The Council of Elrond, part one

Chapter two of book two in The Fellowship of the Ring is behemoth. So much information, so many characters, so much dialogue. My aim has been to read the mythology of Middle-earth in manageable amounts with time to reflect on the applicability of the story or link the readings to other events in this history. This particular chapter hits on nearly every major event in Middle-earth. For this post I will note the characters in the order they speak and highlight, with links to other blog posts, what they had to say. As I read I was reminded a quote attributed to Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Elrond called a great council to discuss the Ring. Others who had come to seek the council of Elrond were invited to attend as their concerns had connection to the Ring even though they did not fully understand that. Among those in attendance at the council of Elrond were: Frodo, the Ring-bearer, Bilbo, the Ring-finder, Gandalf the Grey, Glorfindel, Erestor (a councilor to Elrond along with several others), Galdor who had come from the Grey Havens and represented Círdan the Shipwright, Legolas who had come with a message from his father Thranduil of Mirkwood, Gloin, accompanied by his son Gimli, who had an urgent request from Dain, King under the Mountain, Aragron, and Boromir from Gondor who had arrived that morning seeking council from Elrond.

Elrond began the council by introducing Frodo to all who were present: "'Here, my friends, is the hobbit, Frodo son of Drogo. Few have ever come hither through greater peril or on an errand more urgent'" (p. 253, The Fellowship of the Ring). They began with news around Middle-earth and much was discussed but eventually conversation was turned to the Matter that connected them all.

Gloin:

• He spoke of the disquiet among his people and the desire to seek for Khazad-dum (Moria) again.
• Balin, Ori, and Oin had left the Lonely Mountain, with others, to reestablish Moria. At first things went well but no tidings had come for nearly 30 years.
• Notable quote: "'Moria! Moria! Wonder of the Northern world! Too deep we delved there, and woke the nameless fear'" (p. 253, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• He told of a Black Rider who had come to the Mountain about one year earlier; the Rider promised friendship and Dwarven Rings of power to Dain if he would give information concerning hobbits; especially where they resided.
• Dain did not answer and bought time by pretending to think over the offer (he knew of Sauron's deceitfulness) 
• Notable quote by the Black Rider: "'...get from him, willing or no, a little ring, the least of rings, that once he stole. It is but a trifle that Sauron fancies...'" (p. 254, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Gloin was sent by Dain to warn Bilbo the Enemy was searching for him. Gloin was to inquire of Elrond why Sauron sought this trinket since the Black Rider was returning to Erebor looking for help from the Dwarves.
• He also informed the council that the Rider also visited Dale. Fear was over that region and war was upon its borders.

Elrond:

• Notable quote to Gloin: "'There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it. But you do not stand alone. You will learn that your trouble is but part of the trouble of all the western world. The Ring! What shall we do with the Ring, the least of rings, the trifle that Sauron fancies? That is the doom that we must deem'" (p. 255, The Fellowship of the Ring). 
• Notable quote: "Believe rather that it is so ordered that we, who sit here, and none others, must now find counsel for the peril of the world'" (p. 255, The Fellowship of the Ring). Another example of providence that I've often spoken of in this blog. 
• Elrond then told the story of the making of the Rings of Power. Of Celebrimbor and the Elven-smiths of Eregion and their friendship with Moria. Of the Nine, the Seven, the Three, and the One and the betrayal of Sauron.
• He spoke of Númenor and it's fall. Of the return of the Kings of Men to Middle-earth. How Sauron assailed Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anarion. 
• He told of the Last Alliance and the majesty of the host that rode against Sauron; though he noted it was not as powerful as the host that broke Thangorodrim. Frodo could not believe Elrond remembered so much but Elves are immortal after all. Elrond noted his father was Eärendil who was born in Gondolin and his mother was Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Luthien. 
• Elrond revealed he was at the Battle of Dagorlad where none could withstand the spear of Gil-galad (Aiglos) or the sword of Elendil (Narsil) until Sauron killed them breaking Narsil in the process; and how Isildur took up his father's sword and cut the Ring from Sauron's finger.
• Yet, Elrond along with Círdan, could not persuade Isildur to destroy the Ring. It betrayed him in the end and was ever known in the North as Isildur's Bane. He told how Ohtar, who survived the disaster at Gladden Fields, brought Narsil to Rivendell for Valandil, Isildur's son.
• Notable quote: "'Fruitless did I say the victory of the Last Alliance? Not wholly so, yet it did not achieve its end. Sauron was diminished, but not destroyed. His Ring was lost, but not unmade'" (p. 257, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Elrond noted that there would be no great alliance now as Elves and Men were estranged. The Firstborn were leaving Middle-earth and the Men of Numenor diminishing.
• He told of the origin of Gondor in the south; the chief city of Osgiliath and it's great towers: Minis Ithil and Minas Anor; he spoke of the white tree which Isildur had saved from Númenor, which came from Eressea, and that from the Undying Lands.
• He noted how over the years Gondor was falling, the tree withered, and Minis Ithil overtaken by the Enemy and renamed Minas Morgul. Minas Anor was renamed Minis Tirith.
• Alas, as Elrond closed he noted the Ring fell out of knowledge, until now, even as the men of Minis Tirith fight on.

Boromir

• Boromir told of the rising of the Nameless Enemy in power and how sudden war came upon Osgiliath in June.
• He told of a great Black Horseman who brought terror with him upon the battlefield and the only option was to destroy the bridge that cross Osgiliath and split the city in two. 
• Only Rohan was counted on to aid Gondor but they were hard pressed. 
• Boromir, however, did not come to ask for help in war but rather he travelled 110 days to learn about a riddle that often plagued he and his brother Faramir in their dreams.
• Notable quote: "'Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; There counsels shall be taken Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token that Doom is near at hand, For Isildur's Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand'" (p. 259, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Aragorn: 

• Notable quote: "'Here is the Sword that was broken!'" (p. 259, The Fellowship of the Ring)

There is a flurry of discussion here (rather than monologue) I shall note. Boromir looked at him with doubt while Elrond explained that this was indeed Isildur's heir, Chief of the Dunedain in the North. Frodo declared the Ring belonged to Aragorn but he declined for it belonged to Sauron alone. Gandalf called for Frodo to reveal the Ring so that Boromir's riddle would be made perfectly clear. Boromir wondered that the Great Ring could have actually been found. Aragorn noted the Sword that was broken would be forged anew and if Boromir should look for a King to return to Gondor. Still Boromir held Aragorn in doubt. Bilbo jumped up and recited some verses about Aragorn (the same Frodo had read in Gandalf's letter) in defense of his friend (Bilbo had made the riddle up about Aragorn). 

Aragorn:

• He forgave Boromir his doubts knowing he may not yet look the part of Isildur's heir (he was cloaked in his weatherworn travel gear).
• He spoke of the valor of the remaining Dúnedain, the Rangers, who kept Sauron's evil servants at bay all over Middle-earth and not just the South as Gondor had done. 
• He noted that the Rangers had received even less thanks than Gondor; as many looked upon them with disdainful eyes (as Boromir was doing).
• Notable quote: "''Strider' I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly'" (p. 261, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Notable quote: "'A new hour comes. Isildur's bane is found. Battle is at hand. The Sword shall be reforged. I will come to Minis Tirith'" (p. 262, The Fellowship of the Ring). Those are some sweet action words! 

Boromir still harbored doubts about the Ring Frodo possessed so Elrond called the next speaker.

Bilbo

• Notable quote: "'...I will now tell the true story, and if some here have heard me tell it otherwise'--he looked sidelong at Gloin--'I ask them to forget it and forgive me'" (p. 262, The Fellowship of the Ring). 
• Bilbo proceeded to tell his finding of the Ring and encounter with Gollum, not leaving out single riddle.

Frodo

• He picked up the story of the Ring after inheriting it from Bilbo but was more hesitant to speak then the older hobbit. 
• He told of his adventures in the Old Forest, encounter with Bombadil, about the Barrow-downs, meeting Strider at Bree, their journey to Weathertop, and flight to the Ford. 
• He was questioned much particularly about the Black Riderrs.
• Notable quote: "'But the story still does not seem complete to me. I still want to know a good deal, especially about Gandalf'" (p. 263, The Fellowship of the Ring). 

Galdor

• He concurred with Frodo's thought about Gandalf and also wondered why Saruman was not present for he had the most Ring-lore of any of the Wise. 
• He still was unconvinced that Frodo possessed the One Ring and wanted more evidence from the  Wise.

Gandalf

• He felt that Gloin's news coupled with Frodo's flight was enough evidence that Sauron thought it the One Ring but he proceeded to tell how he came to that conclusion.
• He told about exploring Dol Guldur and finding out that the Necromancer was Sauron.
• He reminded them that Saruman had long counseled against doing anything against Sauron.
• Finally, in the summer the Ring was found Saruman yielded and Sauron was driven from Dol Guldur.
• Not long after Sauron reestablished himself in Mordor and began growing his strength.
• At the last White Council there was fear that Sauron had news of the Ring but Saruman assured them the Ring was forever lost from Middle-earth in the Great Sea.
• Gandalf admitted his heart was not at rest so he sought for Gollum to learn by what means he had come to possess the Ring; not finding him he let the matter rest.
• 17 years passed and Gandalf noticed more spies coming to and around the Shire; he enlisted the help of the Dúnedain for protection and admitted the nagging fear in his heart to Aragorn who counseled the search for Gollum should be taken up again.
• Long they searched tracking Gollum to the very edge of Mordor when Gandalf remembered words Saruman had spoken long ago. 
• Notable quote (of Saruman): "'The Nine, the Seven, and the Three,' he said, 'had each their proper gem. Not so the One. It was round and unadorned, as it were one of the lesser rings; but its maker set marks upon it that the skilled, maybe, could still see and read'" (p. 265, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Gandalf explained how he abandoned the search for Gollum and made his way to Gondor to see if Isildur had made any records about the One (how else would have Saruman gained his knowledge?). Denethor greeted him begrudgingly but let him search the ancient records.
• The Wizard found a scroll written by Isildur about the Ring; indicating that letters could be seen on It when he first obtained It when the heat of Sauron burned like fire.
• Notable quote (of Isildur's): "But for my part I will risk no hurt to this thing: of all the works of Sauron the only fair. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain" (p. 266, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Gandalf told the council how, as he left Gondor, news reached him from Lorien that Aragorn had found Gollum.

Aragorn

• He spoke of traveling through dangerous lands near Mordor; it was after giving up and turning away that he found a fresh track near the Dead Marshes and eventually captured Gollum.
• Notable quote: "'He will never love me, I fear; for he bit me, and I was not gentle. Nothing more did I ever get from his mouth than the marks of his teeth'" (p. 266-267, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• Aragorn delivered Gollum into the keeping of Thranduil and the Elves of Mirkwood.

Gandalf

• Gandalf told of his long speech with Gollum; learning that the creature had found the Ring in the Great River near Gladden Fields and that it had given Gollum unnatural long life.
• For the final proof Gandalf said he placed Frodo's Ring into fire and found writing as Isildur had spoken: "Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul" (p. 267, The Fellowship of the Ring)
• Gandalf translated the ancient speech: "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them" (p. 267, The Fellowship of the Ring). Gandalf mentioned that when Sauron first put on the One Ring Celebrimbor heard these very words and knew he was betrayed. (A cool bit of history I didn't know before).
• Gandalf learned from Gollum that the Enemy had captured the creature first; after long torture it was certain that Sauron knew the One Ring was not lost. He was pursuing it at all costs. 

Boromir wondered what became of Gollum and Aragorn said he was imprisoned by the Mirkwood Elves. Should Gollum ever be free he was certain to cause more mischief. At this the Elf from Mirkwood spoke up.

Legolas

• Notable quote: "'The tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told. They are not good, but only here have I learned how evil they may seem to this company. Smeagol, who is now called Gollum, has escaped'" (p. 268, The Fellowship of the Ring). 
• Legolas explained the watch on him was vigorous but perhaps too kind; the Elves did not have the heart to leave him in dungeon caves and often let him walk, guarded of course, in the woods. 
• Notable quote: "'You were less tender to me,' said Gloin with a flash in his eyes, as old memories were stirred of his imprisonment in the deep places of the Elven-king's halls" (p. 268, The Fellowship of the Ring).
• One day Gollum climbed a tree (as he often did) and refused to come down so the Elves set a watch around the tree. That night Orcs assailed Thranduil's realms and caught the Elves by surprise. 
• In the fighting Gollum was lost; Legolas said they tracked him as far as Dol Guldur but dared not go any farther for that place was evil still.

Gandalf

• While Legolas' news was ill; Gandald sought to end the story of the Ring by answering Galdor's other question about Saruman.
• After hearing of the attack on Gondor by the Witch-king Gandalf sought news. He ran into Radagast the Brown (I enjoyed the inclusion of Radagast Peter Jackson's Hobbit).
• Radagast had been searching for Gandalf. He said told the Nazgul rode again and were searching for the Shire and that Saruman the White bid Gandalf to come to him for aid. 
• This brought Gandalf hope for while Radagast was a good wizard he was more concerned with herbs, and beasts, and birds (sort of a St. Francis of Assisi type it would seem); Saruman was powerful and it was his help that allowed the White Council to force Sauron out of Dol Guldur.
• Gandalf asked that Radagast ask his beast and bird friends to watch out for any more news and to send messages to either he or Saruman.
• Gandalf rested a night in Bree and wrote a letter to Frodo and entrusted it to Barliman Butterbur. 
• Upon arrival at Orthanc Gandalf felt an unexplained fear. Saruman immediately began to scoff him as he said that Radagast had sent him.
• Notable quote (of Saruman): "'Radagast the Brown!'' laughed Saruman, and he no longer concealed his scorn. 'Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him. For you have come, and that was the purpose of my message. And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey, and rest from journeys. For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!''" (p. 272, The Fellowship of the Ring). Saruman revealed his scorn for Gandalf and his new cloak of many colors. 
• Notable quote: "'I liked white better,' I said" (p. 272, The Fellowship of the Ring). I can totally picture Gandalf saying this; some levity in the midst of being betrayed.
• Saruman tried to convince Gandalf to join him, working with Sauron until a time would come where together they would overcome the Enemy and together be Lords of the Ring. 
• Gandalf knew only one hand could wield the Ring and there would be no "we"; he refused Saruman's offer. 
• Saruman had Gandalf placed at the very pinnacle of Orthanc with no escape possible. 
• Gandalf saw that Saruman was drawing all Orcs and Wolves not under Sauron's influence to himself; he also fretted about Frodo with the Ringwraith's abroad. 
• So it was that Gwaihir the Windlord, fastest of the Eagles, came to Orthanc as bidden by Gandalf's request to Radagast. He bore Gandalf away before Saruman could do anything about it and set him in the land of Rohan.
• Gwaihir informed Gandalf that Rohan sold horses to Mordor and the Wizard found Theoden under the spells of Saruman; still he was given a horse and bidden to leave. Gandalf chose the best horse of the land to Theoden's dismay. 

Boromir

• Boromir intervened to vouch for Gondor's long friendship with Rohan saying the Eagle had only heard a lie of Mordor. 
• He noted the Rohirrim loved their horses as kin and would never give them willingly to Mordor.

Gandalf

• Upon Shadowfax Gandalf sped to the Shire arriving as Frodo reached the Barrow-downs (essentially Shadowfax is really fast and has strong endurance).
• Gandalf sped to Bree to learn news from Butterbur and he was overjoyed to hear Frodo had left with Strider that very morning. 
• Notable quote: "'Ass! Fool! Thrice worthy and beloved Barliman!' said I. "It's the best news I have had since midsummer: it's worth a gold piece at least. May your beer be laid under an enchantment of surpassing excellence for seven years!' (p. 277, The Fellowship of the Ring)
• Gandalf rested in Bree that night until five Ringwraith's came through; the Wizard pursued them. 
• He made his way to Weathertop and was besieged fighting through the night. Gandalf fled in the morning and managed to get four of the Ringwraith's to follow him; explaining why only five attacked Frodo's camp at Weathertop. 
• Gandalf went to Rivendell days before Frodo arrived and sent Shadowfax back to Rohan.
• Notable quote: "'And that, Frodo, is the end of my account. May Elrond and the others forgive the length of it. But such a thing has not happened before, that Gandalf broke tryst and did not come when he promised'" (p. 278, The Fellowship of the Ring). 

And there was much silence.

May all you readers forgive the length of this blog post. But such a thing as not happened before; a chapter that ties in nearly all the history of Middle-earth. For the first time ever I can place all the names and places and that is a beautiful thing for me. Thanks for letting me indulge.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3018, October 25th
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 252-278