After leaving Rivendell the Fellowship moved south. Gandalf and Aragorn led while Legolas with his keen Elven eyes was the rearguard. They travelled by night and slept during the day. It was cold and extremely windy. For fear of spies they did not light fires. When the hobbits felt they were getting nowhere the weather and land changed: the wind ceased and the land was covered in ancient holly trees. Frodo could see mountains in the distance. Gandalf was pleased with the ground they had covered. "'We have reached the borders of the country that Men call Hollin; many Elves lived here in happier days, when Eregion was its name'" (p. 296, The Fellowship of the Ring). Frodo was pleased to see a sunrise. They all saw the Misty mountains in the distance; Gimli in particular was drawn to them.
Gimli began to tell the Company of the Mountains and their importance to the Dwarves. Indeed, the chief mountain they saw was Caradhras the Cruel and Gandalf explained they were making for the Dimrill Dale where the Mirrormere Lake was. Gimli named them in the Dwarven tongue: Barazinbur (Caradhras), Azanulbizar (Dimrill Dale), the valley Dwarves do not forget, and Kheled-zaram (Mirrormere). This is an awesome example of Tolkien's deep love and knowledge of language. He created unique languages for all the people of Middle-earth! It's mind blowing the amount of time and effort the Professor put into these stories. I agree with Sam's thoughts about the Dwarven language: "'A fair jaw-cracker dwarf-language must be!'" (p. 299, The Fellowship of the Ring)
Gandalf suggested they rest for a day, for a land like Hollin once inhabited by the Elves is a wholesome place. "'That is true,' said Legolas. 'But the Elves of this land were a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago'" (p. 297, The Fellowship of the Ring). They lit a fire and sat down for a cheerful meal but Aragorn was on edge and did not stay with the group. Coming back he announced his unease: the land was too quiet, no sound but the Fellowship could be heard. While he hoped it was caused by the surprise of travelers in such uninhabited lands Strider did not feel good about it.
Sam with Aragorn took the first watch. It was then that Sam noticed a dark patch in the sky that was moving too quickly for a cloud. They got out of sight in the nick of time as crebain (crow like birds) flew over. They were from Dunland and not native to Hollin; Aragorn waked Gandalf to tell him the news and they both knew spies were upon Hollin. They set out that night, forsaking rest, toward the mountains. As they travelled Frodo thought he saw a shape high in the sky; Gandalf did not see it but felt it; Aaragorn noted by their comments that whatever it was it did not go with the wind. Nothing more happened that night. The next day they were at the base of the mountain with winter storms brewing.
Frodo overheard Gandalf and Aragorn talking, an apparent disagreement on the path they should take, and he listened attentively. "'I think no good of our course from beginning to end, as you know well, Gandalf,' answered Aragorn. 'And perils known and unknown will grow as we go on. But we must go on; and it is no good our delaying the passage of the mountains. Further south there are no passes, till one comes to the Gap of Rohan. I do not trust that way since your news of Saruman'" (p. 300, The Fellowship of the Ring). Gandalf mentioned another way, one they apparently had discussed before, but Aaragorn seemed fearful of that path and refused; and Frodo was relieved.
As they prepared to climb the mountains they knew weather would be an issue. Boromir suggested they take firewood, as much as they could, just in case. Gandalf agreed but said it would only be lit if it was a choice between the fire or death. Up Caradhras they climbed. Snow began to fall. Gandalf stopped and turned to Aragorn: "'This is what I feared,' he said. 'What do you say now, Aragorn?' 'That I feared it too,' Aragorn answered, 'but less than other things'" (p. 302, The Fellowship of the Ring). Further up they climbed. Snow began falling violently. Suddenly the storm worked to blizzard conditions they heard what sounded like voices on the wind and rocks crashed perilously close to them. They wondered if it was Sauron at work; Aragorn felt perhaps it was some other thing, no more friendly than Sauron but not in league with him. "'Caradhras was called the Cruel, and had an ill name,' said Gimli, 'long years ago, when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands'" (p. 303, The Fellowship of the Ring).
They were forced to stop and still the snow fell. Boromir noted the cold would be the death of the halflings as he roused Frodo from what was probably hypothermia. Frodo thought Bilbo wouldn't be so impressed if the end of his adventure was a snowstorm. Finally, Gandalf relented and allowed Boromir to try and start fire; theWizard was wary of spies. No fire could be started and the hobbits condition grew worse. Gandalf was forced to light the fire. "'If there are any to see, then I at least am revealed to them,' he said. 'I have written Gandalf is here in signs that all can read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin'" (p. 304, The Fellowship of the Ring). As the last wood burned the snow finally relented.
It was decided they must turn back. Legolas wondered if Gandalf might melt the snow; but alas with nothing to burn as fuel that could not be done. The Wizard in turn asked the Elf to fly and fetch the Sun. (A bit of annoyance Gandalf?) Boromir and Aragorn set off to create a path through the snow with their arms. Watching their slow progress Legolas took off down the path. "'Farewell! he said to Gandalf. 'I go to find the Sun!'" (p. 306, The Fellowship of the Ring). The cold had not harmed Legolas and as he ran down the mountain in his light shoes barely an imprint was made in the snow. After a long while Legolas returned saying that the slow lessened significantly not far down the path; had he not seen that Aragorn and Boromir may have given up. As it was they finished the path and came back for the others; carrying the hobbits on their backs down the mountain. "A cold wind flowed down behind them, as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, and stumbled wearily down the slope. Caradhras had defeated them" (p. 307, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3018, December 18th-January 12th
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 295-307
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