Frodo made his way into the feasting hall. Elrond was giving a feast in the hobbits honor and there were many guests. Upon Elrond's right and left were Gandalf and Glorfindel. The Wizard seemed to possess much more dignity and power in that setting to Frodo's eyes. Frodo was also overwhelmed at seeing Elrond whom he had heard so many stories about. "The face of Elrond was ageless, neither young nor old, though in it were written many things, both glad and sorrowful" (p. 239, The Fellowship of the Ring). As awesome as Glorfindel was, girded with wisdom and strength, Elrond was clearly the Lord of Rivendell. Frodo then beheld a most beautiful sight, one that few mortal eyes had seen: Arwen, Elrond's daughter, whom it is said the beauty and likeness of Luthien had returned to Middle-earth. "But her brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, were out upon erranty: for they rode often far afield with the Rangers of the North, forgetting never their mother's torment in the dens of the orcs" (p. 239, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Frodo felt out of place with such lofty people at the feast yet he and his friends were the guests of honor. He scanned the room and found Sam, Merry, and Pippin together but no sign of Strider. Scanning the hall that Frodo realized an exquisite looking dwarf was sitting next to him. "'Welcome and well met!' said the dwarf, turning towards him. Then he actually rose from his seat and bowed. 'Gloin at your service,' he said, and bowed still lower. 'Frodo Baggins at your service and your family's,' said Frodo correctly, rising in surprise and scattering his cushions. 'Am I right in guessing that you are the Gloin, one of the twelve companions of the great Thorin Oakenshield?'" (p. 240, The Fellowship of the Ring). Indeed, Frodo was in the presence of the very Gloin who had adventured with Bilbo long before. Each were curious as to why the other was there but felt it was not the right time to speak of weighty matters before Elrond called the council.
Still, Frodo inquired about the regions were Bilbo had once travelled. It seemed that Beorn's son, Grimbeorn the Old, commanded the lands between the Misty Mountains and the Mirkwood Forest. Still not overly friendly with Dwarves but trustworthy. Brand, Bard's grandson, ruled Dale and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain had great friendship with them. The region of Esgorath had grown greatly. Dain was still King under the Mountain, extremely old and rich. Frodo then inquired about the companions on Bilbo's adventure. "Of the ten companions who survived the Battle of Five Armies seven were still with him: Dwalin, Gloin, Dori, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur. Bombur was now so fat that he could not move himself from his couch to his chair at table, and it took six young dwarves to lift him" (p. 241, The Fellowship of the Ring). When Frodo asked Gloin about Balin, Ori, and Oin he became guarded and declined to speak much until the Council of Elrond.
After the feasting was over Elrond and Arwen led the guests in the Hall of Fire where much singing and merry-making would happen throughout the evening. Frodo noticed a small figure already in the room and wondered why he had not been at the feast. "Elrond went forward and stood beside the silent figure. 'Awake, little master!' he said, with a smile. Then, turning to Frodo, he beckoned to him. 'Now at last the hour has come that you have wished for, Frodo,' he said. 'Here is a friend that you have long missed'" (p. 242-243, The Fellowship of the Ring). To Frodo's great joy the figure revealed himself to be Bilbo! Frodo sat by Bilbo who told Elrond he had been thinking and not sleeping and wished for help from the Dunadan. Elrond promised to summon Bilbo's friend and left the two hobbits alone.
All around them great singing was taking place but Frodo was only paying attention to Bilbo. When Bilbo left the Shire he had come to Rivendell and from there journeyed, with dwarves, to Dale. He had meant to see other things but ended up back at Rivendell contented to rest, think, and write in his book. Bilbo quickly turned the discussion toward's his old Ring; not quite believing it was causing all sorts of fuss. He asked Frodo if he could see it and the younger hobbit obliged. "Slowly he drew it out. Bilbo put out is hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him" (p. 244, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo regained his composure and truly understood why Gandalf asked him to give up the Ring; he was terribly sorry Frodo had to bear the burden.
Not long after the Dunadan came to help Bilbo with a song he had been writing. To Frodo's great surprise the Dunadan was none other than Strider! Frodo was amused at Strider's many names (I count 5 so far: Strider, Aragorn, Thorongil, Estel, and Dunadan) and wondered at Bilbo's name. "'The Dunadan,' said Bilbo. 'He is often called that here. But I thought that you knew enough Elvish at least to know dun-adan: Man of the West, Númenorean. But this is not the time for lessons!' He turned to Strider. 'Where have you been, my friend? Why weren't you at the feast? The Lady Arwen was there?'" (p. 245, The Fellowship of the Ring). Apparently Elladan and Elrohir had come back from their errand and Aragorn needed to speak with them. He was now ready to help Bilbo and off they went to finish the song.
Frodo fell into the enchantment of the music. My reading agenda will be through the Histories of Middle-earth; I think some of the Lays of Beleriand would be an appropriate addition here--as Frodo listens the the Elves sing. One voice stood above the rest and eventually became all he heard. He was surprised to see it was Bilbo singing a long tale about Earendil the mariner. Once finished Bilbo challenged the Elves to figure out which verses were his and which were the Dunadan's. One Elf, Lindir, razzed Bilbo, saying it was impossible for the immortal to discern the minds of mortals. Bilbo was not pleased: "'Nonsense, Lindir,' snorted Bilbo. 'If you can't distinguish between a Man and a Hobbit, your judgement is poorer than I imagined. They're as different as peas and apples'" (p. 248. The Fellowship of the Ring). I mention this exchange for two reasons: one, it's actually sort of comical when read and two, Peter Jackson has written Lindir into The Hobbit movies.
Frodo confessed after Bilbo sat down that he didn't know which part belonged to who. Bilbo answered: "'As a matter of fact it was all mine. Except that Aragorn insisted on my putting in a green stone. He seemed to think it important. I don't know why. Otherwise he obviously thought the whole thing over my head, and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses about Eärendil in the house of Elrond, it is my affair'" (p. 249-250, The Fellowship of the Ring). This is another great example of why I love these stories. All of the history that sets up little moments like Bilbo's song. And of course, Aragorn was right. Bilbo, most likely, had know idea who Eärendil was in connection to Elrond. And yet there is this benevolent innocence to Hobbits that makes them so lovable; and Tolkien's story so well loved too.
Bilbo and Frodo left the hall to talk more. Frodo paused though, with the singing about Elbereth, and surveyed the room seeing Elrond in his chair and the beautiful Arwen near her father. "To his surprise he saw Aragorn stood beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast. They spoke together, and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo that Arwen turned towards him, and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart" (p. 250, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo and Frodo talked into the night until Sam came to remind his master that he must rise early the next morning for the great Council of Elrond.
Middle-earth timeline: 3018, Third Age, October 24th-25th
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 239-252
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