What I'm never clear on is what exactly a Dwarf was forbidden to see. Were Lorien's military secrets plastered on billboards lining the road? Did nuclear missile silos beckon from either side of the path? Were their secret codes carves into the bark of all the passing trees?

I'm also admiring Tolkien's care for detail in this matter. The injures described seem very feasible to me: the mesh of the chain mail ought to spread the force of the blow (so avoiding a puncture wound) but I suppose it wouldn't redirect the force of the blow very much, so that energy has to go somewhere (in this case the energy goes into flexing Frodo's ribs and hurling him into the wall).


(c.c.f female fantasy armour: breastplates - in more than one meaning of the word - with those deeply impractical bikini or bustier designs. But those, I guess, are really aimed at redirecting eyeballs, not impact weapons...)

We see an evolution of Gimli and Legolas here, post-Moria. The conversation they have after Nimrodel's song seem to indicate a thawing...even a sort of accord, as Legolas does not blame the Dwarves for the rise of evil and Gimli does not mock the Elvish way of sleeping in trees. Just time, or an effect of being in Lothlorien? Or something else?


Are Legolas and Gimli being trained and healed? They've been travelling with Gandalf, visiting Elrond in Rivendell, and are now approaching Lothlorien. So they've been around all three of the Elven rings, not to mention the elessar. Gimli and Legolas's friendship is finally realized right after they meet Galadriel.


Yes, that's exactly what I was wondering Oliphaunt; if the movement towards friendship is an expression of 'healing' and a return of sibling-hood of the races, who are both ultimately Children of Eru (even if one is adopted, and rather red-headed-stepchild at that.) Both the true King and the land of Lorien - powered by Nenya - have deep healing powers. One wonders!

...he might have reasoned they seemed to be generally headed South, and so waited near the river Anduinat the borders of Lorien...?

Part of me likes the romantic (but I believe improbable) idea that his spirit somehow came to Cerin Amroth, maybe lingering there and waiting for Arwen, so they depart together, like Beren & Luthien. But I keep thinking that's more wishful thinking than authorial intent.

Since JRRT felt the tale of Arwen and Aragorn is so important to the saga - do they get the same supernatural pass, beyond life and love, that Beren and Luthien get?


I want it to be so! Aragorn told Arwen to hope beyond death. Surely he didn't get it wrong.

"He heard faintly a sound like sniffing..." Hammond &Scull suggest that this bit (Gollum presumably scrabbling at the base of Frodo's tree) is the event foreseen in Frodo's Crickhollow Dream.

Hmm- maybe.