Flotsam and Jetsam

Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas stayed with Merry and Pippin as Gandalf and the rest of the company went to find Treebeard. The Three Hunter's were anxious to learn of what had befallen their prey. Merry and Pippin prepared a great meal for their friends. They had found quite a bit of man-food as they searched the wreckage in the guard-houses: bread (four days old), salted-pork, beer, wine, bacon, and more. Once prepared the hobbits felt obligated to eat (again) with their friends and keep them company. Legolas was quite amused and Gimli was beginning to think their score settled. As they sat and ate merrily Gimli noted Merry and Pippin looked taller and their hair thicker. This was do to the Ent-draught Treebeard had given them. But neither Merry or Pippin could describe Ents to their friends in any certain terms; they sufficed to say they would see for themselves soon enough.

As they finished eating Merry and Pippin broke out the pipe-weed. To Gimli's great joy Pippin even had a pipe to spare; indeed it more than made up the debt the hobbits incurred according to Gimli: "'Most noble hobbit, it leaves me deep in your debt'" (p. 168, The Two Towers). After smoking a while the hobbits began their tale which to their surprise began only 9 days earlier. They spoke quickly and without much detail of their time spent with Orcs and Boromir's final stand. Aragorn interrupted them and gave back possessions they had lost: their dagger's and Pippin's broach. Aragorn commended Pippin's actions of dropping it as a sign to follow. 

They did speak in detail of how Grishnakh carried them from the camp and searched them for the Ring. This news made Aragorn very uneasy; he was certain news of their capture went to Barad-dur and Sauron's eye was already searching for the Company knowing the Ring was in its possession. Merry went on about meeting Treebeard and the Entmoot and how after several days they decided they were going to war against Isengard. He mentioned how other trees began to follow them, wild and dangerous trees, that Treebeard called Huorns. They came upon Isengard at night and slowly crept toward it. Trumpets blared and the hobbits thought they were discovered. All Isengard was emptied and Pippin realized they were going to war against Rohan and not the Ents. "'I don't know much about this war, or about the Horseman of Rohan, but Saruman seems to have meant to finish off the king and all his men with one final blow'" (p. 171, The Two Towers). 

Pippin described the troops as it took them an hour to leave Isengard. The goblin-men reminded him of the Southener at Bree they saw long ago and Aragorn agreed. He felt that Southerner was a spy of Saruman but was unsure if he had been in league with the Black Riders. Treebeard and Ents did not move saying their business was with Isengard; but the Huorns began to follow the Orcs. When all was clear Treebeard began the advance; the few guards left shot arrows at the Ents. Arrows cannot kill an Ent but apparently can make them very "hasty". "'An angry Ent is terrifying. Their fingers, and their toes, just freeze onto rock; and they tear it up like bread-crust. It was like watching the work of great tree-roots in a hundred years, all packed into a few moments'" (p. 172, The Two Towers). Saruman had been outside of Orthanc when the Ent invasion began but was able to retreat into it before being captured by Quickbeam who's trees had suffered the most damage by the Wizard.

Once inside Saruman set his machinery to work and fires and steams belched forth from the vents and shafts in the ground. One of the Ents was burned alive and this made them really angry. But they were not able to throw down Orthanc and had to withdraw from it. As dawn rose a watch was set upon Orthanc as Treebeard set off with a plan. Merry and Pippin were alone for a better part of the day until Treebeard returned very pleased. "'We have worked hard; we have done more stone-cracking and earth-gnawing today than we have done in many a long year before'" (p. 175, The Two Towers). It was then that a rider approached swiftly. "'Gandalf!' I said at last, but my voice was only a whisper. Did he say: 'Hullo, Pippin! This is a pleasant surprise!'? No, indeed! He said: 'Get up, you tom-fool of a Took! Where, in the name of wonder, in all this ruin is Treebeard? I want him. Quick!'" (p. 175, The Two Towers). 

Treebeard came, seemingly not surprised by Gandalf's presence. Gandalf explained he had about 10,000 Orcs to manage and needed Treebeard to do more. They conferred together, for perhaps 15 minutes, and Gandalf rode away swiftly. Treebeard was thoughtful after Gandalf left saying to Merry and Pippin: "'Hm, well, I find you are not such hasty folk as I thought. You said much less than you might, and no more than you should. Hm, this is a bundle of news and no mistake! Well, now Treebeard must get busy again'" (p. 176, The Two Towers). That night the hobbits heard the sound of water and Isengard began to flood(apparently from all the work Treebeard and the Ents had been doing). As water flowed into the pits steam hissed into the air creating an deep smoky mist. It was the same mist Theoden's company had seen. 

They finished the story and were silent until Gimli asked about Wormtongue whom they mentioned when greeting Theoden. Apparently Grima had arrived in the morning just before Theoden. Treebeard had come up to give Merry and Pippin news when Wormtongue road up. He was visibly surprised at the ruin but could not escape Treebeard. He explained that he was a servant of Theoden sent to deliver a message to Saruman. The hobbits could tell he was lying. Treebeard revealed Gandalf had warned him about Wormtongue and gave him the choice of waiting with the Ent until Gandalf and Theoden arrived or go to Orthanc and Saruman. At the mention of Theoden Grima begrudgingly went to Saruman. Treebeard told the hobbits to watch for King Theoden, to greet him warmly, and tell him where the Ent was to be found. The story satisfied the Three Hunters except one small point. Aragorn was rather concerned that Merry and Pippin had found Pipe-weed from the Shire among the flotsam and jetsam. He feared some evil was afoot and made a note to mention it to Gandalf though only a small matter, it seemed, in these perilous days.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 5th
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 165-180