The Ringwraiths Attack

As Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Strider barricaded themselves in at The Prancing Pony night began to fall at Crickhollow. Fatty Bolger was inside Frodo's house feeling quite nervous. "A feeling of fear had been growing on him all day, and he was unable to rest or to go to bed: there was a brooding threat in the breathless night-air. As he stared out into the gloom, a black shadow had moved under the trees, the gate seemed to open of its own accord and close again without a sound. Terror seized him" (p. 188, The Fellowship of the Ring). Fatty had seen a Ringwraith, a Black Rider, but did not see the other two come. As night deepened they came upon the house, one at the door, and one at either corner. And they waited.

In the hour before dawn they moved in with and gave the door giving a blow. "'Open in the name of Mordor!' said a voice thin and menacing" (p. 188, The Fellowship of the Ring), with another blow the door broke asunder. Just as the Ringwraith's entered an alarm was raised throughout Buckland: "'AWAKE! FEAR! FIRE! FOES! AWAKE!' Fatty Bolger had not been idle. As soon as he saw the dark shapes creep from the garden, he knew that he must run for it, or perish" (p. 188, The Fellowship of the Ring). He ran to the nearest house and the alarm was raised. "The Brandybucks were blowing the Horn-call of Buckland, that had not been sounded for a hundred years, not since the white wolves came in the Fell Winter, when the brandywine was frozen over" (p. 189, The Fellowship of the Ring). But even so the Ringwraith's had enough time to find out that the Ring was not in the house; they rode hard out of the Shire, not for fear of the hobbits, but in pursuit of the Ring.

About the same time Frodo awoke from an unsteady sleep. He was dreaming of swirling winds, galloping hooves, and a horn that would not stop blowing. I've noticed that Frodo's dreams are often premonitions of what's to come or what is happening somewhere else (I'm not sure if I've ever noticed this before) perhaps Manwë or Erú are speaking to him through dreams? Or maybe the Ring has some sort of power over his dreams? Very interesting. Strider wakened them early in the morning. They found the bedrooms they would have slept in were broken into, the beds torn and slashed. The Ringwraith's had also attacked The Prancing Pony in the night.

Strider found Butterbur, who was quite aghast at the sight of the room, and asked for a bite to eat for they were leaving immediately. Unfortunately it was discovered that all the hobbits ponies had disappeared from the Inn's stable. The hobbits were distraught. Aragorn thought long and declared they would go on foot, since the ponies would not be able to outride Ringwraith horseman anyway. The big issue was how they would carry supplies for they were a long way from Rivendell. It was decided they must try to buy a pony in town; however this delayed their start by three hours. Worse yet, the man willing to sell was Bill Ferny, who undoubtedly was in the service of the Ringwraith's. Ferny offered them a sick and undernourished pony at an outrageous price. Wanting to help Butterbur paid for it (hating to give Ferny money) and also paid Merry for his lost ponies. (In the end it worked out for Butterbur for all the ponies came back and he ended up with 5 great ponies for a very minor cost).

Other patrons of the Inn demanded payment but it was discovered that one of their number, a southerner, had disappeared. No one knew how he came to be with their party and it was deduced he was a horse thief and Butterbur was off the hook. Obviously, given Frodo's disappearance the night before, the Inn attacked, and horses being stolen there was quite a stir in Bree. Strider now decided to leave in plain view out of Bree by way of the Road. He hoped to give the wrong idea to whoever in Bree might be spying for the Ringwraith's knowing they would be watched. So off they went. The hobbits were very anxious, Strider tall and silent, silenced the onlookers by his gaze. Sam was munching on some apples given to him by Nob and Bob leading out the pony who seemed to be in better spirits simply by being out of Bill Ferny's house. Indeed, Ferny's house was the last in Bree. Frodo eyed it as they passed. "In one of the windows he caught the glimpse of a sallow face with sly, slanting eyes; but it vanished at once. 'So that's where the southerner is hiding!' he thought. 'He looks more than half like a goblin'" (p. 192-193, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Bill Ferny was there to send them off. More rather heckle them along the way razzing Sam last about the pony he had just bought. "Sam turned quickly. 'And you, Ferny,' he said, 'put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt.' With a sudden flick, quick as lightening, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square in the nose. He ducked too late, and curses came from behind the hedge. 'Waste of a good apple,' said Sam regretfully, and strode on" (p. 193, The Fellowship of the Ring). Yes! Nice throw Sam. Strider led them out of Bree and on the Road for a little while. Looking up and down the Road Strider led them off on a narrow pathway seeking cover for the rest of their journey. He planned still to make for Weathertop but that meant they would cross Midgewater Marshes, not a pleasant journey by any means, but a tough path for any to follow.

On they travelled reaching the Marshes. They were all terribly bit up by the midges and heard many worse sounding insects at night. It took a couple days to clear the Marshes. One night, unable to sleep, Frodo saw light flashing repeatedly in the East. Strider was awake too so Frodo inquired about the light. "'I do not know,' Strider answered. 'It is too distant to make out. It is like lightening that leaps up from the hill-tops'" (p. 195, The Fellowship of the Ring). By the 5th day out of Bree they were near Weathertop with faint hope of meeting Gandalf there for Strider was sure the wizard would make for that landmark and it's commanding view of the land. Of course he also knew the Ringwraith's would make for the same spot as well. On they travelled going along the hills that led to Weathertop and found a hidden and cunning path that allowed them to approach Weathertop in relative cover. The hobbits wondered where it came from. Strider told some history of the Men of the West: "'...long before, in the first days of the North Kingdom, they built a great watch-tower on Weathertop, Amon Sul they called it...it is told that Elendil stood there watching for the coming of Gil-galad out of the West, in the days of the Last Alliance'" (p. 197, The Fellowship of the Ring).

The hobbits were amazed at Strider, for beyond being a sure guide through the wilds, it was apparent that he was schooled in the histories and legends of Middle-earth. Naturally they asked who Gil-galad was. "'Gil-galad was an Elven-king. Of him the harpers sadly sing: the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea. His sword was long, his lance was keen, his shining helm afar was seen; the countless stars of heaven's field were mirrored in his silver shield. But long ago he rode away, and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are'" (p. 197-198, The Fellowship of the Ring). To the surprise of all it was Sam who sang the words which he had learned from Bilbo. "'He did not make it up,' said Strider. 'It is part of the lay that is called The Fall of Gil-galad, which is in an ancient tongue. Bilbo must have translated it. I never knew that'" (p. 198, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Finally they reached Weathertop. Sam and Pippen stayed in a sheltered dell with the pony while Strider, Frodo, and Merry went to the top. They saw nothing on the Road or across the wide lands. However, the top of the hill was scorched in many places. Strider's keen eyes picked out a small rock that seemed to have escaped the fire and turning it over found some faint runes. As best they could tell it was a "G" and "3" rune. "'I should say,' answered Strider, 'that they stood for G3, and were a sign that Gandalf was here on October the third: that is three days ago now. It would also show that he was in a hurry and danger was at hand, so that he had no time or did not dare to write anything longer or plainer'" (p. 199, The Fellowship of the Ring). His rationale was October 3rd coincided with the night he and Frodo saw the strange lights in eastern sky. As they pondered Frodo noticed five black shapes approaching from the East and West. Finding cover Strider declared: "'The enemy is here!'" (p. 200, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Meanwhile Sam and Pippin had explored the dell and found a nice stack of firewood. Strider was disappointed with himself for not checking the dell first for the hobbits had trampled the prints and he could not tell if they belonged to Ringwraiths, Rangers, or Gandalf. With no other options (for night was nearing and there were no safe havens until Rivendell) Strider decided to make camp in the dell. He instructed the hobbits to build up the fire for he knew the Ringwraith's had no love of fire and feared those who wielded it. Sam was worried that this would give away their position but Strider was sure they would be drawn to the Ring since they were so close now. They ate a meager supper, huddled in blankets, and tried to keep fear at bay. Strider offered to tell of Tinuviel; "'It is a fair tale, though it is sad, as are all the tales of Middle-earth, and yet it may lift your hearts'" (p. 203, The Fellowship of the Ring). I think this is my favorite line of the chapter. A fair but sad tale as all in Middle-earth; isn't that how it is in real life, on this earth? Even the best stories have a mixture of sadness in them; even if it's simply that a good story must come to an end. What a truism Tolkien wrote into this chapter.

Strider began to sing and chant softly. I'll quote one stanza: "'Again she fled, but swift he came. Tinuviel! Tinuviel! He called her by her elvish name; And there she halted listening. One moment stood she, and a spell His voice laid on her: Beren came, and doom fell on Tinuviel That in his arms lay glistening'" (p. 205, The Fellowship of the Ring). Indeed, Strider was singing the Lay of Lethian. The tale of love, adventure, loss, and life reborn between Beren and Luthien. How they escaped the dungeons of Sauron, recovered a Silmaril from Melkor, how he fought the Great Wolf, and she chose mortal life, how they came back to Middle-earth after death and from their lineage came Elrond of the Elves, and Eärendil of the King's of Men. (Which of course, Aragorn is in the line of Eärendil). As the story ended they felt the fear and silence of the night. Suddenly an approaching noise could be heard.

The Ringwraith's had come. The attack had begun. Merry and Pippin were overcome by terror. Sam was scared but at least laid in front of Frodo who was not scared. Rather he felt only one thing: the desire to put on the Ring, not even to escape, and he obeyed. With the Ring on the shapes of the Ringwraith's became all too clear to Frodo. He saw there haggard faces and hands and merciless eyes. He saw them approach. He drew his sword but it looked oddly like a firebrand (he must have grabbed a branch from the fire; a good choice). The Ringwraith's stopped advancing save one who bore a crown on his head (the Witch-king of Angmar) who drew a knife and stabbed Frodo. Frodo screamed out in pain and as he fell over saw a glimpse of Strider jumping towards the Nazgul with a firebrand in either hand. Frodo's final effort before drifting out of waking was to take off the Ring.

Action packed chapter (A Knife in the Dark) three different strikes by the Ringwraith's. But what I enjoyed most of all was the history imbedded into the chapter. Gil-galad, the Last Allience, Beren and Luthien, key events from the First and Second Age of Middle-earth. I remember reading this for the first time thinking there must be so much backstory and history to this tale. Feeling like I was entering into a land that had been moving, struggling, growing, and living for thousands of years before I entered in.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3018, September 30th-October 6th
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 188-208