characters, I don't want a new overly dramatized character to get too little screen-time then I will just be :?. I also wonder why Thranduil would keep a 'headstrong captain who doesn't always follow orders' >.< I mean isn't a captain supposed to follow orders? But then it could mean there is something special about her, that's worth a few disobedient moments 😉

Except for Tauriel, who does follow then to Lake-town (defying Thranduil) and Legolas who decides to follow Tauriel (because he's 'very protective of her').

Now, does this mean he will be sort of a brotherly figure to Tauriel? Or maybe he knows she can't handle herself, and may get killed or do something stupid if he's not around? Then again it could be love 🙄
Well at least we know we will see Leggy and Tauriel in Laketown hopefully doing something worthwhile. I wonder what Thrandy's gonna say when they get back 😉 UNLESS they don't and our 2 elf friends stay until the desolation of Laketown?

I also hope Thranduil isn't just a grouchy Elvenking who likes to give orders and hog treasure... but wait he is isn't he 😛 Well I hope that I LOVE his character since, after all he is canon 😉 And I am already mesmerized with his voice 😳

Next: Bard; ok so I thought having Bain in the movies would be a special treat, of father and son togetherness ^.^ BUT NOOOOOOOOO he couldn't just have ONE because we all know he DID and that would ruin the movies going by the book right? PJ has to go INVENT him 2 more children I mean WHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYY???????? Oh yes, because Tauriel gets to heal one and of course it has to be one of Bard's kids right?

I sure know how to write a long post don't I 😳 🙄

By the "rumours", I meant what Beorn ends up telling Gandalf.

Ditto pretty much everything you said about Tauriel.

*wants to hide in the closet and yet still wants to see TDoS* Argghhhhh, why can't movie makers just stick to canon!!! It would cause fans way less heartache! But they just can't leave it alone. *facepalms* Okay, rant is over and I'm refraining from saying anything about Tauriel.

Heh, even with all of the deviations and liberties they're taking I'm still looking forward to it. For three reasons:

I'm trying not to let my fears get the best of me. I'm sure there will be parts we'll all enjoy, even if there are some we won't. ^.^

100 day countdown starts tomorrow.

My reasons:

1. Bilbo
2. Cumber-Smaug
3. Thranduil
4. Balin
5. Thorin
6. Bilbo

😀

Hee, I'm much more of a hobbit person myself 😉 (If you couldn't tell.)

I've never seen Cumberbatch in anything, so I really don't have any expectations or anything like that. 😛 I am looking forward to Smaug though. ^.^ Should be interesting...

I first saw Cumberbatch in Amazing Grace, then later BBC's Sherlock, then for a short time in War Horse (didn't recognize him there... he had a 'stache in that movie), and then in trailers and whatnot for the latest Star Trek (which I didn't watch). 🙂

Yes, I first saw Cumberbatch in "Amazing Grace." LOVE that movie! 😀

I'm looking forward to:
1) Bilbo!
2) Smaug
3) Gandalf
4) Bard

I believe my parents watched it [Amazing Grace] when it first came out, which would have been in 2007. I might have gotten a few glimpses of it, but I was more interested in playing then. 😛

Oh yes Bard! I wonder how his character will turn out, since there isn't very much material concerning him.

*small blush* Forgot about Bard. If he's not epic... I'm gonna... rant and rave, most likely, lol.

Bard and Beorn are two characters that I really liked in the book. I really hope Beorn turns out better than that one picture of him looks! 😛

Definitely hoping the same!