Mark Reads ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’: Chapter 11

In the eleventh chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, the hobbits and Aragorn set out to avoid being captured by the Black Riders. Aragorn bores everyone with a poem, and it’s totally done on purpose to distract you from the huge WTF at the end. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read The Lord of the Rings.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: A KNIFE IN THE DARK

Wow, this is getting progressively more fucked up. I don’t even think we’re close the main plot, either, which makes me wonder: What the hell does Tolkien have planned?

All I know at this point is that the Black Riders are unsettling on this very basic level for me. Yes, I know they’re not dementors, but it’s easy to see how Rowling may have gotten the idea for them from these…things. I’m still not really sure what they are. Spirits? Are they wraiths? Are they something worse?

That ignorance essentially fuels my fear throughout chapter eleven, which really only has one slow moment in it. With the information provided by Butterbur, Merry, and Aragorn in the possession, it’s time for Tolkien to swoop into action and terrify me. I think it’s a brilliant move for him to start this chapter out in Buckland and with Fatty Bolger. The shadow riders, whatever they are, cause fear quite literally! I mean, even if they didn’t, they’re already frightening, but it’s in their very nature to make people feel fear and unease. But it’s also a way to show us just how abrasive and desperate the Black Riders are to find Frodo Baggins and the Ring. They break into Frodo’s “house” in Buckland, angered to not find him there, as Fatty escapes and the horns notify of danger are set forth in Buckland. I know pretty much everyone loves the movies, and I know they’re incredibly long, so it’s these sort of moments that I really hope are re-created faithfully on screen. Truthfully, though, this all feels like one HUGE turning point. It’s not just bad news; everything feels so hopeless and frantic. While the Black Riders raid Buckland, miles away, Frodo awakes, troubled by dreams. Strider later shows him that the bedrooms where the hobbits were supposed to be were ransacked as well, which means the danger is closer than it has ever been.

Oh, right, and Merry’s ponies are gone. RIGHT, AS IF THIS NEEDED TO BE ANY WORSE. With the Black Riders closing in, the group has to make crucial decisions in very little time. I don’t have any sort of clue what role Aragorn will play in this book, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that he is kind of helpful to have around during this entire section. At the very least, as the hobbits parade out of town, he acts as the most effective deterrent against shenaniganry that they could possibly find. And look, the fact that a crowd of citizens of Bree is waiting for the hobbits and Aragorn to leave town is about as shitty as can be. It’s the worst possibility! HERE, HAVE A TON OF WITNESSES FOR THE BLACK RIDERS. Because seriously, they’re not going to avoid Bree at all. So I can’t imagine anything more disadvantageous to group than this. However, I did get to end this part with a smile:

Sam turned quickly. ‘And you, Ferny,’ he said, ‘put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt.’ With a sudden flick, quick as lightning, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square on the nose. He ducked too late, and curses came from behind the hedge. ‘Waste of a good apple,’ said Sam regretfully, and strode on.

Bless my beard, I love you, Sam Gamgee.

I was surprised, though, just how much I am enjoying a book that spends a third of the time narrating people walking. I think the fact that it’s all so new to me is part of it, surely. I could definitely see someone hating this, but I personally adore the execution of this. The further the main characters press on, the more I’m able to grasp an understanding of the physical space of Middle-earth. That stuff’s always the hardest for me to write and read because my brain is not all that visual. I deal real well with concepts, ideas, words, theories, anything that isn’t an image in my head. It’s also why I’ve stated so many times that I really want to see the things that Tolkien created on screen, and it’s why I adore a well-executed adaptation for television or film. It’s a self-serving thing for me: I need help to build these things in my mind.

Yet I don’t feel confused or lost here in The Fellowship of the Ring as Tolkien narrates entire days of traveling. The hobbits live those days in utter fear of what is behind them and whatever might be ahead of them. That’s also why the tension works so well; they haven’t even escaped what’s chasing them, and there’s still the chance that wherever Aragorn leads them to is full of danger and chaos. Hell, even if I want to like the guy, I still have no reason to trust him aside from Gandalf’s letter. I had a thought earlier today when I realized that this entire book couldn’t happen if people had cell phones and the Internet. Okay, look, I know that sentence is silly as fuck, but hear me out. This book is dependent on the details that Tolkien has provided, and so much of the story hinges on tiny things like Middle-earth communication methods. The fact that creatures living in Middle-earth cannot just contact one another in any method that’s instantaneous or quick or dependable is what makes this story what this is. And it doesn’t feel like Tolkien is trying to write a book about the “olden days.” It’s just a different universe, and this is a detail of it.

I mean, the fact that virtually nothing in Middle-earth is “modern” in any way is sort of why I like it. The characters walk and ride ponies or horses. That’s it. It makes the journey, like the one here in chapter eleven, so much more intense. When Aragorn suggests a route for them to take, they genuinely have to consider the fact that no matter what his intentions, it might still turn out to be a goddamn disaster. It’s just the nature of a thing like this, and that dynamic makes it all the more fascinating to me.

For what it’s worth, it does seem that Aragorn knows what he’s doing; Frodo notices just how quiet and lifeless the journey largely is. It really does seem like the safest route. In the interest of the hobbits, I do want Aragorn to turn out to be on their side, especially since things work out so well for them here. They could use a non-hobbit companion, especially someone who knows this part of Middle-earth. That doesn’t mean the trip is one giant slumber party, though; it’s pretty miserable on day three. Bug attacks, the lack of cover, the boggy ground, and the cold and damp ground that night leave everyone dispirited. And then shit gets real on the night of the fourth day:

As Frodo lay, tired but unable to close his eyes, it seemed to him that far away there came a light in the eastern sky: it flashed and faded many times. It was not the dawn, for that was still some hours off.

‘What is the light?’ he said to Strider, who had risen, and was standing, gazing ahead into the night.

‘I do not know,’ Strider answered. ‘It is too distant to make out. It is like lightning that leaps up from the hill-tops.’

Okay, can we just call him Aragorn now? I like that name more because I once had a friend named Strider and it’s distracting. Anyway, yeah, what is going on everyone? I suppose it could be a storm. BUT WHEN IS ANY DETAIL THAT INNOCENT IN THIS BOOK?

omg i might be prepared, right?

NOPE WRONG. Oh, how quickly I was proved wrong in my attempts to be prepared. On the seventh day, after much walking, they actually find a real path, one built into the ground and marked with stones. After so much walking their own way, it’s both a comfort and disturbing. A path is nice, but Merry brings up an appropriate point: What is this path for, and who built it? Is it a barrow? ARE THERE WIGHTS?????

Aragorn is quick with an answer, and the hobbits are a bit shocked how much history the man knows. I guess it’s another good sign that he is telling the truth about all of this. Sam is even able to confirm the information he provides when he’s able to remember part of a poem that Bilbo Baggins once told him. THIS IS GOOD, RIGHT?

The group makes for the top of a hill, knowing that there’s no real cover in this part of Weathertop; at one point, they split up and I literally screamed WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING SPLITTING UP NEVER WORKS. But at the top of the next hill, it seems the stumble upon the source of the “light” from days before. The ground and stones are scorched by fire; there’s no sign of Gandalf, though Aragorn finds a stone that might have runes from the wizard on them. I actually like that we don’t get any confirmation of what’s happened here; the mystery works well because it continues to build to dread in the reader. Confused and unsure by all this, Merry, Frodo, and Aragorn simply stand on that hill, staring out at the fortnight of a journey ahead of them.

OH, RIGHT, AND THE BLACK RIDERS SHOW UP. Well, in the distance, but it’s the first time there is literally not a single place to hide. I mean, honestly, this line is just so scary to me:

‘Yes,’ said Strider, whose keener sight left him in no doubt. ‘The enemy is here!’

Fuck. The time has come, hasn’t it? When they regroup with Pippin and Sam, Aragorn is convinced that Rangers were in this area before them. (How does that explain the flashes of light, though?) The problem, though, is that there is nowhere to go. Unless they travel for days without stopping, there’s no cover to take. There’s just this place they’re in, the dell between hills, and Aragorn convinces the others to stay, build a fire (apparently the Black Riders aren’t big on fire or light?), and wait it out. It’s a brilliant plot choice, but I developed a pit in my stomach. They were going to wait for the Black Riders to come upon them. Would they just…shit, how are they going to pull this off? Wave fire at them until daylight came around? I AM WAY INTO THIS.

That being said…I committed to reading this book, and I gotta be honest: the poem about Tinúviel is a bit much. If I was reading this on my own straight through, I would have skipped it. I KNOW THAT IS AWFUL AND I RARELY, IF EVER, DO THIS. But sweet summer child….it’s a difficult thing to process. I mean, of course I think about it in terms of our world. If someone chanted a rhyming song about the history of a one person to me and it took more than fifteen seconds, I would just walk away. But it is part of the culture in Middle-earth, so I just read the whole thing. I have no idea if it’s important to the future (and please don’t tell me), but then I rolled my eyes when Aragorn jumped straight into another history lesson. I really didn’t expect something like this so late, to be fair. This is what I thought the whole book was like, for real! The whole story of Tinúviel and the Silmarils is exactly what I thought the entirety of The Lord of the Rings read like.

Though it made me wonder: the story bored me a bit, and then Tolkien immediately segues to the entire group realizing the Black Riders have arrived. I suppose I thought the chapter might end before this happened, but….lord, this is horrifying. It’s easily the most suspenseful scene in the book as of yet, and the five of them just stand there, fire on their backs, waiting. When the Black Riders arrive, things are bad enough as they are, yet this makes this scene downright unbearable:

Frodo was hardly less terrified than his companions; he was quaking as if he was bitter cold, but the terror was swallowed up in a sudden temptation to put on the Ring. The desire to do this laid hold of him, and he could think of nothing else.

DON’T DO IT, FRODO. DON’T. DO. IT.

Of course he does it. That didn’t surprise. The instant chaos that occurs once he does? Yeah, that surprised me. The use of the Ring almost catalyzes the shadows to descend on Frodo. The strange thing is how Frodo’s sight changes. He’s able to see the Black Riders (and they him, surprisingly); his own sword flickers red. WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN.

At that moment Frodo threw himself forward on the ground, and he heard himself crying aloud: O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! At the same time he struck at the feet of his enemy. A shrill cry rang out in the night; and he felt a pain like a dart of poisoned ice pierce his left shoulder. Even as he swooned he caught, as through a swirling mist, a glimpse of Strider leaping out of the darkness with a flaming brand of wood in either hand. With a last effort Frodo, dropping his sword, slipped the Ring from his finger and closed his right hand tight upon it.

SWEET SUMMER CHILD WHAT IS GOING ON?

About Mark Oshiro

Perpetually unprepared since '09.
This entry was posted in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

280 Responses to Mark Reads ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’: Chapter 11

  1. Tauriel_ says:

    Here is a lovely rendering of the song of Beren and Lúthien by the Poetic Fellowship. The quality of the recording isn't the best ever (they were an amateur group, after all), but I still think it's beautiful. Hope you guys enjoy. 🙂

    Beren and Lúthien

    • vivelabagatel says:

      Ooh that's lovely. I also like the version by the Tolkien Ensemble
      [youtube eMfF5fjC-LY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMfF5fjC-LY youtube]

      • Jemima Aslana says:

        I will generally recommend the Tolkien Ensemble's versions. Mainly because they make the songs a mite easier to get through 🙂 I find it easier to read rhyming poetry when I can "sing" it in my head 😀

        Definitely the hugely long song Frodo sings in the Prancing Pony. It's a bore to read on its own, but with Tom Mc Ewan singing and doing percussion on kitchen- and silverware everything is right and good in the world :-p

        • Chris Durston says:

          I do like the Tolkien Ensemble's version, but I have to say my favourite rendition of any Tolkien song/ poem (besides of course the Misty Mountains song in the Hobbit trailer) HAS to be Billy Boyd's version of that song, in the third one, which doesn't sound like I thought it would at all but is awesome, but I don't want to say what it's called because even the name might be mildly spoilery. Pippin's song, shall we say. (apologies if even that is somehow a spoiler.)

          • Jemima Aslana says:

            I know which one you mean, and I was SO conflicted about it, because on one hand it is, indeed, incredibly beautiful in Boyd's rendition. But in the book I recall it being presented and used as a walking song, and well… walking songs, which there are several of in the book anyway, are sung to be walked to, yeah? And Boyd's version moves very far away from that. But it is beautiful and made me cry. And that's why I'm so darned conflicted about those two renditions. Don't make me choose. I'll split in two. :-p

            The Tolkien Ensemble did another of the walking songs and made it uhmmm unwalkable? So ehm, in the case of that one I liked Ian Holm's muttery hum better.

            And I am SO with you on the Hobbit trailer. That song, as more and more of them join in gives me so many chills down my spine that december 14th 2012 cannot be here soon enough. I'm such a sucker for proper singing 😀

      • Zeynep says:

        I love almost everything the Tolkien Ensemble did with the music. That one song that that one guy sings at that one place in the last book brings me to tears, especially with the keening penny whistle.

        (This is by way of saying, Mark, _don't go seeking for more of the music now_. Even, occasionally, the song titles are spoilery. Very, very spoilery. But as you come across them and people post, go for it, because they are also beautiful.)

        • Jemima Aslana says:

          Oh gosh yes. That one is such a haunting tune. I, of course, had to learn to play it :-p Nothing short of that would do.

          There's another, also very haunting, also accompanied by a penny whistle, though this one is a very brief retelling of a legend of old. I love that one, too.

          I don't agree with all of their interpretations, especially some of the later things. But they are by and large incredibly close to the sense I got from the songs when reading them.

          … we might want to switch to rot13 for the spoilery stuff. Even if this does read kind of funny to avoid spoilers in this way :-p

      • tigerpetals says:

        Thank you too.

    • Dreamflower says:

      That's beautiful!

    • MelvinTheBold says:

      I don't think it's a spoiler to mention here that on their gravestone, Tolkien and his wife are commemorated

      "Edith Mary Tolkien
      Luthien
      [year-year]
      John Ronald Reul Tolkien
      Beren
      [year-year]"

      so when he takes the time out in the middle of this chapter for this story, it's not only worldbuilding naq onpxfgbel qrirybczrag sbe Nejra/Nentbea, it's basically a couple pages of love poetry to his wife. Which is kind of sweet.

    • Liz says:

      ohhhhhh my god this is gorgeous. i love how it sounds like a canon, it’s so ethereal and suited to the poem. has this group done many other songs? i’d love to check out more of their tracks.

      • Tauriel_ says:

        Yes, they did a couple more songs from the books, and they also wrote their own Tolkien-inspired music (most of their works are in Czech language, though, because they're from the Czech Republic).

        I will be posting more links here, as we continue through the book and get to other songs, but if you want to check their other works, feel free to visit their site (it's also in English). 🙂

        • Nerdfoxy says:

          The Audiobook versions also have nice renditions of the poems. They aren't so beautiful, but it's nice to hear them prettily read in the context of the books.

          It was the first time I didn't want to tear my hair out at the poems.

    • tigerpetals says:

      Thank you for this.

  2. Tauriel_ says:

    In this chapter: SERIOUS POETRY. <3

    Ahem. Anyway.

    The chapter starts with an ominous atmosphere, as the Black Riders assault Frodo's house in Crickhollow. Luckily, Fatty Bolger escapes before anything could happen to him and alerts the people of Buckland (also, LOL at them thinking it's an "invasion from the Old Forest". Bless you, hobbits, but YOU HAVE NO IDEA). I love the alarm system the Brandybucks have. Another proof that Brandybucks are cool and awesome. B-)

    Then we return to Bree and learn that Strider was right to insist that hobbits should sleep in his room – their own bedrooms were raided.

    But o noez! THE PONIES HAVE VANISHED!!! 🙁 Thankfully, most of the ponies escape, and Merry's ponies prove to be really smart and make their way to Tom Bombadil, who takes care of them and later sends them to BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR. Good news is, they miss a dangerous journey. Bad news is, they never come to Rivendell, which is an awesome place.

    But Strider has a very good point – even if they DID have ponies, they wouldn't be match for the Black Riders' horses, so it will be easier to go on foot, anyway.

    And BOOO and SHAME on Bill Ferny for mistreating and starving his pony, and attempting to cash in on the hobbits' and BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR's bad luck! BOOO AND SHAME, I SAY!!! *righteous anger*

    Sam turned quickly. ‘And you. Ferny,’ he said, ‘put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt.’ With a sudden flick, quick as lightning, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square on the nose. He ducked too late, and curses came from behind the hedge. ‘Waste of a good apple,’ said Sam regretfully, and strode on.

    FUCK YEAH SAM GAMGEE, YOU BAMF!!! <3 <3 B-)

    And so the hobbits and Strider leave Bree – and again, Strider is right not to attempt to sneak out unnoticed, as there's already a big buzz around the village; leaving by the high road and sneaking off-road later, after they're out of sight, is much smarter.

    The Midgewater Marshes sound like a really unpleasant place, but I love the name "Neekerbreekers" – it could be a good name for a music band, I think… 😀

    (con'd below)

    • Tauriel_ says:

      (con'd)

      As Frodo lay, tired but unable to close his eyes, it seemed to him that far away there came a light in the eastern sky: it flashed and faded many times. It was not the dawn, for that was still some hours off.
      'What is the light?' he said to Strider, who had risen, and was standing, gazing ahead into the night.
      'I do not know,' Strider answered. 'It is too distant to make out. It is like lightning that leaps up from the hill-tops.'

      This sounds ominous and I DO NOT LIKE.

      Again, the atmosphere is getting moody and melancholic and suspicious and ominous… and I appreciate Strider's careful tactics on how to approach Weathertop.

      V ubcr gur guvaavat cebprff jvyy abg tb ba vaqrsvavgryl, be V funyy orpbzr n jenvgu.

      Terng, Sebqb, abj lbh'ir phefrq vg naq vg nyzbfg unccraf… 🙁 Lbh sbbyvfu uboovg.

      So the hobbits and Strider reach Weathertop – and there's a lovely little bit of history, where we learn that Weathertop used to be called Amon Sûl (which is a Sindarin name meaning "Windy Hill" or "Hill of Wind" – "amon" is "hill", and "sûl" is "wind"), and also about Gil-galad – from Sam of all people! I really like Sam's character development, he's clearly showing more depth now – he remembered this poem from way back when he was young, and that's at least 17 years!

      They make their camp on the hillside of Weathertop and climb to the top to investigate. We learn that the flashing lights they saw three days ago were probably made by Gandalf, who was apparently attacked – this is confirmed by the scratched mark they find.

      And then they spot the Black Riders assembling on the Road.

      OH, SHIT.

      (con'd below, because stupid Firefox)

      • Tauriel_ says:

        (con'd)

        There is a small piece of good news – Rangers have been on Weathertop recently, and left some firewood (yay faggots! :p ). Strider decides, what the hell, the Black Riders already know we're here, so let's have some fire anyway, it will be helpful.

        And then they gather around the fire and Strider sings them the song of Beren and Lúthien, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry Tolkien ever wrote. <3 <3 <3 (Even though it's a bit long… 😀 ) Strider also tells the hobbits (very briefly) the story of Beren and Lúthien (the song covers only their first meeting). It is told in full detail in the Silmarillion – and I really hope you'll decide to read and review it one day, Mark… 🙂

        And then… ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AND SHIT GETS REAL AND NOTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND EVERYTHING HURTS.

        Five Black Riders attack them and Frodo has the sudden urge to put on the Ring and HE DOES SO (WTF Frodo, didn't you learn anything at the Barrow Downs???) and he can see the Black Riders and they can see him, and Frodo strikes at their captain or king or whatever and the captain stabs him and Frodo passes out and OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁

        • Rheinman says:

          I can't bear to think of what would have happened if Frodo had passed out while still wearing the ring.

          • AmandaNekesa says:

            That is a truly terrifying thought! :S

            • Parmadil says:

              It would have been AWESOME, what are you talking about??? I mean, totally different story that way, but it would have been SO FUCKED UP!
              (says the reader who wants ALL THE BAD THINGS to happen to the protagonist as long as s/he doesn't die… I'm a bad person)

              • AmandaNekesa says:

                Hahaha…yeah I think to some degree, as far as the storyline goes, it would be interesting to see how the events would have played out if that was a factor. It would kind of mirror Bilbo's story, having been knocked out during the Battle of Five Armies while wearing the ring; except with drastically more dire circumstances for Frodo, given that he's severely wounded. Oh, and there's also the whole thing about the fate of Middle Earth depending upon the success of Frodo & co. reaching Rivendell. There's that too… o.0

                On the other hand, if I were in that situation, as a part of the group of hobbits, that would be so incredibly terrifying!!! It's dark out, and you hear your friend call out once but can't find him because he's invisible. Then you don't hear anything at all because he's passed out… Yeah…definitely DO NOT WANT. 😐

      • flootzavut says:

        "V ubcr gur guvaavat cebprff jvyy abg tb ba vaqrsvavgryl, be V funyy orpbzr n jenvgu.

        Terng, Sebqb, abj lbh'ir phefrq vg naq vg nyzbfg unccraf… Lbh sbbyvfu uboovg."

        😮 🙁

      • cait0716 says:

        I share your love for Sam. I liked that he got a little bit of exposition. Just by being curious and spending time with Bilbo he learned a lot and was able to come through with the knowledge.

        The Black Riders are handled really well. I like that it starts with one back in Hobbiton. And then maybe there are two on the road. And the three in the opening scene of this chapter with Fatty Bolger. And now there are five. It's like they just keep multiplying and you have no idea how many there will end up being.

      • AmandaNekesa says:

        V ubcr gur guvaavat cebprff jvyy abg tb ba vaqrsvavgryl, be V funyy orpbzr n jenvgu.

        Terng, Sebqb, abj lbh'ir phefrq vg naq vg nyzbfg unccraf… Lbh sbbyvfu uboovg.

        AGHHHH…I was thinking the same thing as I was reading that part. Vg nyfb znqr zr guvax nobhg ubj, va EbgX uvz naq Fnz ner iveghnyyl fgneivat sbe unys bs gur obbx.

    • cait0716 says:

      The Midgewater Marshes make me shudder. I was hiking once in Yellowstone and the guide for some reason made us stop for a while in a place called "Mosquito Haven". I had so many bites I looked like Jadzia Dax from DS9. I can't imagine spending two days in an environment like that.

      • baruchan says:

        Oh, the hobbits have my deepest sympathies. I've lived in a tropical country all my life, and I still don't know what's worse: getting bitten by mosquitoes or the mosquito repellent you have to slather all over yourself to prevent either malaria or dengue fever. Either way, I end up feeling uncomfortable at the end of the day. 🙁

    • Appachu says:

      (also, LOL at them thinking it's an "invasion from the Old Forest". Bless you, hobbits, but YOU HAVE NO IDEA)

      In fact, you might even go so far as to say….that they were not prepared?

    • Parmadil says:

      We should totally start a band called the Neekerbreekers…. That would be awesome. And we could be like, a folk group, and do random nerdy songs, not just LotR but other mythologies too!

      That would be awesome

  3. Jenny_M says:

    I skipped the tale of Beren and Luthien like…the first four times I read this book. Then I read the Silmarillion and subsequently B+L became my FAVORITE THING IN MIDDLE EARTH. So, yes. They don't make a lot of sense in this chapter, though.

    I believe Tolkien and his wife are referenced as Beren and Luthien on their gravestones. 🙁 Is that right?

    • flootzavut says:

      Yes, Beren and Luthien are carved into their respective gravestones :'( <3

      "What the hell does Tolkien have planned?"

      Oh Mark. So unprepared!

      • Saphling says:

        From the wiki: In a letter to his son Christopher, dated 11 July 1972, Tolkien requested the below inscription for his wife Edith's grave "for she was (and knew she was) my Lúthien." In a footnote to his letter, Tolkien added "she knew the earliest form of the legend…also the poem eventually printed as Aragorn's song."

        Edith Mary Tolkien
        Lúthien
        1889–1971

        John Ronald
        Reuel Tolkien
        Beren
        1892–1973

        • flootzavut says:

          :'( <3

        • Jenny_M says:

          ALL THE TEARS.

        • Tauriel_ says:

          <3 <3 <3

          Also, the whole dance of Lúthien that the poem describes was inspired by real event – after their wedding (or engagement? I can't remember), Edith danced for JRR among hemlocks. <3

          • Steve Morrison says:

            It was in the late spring of 1917, when they were already married. Here is the beginning of the letter which tells the story:

            From a letter to Christopher Tolkien, 11 July 1972
            I have at last got busy about Mummy’s grave. . . . . The inscription I should like is:

            EDITH MARY TOLKIEN
            1889–1971
            Lúthien

            : brief and jejune, except for Lúthien, which says for me more than a multitude of words: for she was (and knew she was) my Lúthien.
            [footnote: She knew the earliest form of the legend (written in hospital), and also the poem eventually printed as Aragorn’s song in LR.]
            July 13. Say what you feel, without reservation, about this addition. I began this under the stress of great emotion & regret – and in any case I am afflicted from time to time (increasingly) with an overwhelming sense of bereavement. I need advice. Yet I hope none of my children will feel that the use of this name is a sentimental fancy. It is at any rate not comparable to the quoting of pet names in obituaries. I never called Edith Lúthien – but she was the source of the story that in time became the chief part of the Silmarillion. It was first conceived in a small woodland glade filled with hemlocks at Roos in Yorkshire (where I was for a brief time in command of an outpost of the Humber Garrison in 1917, and she was able to live with me for a while). In those days her hair was raven, her skin clear, her eyes brighter than you have seen them, and she could sing – and dance. But the story has gone crooked, & I am left, and I cannot plead before the inexorable Znaqbf.

            (rot13 for the name of the Judge of the Dead, in case it’s a Silmarillion spoiler!)

        • atheistsisters says:

          So sweet, aw!

        • AmandaNekesa says:

          I will forever love that about Tolkien! <3

  4. Becky_J_ says:

    When the conspiracy to go with Frodo was first unearthed, I though that Fatty Bolger (LOL still can't handle that name) was a coward for staying behind. After reading this chapter, how can I think that anymore?? He freaking almost got slashed by THREE of the Black Riders, and yet held his ground and warned the Shire. I'M SORRY FOR THINKING YOU WERE A COWARD FATTY.

    "How much are you prepared to carry on your backs?" …. "I can carry enough for two," said Sam defiantly.
    BLESS YOUR HEART SAMWISE GAMGEE. I LOVE YOU FOREVER.

    Sam turned quickly. "And you, Ferny," he said, "put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt." With a sudden flick, quick as lightning, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square on the nose. He ducked too late, and curses came from behind the hedge. "Waste of a good apple," said Sam regretfully, and strode on.
    Jesus take the wheel, Sam, you are literally my favorite person of all time. WASTE OF AN APPLE INDEED.

    And then there's Weathertop… .also known as A DUMPTRUCK FULL OF HORROR. I really love the chant that Aragorn sings…. I actually sang it to a melody that I loved long ago, and was going to share it with you all, but THEN I FORGOT WHAT IT WAS. sadness forever. I have a special love of the songs in these books, even though I know they are annoying for some people…. and then, FRODO PUTS ON THE RING and nothing is good and everything hurts because nothing good ever comes of wearing the Ring. Seriously.

    And then, because Tolkien obviously has a heart of PURE BLACK and loves making everything more awful than what came before, FRODO FEELS A PIERCING PAIN IN HIS SHOULDER AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE BLACK RIDER STABBED HIM. what. what is going on please hold me forever

    • Dreamflower says:

      Serqrtne Obytre qbrf ghea bhg gb or dhvgr gur ureb va gur raq! Ohg jura lbh guvax nobhg vg, whfg fgnlvat va na rzcgl ubhfr sbe qnlf juvyr xabjvat Onq Thlf ner bhg frnepuvat sbe Sebqb jnf cerggl oenir.

      V nyjnlf gubhtug "Snggl" jnf n fvyyl avpxanzr sbe n uboovg, fvapr vg cebonoyl qrfpevorq unys gur uboovgf va gur Fuver! Crefbanyyl, V qrpvqrq vg jnf uvf yvggyr fvfgre'f zvfcebahapvngvba bs "Serqql"…

      Qvq lbh xabj gung bevtvanyyl, WEEG jnf tbvat gb unir Tnaqnys gnxr Snggl Obytre jvgu uvz nf n "qrpbl" jura ur ebqr bss gb Oerr naq orlbaq– naq rira unq Snggl trg xvqanccrq ng bar cbvag? V guvax ur nonaqbarq gung yvar bs aneengvir jura ur ernyvmrq ubj zhpu vg jbhyq unir fybjrq Tnaqnys qbja gb tb naq erfphr uvz. Ohg vg tvirf lbh n jubyr arj crefcrpgvir ba gur punenpgre.

    • monkeybutter says:

      1) I like the phrase "a dumptruck full of horror."

      2) I look forward to Sam moments, so the apple thing made my day. Then he went and sang a song about elves (because he didn't care to remember the scary part about Mordor), and stood by Frodo when they were under attack. He's brave and adorable. <3

  5. flootzavut says:

    Oh and the Black Riders are totally unsettling, actually V guvax gurl ner zber perrcl guna Qrzragbef, rfcrpvnyyl bapr lbh yrnea jub/jung gurl ner… you are totally at liberty to be thoroughly creeped out by them, no question.

  6. Saphling says:

    Mwahahahaha. I cannot. Just. Gah, unprepared.

    V xabj Znex zvtug abg svaq vg fb vagrerfgvat, ohg V'z nyy "Zber onpxtebhaq vasb ba Zvqqyr Rnegu, lnl!" Ur qbrfa'g xabj gung gur jubyr fgbel bs Yhguvra vf zhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhpu zhpu ybatre. Va snpg, gur puncgre bs gur Fvyznevyyvba rkcynvaf gung gur fbat ertneqvat gurz vf gur frpbaq ybatrfg fbat bs gur byqra jbeyq, naq gung gur puncgre nobhg gur fbat vf fubegre. V ybir vg.

    Nyfb, vg'f pbby gb guvax gung Yhguvra naq Orera ner Ryebaq'f terng-tenaqcneragf, nf jryy nf gur terng-tenaqcneragf bs Ryebf, Ryebaq'f oebgure, sebz jubz gur yvar bs Ahzraberna xvatf (vapyhqvat Nentbea, znal znal trarengvbaf qbja) vf qrfpraqrq. Yhguvra naq Orera'f puvyqera ner nyy cneg-rys (naq cneg-znvne gunaxf gb Zryvna) naq cneg-uhzna, zrnavat rnpu zhfg znxr n pubvpr jurgure gb or pbhagrq nzbat gur ryirf (vzzbegny naq tb vagb gur jrfg) be gur uhznaf (yvir n zbegny yvsr). Va nyy frevbhfarff, V arire haqrefgbbq jul Nejra pubbfvat n zbegny yvsr jnf n ovt qrny va gur zbivrf, hagvy V erernq gur Fvyznevyyvba.

    • Jenny_M says:

      Urur, Nejra jnfa'g zl snibevgr punenpgre hagvy V ernq gur FVyznevyyvba naq gur nccraqvprf naq haqrefgbbq ure pbaarpgvba gb O/Y. Frevbhfyl, V ybir ure. Fur vf njrfbzr. Orera/Yhguvra ner zl snibevgr ybir fgbel, ohg Nejra vf whfg…fvtu. V'z n ebznagvp ng urneg naq V ybir ure. Cyhf, ure tenaqzbgure vf Tnynqevry. Gung vf pbby fghss.

    • baruchan says:

      V unira'g er-ernq gur obbxf va gur cnfg srj lrnef, naq jura V tbg gb guvf puncgre V'z npghnyyl fhecevfrq ng gur nzbhag bs gur uvfgbel bs Zvqqyr-rnegu Gbyxvra fubjf hf guvf rneyl ba. V gbgnyyl sbetbg gung Nentbea ersreraprq Orera naq Yhguvra guvf rneyl ba va SBGE!

    • cait0716 says:

      Okay, I clearly need to read The Silmarillion after I finish this re-read of LotR

    • Tauriel_ says:

      THIS.

      Nyfb, Yúguvra vf fhpu n onqnff, jvgubhg rire qrfpraqvat vagb gur "npgvba fhcretvey" pyvpué.

      • Saphling says:

        FREVBHFYL. Nsgre ure qnq rffragvnyyl fragraprf Orera gb qrngu ol qrznaqvat n fvyznevy nf oevqr-cevpr, yrnqvat gb uvz trggvat pncgherq ol Zbetbgu, YHGUVRA TBRF VAGB URYY GUNATBEBQEVZ GB ERFPHR URE YBIR, NAQ FVATF FNGNA ZBETBGU GB FYRRRRC, ERFPHRF URE YBIR, NAQ CEVRF N FVYZNEVY SEBZ FNGNA'F ZBETBGU'F PEBJA, NAQ GURA TBRF UBZR GB GRYY URE QNQ UR ARRQF GB ONPX BSS.

        Onqnff vf gbb zvyq n jbeq.

        • Tauriel_ says:

          Yeah, no kidding.

        • shortstuff says:

          Qba'g gurl nyfb xvyy n jrerjbys naq qvfthvfr gurzfryirf nf gur ornfg va beqre gb farnx vagb gur sbegerff? Be nz V pbashfvat zl napvrag uvfgbel urer.

          Also, in an unrelated note, ubj zhpu qb lbh guvax Znex vf tbvat gb fdhrny jvgu Uboovgl wbl jura gurl svaq gur 3 gebyyf gung Tnaqnys gebyyrq gb fgbar? ybym

          • Tauriel_ says:

            Jryy, svefg Orera vf vzcevfbarq gbtrgure jvgu Srynthaq ol Fnheba naq Yúguvra vf va n "gerr ubhfr neerfg", ohg fur rfpncrf orpnhfr fur unf ZNTVP UNVE. Gura fur wbvaf hc jvgu Uhna naq gbtrgure gurl farnx vagb Fnheba'f sbegerff (Srynthaq vf nyernql qrnq) naq Uhna svtugf jvgu Fnheba va jbys sbez, orngf uvz jvguva na vapu bs uvf yvsr, naq gura Yúguvra vf onfvpnyyl "Trg bhg bs zl jnl, ovgpu" naq fur trgf Orera.

            Gura gurl tb gb Natonaq (gurer'f n oevrs fxvezvfu jvgu gur fbaf bs Sënabe ba gur jnl gurer), Yúguvra qvfthvfrf Orera vagb n jrerjbys naq urefrys vagb n inzcver, naq gurl farnx vagb Natonaq. Yúguvra erirnyf urefrys gb Zbetbgu naq fvatf uvz gb fyrrc, naq Orera trgf n Fvyznevy bhg bs uvf pebja. Gura gurl syrr, ohg gurl'er fgbccrq ol gur jrerjbys Pnepunebgu. Orera fgvpxf bhg uvf unaq jvgu gur Fvyznevy ng uvz, ohg ur ovgrf vg bss naq ehaf nzbx, orpnhfr vg oheaf uvz vafvqr.

            Orera naq Yúguvra trg onpx gb Qbevngu, naq Guvatby betnavfrf n uhag sbe Pnepunebgu, juvpu vf gura fhpprffshy, ohg Orera vf xvyyrq. Gurl erpbire gur Fvyznevy naq Guvatby fgvpxf vg vagb uvf Qjneira arpxynpr.

            Fb Orera vf qrnq, naq Yúguvra jvyyvatyl cnffrf vagb Znaqbf, naq ortf Znaqbf gb eryrnfr Orera. Znaqbf tvirf va (orpnhfr fur unf gur cbjre bs ZNTVP FBAT) naq, nsgre Znajë'f pbafhygngvba jvgu Vyúingne, ur tenagf gurz obgu n frpbaq (ohg zbegny) yvsr. Gurl unir n fba, Qvbe, jub yngre orpbzrf gur Xvat bs Fvaqne, naq yvir va Bffvevnaq hagvy gurve qrngu.

            Gurer, Ynl bs Yrvguvna va n ahgfuryy. 😀

            • shortstuff says:

              Impressive! Thanks for typing that out, it refreshes the memory for me. I haven't read the Silmarillion since high school, I think.

          • AmandaNekesa says:

            "Also, in an unrelated note, ubj zhpu qb lbh guvax Znex vf tbvat gb fdhrny jvgu Uboovgl wbl jura gurl svaq gur 3 gebyyf gung Tnaqnys gebyyrq gb fgbar? ybym "

            V'z shyyl nagvpvcngvat ybgf bs snaobl fdhrrvat bire gur snpg gung gurl'er fbeg bs sbyybjvat gur fnzr cngu nf Ovyob. Guvf jvyy or sbyybjrq ol haraqvat pbzcyrgr ubeebe nobhg ubj ybat gurl unir gb geniry jvgu Sebqb jbhaqrq, rira univat gb jnyx juvyr uvf nez naq fubhyqre ner pbzcyrgryl ahzo naq hfryrff. Gung jnf bar bs gur zbfg sevtugravat cnegf bs gur arkg puncgre. Vg'f vaperqvoyl qenja-bhg naq grafr naq guebhtubhg gur jubyr puncgre V'z nyjnlf nakvbhf gb frr n zragvba bs Sebqb'f pbaqvgvba. Mark is so unprepared.

      • baruchan says:

        Fur qrsrngrq rivy jvgu gur CBJRE BS FBAT. Fur vf bar bs gur zbfg onqnff punenpgref va nyy bs svpgvba. <3

  7. baruchan says:

    Right after reading this chapter, I re-watched one of my favorite Flight of the Conchords songs. You know which one. (ROT13'd for book and movie spoilers: uggc://jjj.lbhghor.pbz/jngpu?i=LZH-6SZdApp)

    Fcrnxvat bs Syvtug bs gur Pbapubeqf, V YBIR gung Oerg vf pbzvat onpx nf Yvaqve! <3

  8. flootzavut says:

    "V qba’g unir nal fbeg bs pyhr jung ebyr Nentbea jvyy cynl va guvf obbx"

    Guvf vf hacercnerqarff ba gur tenaqrfg cbffvoyr fpnyr naq V YBIR VG! <3

    "Bless my beard, I love you, Sam Gamgee."

    Samwise <3

    "pnaabg whfg pbagnpg bar nabgure va nal zrgubq gung’f vafgnagnarbhf be dhvpx be qrcraqnoyr"

    Bs pbhefr, fbzr bsgurz pna qb vafgnagnarbhf naq dhvpx, ohg gubfr zrgubqf ner abg nyjnlf qrcraqnoyr – Tnynqevry'f Zveeb, gur Cnynagvev… vg'f vagrerfgvat gb zr gung Gbyxvra'f rdhvinyragf bs zbovyr cubarf/rznvy rgp ner npghnyyl abg ragveryl gb or gehfgrq, orpnhfr jung lbh frr zvtug zvfyrnq lbh!

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkk Weather tooooooooop!

    I hadn;t registered that this was A Knife In The Dark so I was genuinely surprised at the end there!

    • Tauriel_ says:

      I agree with both of the rot13'd parts of your post. So true.

      • flootzavut says:

        Re the second part – V jbaqre vs gung vf yvaxrq gb Gbyxvra'f trareny qvfyvxr bs/zvfgehfg bs guvatf yvxr grpuabybtl naq fghss gung tbrf onat naq fb ba… V xabj gur Cnynagvev naq Tnynqevry'f zveebe ner abg grpuabybtl va n zbqrea xvaq bs frafr 🙂 ohg vg qbrf vagevthr zr gung ur cbegenlf gurz nf orvat haeryvnoyr.

        Ba n eryngrq abgr, V'ir qrpvqrq V nz tbvat gb or znxvat vCnyngvev pbmvrf sbe vCubarf. Guvf vf bar bs gur srj cynprf V xabj jurer V pna fnl gung naq abg unir gb rkcynva jul guvf znxrf zr ynhtu…

  9. cait0716 says:

    And so we get another name for Strider AKA Aragorn son of Arathorn: Longshanks. Was he also referred to as "The Ranger" at some point, or is my mind just playing tricks on me? Is that more like calling someone "The Doctor" or "The Teacher"? Anyway, all these names and titles and pseudonyms and aliases were one of the most difficult parts of the book for me. There are so many characters that giving them all multiple names makes it even harder to keep everything straight.

    I did laugh at Nob and Bob, though. I hope they're brothers, both in the employ of Butterbur. And I liked that we got the little story about Merry's ponies and everything worked out okay for them.

    Merry's question about the barrow-wights followed immediately by Aragorn's statement that men never lived there made me pause. Is there some connection between the two a la Smeagol and Gollum? Or did I misread? I know there's a ton of history and world-building going on and most of it just passed me by the first time. So does anyone know if there's a relation here? rot-13 if it's spoilery! (I've read the books before, but I obviously missed a lot and am now relying on the knowledge of everyone here to get everything I possibly can out of this book)

    The poem made my eyes cross a bit. It's so disconnected from the rest of the chapter. But then Aragorn's analysis makes it sound important. Or maybe Mark's right and it is just a distraction. Fvapr vg'f vapyhqrq va gur zbivr, gbb, V'z fher vg'f vzcbegnag. Ohg V guvax vg'f pbzzragnel ba Nentbea'f srryvatf sbe Nejra? I'm gonna have to take another look at the passage tonight.

    I like the misdirection of "A Knife in the Dark". At first I thought it was referring to the ransacked room at the Prancing Pony. But then in the final paragraph all was revealed. Nicely played, Tolkien.

    • flootzavut says:

      "I like the misdirection of "A Knife in the Dark". At first I thought it was referring to the ransacked room at the Prancing Pony. But then in the final paragraph all was revealed. Nicely played, Tolkien."

      Yes – and actually even though I'd read/seen it multiple times, I always associate AKITD with what happens at the Pony, and then – horror!

    • Saphling says:

      Nentbea naq Nejra ner obgu qrfpraqrq sebz Yhguvra naq Orera, gubhtu ner znal trarengvbaf qvfgnag. Yhguvra naq Orera'f ybir vf… cerprqrag, V fhccbfr, sbe Nentbea naq Nejra orvat noyr gb or gbtrgure, ohg nyfb n erzvaqre bs jung jbhyq unccra vs gurl *jrer* gb trg gbtrgure. Gurl jbhyq obgu riraghnyyl qvr, nf Yhguvra naq Orera qvq.

      • flootzavut says:

        Nejra va n frafr unf zber gb ybfr, orpnhfr vfa'g vg fbzrubj sngrq gung fur ybfrf nyy fur tnvaf orsber fur qvrf? Urapr fur npghnyyl pna'g qvr hagvy Nentbea vf tbar naq rirelguvat orpbzrf gbngf qrcerffvat naq fnq sbe ure…? V nyjnlf trg pbashfrq bire guvf fghss gubhtu fb V pbhyq or fbbbbbb jebat…

        • Jenny_M says:

          Lrnu, fur onfvpnyyl raqf hc nybar naq jnaqrevat va gur jbbqf hagvy fur ynlf qbja naq qvrf. NYY ZL PERLF. NYY BS GURZ.

        • @flourish says:

          Jryy, jura fur npghnyyl QBRF qvr, ure puvyqera ner fgvyy nyvir, sbe rknzcyr. Fb fur qbrfa'g npghnyyl ybfr rirelguvat gung fur ybirf. Vg'f whfg gung fur unf gur uneqre cngu orpnhfr Nentbea NYJNLF xarj ur jbhyq qvr, naq ur qvrf jura ur'f byq, jurernf fur fgnegrq yvsr guvaxvat fur'q tb gb Inyvabe, naq fur unf gb qrpvqr gb qvr juvyr fur'f fgvyy lbhat naq, hz, "abg lrg gverq bs yvsr" vf V guvax gur dhbgr, orpnhfr bgurejvfr fur jbhyq, lbh xabj, raq hc whfg jnaqrevat gur rnegu zbheavat sbe lrnef naq lrnef.

          • flootzavut says:

            Fb qbrf fur trg gb qrpvqr jura fur qvrf yvxr gur Ahzrabernaf be jung? Orpnhfr V trg fbbbbb pbashfrq bire guvf. V xabj fur onfvpnyyl raqf hc jnyxvat guebhtu gur jbeqf ba ure bja (VF GUVF QRCERFFVAT RABHTU LRG ZE GBYXVRA?) ohg lrnu V whfg trg gnatyrq hc jura V iragher bhgfvqr gur znva ovgf bs gur fgbel. V ybir guvf fghss ohg *zl oenva* V arrq n pevo furrg…

            Pbagenfgvat jvgu Yhguvra – VVEP (OVT VS) Yhguvra jura fur vf erfheerpgrq trgf n abezny uhzna yvsrfcna lrfab?

            • Tauriel_ says:

              Lrf, Nejra jvyyvatyl qvrf nsgre Nentbea'f shareny naq nsgre fnlvat tbbqolr gb Ryqnevba naq ure qnhtugref – fvzvyne gb gur snfuvba va juvpu gur Aúzraberna xvatf, naq Nentbea nf jryy, qvrq jura gurl sryg gur raq pbzvat. Rkprcg gung fur pbhyq yvir ba hagvy fur jnf gverq bs gur jbeyq naq <v>gura</v> qvr – ohg jung jbhyq or gur cbvag, bapr Nentbea, gur zna sbe jubz fur fgnlrq va Zvqqyr-rnegu, jnf tbar?

              Naq lrf, nsgre Yúguvra naq Orera erghearq sebz Znaqbf gb Zvqqyr-rnegu, Yúguvra jnf n zbegny (nygubhtu V rkcrpg fur, gbb, qvrq jvyyvatyl jvgu Orera, jub qvqa'g unir n pubvpr – bayl gur Aúzraberna xvatf unq gur pubvpr, naq gung jnf orpnhfr bs gur Ryivfu naq Znvna oybbq va gurz va gur svefg cynpr).

              • flootzavut says:

                Thank you! My brain will only willingly hold on to so much information, and there is SO MUCH concerning Middle Earth that it seems the second I get a hold of one thing, something else falls out. So I tend to know the pieces but not how they fit together. This helps!! 😀

                • Flourish says:

                  OK, this got me going on that whole topic…

                  Gur jubyr guvat vf ernyyl pbashfvat, orpnhfr rirel fvatyr unys-rys unf n qvssrerag fvghngvba. Ohg urer’f jung npghnyyl unccraf gb gurz:

                  1) Orera naq Yúguvra (ZVKRQ ZNEEVNTR BAR!) unir n unys-ryira fba, Qvbe. Ur vf xvyyrq. Fhccbfrqyl ur pbhagf nf na rys, ohg jr qba’g ernyyl xabj orpnhfr jura ryirf be zra qvr ol ivbyrapr vg ybbxf gur fnzr gb crbcyr va Zvqqyr-Rnegu.

                  2) Qvbe unf guerr puvyqera jvgu na rys jbzna. Gjb bs gurz ner ybfg va gur sberfg naq cerfhznoyl ner rngra ol jbyirf, ohg gur guveq, Ryjvat, raqf hc zneelvat nabgure unys-rys, Räeraqvy. Gurl ner tvira n pubvpr orgjrra orvat zbegny be ryira ol gur Inyne, ohg guvf nccrnef gb or n fcrpvny qrny orpnhfr gurl, lbh xabj, fnvyrq gb Inyvabe naq fuvg. (Gurl obgu cvpx orvat ryirf.)

                  3)Ghbe naq Vqevy (ZVKRQ ZNEEVNTR GJB!) unir n unys-ryira fba, Räeraqvy. Uvf sngr vf gur fnzr nf Ryjvat’f nobir.

                  4) Räeraqvy naq Ryjvat unir n fba, Ryebf; fvapr gurl ner obgu unys-ryira, ur vf 50% rys naq 50% uhzna gbb. Ur pubbfrf gb orpbzr zbegny. Uvf puvyqera (gur xvatf bs Aúzrabe) ner gurersber nyfb pbhagrq nf zbegny, naq gurl qba’g trg nal pubvpr va gur znggre – nygubhtu gurl ner nyybjrq gb pubbfr gur gvzr bs gurve qrngu, naq gurl unir rkgen-ybat yvsr.

                  5) Räeraqvy naq Ryjvat nyfb unir nabgure fba, Ryebaq. Ur pubbfrf gb or ryira naq riraghnyyl geniryf bire gur frn gb Inyvabe.

                  6) Ryebaq unf guerr puvyqera ol na rys jbzna: Ryynqna, Ryebuve, naq Nejra. (Gung zrnaf gurl ner 25% zbegny, 75% rys, ol gur jnl.) Jr qba’g xabj jung unccraf gb Ryynqna naq Ryebuve be vs gurl’er rire tvira n pubvpr nobhg jurgure gb or zbegny be abg.

                  7) Nejra qrpvqrf gb orpbzr zbegny. Cerfhznoyl, fur’q trg guvf pubvpr rira vs fur jrera’g unys-ryira, orpnhfr fur’f zneevrq gb Nentbea naq gurersber unys bs ZVKRQ ZNEEVNTR #3. (Jrveqyl, Nentbea vf ure pbhfva yvxr svsgl gvzrf erzbirq, ivn Ryebf naq gur Xvatf bs Aúzrabe.) Riraghnyyl Nejra naq Nentbea obgu “ynl gurzfryirf qbja” naq ner nyybjrq gb cvpx gur zbzrag gurl qvr… juvpu yrnqf zr gb oryvrir gung va nqqvgvba gb gur Aúzrabernaf univat guvf cbjre, nal rys gung orpbzrf zbegny unf vg gbb, zrnavat gung Yúguvra cebonoyl qvq gur fnzr jura fur qvrq.

                  8) Nejra naq Nentbea unir ybgf bs cneg-rys onovrf, ohg abar bs gurz trg gb pubbfr vs gurl’er zbegny be abg, orpnhfr gurl nera’g ryira rabhtu, be orpnhfr gurve zbz qrpvqrq gb or zbegny, be fbzrguvat.

                  (Gurer’f nyfb fhccbfrqyl n ZVKRQ ZNEEVNTR #4, juvpu yrq gb na ryira fgenva va gur Cevaprf bs Qby Nzebgu, ohg gung’f sebz gur Hasvavfurq Gnyrf fb lbh qrpvqr vs vg’f pnaba be abg, naq boivbhfyl gur jbzna vaibyirq [jub vf gur rys va dhrfgvba – jul ner gur ryirf nyjnlf ynqvrf va gurfr zvkrq zneevntrf?] pubfr gb or zbegny orpnhfr gur Cevaprf bs Qby Nzebgu ner zbegny, gur raq.)

                  • Tauriel_ says:

                    orpnhfr jura ryirf be zra qvr ol ivbyrapr vg ybbxf gur fnzr gb crbcyr va Zvqqyr-Rnegu.

                    Vapbeerpg. Juvyr obgu Zra naq Ryirf pna qvr (va gur Ryirf' pnfr gurl pna rvgure or xvyyrq be qvr bs tevrs), gur znva qvssrerapr orgjrra gurz vf gung gur Ryirf' sëne (fbhyf) ner rgreanyyl obhaq gb gur jbeyq, jurernf gur sëne bs Zra yrnir gur jbeyq nygbtrgure, naq jurer gurl tb, ab bar xabjf rkprcg sbe Vyúingne.

                    Jura na Rys vf xvyyrq, uvf be ure sën tbrf gb gur Unyyf bs Znaqbf. Gurer vg fgnlf sbe fbzr gvzr (vg pna or ybat vs gur Rys va dhrfgvba arrqf gb ngbar sbe fvaf ur be fur znqr qhevat uvf be ure yvsr), naq nsgrejneqf pna rvgure fgnl va Inyvabe (nf qvq zbfg bs gur Ryirf jub qvrq qhevat gur Svefg Ntr) be or erobea va Zvqqyr-rnegu (yvxr Tybesvaqry, sbe vafgnapr) – va juvpu pnfr ur be fur ergnvaf uvf be ure zrzbevrf.

                    Naq lbh'er nyfb fyvtugyl vapbeerpg ba gur oybbq crepragntrf, orpnhfr lbh sbetrg gung Yúguvra vf unys-Znvn, ba ure zbgure'f fvqr. Gurersber:

                    Qvbe vf 1/4 Znvn, 1/4 Rys, 1/2 uhzna
                    Ryjvat vf 1/8 Znvn, 5/8 Rys, 1/4 uhzna
                    Räeraqvy vf 1/2 Rys, 1/2 uhzna
                    Ryebaq naq Ryebf ner obgu 1/16 Znvn, 9/16 Rys, 3/8 uhzna
                    Ryynqna, Ryebuve naq Nejra ner 1/32 Znvn, 25/32 Rys, 3/16 uhzna

                    But otherwise, very nice summary! 🙂 *applauds*

                    • msw188 says:

                      Haha, these two are the most amazing posts ever. Zl bayl pbeerpgvba jbhyq or, V jnf haqre gur vzcerffvba gung gur fcvevgf bs Zra nyfb tb gb Znaqbf jura gurve obqvrf ner xvyyrq. Guhf Orera vf va gur Unyyf bs Jnvgvat naq Yhguvra vf noyr gb fvat gb Znaqbf gb eryrnfr uvz orsber uvf fcvevg yrnirf Rnegu sberire. Fgvyy, vs V'z evtug, vg jbhyq zrna gung Sybhevfu vf pbeerpg gb pynvz gung jura na Rys be Zna vf fynva, vg vf vzcbffvoyr gb gryy gur qvssrerapr evtug njnl, naq sberire vzcbffvoyr gb xabj gb bar jub fgnlf va Zvqqyr Rnegu.

                    • baruchan says:

                      LOL, I remember calculating the blood percentages back in high school, for my utterly atrocious Silmarillion crossover. Ah, good times

                  • notemily says:

                    V nyjnlf yvxrq gung "Ryebaq Unys-Ryira" qbrfa'g zrna ur'f tbg bar rys cnerag naq bar uhzna–ur whfg unf n ybg bs obgu va uvf yvarntr.

                  • Tilly says:

                    Brilliant summary!

                    (Gurer'f nyfb fhccbfrqyl n ZVKRQ ZNEEVNTR #4, juvpu yrq gb na ryira fgenva va gur Cevaprf bs Qby Nzebgu, ohg gung'f sebz gur Hasvavfurq Gnyrf fb lbh qrpvqr vs vg'f pnaba be abg, naq boivbhfyl gur jbzna vaibyirq [jub vf gur rys va dhrfgvba – jul ner gur ryirf nyjnlf ynqvrf va gurfr zvkrq zneevntrf?] pubfr gb or zbegny orpnhfr gur Cevaprf bs Qby Nzebgu ner zbegny, gur raq.)

                    Zvgueryynf (gung'f gur rys ynql'f anzr) yvirq jvgu ure uhzna uhfonaq sbe n juvyr, unq gjb puvyqera jvgu uvz, naq gura bar avtug whfg fyvccrq njnl naq yrsg gurz (V nyjnlf gubhtug gung ovg jnf engure fryxvr-yvxr). Fur znl unir tbar ba gb Inyvabe ohg ab bar ernyyl xabjf.

                  • flootzavut says:

                    Wow. I'm going to be saving this for future reference lol 😀

              • Saphling says:

                V gubhtug vg jnf Ryebf jub pubfr gb or pbhagrq nzbat Zra, naq gur Ahzrabernaf qrfpraqrq sebz uvz jrer nyy uryq ol Ryebf' pubvpr, naq jrer zbegny. Gur jubyr ernfba jul gurl eroryyrq ntnvafg gur Inyne jnf gung gurl jrer nsenvq bs qlvat naq qvqa'g jnag gb.

                I may be mistaking what you're saying, though. Need more caffeine to talk about such complicated things.

                • Tauriel_ says:

                  V zrnag pubbfvat gur gvzr bs gurve qrngu, gur novyvgl gb qvr jura gurl sryg ernql (jvgubhg pbzzvggvat fhvpvqr, bs pbhefr – whfg "fjvgpuvat bss" jura vg jnf gvzr). 🙂

      • cait0716 says:

        Thanks, that helps clear things up

    • MsSméagol says:

      Yes, Aragorn is also The Ranger!

      • Tauriel_ says:

        Strider, Middle-earth Ranger

        In other words: piss off, Chuck! 😀

        • cait0716 says:

          Whoa, and his name is even "Walker" in that show.

          Now I wonder if there's more than a superficial relation. Is Aragorn Middle Earth's Chuck Norris? Fubhyq gurer or Ivttb Zbegrafba snpgf? <- movie casting spoilers

          • baruchan says:

            Gurer fubhyq gbgnyyl or Ivttb Zbegrafra snpgf! Gung zna vf gur ONZSvrfg ONZS V'ir rire urneq bs!

            • Tauriel_ says:

              I FULLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.

            • shortstuff says:

              YES! If you go back to yesterday's chapter, on the first page there's a post by Cait that has like 40 replies, it's all facts about his BAMFness while filming. Also, there's a ton more on the IMDB page for the movies. Spoilers, obviously, so don't read yet Mark!

              We should definitely have a whole blog entry post-movie where we all get to talk about making of stuff from the movies. I don't expect mark to watch ALL the material, so we can tell him the good stuff. Seriously, the amount of love the actors and crew showed to these films is amazing, and that in itself can sometimes make me tear up

              • flootzavut says:

                Me too! Those extras are so damn moving. And also SO FUNNY!

                Just while I'm thinking about it, though I have mentioned this elsewhere:

                Favourite Extra: Ubzr bs gur ubefrybeqf sbe njrfbzrarff sebz nyy vaibyirq – rkgenf, PTV crbcyr, npgbef. Nyfb gur snpg gung ybiryl Ivttb (oyrff) ohlf Sybevna sbe gur fghagynql jub V jnag gb pnyy Wnar…?

                Funniest Extra: Ihttb fabttvat Ovyyl, Ovyyl'f ernpgvba, Ivttb'f pbzzragf, Qbz'f ernpgvba, Ovyyl fnlvat, "V'yy xvff nalobql". Juvpu… jryy qb V arrq gb rkcynva jul??!

                Most moving extra: Gur fghagzrag cresbezvat n Unxn sbe Ivttb naq Oreaneq nf gurve eblnygl <3 nyjnlf znxrf zr grne hc, fhpu n ybiryl zbzrag.

                • AmandaNekesa says:

                  I totally agree with all of your top extras listed! Love the extras!

                  Here's some of my other favorites:

                  Ovyyl Oblq tvivat Qbz n uneq gvzr sbe uvf gval fcyvagre. Rfcrpvnyyl jura ur gnyxrq nobhg ubj, nsgrejneqf, vs Qbz jnf trggvat fjrngl ng nyy ur'q nfx uvz, "fcyvagre?" naq Qbz jbhyq or nyy "teeee…" unun…

                  Nabgure vf jura Ovyyl, Qbz, Ryvwnu, naq Frna gnyx nobhg gnxvat n uryvpbcgre hc gb n ybpngvba, naq gur bgure guerr tvir Frna n qvssvphyg gvzr nobhg ubj ur unaqyrq gur gevc. Juvyr Ovyyl, Qbz naq Ryvwnu ner nyy univat n tbbq gvzr nfxvat gur cvybg vs ur pna tb qb fbzr onaxf, be ubj sne gurl pna trg gb gung zbhagnva bire gurer, be vs ur pbhyq cvpx hc n ovplpyr jvgu gur uryvpbcgre naq fhpu – Frna vf nyy frevbhf, gryyvat gurz gb or dhvrg, naq qverpgvat gur cvybg. V whfg ybir Ryvwnu'f naq Qbz'f er-ranpgzragf bs Frna, qverpgvat gur uryvpbcgre cvybgf va gung cneg. Znxrf zr ynhtu rirel gvzr.

                  • flootzavut says:

                    Heehee. Cbbe Frna jnyxvat hc gur zbhagnva, ur ernyyl ungrq gung pubccre qvqa'g ur?

                    • AmandaNekesa says:

                      Bu, V jnf npghnyyl gnyxvat nobhg Frna Nfgva, ohg gung'f nabgure terng bar! CW naq (V guvax) Ivttb gnyx nobhg gur uvynevbhf fvtug bs jngpuvat n gval Obebzve pyvzo hc n zbhagnva nf gurl cnff ol va n uryvpbcgre. Obgu tbbq ovgf va gur rkgenf! 😀

                    • flootzavut says:

                      Bu V'q sbetbggra gung! Lrf, cbbe (yvggyr) Frna. Naq lrnu V erzrzore CW naq Ivttb gnyxvat nobhg gung gbb 🙂

          • flootzavut says:

            YES! UBERBAMF! Jr ybirf uvz jr qbrf, cerpvbhf! EBG13 orpnhfr V qba'g jnag gb fcbvyr (cbffvoyl) Znex sbe xabjvat Tbyyhz vf onpx.

    • Jenny_M says:

      Spoilers for your rot13 (read if you want a direct answer, don't if you don't):

      Vg'f n qverpg cnenyyry gb uvf yvsr jvgu Nejra, cerggl zhpu. Fur pubbfrf gb tvir hc ure vzzbegnyvgl, whfg nf Yhguvra qvq sbe Orera. Cyhf, ur naq Nejra (zberfb ure guna uvz) ner sebz gur yvarntr bs Orera naq Yhguvra.

    • @ljrTR says:

      Lrf, gur fgbel bs Orera & Yhguvra cnenyyryf gung bs Nentbea naq Nejra, juvpu vf jul vg vf vzcbegnag gb Nentbea. fb pbby gung vg vf whfg fyvccrq va yvxr guvf – naq Znex guvaxf vg vf bayl n qvfgenpgvba.

    • Becky_J_ says:

      This really doesn’t have to do with your post but I wanted you to know that I was reading Mark’s reviews of The Book Thief and I’m fairly certain that you and I would have been best friends if we had known each other. Were both from the mountains of Colorado, and we both love champagne! Although, since I am still a poor college student, I drink a LOT of cooks and andres 🙂 sorry, super random, but it had to be said!

  10. blossomingpeach says:

    I love this chapter, though I do admit to skipping the long songs most of the time. I just want to get back to the story at hand! I usually tell people struggling with this book to make it to this chapter, then they won't be able to put it down.

    The first time I read this, I remember feeling so unsettled that the hobbits' rooms had been ransacked. Oh noes! Then there was Weathertop. CREEPY MCCREEPSTER. The black riders are the stuff of nightmares. And we're only in Chapter 11!

    <img src="http://gallery.mirrorthesoul.net/albums/Disney/Tangled/Screencaps/02/normal_tangled_1590.JPG"&gt;

    • flootzavut says:

      BEST GIF!

    • atheistsisters says:

      Hehe, yup, that is totally me when I read this chapter. Even the WORD Weathertop makes me feel a little queasy, and it's been years since I first read the book… one would think that angst would fade a little.

  11. Katarina says:

    I think my favourite part of this chapter is that Tolkien actually takes the time to tell us that the ponies are all right. Black Riders have attacked, the protagonists must flee, and Frodo will be in deep trouble before the chapter is over – but hey, we mustn't worry about the ponies! It's so sweet.

  12. I LOVE the poem- it was one of the few songs in "Fellowship" I didn't skip! I think it was because there actually seemed to be a story behind them and because I really loved the imagery in it. (And Silmarillion spoilers: Yhguvra xvpxf fb zhpu nff vg'f abg rira shaal. Fur'f bar bs gur zbfg njrfbzr punenpgref va Zvqqyr Rnegu.) But this passage in particular has always been beautiful and sad to me:
    Enchantment healed his weary feet
    That over hills were doomed to roam
    And forth he hastened strong and fleet
    And grasped at moonbeams glistening
    Through woven woods in Elvenhome
    She lightly fled on dancing feet
    And left him lonely still to roam
    In the silent forest listening

    I also love the poem of Gil-galad. And that Sam sings it. He's getting more awesome with every chapter.

    One of the bits in this chapter I love from sheer character development is Frodo's mini-breakdown when he realizes that the riders are coming "If I move, I shall be seen and hunted! If I stay, I shall draw them to me!" And Strider just very quietly reassures him "There is still hope. You are not alone." I care not for the cheesiness, I LOVE THIS MOMENT. I love that Aragorn pushes them to do more than they thought possible and yet is still able to be comforting when he needs to be.

    I'm not going to touch on the ending because it's terrifying and can come up with nothing more than that.

    • @ljrTR says:

      I really like your observation about Strider here – " I love that Aragorn pushes them to do more than they thought possible and yet is still able to be comforting when he needs to be. "

    • Alice says:

      I loved the poem too,because I thought that Tolkien would not write a lenghty poem just for the sake of it…I remember I thought when I was reading it " this has to have some deeper meaning " and I tried to figure why Aragorn recited it. 🙂

  13. @flourish says:

    Oh, Mark. You are NOT prepared for how deep the mythology of these books goes if you're yet befuddled by Beren and Lúthien!

    The truth about the Silmarillion: it explains to you the history of everything in Middle-Earth. Including Weathertop. Which means (1) it is EXACTLY how you thought LotR would be, but (2) it is also super, duper awesome once you've read LotR because you read along and you're like "HOLY SHIT, Tnynqevry vf yvgrenyyl byqre guna gur fha naq zbba!!!!!!!!!" and then you want to die in a good way.

    • Geolojazz says:

      Someday I'll have to slug through it. I gave it a shot in junior high after reading LotR about 3 times, and never got much further than Ainulindale (which I took as my first internet screen name <3 ah the memories…)

      • @flourish says:

        Yeah, it takes a while to get into the really good stuff. Really the stuff about Beren and Lúthien is the best (read: most action-story-like) part, so skip to that if it will help you get into it!

    • Caitlin says:

      sdfghjkl;loiuy THESE ARE MY FEELINGS EXACTLY. I love The Silmarillion, & when i re-read LotR afterwards, there were many a time when i flipped my proverbial shit.

  14. knut_knut says:

    NEW PONY! All is well in the world <3

    As much as I love this world Tolkien’s created, his massive history lessons always seem to be really out of place/inconvenient. I’m fairly certain I skipped them the first time I read LoTR, but after I knew the whole story I was more patient. Considering the amount of work Tolkien put into this world, I think it would be a bit of a disservice to him to just skip all of it every time.

    Znex’f yvggyr ovg nobhg ubcvat gb frr Snggl Obytre’f cneg va gur zbivr znqr zr fnq orpnhfr vg’f abg va gur zbivr naq ur’yy or qvfnccbvagrq! V’ir nyjnlf gubhtug bs gur zbivr nf n snvgushy nqncgngvba bs gur obbxf va gur yvgreny obbx-zbivr frafr, fb V’z nyjnlf fhecevfrq gb frr ubj qvssrerag gurl ner. V guvax zbfg bs gur punatrf jrer arprffnel va beqre gb znxr gur zbivr ragregnvavat gb obgu snaf naq aba-snaf, naq V fgvyy guvax gur zbivr vf n snvgushy nqncgngvba bs gur obbx, ohg vg’f qrsvavgryl vgf bja vagrecergngvba, juvpu V nyjnlf frrz gb sbetrg. Vg jbexf fb jryy!

  15. Ryan Lohner says:

    Are you following along on the map in the book (as far as I know, every edition has one)?

    • Lugija says:

      I'm interested about that, as well. I love when a fantasy book has a map in it, following the characters on them is awesome.

      • roguebelle says:

        I am so map-obsessed, especially when it comes to fantasy books. Except I always wish there were larger versions of them. Or, like, Google Maps versions that I could plot all the points on. 😀

    • @RadagastWiz says:

      For true map nerds like me, there's a book called 'The Journeys of Frodo' that basically maps the entirety of LOTR and all the tracks the main characters take. The maps are WAY more detailed than the included ones (the cartographer takes a few guesses on some details, but it all works out) and it's fascinating to have on hand during a re-read.

      • Lugija says:

        Thank you for reminding me, I heard about it many years ago (before buying from the Internet was as easy as it is now), but haven't ever seen it. But it seems to be very cheap now (50 maps for little over 10 euros? Awesome), so if you can recommend it, I'll get it.

  16. Dreamflower says:

    I think JRRT includes poems at what might seem inappropriate times for several reasons. Of course there is that he has written them and wants them to be a part of the story– an understandable desire.

    And there is that he wants to add history and depth to his world.

    But I think he also includes them as a red herring, so to speak. If someone has the time to stop and spout a poem or sing a song, then things must be easing up, perhaps things aren't so dire as the reader believes, maybe there is more time than seems evident before the next dire thing happens… and so the reader either reads it with a sigh and a roll of the eye for the poor timing– or skips over it altogether with the mental note of "boring* (things must be slow) and a roll of the eyes– and then BAM!! the dire thing does happen!

    Naq va guvf cnegvphyne pnfr, gur fgbel bs Orera naq Yhguvra nyfb freirf nf n pyhr gb gur vqragvgl bs Fgevqre/Nentbea: abg bayl vf ur n qrfpraqnag bs Yhguvra, ohg uvf sngr, yvxr gung bs Orera, jvyy or gvrq hc jvgu gur bar ur ybirf– naq ure sngr jvyy or gung bs Yhguvra. Bs pbhefr, ba n svefg ernqvat (be rira n frpbaq) gur ernqre vf abg rdhvccrq gb nccerpvngr guvf ovg bs vebal.

  17. vivelabagatel says:

    There are about five billion illustrations of Aragorn's song out there … most of which I have saved, because I really really like pictures of Beren and Luthien. Luthien was basically awesome – note the bit where Aragorn says that she went and defeated SAURON, actual Sauron, because he took Beren prisoner. Her power comes through music and dance, and she was basically Tolkien's love-letter to his wife, Edith.

    The first one show Tolkien's gravestone.
    <img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/25rcci1.jpg"&gt;

    Ted Naismith's Luthien: <img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/10pr7ti.jpg"&gt;

    Anke Eissman:
    <img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/2ypfd5w.jpg"&gt;

  18. hpfish13 says:

    I was supposed to have 2 pictures today (the other was of Tinuviel), but one of the links I have isn't working. I'll have to re-upload the original file later today, and post it tomorrow. Anyway, here are the Black Rider's horses, which are nowhere near as awesome as Hobbit ponies.

    <img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/25rysjq.jpg"&gt;

  19. msw188 says:

    I mean, the fact that virtually nothing in Middle-earth is “modern” in any way is sort of why I like it. The characters walk and ride ponies or horses. That’s it.

    "Cars, Papa."

    😀

  20. echinodermata says:

    Yeah, my eyes glaze over if I try reading most of the poems and songs. Even in The Hobbit, I had to force myself to read that first one with the Dwarves mucking about with Bilbo's dishes and stuff. And that's a fun song! So for poems and songs about fake historical things? Yeah, I skip. I just cannot connect to them when I try, and my eyes naturally want to skim over it, and just, I will never come to love them. I know that about myself.

    So while there may be a bunch of descriptions of them walking, what sold me off the series the first time I attempted to read it was the songs and poems. I love this series, but I still can't bring myself to read any of that.

  21. atheistsisters says:

    "Jung gur uryy qbrf Gbyxvra unir cynaarq?"
    V nz gelvat abg gb thssnj hcebnevbhfyl urer.
    "V qba’g unir nal fbeg bs pyhr jung ebyr Nentbea jvyy cynl va guvf obbx, ohg V’q or ylvat vs V qvqa’g nqzvg gung ur vf xvaq bs urycshy gb unir nebhaq qhevat guvf ragver frpgvba."
    Lrf, fhpu n urycshy enatre. Tbbq enatre!
    "Gurl pbhyq hfr n aba-uboovg pbzcnavba, rfcrpvnyyl fbzrbar jub xabjf guvf cneg bs Zvqqyr-rnegu. Gung qbrfa’g zrna gur gevc vf bar tvnag fyhzore cnegl, gubhtu; vg’f cerggl zvfrenoyr ba qnl guerr."
    Lrf, Tnaqnys naq Ryebaq guvax gurl pbhyq hfr pbzcnavbaf, gbb…

    • Jenny_M says:

      Zbivr Yrtbynf (fgngvat gur boivbhf): Vg'f nyzbfg nf gubhtu gurl pbhyq hfr…N SRYYBJFUVC. BS GUR EVAT!!!!!

      Nentbea/Tvzyv/Tnaqnys: *snprcnyz*

      • blossomingpeach says:

        Un un. Oevyyvnag. Zl ebbzzngrf naq V nyjnlf pnyyrq uvz "Pncgnva Boivbhf."

        "N qvirefvba!" (Nygubhtu zl zbz gbgnyyl gubhtug ur fnvq "Yvxr n ivetva" gur svefg gvzr fur fnj vg…)

  22. msw188 says:

    The internal consistency of the world is indeed one of the most striking things about these books. I really love those two paragraphs from Mark exploring this idea a bit. Another similar thing: in this world, places are SO FAR, and since you're walking, food and water probably play a HUGE role. We already see the characters worrying about food supplies.

    When I was younger, this chapter felt long to me, and I was surprised to discover that Tolkien really only spends about half a page in Midgewater, aside from the brief exchange regarding the lights they can see in the sky. As for the song, I skipped it on my first read as well, but I think that beyond any history lesson, it's meant to further our trust of Aragorn. What bad guy sings songs about elves?

  23. readerofprey says:

    Oh, but Beren and Luthien have such a romantic story! Their forbidden romance between an elf and a human, her rescuing him from captivity, her choosing to be mortal so that they can die together (elves normally live forever unless something kills them); and the fact that lots of the awesome people in Middle Earth are descended from them, including Elrond and the kings of the West..

    They're like Romeo and Juliet, only a thousand times more awesome! Tolkien's poetry and asides slow me down as well, but this was never one of the sections that I minded.

    • monkeybutter says:

      I've never read The Silmarillion and I got everything that readerofprey said from Aragorn's explanation of the poem. Could you let me know in rot13 if there's something I'm missing?

      • Darth_Ember says:

        Comment deleted, please disregard. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go find my brain – I try to keep an open mind, but the silly thing gets itself lost…

    • readerofprey says:

      I checked. Aragon explicitly mentions all of that when explaining the poem.

  24. bookworm67 says:

    In the movie, gur fprar ng Jrnguregbc nyjnlf fpnerq gur fuvg bhg bs zr.

    I read the part about the flashing lights the other day and cannot for the life of me remember if they are significant later (don't tell me though). I think I've gotten all confused from not reading the books for several years and seeing the movies a bajillion times.

  25. guest_age says:

    "V xabj cerggl zhpu rirelbar ybirf gur zbivrf, naq V xabj gurl’er vaperqvoyl ybat, fb vg’f gurfr fbeg bs zbzragf gung V ernyyl ubcr ner er-perngrq snvgushyyl ba fperra."

    Uru. Bu, Znex. V xvaq bs ybir ubj ur'f orra fnlvat ur pna'g jnvg gb frr pregnva guvatf ba svyz jura yvxr…90% bs jung ur'f ernq fb sne vfa'g rira va gurz.

    I know what you mean about visuals helping with a story–I struggle with books because my mind doesn't connect words with images all that well. When I read this book for the first time, I was slogging through it because I couldn't picture any of it. The first movie came out when I was about half-way through FotR so I went to see it. When I returned to finish the second half of the book, I got through it much quicker and had a much easier time with it, because I now had images and faces to put to Tolkien's world and characters. Hopefully when you liveblog the first film, something similar will happen for you.

    • Dreamflower says:

      I also understand. I read the books decades before the movies. I had no trouble visualizing the geography and landscapes– the the characters' faces and voices always eluded me. I remember my own horrible attempts at drawing them and my frustration that none of that looked right. PJ really helped me with that!

    • Ubarfgyl, gubhtu, V'ir nyjnlf orra cyrnfrq jvgu jung gur svyz pubfr gb yrnir bhg naq jung vg pubfr gb xrrc be rzcunfvmr. (V thrff zbfg crbcyr srry guvf jnl.) Nf zhpu nf V ybirq ubj jnpxl naq jrveq naq hahfhny Gbz Obzonqvy jnf, vg jbhyqa'g unir genafyngrq jryy.

      Fgvyy, gur vzntrel bs Nentbea ehaavat bagb jrnguregbc jvgu sver naq fjbeq? ZBFG ONQNFF GUVAT RIRE. Rirelgvzr V jngpu vg V fpernz naq purre sbe uvz. Nyfb, gur orfg cneg bs cynlvat gur ivqrb tnzr.

      • @flourish says:

        Gur bar guvat V jvfu gurl unq chg va vf gur Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver. V haqrefgnaq gung gur ynfg bar jbhyq unir tbggra jnl gbb ybat, ohg V guvax vg'f fb vaperqvoyl vzcbegnag sbe gur fgbel'f gurzrf! V'q engure gurl qebccrq Nentbea'f pbebangvba be fbzrguvat.

        • msw188 says:

          N ybg bs crbcyr fnl guvf, naq V hfrq gb nf jryy. V gbb jvfu guvf pbhyq unir orra vapyhqrq, ohg vg jbhyqa'g unir orra n znggre bs whfg qebccvat Nentbea'f pbebangvba, be ryvzvangvat bgure fprarf. Vg jbhyq unir qvfehcgrq gur ragver cnpvat bs gur svyz, naq punatrq gur rzcunfvf. Gur svyz fhssref rabhtu sebz univat n unys-pyvznk va gur sbez bs Zvanf Gvevgu orvat fhpprffshyyl qrsraqrq. Gb tb sebz gung, gb univat na vaperqvoyr rzbgvbany pyvznk ng Zbhag Qbbz + Oynpx Tngr, fgenvtug vagb n jubyr arj ohvyq-hc gbjneqf n arj pyvznk va gur Fuver, jbhyq unir cebonoyl qbar n qvffreivpr gb gur Fpbhevat ba gur jubyr.

          Gur bayl jnl vg pbhyq unir jbexrq jbhyq unir orra gb cnpr vg yvxr gur obbx, jurer gurer vf n GBA bs gvzr gnyxvat naq jnyxvat orgjrra Zbhag Qbbz naq gur Oenaqljvar Tngr. Jura Sebqb fnlf, "Vg srryf yvxr V'z snyyvat nfyrrc ntnva," vg jbexf orpnhfr ur unf unq gvzr gb 'jnxr hc' sebz uvf cerivbhf wbhearl, naq ur unf tebja gb gur cbvag jurer ur ernyvmrf gung guvf vf gur ortvaavat bs n arj punyyratr. Ohg gur svyzf jbhyq unir gb or fgehpgherq ZHPU qvssreragyl sbe guvf nyy gb jbex bafperra.

  26. threerings13 says:

    So, Mark, don't feel too bad. I've read LOTR so more times that I can count and I still found it really difficult to force my way through the poem and then the description of Beren and Luthien. And I KNOW their basic story. This is why I've never made it through the Silmarillion, no matter how determined I am to make it.

    I have been waiting for "Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!" for many chapters, as I thought it came earlier.

    And DAMN Tolkien, did you have to end the chapter there? Some of us aren't allowed to keep reading…. I totally had to cheat and read a few pages into the next chapter, regardless of the fact that I know what's going to happen.

    • readerofprey says:

      I love that "Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!" part too. It seems like in Buckland at least, hobbits still know how to confront danger.

      • Saphling says:

        When I first read this chapter, the "Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!" filled me with fear. It just seemed like the sound of the horns embodied waking in blind panic. You don't know whether it's fire, or foes, or what, but it's sudden "Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!" Instant adrenaline.

        It's still one of the (many) parts of this book that give me chills.

  27. Sadie says:

    Rot13'd for movie discussion.

    Jbj… V unira'g ernq gur obbxf va ntrf naq V'z onfvpnyyl er-ernqvat gurz guebhtu Znex, naq V'z ernyvmvat; jryy, tbfu – guvf vf onfvpnyyl jurer gur zbivrf fgneg. Vg'f nyy cebybthrf naq oveguqnl srfgvivgvrf naq Tnaqnys-rkcbfvgvba naq gura ONZ FGEVQRE. V fhccbfr vg jbhyq or snve gb fnl gung guvf vf jurer gur cybg cebcre ortvaf va gur obbx nf jryy, ohg frrvat whfg ubj zhpu zrnaqrevat guebhtu Zvqqyr-rnegu gurl erzbirq vf snfpvangvat. Naq gur zbivrf ner fgvyy sernxvat ybat.

    Oh, and Mark, I'm sure you've been told this, but when you finally watch the movies, make an effort to see the Extended Editions. The time spent getting a hold of them is well worth it.

    • Alice says:

      Yeah,he should deffinetly watch the extended versions.Only the extended versions do justice to the wonderful vision of Peter Jackson's translation into images of Tolkien's work.

      • Sadie says:

        Absolutely. Rather than thinking of the Extended Editions as expanded versions of the theatrical releases, I actually just think of the theatrical films as butchered, chopped-down versions of the Extended Editions. The EEs just add so much depth and texture that was not present in the original versions.

        • msw188 says:

          I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but movies have been on my mind recently, and I have to disagree with this. The Extended Editions add in some interesting tidbits (Nentbea'f ntr) and small homages (Zreel naq Cvccva trggvat nggnpxrq ol Snatbea gerrf) to the books, but I do not think that the theatrical films are butchered at all. At least, not in comparison to the EEs. The TFs (I guess) are editted and paced better to portray the main storylines that the movies aim toward, well, portaying. The EEs do not add all that much depth to this in my opinion (maybe . If the TFs are 'butchered', then the EEs are too, as the main foci of both versions are essentially the same, and they both choose to de-emphasize the same main subplots of the TFs. Small inserted scenes can't change these emphases.
          cont…

          • msw188 says:

            For example, gur fprar jurer Zreel naq Cvccva urne gur bepf qvfphff gurve pbasyvpgvat nvzf naq beqref nqqf fbzr qrcgu gb gur gehr (obbx) cybg bs gung frpgvba, ohg gurfr qrrc fhocybgf ner abg sbyybjrq hc ba. Jr qb abg trg Nentbea'f thrffrf ertneqvat gur znggre, be Tnaqnys'f ybat (njrfbzr) zbabybthr rkcynvavat vg nyy jura ur ergheaf. The movies chose to de-emphasize this aspect of the book, and including a bit of it in this scene doesn't change that.

            • AmandaNekesa says:

              I have to agree with msw188 – I do rather love the theatrical versions, and I think the pacing is much smoother in the theatricals. There are actually a few scenes in the EE that I really don't like – not because they're bad, but because of pacing or other parts of it that just don't work as seamlessly with the storyline. For example: Gur Zbhgu bs Fnheba va gur zbivr vfa'g arneyl nf rssrpgvir nf va gur obbxf, orpnhfr jr nyernql xabj gung Sebqb naq Fnz ner bx, fb gur guerngf gung ner tvira qba'g unir nf zhpu cbjre & fhfcrafr. V nyfb qba'g cnegvphyneyl yvxr gung Nentbea whfg fyvprf uvf urnq bss, rira gubhtu gur Zbhgu bs Fnheba vf PERRCL ZPPERRCREFBA…QB ABG JNAG.

              Nabgure cneg V'z abg cnegvphyneyl sbaq bs vf gur nqqrq fprarf jvgu Fnehzna va EbgX, naq zbfgyl whfg gur jnl ur snyyf bagb gung fcvxr (rj). Juvyr V guvax vg'f tbbq gb jenc hc gung Fnehzna fgbelyvar, V guvax V cersre rvgure xrrcvat vg va gur pbagrkg bs gur Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver, be cnffvat bire vg ragveryl. V guvax vg ernyyl fybjf qbja gur fgneg bs gur zbivr, naq vfa'g gur fzbbgurfg genafvgvba orgjrra gur gurngevpny naq nqqrq fprarf.

              Gurer ner cyragl bs fprarf gung V nofbyhgryl ybir sebz gur RR! Nf sne nf V pna erzrzore, V yvxr cerggl zhpu nyy bs gur SbgE rkgraqrq fprarf – ohg cnegvphyneyl gur fprar jvgu Sebqb naq Fnz jngpuvat gur Ryirf. Nyfb – Nentbea fbsgyl fvatvat gur fbat bs Yhguvra, naq gur fprar jvgu Nentbea naq Obebzve gnyxvat nobhg Tbyyhz, juvyr Fnz vf pbaprearq nobhg Sebqb.

              While the EEs are great for the added depth and book homages, I think the theatrical versions, as a whole, are more well-balanced movies.

              • msw188 says:

                Just wanted to say I agree with all of your examples, and for pretty much all the same reasons. Out of all of them, I think Nentbea fvatvat nobhg Yhguvra vf gur bar V'q xrrc va. Vg'f n terng punenpgre zbzrag orgjrra Sebqb naq Nentbea, naq jr ernyyl qba'g trg rabhtu terng punenpgre zbzragf sebz Sebqb. Ohg ntnva, guvf vf fbzrguvat gurl pubfr abg gb rzcunfvmr va gurfr zbivrf. Cnfg n pregnva cbvag, Sebqb'f punenpgre vf znvayl fubja nf qbzvangrq ol gur Evat, naq jr bayl trg n srj ahttrgf bs gur jvfqbz naq abovyvgl bs gur obbx-Sebqb. Guvf gvrf vagb n cbfg V znqr ryfrjurer urer, fnlvat gur Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver jbhyqa'g unir ernyyl jbexrq jryy va gurfr svyzf. Bar ernfba vf gung gur unaqyvat bs Sebqb'f punenpgre va gur svyzf qbrfa'g ernyyl yrnq gbjneq n uboovg jub pna or pnyyrq "jvfr naq pehry" ol Fnehzna.

                • AmandaNekesa says:

                  I agree too that the Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver whfg qbrfa'g jbex va gur zbivr irefvba bs gur fgbel. Vg qvfehcgf gur sybj bs gur raqvat, cnegvphyneyl fvapr vg'f jryy nsgre gur pyvznk bs gur zbivr. Vg jbexf terng va gur obbx, whfg abg fb jryy va n zbivr. Vg'f jul V guvax V cersre gur gurngevpny irefvbaf gung fvzcyl bzvg gur pbapyhfvba gb gur Fnehzna fgbelyvar, orpnhfr jung jr'er tvira va gur RR, juvyr orvat na ubzntr gb gur Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver, whfg vfa'g gur fnzr naq oernxf guvatf hc gbb zhpu.

                  Nyfb – lrnu lbh'ir tbg n cbvag nobhg Sebqb'f punenpgrevmngvba va gur zbivrf. V jvfu gurl pbhyq unir vapyhqrq n ovg zber bs Sebqb'f crefbanyvgl va gurz, orpnhfr vg frrzf dhvgr urnivyl sbphfrq ba uvf (fbeg bs) eryngvbafuvc jvgu gur evat. Gubhtu V'yy nyjnlf ybir gung gurl vapyhqrq gur yvar gung Sebqb fnlf va ercyl gb Fnz nfxvat nobhg jurgure gurl'yy or chg vagb fbatf be gnyrf. V'z erzrzorevat vg zbfgyl sebz gur zbivr, (pna'g frrz gb erzrzore vs vg'f dhvgr gur fnzr va gur obbxf): "Lbh'ir yrsg bhg bar bs gur puvrs punenpgref: Fnzjvfr gur Oenir. V jnag gb urne zber nobhg Fnz. Sebqb jbhyqa'g unir tbg sne jvgubhg Fnz" <3

  28. readerofprey says:

    I love that Tolkien mentions that the ponies' luck in escaping the harrowing adventure ahead is balanced by the fact that they never got to see Rivendell. Like this is a minor tragedy in the ponies' lives, that they never got to hang out there because they would have loved it too. Makes me wonder what Rivendell is like for the ponies.

    • msw188 says:

      Gbyxvra nqqerffrf guvf vqrn n pbhcyr bs gvzrf; gung rkcybevat gur jbeyq vf qnatrebhf, ohg vg pna or jbegu vg gb frr naq rkcrevrapr pregnva guvatf. Erzrzore Unyqve'f pbairefngvba jvgu gur uboovgf juvyr gurl ner jnyxvat qrrcre vagb Ybguybevra?

  29. Darth_Ember says:

    The sudden attack really is a wham moment.

    Tolkien's work seems to thrive on those; slow tension and long waiting to set it up, then sudden action that leaves you blinking and trying to adjust. Fun stuff.

    (And this may be my hundredth comment, yay.)

  30. threerings13 says:

    Just had another thought. I think another thing that makes LOTR difficult for some people to read is that there is so much background information and history tossed out there all the time. Modern readers are conditioned, I think, to expect that if some information is mentioned, they need to remember it because it will later be important to the plot. And that's not necessarily the case here.

    What Tolkien is doing is fleshing out the world he's created with history, music, and poetry. Some of it is relevant to the plot for background understanding, some is thematically important, but very little is the type of information you must always remember and keep in your head. I think people get overwhelmed by the number of names thrown out, trying to keep track, instead of just rolling with it. That's why it's impossible to fully process this book on a first reading. If you follow the basic plot, you're doing good. On a second reread you can start to make connections with all the history mentioned. And still those of us who have read it many times are still discovering new things through reading it with a group.

    • Rheinman says:

      All of this extra detail that some consider red herrings (or worse) helps create the feeling of a rich world that to me feels very lived in and closer to real life. I guess the opposite of this would be a stage play where a minimal number of objects are used to set the scene and everything is there for a reason.

  31. roguebelle says:

    "I was surprised, though, just how much I am enjoying a book that spends a third of the time narrating people walking."

    *favpxre* Jryy, guvf obqrf jryy sbe gur shgher. Rfcrpvnyyl Fnz & Sebqb'f cbegvbaf bs GGG & EbgX. 😉

  32. Sakura says:

    I'm a sucker for all the Beren + Luthien stuff. I, er, have that poem memorized. 😀 If you thought that one was long, the version in the "Lays of Beleriand" book is mind-blowing.

  33. Leah-san says:

    If you want to watch all of the scenes in the books in the movie, you'll have to get the extended edition. It's worth it.

    • rabidsamfan says:

      Well, you'll see more of the scenes in the book anyway. Rira gur rkgraqrq rqvgvba zvffrf n ybg. Gbz Obzonqvy, sbe bar. Naq gur Fpbhevat bs gur Fuver.

      • Leah-san says:

        Lrnu, V xabj, ohg ernyyl, vapyhqvat Obzonqvy jbhyq unir orra irel qvssvphyg. Ur'f nyernql fhpu na bqqvgl va gur obbx, fb va gur zbivr vg jbhyq unir orra jrveq naq bhg bs cynpr orpnhfr ur arire fubjf hc ntnva, rira vs Obzonqvy vf njrfbzr.

  34. rabidsamfan says:

    I suspect you know why the hard part for a great deal of this book is stopping at the end of a chapter. Especially this one.

  35. Leah-san says:

    Why is the language in some of this comments… so odd? Maybe my computer is just shitty as always.

  36. arctic_hare says:

    Whee, this is probably my favorite chapter thus far! Lots of awesome to talk about! But first, ART!

    That terrifying glimpse into Frodo’s life is brought to you by Ted Nasmith.

    That’s at the end of the chapter, though. I love the unsettling way this chapter begins, with that atmosphere of terror as the Black Riders close in on the house at Crickhollow. Tolkien’s description of how fear had been growing on poor Fatty Bolger all day has stuck with me for years, as has the line about how the night deepened. I love the way that sounds, and the images it conjures up. Thank goodness poor Fatty made it out of there, phew.

    I love how Merry’s all “Look on the bright side, now we can have breakfast after all, and sit down to eat it!” LOL I LOVE YOU MERRY. That is exactly where my mind would go, I admit it. FOOD.

    Sucks for BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR that he got scammed by Ferny, but at least the ponies later got sent back to him by Bombadil (and lol at Tolkien taking the time to assure us that they were all okay, how sweet). Besides, he owes them for that forgotten letter! Better to lose a little money than get roasted, eh? Which might still happen if Gandalf hears about that…

    Bless my beard, I love you, Sam Gamgee.

    We all do. I think it’s impossible to not love him. He’s just that awesome. “I can carry enough for two.” LOVE. <3 And telling off Ferny and throwing the apple and remembering the song! Sam is one of the best damn characters in this thing and a personal favorite of mine. Sam rocks.

    I'm the same way, Mark! I often have a lot of trouble forming my own mental images of places and people described in books, and have difficulty writing that sort of stuff too. WE ARE KINDRED SPIRITS. I'm really grateful for the movies, because they're helping me out here. I had trouble with this stuff when I first read the books, but years of watching and rewatching the movies has been an enormous help.

    For all that Aragorn made himself look suspicious, here he is certainly coming off as, as someone put it yesterday, the most competent motherfucker this side of the Misty Mountains. Their journey is definitely still treacherous and scary, but I feel better about them going on it, because ADULT SUPERVISION. The time of four hobbits wandering willy-nilly into trouble out of ignorance and naivete is over, now they have an experienced Ranger by their side to keep them in line and show them the best paths. Excellent. I laughed really hard at Pippin mentioning that their last shortcut went badly wrong, and Aragorn just going "LOL YEAH CAUSE *I* WASN'T THERE." It's so true.

    We hate bugses, precious.

    I am vaguely disturbed by how forcefully Aragorn tells Frodo not to speak of becoming a wraith.

    ‘Yes,’ said Strider, whose keener sight left him in no doubt. ‘The enemy is here!’

    I can see why you’d be put off by the poem, Mark, but I rather enjoyed it. I’ve always really liked poetry anyway, and the history and lore of Middle Earth is more captivating to me on reread. I’m finally going to read the Silmarillion after this, because I’m so into it all now. Also, the atmosphere Tolkien created there really struck me: Aragorn is telling them all this shit to take their minds off the grave danger surrounding them and help them all relax. I’ve suffered from some anxiety over various lesser things, and after earthquakes as a kid, and reading and making up stories and stuff helped calm my mind in those situations. So this resonated with me and made me more receptive to the mood Tolkien set in this part. (Also, Luthien sounds seriously badass. And the whole thing with it being a tribute to his wife just makes me go “awwwwww”, cause I love adorable real-life love stories like that.)

    AND THEN EVERYTHING JUST GOES TO HELL.

    • ljrTR says:

      Once more, I love Ted Naismith's (sp?) art! He is the equal of Alan Lee and John Howe, I feel, even if he didn't get to work on PJ's films.

    • hpfish13 says:

      That picture……so creepy, especially since in small form it looked like a weeping angel (I watched Blink yesterday and it left quite an impression).

      And that gif is just perfection!

    • Kiryn says:

      “For all that Aragorn made himself look suspicious, here he is certainly coming off as, as someone put it yesterday, the most competent motherfucker this side of the Misty Mountains.”

      IT IS SO VERY TRUE. THIS COMMENT IS WIN.

      Which is why, should I ever get shipped off into an epic fantasy adventure, I will demand to be given Aragorn to accompany me. I shudder to imagine what this chapter could have been like if Aragorn hadn’t swept in, being his badass I-know-all-the-things self.

  37. @RadagastWiz says:

    I love how Tolkien plays with convention there. The enemy forces are closing in, there's no easy escape route, the atmosphere is tense and getting more strained – so what do we need? A nine-stanza poem, followed by a page-long paragraph with a lesson in ancient history! Thank you, Professor, that suits the story very well. :p

  38. stefb4 says:

    Allow me to post this beautiful Lúthien artwork from an artist I recently discovered on Deviantart. It's perhaps my favorite I've ever seen of Lúthien because of the way that her eyes are done.

    <img src="http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n588/stefb1/Luthien_by_liga_marta.jpg"&gt;

    It's by liga-marta . (Potential spoiler-warning–the link directs to her Tolkien gallery). I highly suggest everyone check out the rest of her gallery–most of her Tolkien artwork is Silmarillion-related, but she has a Harry Potter gallery too! And Fairytales! I can't believe it took me so long to discover her artwork because I can look at it all day.

    I admit that I was much more interested in the songs after knowing the full story of Beren and Lúthien from The Silmarillion. Even though you're bored with the songs right now, Mark, I'm glad you're putting the effort into reading them.

    • arctic_hare says:

      Holy crap, that's gorgeous! Thanks for sharing that, I'm going to have to peruse that gallery!

    • stefb4 says:

      Wow…image bigger than expected.

      BUT IT'S OKAY CAUSE YOU CAN LOOK INTO LÚTHIEN'S BEAUTIFUL STARSHOT EYES.

    • Tauriel_ says:

      Gorgeous. <3

      Another great artist, Katrina Chmiel, has also a great picture of Lúthien, but it's slightly spoilery for the Silmarillion (fur'f jvgu Uhna), so I'm not posting it, and I have too much respect for the original work to edit it in Photoshop… Here's a link to it, though.

    • Zeynep says:

      Oh, wow.

      As Beren looked into her eyes
      Within the shadows of her hair,
      The trembling starlight of the skies
      He saw there mirrored shimmering.

      Yeah, so, that. Wow.

    • shortstuff says:

      That is REALLY good! Just, wow.

  39. Tauriel_ says:

    LMAO. 😀 😀 😀

  40. Katie says:

    Znex, qba'g vafhyg Nentbea'f terng-terng-terng-zbgure-va-ynj!!! Be fbzrguvat…:)

    • Dreamflower says:

      Yhguvra jnf abg bayl uvf terng-tenaqzbgure-va-ynj (fur jnf Nejra'f terng-tenaqzbgure) ohg fur jnf nyfb Nentbea'f bja 64kterng-tenaqzbgure. (Ure tenaqfbaf jrer gur gjvaf Ryebaq naq Ryebf.)

  41. tigerpetals says:

    HDU. I just do not get or relate to ever being bored by this section. Some of the poems in general are boring, especially some in the Hobbit, but this was my favorite part of the chapter. For one thing, I like it better than his prose style, and for another, I find reading poems to be faster than reading prose. Or at least easier, and it's so hypnotic. The rhythm and the feel of the words create this atmosphere of really being Beren or Luthien. This poem, especially, is beautiful and I could see the whole thing and it was art. I love myth and poetry and Tolkien's partiality to including it is my single favorite thing about his writing. It's the best part. That's why Silmarillion is my favorite book. And we get something from Aragorn too: apparently he is an excellent storyteller. Aside from all of that, this also creates an atmosphere outside the story he chants: the image of weary, dangerous travels (also implied in the poem) with fireside storytelling to soothe and uplift the heart. It's pretty good all around.

    Now, back to the beginnning of the chapter. Don't waste food, Sam. You're obviously going to need it. So far, he's my favorite Hobbit. Curious, eager to learn, loyal, and sensible.

    Despite the slow pacing and the descriptions, I do like the scenery we're getting. I don't know if I'm imagining it correctly, but what I am imagining is vast and lonely and yet so incredibly full. The weight of history is pressing on you. This song is really too cheerful for it, but it's what I thought of:
    [youtube KbcD8tlQ8TU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbcD8tlQ8TU youtube]

    V ybir gur yvggyr guvatf jr'er trggvat nobhg Tnaqnys. Gur yvtugf, gur eharf, naq cerivbhfyl gur qernzf. V srry purrxl, yvxr V'z va ba n wbxr.

    Naq, bs pbhefr, abj Sebqb pna frr jung gur Evqref jrer naq ner. Gurl'er cngurgvp, gentvp svtherf frg gb qent bguref vagb gurve sngrf, vapncnoyr bs nalguvat ryfr – rkprcg sbe borlvat Fnheba, bs pbhefr.

    Bunnies. http://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kithttp://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/5kitd/kit

  42. tigerpetals says:

    <img src="http://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/4sopp/sopp35.html"&gt;

    Okay, I keep editing and I can't see the image, so here's the link: http://www.lordofthepeeps.com/lotp/fotp/4sopp/sop

    As always, don't explore beyond it if you haven't seen the movie.

  43. rubyjoo says:

    Your lack of a good pictorial imagination was very interesting to hear about, Mark, and I can understand why you appreciate Tolkien's detailed descriptions. I was once reading a story to a group of forty 11 year olds and mentioned how I got pictures scrolling past in my mind, assuming this was common. One little lad, looking quite distressed, called out: "I don't get no pictures in my mind when I read a book!" Intrigued, I asked for a show of hands. About five of them all boys, said they had no pictorial imagination. Amazed, I told my husband that evening, only to discover that he played out no pictures in his mind either, LOL! He's a mathematician, reads voraciously and, like Mark, has no problems with concepts, words and theories – the more abstract the better. I feel quite sad for him, because I not only see a "film" in my head but I can also hear voices with their tones and accents – the complete package.

    Thank you very much for this read-along, Mark! I hadn't re-read LotR for years and reading along with you has been a really pleasurable experience. The highlight of my day!

    • notemily says:

      Brains are so fascinating–the different ways they work, the different ways people see the world.

      • Saphling says:

        When I was a kid, I got teased because my favorite color is green, and other kids said it was an ugly color. I still wonder whether the colors I see look the same to others, or if somehow we see colors differently, leading us to have different "favorite" colors.

        Ditto to rubyjoo about seeing a film in one's head, complete with soundtrack and voices/accents when reading.

    • msw188 says:

      This is such an interesting thing to think about. I'm a mathematician too, and I tend to have a vague, abstractified version of a film running in my mind as I read these. But it's kind of how I remember real things too. I don't remember visual details about things (I once upset my mother when I couldn't remember what color her eyes were). I focus in on 'notions' of things instead, I suppose. Which might be why I appreciate Tolkien's approach to characters. As Mark remarked once, we don't really know what any of these characters look like. Their specific looks aren't actually important, and when they are described, its more often with language that sounds more metaphorical than descriptive ("As the stars above the mists of the Northern lands was her loveliness"… I have no idea what this visually means, and yet I have some abstract, vague notion that Luthien was beautiful, and IT WORKS for me). All that said, Tolkiens descriptions of nature and landscape can get highly visual and descriptive from time to time.

  44. fantasy_fan says:

    That stuff’s always the hardest for me to write and read because my brain is not all that visual. I deal real well with concepts, ideas, words, theories, anything that isn’t an image in my head. … I need help to build these things in my mind.

    I'm the same. I have a terrible memory for faces, and as soon as someone is out of my sight I forget what they looked like. (not counting people I know well, of course) And when reading I have a hard time visualizing the characters and places. Tolkien describes the environment so thoroughly, in such loving detail, that it helps. But then, he never describes the people anywhere nearly as thoroughly, so I was grateful to the movie makers for giving me faces to put with the names. Even if some of them were, at first, not what I had expected, they very quickly became "just right."

    And the long poems? I totally skipped them for a long time. The shorter ones, yes, I read; especially those that I could imagine a tune for. I can appreciate the depth of the long ones now, but I sometimes still skip them! You are not alone – rira vs lbh ner GBGNYYL HACERCNERQ sbe Rneraqvy jnf n Znevare juvpu ehaf 13 fgnamnf bire guerr cntrf va zl pbcl!

  45. Danielle says:

    O Mark. Every time you make a guess about Aragorn’s purpose or motives I chuckle to myself. SO UNPREPARED.

  46. Dru says:

    You guys have seen this, right? http://io9.com/5862432/uk-man-builds-man+sized-hobbit-house-for-3000/gallery/?tag=hobbithouse (no spoilers for any Middle Earth stuff except THIS IS AWESOME)

  47. shortstuff says:

    I like how we get to see all these different sides of Strider in the few chapters that we've known him. He's the sneaky guy who spies on the hobbits for their own good, he's good in the wilderness, knows some history and poetry, and has a sense of humor – when he tells Pippin that *his* shortcuts don't go awry.

    There was a small bit last chapter, no one mentioned it, I think, when he kinda sorta trolls BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR. When BB was telling the hobbits not to trust this scruffy Man, Strider retorts, "Who should they trust? A fat innkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him 20 times a day?" That was kinda mean of him, but it got the point across. He means srs biznis.

  48. platoapproved says:

    Yyyyeaaahhh I tend to skip the songs / poems, I realize this makes me a BAD READER or something. But – particularly because I am re-reading via audiobook (so, re-listening?) and the guy actually sings the songs and I know that would make it even better for some people – to me the songs are just A MASS MIGRATION OF AWKWARD TURTLES.

    It doesn't help that this poem, iirc (because I read it a week or two ago) seems to be all about a guy chasing a girl because he sees her dancing and her hair is pretty. Yet again a female character is worshipped based entirely on her beauty (as shown in idealized body parts) and her entire identity and worth seems to be appearance-based, ARE WE SURPRISED. IT'S GOLDBERRY ALL OVER AGAIN. YES, I AM GOING TO KEEP RAINING ON THE PARADE.

    Everything else in this chapter is wonderful, though.

    • msw188 says:

      Okay yeah, the song idealizes her as a beautiful elf-maiden. But as Strider explains, she's not just remembered for her beauty. She's remembered for her actions and choices. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that there's a great deal to this story, as told in relative completeness in the Silmarillion.

      But yeah, I couldn't really do these on audio book. The songs have their own tune and inflection in my mind, and I prefer to keep them that way.

      • platoapproved says:

        Hmmm, might have to re-read his explanation of the song and further story sometime when I'm not in an airport, it has been a while, like I said, and I was fairly peeved after the fourth or fifth poetic iteration of "AND DID I MENTION HER HAIR WAS GORGEOUS?" Strider, are you product placement, is this a shampoo advertisement, what is even going on.

        I don't know, though, I realize the Silmarillion probably provides lots of extra information on plenty of things, but to a certain degree those things are separate, and I'm just reading what's being presented in THIS book. If that makes any sense at all, I am not explaining very well.

        • msw188 says:

          I'll agree, the Silmarillion is a separate book, and regardless of her story there, it'd be awfully shitty if all anyone remembered her for in the time of The Fellowship of the Ring was her incredible beauty. But I think you should re-read the passage here. It's true that if one reads this looking for shallow appearance-based praise, it's all over the story. But it is far from the main point. I could give quotes, but you mentioned re-reading already, so I'll just bring up one other general point. This is a story of two people, Beren and Luthien. But the story (as told here, regardless of the Silmarillion) consistently portrays Luthien as the principal and active character. Beren is healed and enchanted by her loveliness; she rescues him from Sauron; she chooses mortality. At the end, it is Luthien whose lineage lives on; no one says that the blood of Beren survives in Elrond, but rather that the blood of Luthien survives. In the story as told here, Beren's only real action is to chase her and call her Tinuviel, causing her to pause. All of the other important actions (cast down the Great Enemy, stealing the Silmaril from his crown) are told as though the two accomplished them together.

    • Tauriel_ says:

      Yet again a female character is worshipped based entirely on her beauty (as shown in idealized body parts) and her entire identity and worth seems to be appearance-based, ARE WE SURPRISED. IT'S GOLDBERRY ALL OVER AGAIN. YES, I AM GOING TO KEEP RAINING ON THE PARADE.

      No. Just no. I'm sorry, but I have to protest STRONGLY against this opinion.

      Have you read the Silmarillion? Do you realise that Yúguvra vf gur zbfg onqnff srznyr punenpgre; urpx, cebonoyl GUR zbfg onqnff punenpgre gung'f abg n Inyn? Ubarfgyl, vs vg jrera'g sbe ure, Orera jbhyq'ir orra fperjrq fb znal gvzrf! Fur qbrf vaperqvoyr fghss, fur fraqf gur shpxvat Fnheba eha njnl jvgu uvf gnvy orgjrra uvf yrtf, fur chgf Zbetbgu, jub'f cerggl zhpu gur Zvqqyr-rnegu rdhvinyrag bs Fngna, vagb rapunagrq fyrrc, naq fur pbaivaprf Znaqbf gb yrg Orera erghea gb gur ynaq bs yvivat – n zbegny Zna trgf nabgure yvsr, fbzrguvat juvpu unf arire unccrarq orsber, be fvapr. Frevbhfyl, fhttrfgvat gung Yúguvra'f jbegu vf nccrnenapr-onfrq vf gur zbfg evqvphybhf guvat rire.

      • Saphling says:

        You said every thought that boiled up in my head in response, but better than I could manage. 😀

        Srs, though. Luthien is gur ovttrfg naq orfg ONZS ba rvgure fvqr bs gur Fhaqrevat Frnf.

      • platoapproved says:

        No, I haven't read it. I may someday, and if I do, I don't want it spoiled, so I'm not gonna read the rot13'd bit (is it spoilers for Silmarillion or just LotR? Because I have read LotR before and don't mind spoilers). But I'm just commenting based on what was right here, in this chapter.

      • stefb4 says:

        YOU FORGOT ZNTVP UNVE. Zntvp. Unve.

        Clearly I know the important things…

    • Yeah, just gonna add with everyone else that this most definitely is NOT a repeat of Goldberry. Luthien kicks ass on every possible level and her and Beren's relationship is really amazing with how much they went through and how much they cared for each other. I think what you have to keep in mind for this one is that their story is, in this case, being told in a poetic song, so they're going to go for more imagery rather than when their story is actually told. In Silmarillion, she's utterly spectacular.

      • platoapproved says:

        It seems there's much more to her in things I've not yet read; I'm not a Tolkien expert. I've not read the Silmarillion, and it's been years since I last read Lord of the Rings, so the details it provides about the wider mythology have long since vanished from my mind. I'm just going based on what I remember from re-reading *this* chapter of *this* book.

        • Silmarillion is a lot harder to get through than LOTR, at least for me, since I have a hard time keeping all the genealogies and whatnot straight. But Luthien and Beren's story is one of the best in there. I think that even though the stories are different books, you can't really separate them, since they took place in the same universe- it's just that here we're seeing that story made into legend status, which may account for some of the more shallow aspects of the song. It's sort of like how Mulan's story has altered over the centuries- parts of it are going to be lost.

    • Tauriel_ says:

      And even if we don't take the Silmarillion into account, Aragorn mentions her heroic deeds:

      Tinúviel rescued Beren from the dungeons of Sauron

      From what we know about Sauron so far, this is definitely pretty damn badass feat. And:

      together they passed through great dangers, and cast down even the Great Enemy from his throne, and took from his iron crown one of the three Silmarils, brightest of all jewels

      Together they cast down the Great Enemy from his throne. Not "Beren cast him down, and Lúthien tagged along as his pretty mascot".

      And that the poem focuses on her beauty? So? There are several valid reasons for this:

      1. She WAS the most beautiful woman who had ever lived. What's wrong with that?
      2. It's not the whole story, it only tells how they met. Obviously it's going to be a bit more lyrical.
      3. Aragorn chooses it because he wants to lift up the hobbits' hearts, and for a moment forget about their worries and fears. If he chose the part where Lúthien goes to Sauron's dungeon and faces all the dangers there in order to rescue Beren, that would hardly help the hobbits' morale, when the Black Riders are closing in on them, would it?

      Basically, I'm going to pull a Hagrid here and say this:

      Don't. Insult. Lúthien Tinúviel. In front. Of me.

    • stefb4 says:

      Oh God, this thread….

      I will admit to have raged for a bit because you compared Lúthien to Goldberry of all people…

      But I think you get it now, lol

  49. Majc says:

    Lots of travelling in this chapter, according to the Atlas Of Middle-Earth: on September 29, Aragorn led the hobbits north through the Chetwood toward Archet, they spent two nights in the Chetwood. The next two days and nights they traveled through the Midgewater Marshes and then another two days on to Weathertop, where they arrived on October 6th, the night the Black Riders attacked. They went a total of 106 miles from Bree to Weathertop.

  50. hassibah says:

    I'm late and also reading for the first time (I just caught upto chapter 12!) and actually Tinuviel was one of the songs I actually chose to pay attention to, weirdly enough. Like I read everything else but a lot of the stuff about Hobbit families kind of goes in one ear and out the other, but I dunno, maybe I am just predisposed to hearing stories about people giving up their status for love, but the whole thing of an Elf becoming mortal seemed like it might come up again, thematically if not more directly. OI DON'T KNOW.
    Chrisse there's like 5 songs in every chapter, and I'm sure they actually sing way more than that that we don't even hear about, so I don't think they all can have some amazing significance, but I definitely noticed that one.

  51. flootzavut says:

    vf vg jrveq gung 63 gvzrf erzbirq whfg znxrf zr ynhtu, gur ahzore vf fb pbzvpnyyl uhtr?

  52. Smurphy says:

    Still behind. Wanted to be on the second book by Monday but nope.

Comments are closed.