Frodo's stab wound in his shoulder grew more painful and a slow chill spread down his arm. Strider had discovered a black cloak with a slash in it (from Frodo's sword) but inside it was the knife that had stabbed him. The tip was broken off (presumedly in Frodo's shoulder) and as Strider lifted it up the blade seemed to melt into nothing. Strider knew immediately that his healing skills would not be enough against this evil blade. Still, he sang a song over the knife hilt and produced athelas plants he had found to put in Frodo's wound to help with healing. After some thought Strider decided to lead them as quick as can be to Rivendell, the only place where Frodo might be healed, but that meant needing to cross the Road in several places. Their pony was relieved of it's baggage and Frodo set on top to ease his pain and they started the treacherous journey toward Rivendell.
As they started out they heard a chilling cry and an answer in the distance but no visual signs of the Black Riders. The rode on for many days without seeing or feeling the presence of the enemy. On the 6th day of the journey the had to cross the Road. There were two main rivers to cross to get to Rivendell. The first, Hoarwell, could only be crossed by using the Last Bridge on the Road and Strider feared the Black Riders would bar the way. They found it empty when they arrived; Strider went ahead alone to explore. He came back with a beryl, an elf-stone, that he found in the middle of the Bridge. He took it as a sign to cross which they did with no troubles at all. All the same they left the Road quickly after crossing the Bridge. The country was changing with more rolling hills. Frodo was thinking about Bilbo's journey and realized they were heading toward Troll country as Bilbo had years before. Frodo's pain was steady and it seemed with each passing day a mist came over his eyes which troubled his vision.
The weather changed with a couple of days of drenching rain. They were all miserable but Frodo's wound grew worse with the bone-chilling rain and no fire. He couldn't sleep, imagining every sound was a Black Rider, and when he did his dreams were plagued by black shapes. When the rain finally stopped Strider realized they went too far North and they would hit troll-country if they continued on. Not wanting to go that way he turned knowing they'd need to find some way to cross the Bruinen, the other river before Rivendell. They had a hard day of travel and Frodo's vision grew worse and his arm was completely lifeless. They wondered if he would be able to be healed in Rivendell and they knew they needed to make it there in all haste. The next day Strider gained his bearings, for he did not travel or know troll-country, and decided they must travel upon the Road, it would be the fastest way to Rivendell and at this point worth the risks.
As they travelled toward the Road Pippin found a path. This made the way easier but they were all cautious (particularly Pippin who was scared of the troll talk). Sure enough the found a cave with a huge door ajar. Strider and Merry explored and found a long deserted troll-cave filled with bones. They moved on with Merry and Pippin taking the lead; but they had not gone far before the two terrified hobbits returned spying trolls ahead. Strider wanted to have a closer look and picked up a stick; the others followed hesitantly. Pippin and Merry were correct: they found three trolls, one stopping over and the other two standing and staring. Strider walked right out into the open and called at the trolls breaking his stick over one of them. "'Nothing happened. There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits, and then even Frodo laughed. 'Well!' he said. 'We are forgetting our family history! These must be the very three that were caught by Gandalf, quarrelling over the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit'" (p. 218, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Strider reminded them that trolls do not come out in daylight or else they turned to stone. Merry and Pippin had a good laugh and Sam proceeded to sing a silly song about trolls that he had made up himself. Frodo was again impressed with Sam along the journey wondering if he'd end up as a wizard or warrior. "'I hope not,' said Sam. 'I don't want to be neither!' (p. 220, The Fellowship of the Ring). As they moved on out of the woods and to the Road Strider pointed out a stone with strange runes on it. They guessed it was the mark of the troll treasure Bilbo and the Dwarves had buried long ago and the other hobbits wondered how much of Bilbo's riches were left. Frodo informed them that Bilbo had given it all away since it had come from robbers in the first place. Of course, Frodo wished that Bilbo had not ever gained treasure, especially the Ring.
At last they travelled the Road with no sign of the enemy but Strider was growing anxious. They were looking for a place to camp when they heard a noise they had all feared; the sound of horse hooves. They hid quickly and as it drew closer they heard a strange sound, bells it seemed. Soon a rider appeared, on a brilliant white horse; he had golden hair streaming in the wind. To Frodo he seemed to be white light in the appearance of a rider. Strider jumped out of their hiding place and bounded down the hill but the rider was already halted and turned in their direction. He called out to Strider: "Ai na vedui Dunadan! Mae govannen!" (p. 222, The Fellowship of the Ring) the clear tongue of an Elf. They spoke together for a while, urgently, while the hobbits came down. "'This is Glorfindel, who dwells in the house of Elrond,' said Strider" (p. 222, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Glorfindel informed them that he had been in search for them for nine days as news had reached Elrond of their plight. Also because Gandalf still had not been seen. A rider was sent in every direction and Glorfindel was instructed to monitor the Road. It was he who had left the Beryl on the Bridge Strider had seen days before. He had driven off three Ringwraith's who guarded the bridge and found two other's but he did not know where the other four Black Riders could be. Sam quickly explained Frodo's wound to Glorfindel and this made the Elf worried. He decided to mount Frodo on his horse should a quick escape be needed; for his horse would lose no rider he commanded it to bear and was faster than any horse in the service of Mordor. Frodo tried to object not wanting to leave his friends to danger but Glorfindel pointed out they were only in danger when Frodo was with them.
Glorfindel led them through the night. After a short rest urged them on through the next day, covering over 20 miles. But the hobbits were too weary to continue and they rested for the night. Glofindel had often paused to listen and look as they travelled and seemed to be troubled. They were on their last leg of the journey where the Road went under a deep cut covered with pine trees. The Ford of Bruinen was just ahead. The cut echoed terribly but they made it through yet the echo did not seem to dissipate. "One moment Glorfindel turned and listened, then he sprang forward with a loud cry. 'Fly!' he called. 'Fly! the enemy is upon us!'" (p. 225, The Fellowship of the Ring). His white horse took off. The hobbits ran. Glorfindel and Strider made a rearguard. Frodo checked the horse to look back. He realized though, that he was obeying the commands of the Black Riders in so doing, and became angry drawing his sword. Glorfindel commanded his horse to speed down away heedless of Frodo's direction.
Five Black Riders were in pursuit and they cried chilling cries. They were answered and four more burst forth from cover; two riding at Frodo and two galloping ahead to cut off his path the Ford. Frodo could see the Ringwraith's uncloaked with swords drawn and he closed his eyes bearing down tightly on his horse's neck. "A breath of deadly cold pierced him like a spear, as with a last spurt, like a flash of white fire, the elf-horse speeding as if on wings, passed right before the face of the foremost Rider'" (p. 226, The Fellowship of the Ring). Frodo heard the splash of water and realized he had crossed the river. Turning he saw all nine Riders on the other side. He could not resist their command for him to halt. He called for the Riders to go back to Mordor. "His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. 'Come back! Come back!' they called. 'To Mordor we will take you!'" (p. 226, The Fellowship of the Ring).
"'By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair,' said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, 'you shall have neither the Ring nor me'" (p. 226-227, The Fellowship of the Ring). Several Riders charged into the River. Frodo was frozen by them, dropping his sword. He thought he saw the River swell and what appeared to be white horses with riders upon the waves sweep over the Ringwraith's who dared to cross the River. "With his last failing senses Frodo heard cries, and it seemed to him that he saw, beyond the Riders that hesitated on shore, a shining figure of white light; and behind it ran small shadowy forms waving flames, that flared red in the grey mist that was falling over the world" (p. 227, The Fellowship of the Ring). The horses of the Black Riders were overcome with terror and rushed into the flooding river and were swept away. All went to black for Frodo.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3018, October 7th-23rd
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 209-227
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