The first several days of the journey down the Great River, Anduin, were uneventful. None were eager to reach their destination because a decision needed to be made: to Mordor or to Minis Tirith. Therefore, Aragorn did not call for a swift passage down Anduin in the beginning. They mostly let the river do the work but they did set out early each morning and ended late each day. Aragorn feared that Sauron had not been idle while they had lingered in Lorien.
By day three the landscape changed to a barren waste void of trees in the East and deserted land in the West. Aragorn explained to Frodo and Sam that it was the northernmost borders of Rohan on the West side but no one dared settle near the river for it was within bowshot of Orcs from the other side. There were rumors that Orcs crossed from time to time to raid the Rohirrim. He also told the hobbits that it would not be long before they saw the Limlight River which ran out of Fangorn Forest join Anduin. All the Fellowship seemed to grow uneasy and picked up their pace for the next couple of days.
As they journeyed Pippin and Merry were distressed. They were in the boat with Boromir and the further they journeyed the stranger he acted. He was often muttering to himself, would sometimes paddle the boat close behind Aragorn's, and even biting his nails. Pippin caught him staring at Frodo. Sam, meanwhile, had nothing to do but watch (being of no use with boats) and in a bored daze saw a strange sight. Later that night he admitted to Frodo he could have sworn he saw a log with eyes following them. Frodo was unsettled because he had seen similar eyes in Lorien as had Haldir. Sam figured it must be Gollum and Frodo agreed thinking the creature had picked up their trail in Moria. They both agreed to set a watch that night.
During Frodo's watch, in the deep night, he saw a dark shape approach their moored boats. He watched the pale eyes turn toward the sleeping company, perhaps a yard or two away, and he drew Sting. The eyes disappeared and Aragorn was roused. He asked why Frodo had drawn his sword. "'Gollum,' answered Frodo, 'Or at least, so I guess.' 'Ah!' said Aragorn, 'So you know about our little footpad, do you?'" (p. 400, The Fellowship of the Ring). Aragorn knew Gollum had tracked them since Moria and had hoped to lose him in the River. He feared not only the evil Gollum might do but also the evil Gollum might draw. He resolved to move the company more quickly in the morning.
Through day seven nothing happened. They travelled faster and mostly by night now. The country became hilly, the beginnings of Emyn Muil. Birds could be seen and Aragorn worried they were brought on by Gollum. Legolas, with his sharp Elvish eyes, saw an Eagle up high. They wondered what this could mean for it was far from the mountains. That night they began again, the eighth of their journey. Aragorn felt they could risk one more night journey before they reached the deadly rapids of San Gebir but he had seldom travelled so far by river. Sam was now moved to the front of the boat as watchmen.
It was a good thing for Sam made out sharp and jagged silhouettes which stopped the Company just in time from entering the rapids. With great effort they turned their boats away from the rapids. Before they could find a suitable landing spot the distinct twang of bows could be heard. An arrow bounced off Frodo's back, again he was saved by the mithril mail coat. Another pierced Aragorn's hood while a third hit their boat. Legolas and Gimli spotted Orcs on the Eastern side and with all their might the Company paddled to the opposite side. The cloaks and boats from Lorien must have hidden them for no more arrows found their mark.
As they made the Western shore Legolas sprang from his boat raising his bow scanning the sky. A great cry from the Orcs across the shore could be heard as a black shape blotted out the stars in the night sky. "Frodo felt a sudden chill running through him and clutching at his heart; there was a deadly cold, like the memory of an old wound, in his shoulder. He crouched down, as if to hide" (p. 403, The Fellowship of the Ring). Legolas let fly his arrow and it was true to its mark. The shape swerved, there was a croaking scream, and then silence from the other shore. Aragorn led the Fellowship upstream and they made a camp for the night. Gimli praised Legolas for his shot with the bow and wondered if it had been a Balrog. Frodo said it wasn't but did not say what he thought it was; though Boromir pressed him.
The next morning there was a thick fog which helped hide them from the enemies on the other shore. They debated what to do. Boromir wished to abandon the boats and cross by land into Gondor. Aragorn hesitated for the River was the one true route and he had not decided if he was going to Minis Tirith yet. He wished to go around the rapids toward the Falls of Rauros and to the high seat at Amon Hen before a decision was made. Boromir was against this but relented when Frodo and the others decided to follow Aragorn. It was decided that Aragorn and Legolas would go ahead by foot to see if there was a path around the rapids. If they were not back within a day the Company was to leave for evil had befallen the scouts. Frodo was heavy hearted but it proved moot for they returned within a few hours with good news. It took the whole day but the supplies, boats, and passengers made their way a mile or so down past the rapids.
They rested through the night and once again paddled down Anduin. Frodo noticed two great rocks in the distance where the river narrowed. "'Behold the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings!' cried Aragorn" (p. 409, The Fellowship of the Ring). Indeed they were great statues of lordly men each raising their left hand as if a warning for all travelers to stop. All the Company bowed their heads and felt uneasy under the sentinals of Númenor. All but Aragorn. Frodo noticed a change had come over him. "In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn, proud and erect, guiding the boat with skillful strokes; his hood was cast back, and his dark hair was blowing in the wind, a light was in his eyes: a king returning from exile to his own land" (p. 409, The Fellowship of the Ring). He explained to Frodo that he had longed to look at the likenesses of Isildur and Anarion. And yet even still Aragorn was torn: "'Would that Gandalf were here! How my heart yearns for Minis Anor and the walls of my own city! But whither shall I go?'" (p. 409, The Fellowship of the Ring). This was the 10th day of the journey down Anduin.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, February 15-25th
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 395-409
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