TIME - October 7

grammaboodawg

grammaboodawg

Immortal
Today in Middle-earth.

October 7, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. The Company flees Amon Sûl.
(not from the appendices)
..."As soon as the daylight was full, they had some hurried food and packed. It was impossible for Frodo to walk, so they divided the greater part of their baggage among the four of them, and put Frodo on the pony... ...the poor beast had improved wonderfully; it already seemed fatter and stronger, and had begun to show an affection for its new masters, especially for Sam. Bill Ferny's treatment must have been very hard for the journey in the wild to seem so much better than its former life.
...They started off in a southerly direction. This would mean crossing the Road, but it was the quickest way to more wooded country. And they needed fuel; for Strider said that Frodo must be kept warm, especially at night, while fire would be some protection for them all. It was also his plan to shorten their journey by cutting across another great loop of the Road...
......There was no sign of the Riders. But even as they were hurrying across they heard far away two cries: a cold voice calling and a cold voice answering. Trembling they sprang forward, and made for the thickets that lay ahead.
......It was a cheerless land, and their journey was slow and gloomy. They spoke little as they trudged along. Frodo's heart was grieved as he watched them walking beside him with their heads down, and their backs bowed under their burdens. Even Strider seemed tired and heavy-hearted.
...Before the first day's march was over Frodo's pain began to grow again, but he did not speak of it for a long time."

October 7, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The hobbits head for home, leaving Rivendell behind.
(not from the appendices)
..."By the end of the next day the pain and unease had passed, and Frodo was merry again, as merry as if he did not remember the blackness of the day before."

October 7, 3020 (S.R. 1420)
1. The day after Sam found Frodo stricken by his old wounds.
(not from the appendices)
...[Frodo]"got up, and the turn [pale and distant] seemed to pass, and he was quite himself the next day. It was not until afterwards that Sam recalled that the date was October the sixth. Two years before on that day it was dark in the dell under Weathertop."
 
I've been playing the LEGO game, and it's really reminded me how much I prefer the book version of many parts of the story rather than the films. Also been listening to the radio play again it is SO good!
Thanks Gramma your TIME posts are a great reminder of the complexity of the story in the book.
 
Today in Middle-earth.

October 8, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. It's time to depart Lake-town.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth-no text)
...Bilbo and the Dwarves prepare to leave Lake-town and lay plans for their trip to the mountain.

October 8, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. The Company continues south through the wild.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...Frodo's tolerance of the pain drew all his strength. As his friends continued to follow Strider through the wild, they struggled to keep up the pace he set. As the second day after leaving Amon Sûl dragged on, everyone struggled to distance themselves from the last known location of the Nazgûl and reach the safety of Rivendell.

October 8, 3083 (S.R. 1483)
1. Frodo and Sam in Valinor (my drabble)
...Sam stood in the open doorway looking out at the pouring rain. The air smelled fresh and brilliant, untouched by living breath. He marvelled at the flowers lining the path. Indescribable colours and scents filled his mind as he remembered a similar rain-washed day long ago.
... Suddenly, Frodo came jogging across the yard waving his arms above his head. Sam stepped back as he sprang through the door, stopping short next to his friend, smiling triumphantly with only a few drops of the sweet rain on his shoulders.
..."I'll never get used to that," said the gardener shaking his head.

October 8, 2006
WE GET WORD THAT MGM WANTS PETER FOR THE HOBBIT!!
 
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Today in Middle-earth.

October 9, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. The company departs from Lake-town.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
..."...although autumn was now getting far on, and winds were cold, and leaves were falling fast, three large boats left Lake-town, laden with rowers, dwarves, Mr. Baggins, and many provisions. Horses and ponies had been sent round by circuitous paths to meet them at their appointed landing-place. The Master and his councillors bade them farewell from the great steps of the town-hall that went down to the lake. People sang on the quays and out of windows. The white oars dipped and splashed, and off they went north up the lake on the last stage of their long journey. The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo."

October 9, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Glorfindel leaves Rivendell.
(from the appendices)
..."'Elrond received news that troubled him. Some of my kindred, journeying in your land beyond the Baranduin, learned that things were amiss and sent messages as swiftly as they could. They said that the Nine were abroad, and that you were astray bearing a great burden without guidance, for Gandalf had not returned. There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openly against the nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south. It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit, and become lost in the Wilderness."

2. The Company makes its way through the Wild.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...The freezing pain in Frodo's shoulder slowly grew and felt as if it was spreading, like roots stretching through soil; but he did not speak of it and sat bowed on the pony's back as the blur of the long days passed.

October 9-10, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. Gandalf and the hobbits make their way home from Rivendell.
(not from the appendices)
..."...the days went quickly by; for they rode at leisure, and often they lingered in the fair woodlands where the leaves were red and yellow in the autumn sun..."
 
Time to re-read the books so that I can enjoy the beloved bits and pieces that could not squeeze into the films.

Love these, gramma. Such a labor of love. . . !
 
went north, west, and south. So there must have been at least three, including Glorfindel; who could ride openly against the nine. Who were the others? Let the rampant speculation begin!

I'll nominate Beleg Cuthalion and Mablung the Heavy Handed. And Ecthelion of the Fountain.
 
Today in Middle-earth.

October 10, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Row upstream against current. Camp.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth-no text)
..."In two days going they rowed right up the Long Lake and passed out into the River Running, and now they could all see the Lonely Mountain towering grim and tall before them. The stream was strong and their going slow."


October 10, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Strider presses them on.
(not from the appendices)
..."Four days passed, without the ground or the scene changing much, except that behind them Weathertop slowly sank, and before them the distant mountains loomed a little nearer.
...Yet since that far cry they had seen and heard no sign that the enemy had marked their flight or followed them. They dreaded the dark hours, and kept watch in pairs by night, expecting at any time to see black shapes stalking in the grey night... ...but they saw nothing, and heard no sound but the sigh of withered leaves and grass. Not once did they feel the sense of present evil that had assailed them before the attack in the dell. It seemed too much to hope that the Riders had already lost their trail again. Perhaps they were waiting to make some ambush in a narrow place?"
 
Today in Middle-earth.
October 11, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Third day in boats. Camp on west shore. Met there by ponies and supplies.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth-no text)
..."At the end of the third day, some miles up the river, they drew in to the left or western bank and disembarked. Here they were joined by the horses with other provisions and necessaries and the ponies... ...that had been sent to meet them. They packed what they could on the ponies and the rest was made into a store under a tent, but none of the men of the town would stay with them even for the night so near the shadow of the Mountains.
..."Not at any rate until the songs have come true!" said they. It was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts. Indeed their stores had no need of any guard, for all the land was desolate and empty. So their escort left them, making off swiftly down the river and the shoreward paths, although the night was already drawing on.
...They spent a cold and lonely night and their spirits fell."

October 11, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Strider and the hobbits have travelled for five days since their attack at Weathertop.
(not from the appendices)
..."At the end of the fifth day the ground began once more to rise slowly out of the wide shallow valley into which they had descended. Strider now turned their course again north-eastwards."
2. He (Glorfindel) drives the Riders off the Bridge of Mitheithel.
(from the appendices)
..."'It was my lot to take the road, and I came to the Bridge of Mitheithel, and left a token there... ...Three of the servants of Sauron were upon the Bridge, but they withdrew and I pursued them westward. I came also upon two others, but they turned away southward. Since then I have searched for your trail.'"

October 11, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. Gandalf and the hobbits make their way home from Rivendell.
(not from the appendices)
..."At length they came to Weathertop; and it was then drawing towards evening and the shadow of the hill lay dark on the road. Then Frodo begged them to hasten, and he would not look towards the hill, but rode through its shadow with head bowed and cloak drawn close about him. That night the weather changed, and a wind came from the West laden with rain, and it blew loud and chill, and the yellow leaves whirled like birds in the air."


October 11, 1999
(wish it was in the appendices)
1. Principal photography begins for The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand a la Peter Jackson.
...*So it begins…*

Peteringandalfhatsm.jpg
 
Today in Middle-earth

October 12, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. They leave the river and ride to the Lonely Mountain.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth-no text)
..."The next day they set out again. Balin and Bilbo rode behind, each leading another pony heavily laden beside him; the others were... ...picking out a slow road, for there were no paths. They made north-west, slanting away from the River Running, and drawing ever nearer... ...to a great spur of the Mountain that was flung out southwards towards them.
...It was a weary journey, and a quiet and stealthy one. There was no laughter or song or sound of harps... ...the singing of old songs by the lake died away to a plodding gloom. They knew that they were drawing near to the end of their journey, and that it might be a very horrible end. The land about them grew bleak and barren, though once, as Thorin told them, it had been green and fair. There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of one long vanished. They were come at the waning of the year."

October 12, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Strider and the hobbits make their way to Rivendell.
(not from the appendices)
..."I am afraid we must go back to the Road here for a while,' said Strider. 'We have now come to the River Hoarwell... ...It flows down out of the Ettenmoors, the troll-fells north of Rivendell, and joins the Loudwater away in the South. Some call it the Greyflood after that. It is a great water before it finds the Sea. There is no way over it below its sources in the Ettenmoors, except by the Last Bridge on which the Road crosses.'
...'What is that other river we can see far away there?' asked Merry.
...'That is Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell... ...The Road runs along the edge of the hills for many miles from the Bridge to the Ford of Bruinen. But I have not yet thought how we shall cross the water. One river at a time! We shall be fortunate indeed if we do not find the Last Bridge held against us.'"

2. Glorfindel pursues three of the Black Riders then continues his search for the Company.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...Glorfindel raced behind the specters. Asfaloth's speed could easily have overtaken the enemy as they fled before the force they felt pursuing them, but the Elf sensed the urgency to return to his search for the Company. He felt the distressing call to go back; that time was running out. Asfaloth tossed his head and whinnied in protest as Glorfindel eased back and turned aside, loathe to break from the chase. Slowly he made his way along the road, searching the ground for a sign of Aragorn and his charge.

3. Gandalf makes his way to Rivendell.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...It was six days since the Black Riders broke off their pursuit of the Wizard. Gandalf made straight for Rivendell.

October 12, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The remaining Fellowship moves on.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...Gandalf and the hobbits make their way to Bree after passing Weathertop. King Éomer and King Elessar guide their respective cities and their inhabitants through the aftermath of the War. Legolas and Gimli travel the lands after visiting Fangorn Forest. Saruman is busy remodelling the Shire.
 
Today in Middle-earth.

October 13, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Balin scout up to River Running and go part way toward the Front Gate.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
..."Before setting out to search the western spurs of the Mountain for the hidden door, on which all their hopes rested, Thorin sent out a scouting expedition to spy out the land to the South where the Front Gate stood. For this purpose he chose Balin and Fili and Kili, and with them went Bilbo. They marched under the grey and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill. There the river, after winding a wide loop over the valley of Dale, turned from the Mountain on its road to the Lake, flowing swift and noisily.... ...they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain's arms the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers, and walls.
..."There lies all that is left of Dale," said Balin. "The mountain's sides were green with woods and all the sheltered valley rich and pleasant in the days when the bells rang in that town." He looked... ...grim as he said this: he had been one of Thorin's companions on the day the Dragon came.
...They did not dare to follow the river much further towards the Gate; but they went on beyond the end of the southern spur, until lying hidden behind a rock they could look out and see the dark cavernous opening in a great cliff wall between the arms of the Mountain. Out of it the waters of the Running River sprang; and out of it too there came a stream and a dark smoke. Nothing moved in the waste, save vapour and the water.... ...The only sound was the sound of the stony water, and every now and again the harsh croak of a bird. Balin shuddered.
..."Let us return!" he said. "We can do no good here! And I don't like these dark birds, they look like spies of evil."
..."The dragon is still alive and in the halls under the Mountain then---or I imagine so from the smoke," said the hobbit.
..."That does not prove it," said Balin, "though I don't doubt you are right. But he might be gone away some time, or he might be lying out on the mountain-side keeping watch, and still I expect smokes and steams would come out of the gates... ...the halls within must be filled with his foul reek."
...With such gloomy thoughts, followed ever by croaking crows above them, they made their weary way back to the camp."

October 13, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Frodo crosses the bridge.
(from the appendices)
..."...Next day, early in the morning, they came down again to the borders of the Road. Sam and Strider went forward, but they found no sign of any travellers or riders. Here under the shadow of the hills there had been some rain. Strider judged that it had fallen two days before, and had washed away all footprints. No horseman had passed since then...
......They hurried along with all the speed they could make, and after a mile or two they saw the Last Bridge ahead, at the bottom of a short steep slope. They dreaded to see black figures waiting there, but they saw none. Strider made them take cover in a thicket at the side of the Road, while he went forward to explore.
...Before long he came hurrying back. 'I can see no sign of the enemy... ...and I wonder very much what that means. But I have found something very strange.'
...He held out his hand, and showed a single pale-green jewel. 'I found it in the mud in the middle of the Bridge,' he said. 'It is a beryl, an elf-stone. Whether it was set there, or let fall by chance... ...it brings hope to me. I will take it as a sign that we may pass the Bridge; but beyond that I dare not keep to the Road, without some clearer token.'
...At once they went on again... ...Strider turned aside, and soon they were lost in a sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills... ...As they went forward the hills about them steadily rose... ...they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone, and the ruins of towers: they had an ominous look. Frodo, who was not walking, had time to gaze ahead and to think. He recalled Bilbo's account of his journey and the threatening towers on the hills north of the Road, in the country near the Troll's wood where his first serious adventure had happened. Frodo guessed that they were now in the same region...."

2. Glorfindel backtracks from his pursuit of the Black Riders searching for the Company.
(not from the appendices-no text)

3. Gandalf makes his way to Rivendell.
(not from the appendices-no text)

October 13, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. Gandalf and the hobbits make their way to Bree after passing Weathertop.
(not from the appendices-no text)
... Gandalf was enjoying his time with the hobbits. He sat quietly in the evening's camp and delighted in the humorous banter between Merry and Pippin as they debated whatever topic seemed to arise. He marvelled at Sam's intuitive care for preparing the camp and meal while keeping a subtle eye on Frodo who sat wrapped in a blanket quietly watching the campfire. Softly blown smoke rings rode the night air as he pondered Sam's devotion to Frodo. He shook his head to himself.
..."Their return to the Shire will decide much. Who can know what will follow?"
 
Chance leavings by those who have passed by those places already - or definite indicators of danger, or danger passed?

Where there's smoke, there's fire - Bilbo's right about that! What I find funny in this passage is the term "foul reek", isn't that what Princess Leia said something about to Darth Vader when he boarded her ship? Those two words and "evil character" tend to go hand-in-hand!

Not idly to the jewels of Rivendell fall. Aragorn knew the beryl was most likely a sign left for him by those who knew he would be able to find it!
 
Today in Middle-earth.

October 14, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. The camp is moved to the western valley.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
..."Now strange to say Mr. Baggins had more [spirit] than the others. He would often borrow Thorin's map and gaze at it, pondering over the runes and the message of the moon-letters Elrond had read. It was he that made the dwarves begin the dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret door. They moved their camp then to a long valley... ...and walled with lower spurs of the Mountain. Two of these here thrust forward west from the main mass in long steep-sided ridges that fell ever downwards towards the plain. On this western side there were fewer signs of the dragon's marauding feet, and there was some grass for their ponies."

October 14, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. Strider and the hobbits continue through the wild of the Trollshaws Forest.
(not from the appendices)
..."'Who lives in this land?' Frodo asked. 'And who built these towers? Is this troll-country?'
...'No!' said Strider. 'Trolls do not build. No one lives in this land. Men once dwelt here, ages ago; but none remain now. They became an evil people, as legends tell, for they fell under the shadow of Angmar. But all were destroyed in the war that brought the North Kingdom to its end... ...though a shadow still lies on the land.'
...'Where did you learn such tales, if all the land is empty and forgetful?' asked Peregrin. 'The birds and beasts do not tell tales of that sort.'
...'The heirs of Elendil do not forget all things past,' said Strider; 'and many more things than I can tell are remembered in Rivendell.'
...'Have you often been to Rivendell?' asked Frodo.
...'I have,' said Strider. 'I dwelt there once, and still I return when I may. There my heart is; but it is not my fate to sit in peace, even in the fair house of Elrond.'"
 
Everything must think that Aragorn runs around looking down! Pippin does the same thing later on when he leaves his brooch in the grass.

You're right about the foul reek! Vader's in good company when it comes to stinky villains :D GOOD CATCH!
 
A beryl, a brooch - and finally, Aragorn has to look down for a Tree!

Poor guy, always having to play hide-and-seek with Fate! [;)]
 
like he's a coin someone dropped on the forest floor!


(Thanks as always for posting Gramma!) [heart]
 
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