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Beren IV
Mithlond
Mar 2 2008, 12:11am
Post #1 of 11
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The Bridge of Khazad-dûm VI: The Flame of Anor
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The fires went out, and blank darkness fell. The Company stood rooted with horror staring into the pit. Even as Aragorn and Boromir came flying back, the rest of the bridge cracked and fell. With a cry Aragorn roused them.
'Come! I will leand you now!' he called. 'We must obey his last command. Follow me.'
They run up the stairs, crying as they go, and into the anteroom of Moria with a yawning open gate to the sunlit world beyond. The drums continue behind them, but are now slow and "mournful". The captain of the gate-guard comes out to stop them, but Aragorn kills him summarily and the rest of the guard flee back as the Fellowship escapes into the light. They do not weep in grief until they are out of bowshot, when they finally let the grief "overcome" them. The drums fade.
1. Okay, now, who is beating the drums? What are the drums (are they ordinary drums, or something else)? How is it that the drummer is able to perceive what is going on at all times, even though it never shows its face (unless of course it's the Balrog, and the drums are an acoustic part of its aura, just as the darkness is an electromagnetic part and the fire a thermal part)?
2. Why is Aragorn so quick to take charge? Why does not Boromir step in?
3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
4. If the orcs are mournful, then why do they not pursue the Fellowship outside? Yeah, it's sunny, but just how bad for orcs is sunlight?
Once a paleontologist, now a botanist, will be a paleobotanist
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 2 2008, 3:55am
Post #2 of 11
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Sorry about that, I answered the drumbeat question in your post below!
Aragorn has been designated second-in-command this entire journey; and with any military troup, the men know that once number one falls, number two steps in. I can't imagine Boromir being number three, as he had a set agenda (return to Minas Tirith); so that spot probably fell to Frodo.
Do we have any idea what the East-gate of Moria looked like? I would assume it's quite different from the "Door" at the West-end. "Gate" would imply a more easily movable feature.
Orcs are dimwitted wimps - that's why they do not follow the Fellowship.
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
"It struck me last night that you might write a fearfully good romantic drama, with as much of the 'supernatural' as you cared to introduce. Have you ever thought of it?"
-Geoffrey B. Smith, letter to JRR Tolkien, 1915
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Finding Frodo
Dor-Lomin
Mar 2 2008, 6:49am
Post #3 of 11
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1. Okay, now, who is beating the drums? What are the drums (are they ordinary drums, or something else)? How is it that the drummer is able to perceive what is going on at all times, even though it never shows its face (unless of course it's the Balrog, and the drums are an acoustic part of its aura, just as the darkness is an electromagnetic part and the fire a thermal part)?
The drums are atmospheric. I don't want to think about them too much. I don't want to know who the drummer is and I certainly don't want to see him. This is a very cinematic chapter and the drums are the film score. Nobody in a movie says, "Hey, where's that music coming from?".
2. Why is Aragorn so quick to take charge? Why does not Boromir step in?
Aragorn (and only Aragorn now) has been through Moria before. Also, as dernwyn observes, this is Aragorn's quest more than it is Boromir's. Boromir is mostly just trying to get home. Aragorn needs to protect and lead the company to safety, especially Frodo.
3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
Maybe they're on a smoke break. Moria is a no-smoking area, and that's why the Balrog was so riled up against Gandalf for stinking up the joint with his pipe in the guard room.
4. If the orcs are mournful, then why do they not pursue the Fellowship outside? Yeah, it's sunny, but just how bad for orcs is sunlight?
The orcs lost their champion too when the Balrog fell. They don't know what to do now and they don't have an Aragorn-orc to lead them. Also, the real Aragorn scared the pants off them.
Where's Frodo?
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Dreamdeer
Doriath
Mar 2 2008, 7:31pm
Post #4 of 11
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I hope the formatting works this time!
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1. Okay, now, who is beating the drums? What are the drums (are they ordinary drums, or something else)? How is it that the drummer is able to perceive what is going on at all times, even though it never shows its face (unless of course it's the Balrog, and the drums are an acoustic part of its aura, just as the darkness is an electromagnetic part and the fire a thermal part)?
I would expect that the drummers are positioned somewhat outside the battlefield, perhaps at a good vantage point, to see and not be seen. At need, they would then signal orcs and such in the thick of things about what was happening and what they should do. I think they're not only there for psychological warfare, come to think of it, but also surveillance and communication.
2. Why is Aragorn so quick to take charge? Why does not Boromir step in?
He's the King, after all. And all the other reasons given--Gandalf's right hand man, the only other one experienced in the tunnels, etc. As for Boromir, he's a soldier more than he is an egotist. He recognizes the importance of a chain of command. For that matter, one might well ask why Legolas didn't take over, as the eldest survivor, or Gimli as the one with the home team advantage.
3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
To lure in fresh meat?
4. If the orcs are mournful, then why do they not pursue the Fellowship outside? Yeah, it's sunny, but just how bad for orcs is sunlight? Mournful they may be, but they're not stupid. The opposition just bested a Balrog! They aren't paid enough to go chasing Balrog-slayers! (Okay, so the Balrog wasn't quite dead yet. But knocking one down is darn near just as impressive.)
My website http://www.dreamdeer.grailmedia.com offers fanfic, and message-boards regarding intentional community or faerie exploration.
(This post was edited by Dreamdeer on Mar 2 2008, 7:32pm)
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ArathornJax
Nargothrond
Mar 3 2008, 7:37am
Post #5 of 11
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1. Okay, now, who is beating the drums? What are the drums (are they ordinary drums, or something else)? How is it that the drummer is able to perceive what is going on at all times, even though it never shows its face (unless of course it's the Balrog, and the drums are an acoustic part of its aura, just as the darkness is an electromagnetic part and the fire a thermal part)?
I believe there are mutiple drummers (notice plural drums) and they are reacting to the battle. As the battle fades and the enemy retires, they fade.
2. Why is Aragorn so quick to take charge? Why does not Boromir step in?
Been answered, he's da man and knows the area.
3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
Actually, the gate may be destroyed already from when the dwarves fled after the death of Nain or it was destroyed in the Battle of Azanulbizar (though Dain was able to peer inside and see Durin's Bane which suggests the gate was already damaged, especially since Thror just waltzed in also). Just think Tolkien is stating that the company didn't have to fight through an locked and closed gate.
4. If the orcs are mournful, then why do they not pursue the Fellowship outside? Yeah, it's sunny, but just how bad for orcs is sunlight?Well, Gandalf had destroyed a portion of the bridge over the khazam so that would have to be repaired and they would have been antsy with some good bow men/elves present, especially since they can't hit anything but a hidden mithral coat with their arrows.
" . . . (we are ) too engrossed in thinking of everything as a preparation or training or making one fit -- for what? At any minute it is what we are and are doing, not what we plan to be and do that counts."
J.R.R. Tolkien in his 6 October 1940 letter to his son Michael Tolkien.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Mar 3 2008, 11:21am
Post #6 of 11
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No bridge...and if that's the only way out, eastward...
D'oh! You're right, of course they're not going to chase after them from that way!
Although I imagine there are other passages, delved into the higher levels, that go over this area and down near the Gate. Still, it's going to take time to get the Orcs into a coordinated search party, now that the main passageway has been disrupted!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
"It struck me last night that you might write a fearfully good romantic drama, with as much of the 'supernatural' as you cared to introduce. Have you ever thought of it?"
-Geoffrey B. Smith, letter to JRR Tolkien, 1915
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Darkstone
Elvenhome
Mar 3 2008, 3:21pm
Post #7 of 11
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1. Okay, now, who is beating the drums?
Morgoth. We all wonder whether it’s Sauron who's influencing the orcs, the Watcher, and/or the Balrog. Tolkien has given the plain answer in the text: “It was a Balrog of Morgoth.”
What are the drums (are they ordinary drums, or something else)?
They are the drums of creation. In Morgoth’s hands they are drums of corruption and destruction. Like Shiva’s drum (damaru) both creates the world and destroys it.
How is it that the drummer is able to perceive what is going on at all times, even though it never shows its face (unless of course it's the Balrog, and the drums are an acoustic part of its aura, just as the darkness is an electromagnetic part and the fire a thermal part)?
Morgoth is everywhere. Morgoth’s taint is what gives evil creatures their power. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
2. Why is Aragorn so quick to take charge?
Somebody has to.
Why does not Boromir step in?
He’s a leader of Men, not a leader of Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits.
3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
The same reason the orcs have a closed gate at the other end. These are Dwarven gates, and the ways of opening and closing them are secret. (I’ve often wondered what the inscription was on the Eastgate. “Speak Lady of Light, and enter.” What are the odds of orcs saying “Galadriel” by accident? Same as them saying "mellon". Indeed, could they say the Elven words even if they wanted to?)
4. If the orcs are mournful, then why do they not pursue the Fellowship outside?
Their chief is dead. They need to hold a special meeting to elect the new executive officer, and unlike the decision to attack the Fellowship, which merely required a simple majority, this requires a full two-thirds majority. The alternative is for the biggest and strongest to beat on each other until only one is left standing. In either case it’s going to take a while.
Yeah, it's sunny, but just how bad for orcs is sunlight?
“Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.”
-Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune.
But orcs don’t have sunscreen. You see the dilemma.
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The audacious proposal stirred his heart. And the stirring became a song, and it mingled with the songs of Gil-galad and Celebrian, and with those of Feanor and Fingon. The song-weaving created a larger song, and then another, until suddenly it was as if a long forgotten memory woke and for one breathtaking moment the Music of the Ainur revealed itself in all glory. He opened his lips to sing and share this song. Then he realized that the others would not understand. Not even Mithrandir given his current state of mind. So he smiled and simply said "A diversion.”
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sador
Gondolin
Mar 4 2008, 10:33pm
Post #8 of 11
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3. Why do the orcs have an open gate?
The same reason the orcs have a closed gate at the other end. These are Dwarven gates, and the ways of opening and closing them are secret. (I’ve often wondered what the inscription was on the Eastgate. “Speak Lady of Light, and enter.” What are the odds of orcs saying “Galadriel” by accident? Same as them saying "mellon". Indeed, could they say the Elven words even if they wanted to?)
That door has stood open for ages - it was open when Thror came in, and probably Gandalf had no inkling which word opened it, either (or he would have remembered to look on the door itself).
But at the time Celebrimbor was writing on doors, Galadriel was living East of the Mountains; so I guess the inscription was somewhat different (unless you are suggesting a Reverend-like solution).
"lesser men with spades might have served you better" - Boromir
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N.E. Brigand
Gondolin
Mar 22 2009, 7:23am
Post #9 of 11
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Similarly, Hitchcock was asked about the music in “Lifeboat”.
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Where did it come from, some critics asked? He replied with his own question: Where did the camera come from?
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N.E. Brigand
Gondolin
Mar 22 2009, 7:24am
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Precisely. The bridge was the only direct way in from the main gate, and easily defended. As dernwyn suggests, there may be other indirect passages to the gate, through narrow tunnels that the dwarves could collapse in emergencies. Or perhaps the orcs trapped inside have to wait for those that Aragorn chased from the gate to return. Then they could shoot arrows tied with string, and work up to a rope bridge, like the World Trade Center rope walker from the 1970s, whose story has recently been the subject of a documentary.
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N.E. Brigand
Gondolin
Mar 22 2009, 7:25am
Post #11 of 11
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The drums go “doom”, and Morgoth calls himself “Master of the fates of Arda”.
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And now I have visions of Saruman, poolside, lathering sunscreen on his Uruk-hai.
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