The Sun passed as they reached the summit and Pippin made an off the cuff remark about perhaps liking the forest in the sunlight. Much to the surprise of the hobbits it was answered and they were picked up by gentle yet irresistible hands. "They were looking into a most extraordinary face. It belonged to a large Man-like, almost Troll-like, figure, at least fourteen foot high, very sturdy, with a tall head, and hardly any neck. Whether it was clad in stuff like green or grey bark, or whether that was a hide, was difficult to say. At any rate the arms, at a short distance from the trunk, were not wrinkled, but covered with a brown smooth skin. The large feet had seven toes each. The lower part of the long face was covered with a sweeping grey beard, bushy, almost twiggy at the roots, thin and mossy at the ends" (p. 66, The Two Towers). What a great introduction to Treebeard!
The tree-man introduced himself as Fanghorn, or Treebeard as others called him, saying he was an Ent. He was at a loss as to who and what the hobbits were. "'Hrum, Hoom,' murmured the voice, a deep voice like a very deep woodwind instrument" (p. 67, The Two Towers). Merry and Pippin found themselves quite unafraid. Treebeard still struggled to identify them. He began to sing a song about living creatures: "'Learn now the lore of Living Creatures! First name the four, the free peoples: Eldest of all, the elf-children; Dwarf the delver, dark are his houses; Ent the earthborn, old as the mountains; Man the mortal, master of horses'" (p. 67, The Two Towers). Merry and Pippin then introduced themselves and declared hobbits whom should be counted among the free peoples. This earned one, of many, "not so hasty" comments from Treebeard. Ents took a long time to say and do anything properly. Treebeard was very interested in how they came to be in his forest and decided to take them to his home so they could have a proper discussion.
Meanwhile, Legolas awoke his companions: "'It is a red dawn. Strange things await us by the eaves of the forest. Good or evil, I do not know; but we are called'" (p. 30, The Two Towers). The elves' fears were realized as Aragorn discovered the tracks of the Orcs very old; their enemies had not rested. Though weary and without hope the Three Hunters once again began their pursuit to rescue Merry and Pippin.
Treebeard took Merry and Pippin deeper and deeper into Fanghorn. They were silent for a while and finally asked why Celeborn had warned them to stay away from his forest. Treebeard though he might have said the same thing about Lothlorien and he was surprised to know they had come out of there. It had been a long while since Celeborn and Treebeard spoke and much had changed. Chiefly some of the Ents were growing tree-ish while some trees were growing ent-ish and not all trees had good hearts. Treebeard explained to the hobbits that Ents are essentially shepherds of the trees but there were now far too few of them in the world. He then began to reflect on ancient times when he walked abroad in Ossiriand and other places before the world was broken.
The day wore on for Frodo and Sam who, as the afternoon waned, were still no closer to finding their way out of Emyn Muil. In fact they found themselves overlooking a gully with no clear way to get down. Frodo was determined not to waste more hours by retreading the path they had just come. Sam offered to climb down first because he was sure he would fall and did not wish to fall on Frodo. But his master would have none of it and sought to find a way even though the gathering evening was becoming darker making it harder to see. As he began to climb down they realized a storm was rolling in and amongst the winds a terrible shriek arose causing Sam to cower and Frodo to lose his grip to cover his ears. Down he fell.
After some tense moments Frodo called up. He was ok and had landed on a ledge not too far below but he could not easily climb up. Sam, in despair, realized he had stowed away Elvish rope in his pack. Berating himself he pulled it out and was able bring Frodo up rather quickly. The two hobbits huddled in the driving rainstorm but as it passed Frodo was determined to try again. After a careful consideration he felt the rope was long enough to reach the bottom of the gully though he did not trust it to hold them long. A good thing Elvish rope proved much stronger than it looked. This time Sam went down first and soon both hobbits were safe on the ground.
Sam was loath to leave the rope both for its usefulness and because it had come from Galadriel. Not to mention the fact he didn't want to give Gollum a clear and easy path to follow. With a last sorrowful tug he pulled on the rope and to the great surprise of both hobbits it came down. Frodo thought Sam's knot had been bad; Sam was hurt knowing that couldn't be. There must have been some "Elvish magic" in the rope. The moon was now rising and they felt it best to rest instead of attempt the nearing Dead Marshes by night. The moon was also rising on the Three Hunters were now beyond weary (accept for Legolas who always seemed refreshed) after three full days of pursuit. Once more, with heavy hearts, they halted for the night.
As the day waned for Merry and Pippin they finally reached Treebeard's home very deep in Fanghorn Forest. "'I have brought you about seventy thousand ent-strides, but what that comes to in measurement of your land I do not know'" (p. 73, The Two Towers) said Treebeard. He prepared two large vessels with water that fell over a sheer wall from springs that fed the Entwash. The bowls began to glow and the hobbits noticed the trees surrounding Treebeard's home also began to glow in various colors. He gave the bowls to Merry and Pippin to drink. "The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair. Indeed the hobbits felt that the hair on their heads was actually standing up, waving and curling and growing" (p. 74, The Two Towers).
Once refreshed they began to tell Treebeard of their whole adventure beginning with the Shire. They were careful, however, not to mention the Ring. Treebeard was very interested in it all but especially the Shire which he asked about many times. Finally he asked if their were any Entwives there for they would have liked that country. News concerning Gandalf and Isengard also interested Treebeard. By the end of the tale Treebeard guessed they had not told him all, by Gandalf's wishes, and he also guessed they had been swept into some larger story with the Nine Riders chasing them and Galadriel sheltering them. For himself, Treebeard declared he did not interfere with such events for nobody was on the side of the Ents and trees. Still, of all the free peoples in Middle-earth it was the Elves he liked best: "...it was the Elves that cured us of dumbness long ago, and that was a great gift that cannot be forgotton, though our ways have parted since" (p. 76, The Two Towers).
However, after hearing Merry and Pippin's story Treebeard knew that he must turn his attention to Saruman since he neighbored Fanghorn Forest in Isengard. He knew little of Saruman, other than that he was a wizard but Treebeard had already stated that Gandalf was the only wizard that cared for trees. Indeed, Treebeard surmised that Saruman's intentions were to become a great Power in Middle-earth after hearing the hobbit's tale. Indeed he was very troubled by the description of the Isengard Orcs wondering at their ability to operate in sunlight which no Orcs ever had before. "'Are they Men he has ruined, or has he blended the races of Orcs and Men? That would be a black evil!'" (p. 77, The Two Towers). The more Treebeard pondered Saruman the more angry he became knowing that the wizard had felled many trees. "'I will stop it!' he boomed. 'And you shall come with me. You may be able to help me. You will be helping your own friends that way, too; for if Saruman is not checked Rohan and Gondor will have an enemy behind as well as in front. Our roads go together--to Isengard!'" (p. 77, The Two Towers).
Merry and Pippin were excited to go with Treebeard though they were unsure of what help they could be. Of course, Treebeard did not want to be hasty and began to think. Only he, Finglas, and Fladrif remained among Ents who lived before the Darkness (and its clear that Treebeard is talking about the Darkness Morgoth brought). There were younger Ents and Treebeard began to think about who he could summon to help. At this the hobbits wondered why there were so few Ents and guessed that the Entwives had died. That was not the case. Treebeard explained the Entwives were lost; it seemed the Ents and Entwives desired different lands and settled apart and after long ages when the Ents roamed the lands again they could not find the Entwives. He then sang them an Elvish song about the story noting that it was foretold that one day the two would be reunited as evidenced in the last line of the song: "'Together we will take the road that leads into the West, And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest'" (p. 81, The Two Towers). I am assuming that means the Undying Lands where the Elves go when they leave Middle-earth. He bid the hobbits good night and they drifted off to sleep.
As night deepened for Frodo and Sam they continued to journey through Emyn Muil. Down the gully they still were making slow progress. They decided to rest and looking back Frodo spied something crawling down the cliff. He and Sam knew instantly it was Gollum. He seemed to be sniffing and listening. Frodo was sure he could not see them in their Lorien cloaks but he may be able to pick up their scent or hear them if they were too loud. As Gollum drew closer they could hear him speaking to himself: "'Where iss it, where iss it: my Precious? It's ours, it is, and we wants it. The theives, the theives, the filthy little theives. Where are they with my Precious? Curse them! We hates them'" (p. 220, The Two Towers). Gollum reached the same tricky spot that Frodo did and slipped as well. In an instant Sam was up and after the creature. It did not go well for Sam. Soon he was wrapped up in Gollum's tight grip with a bite in his shoulder. Had Frodo not been present he surely would have been killed.
Frodo was up quickly too, drawing his sword and pulling Gollum by the hair to expose his neck. "'Let go! Gollum,' he said. 'This is Sting. You have seen it before once upon a time. Let go, or you'll feel it this time! I'll cut your throat'" (p. 221, The Two Towers). This sent Gollum limp and groveling before the hobbits. He promised to be nice but Sam was quite distrustful. It was during this interaction that Frodo remembered his conversation with Gandalf about Gollum long ago about pity and mercy for the creature. Indeed, now that he saw Gollum he was filled by pity. Sam knew his master's mood had changed and he could not argue. Frodo had made up his mind not to kill Gollum but he could not let him go free either. Sam was quite shocked when Frodo explained to Gollum they were going to Mordor; this news sent Gollum into a shrieking fit. Frodo knew he had been there before and bid Gollum to help them find a way.
Gollum reluctantly agreed to help but wished to start after the Moon passed. Frodo bid him to sit and wait. The two hobbits exchanged a knowing glance and feigned sleep. After a while Gollum bounded away to escape which was exactly what Sam and Frodo expected. They caught him quickly and decided to tie him up with the Elvish rope. Once the rope touched him Gollum screamed and writhed as if in pain. Frodo finally believed him and explained to Gollum he could not be trusted. Gollum swore to do what they wanted but Frodo was skeptical. "'Smeagol,' said Gollum suddenly and clearly, opening his eyes wide and staring at Frodo with a strange light. 'Smeagol will swear on the Precious.' Frodo drew himself up, and again Sam was startled by his words and stern vocie. 'On the Precious? How dare you?' he said. 'Think! One Ring to rule them all and in the Darkness bind them. Would you commit your promise to that, Smeagol? It will hold you. But it is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words. Beware!'" (p. 224, The Two Towers).
Sam watched as the two fleshed out the promise. To him it seemed Frodo was like a large master and Gollum a cowering dog and yet the two seemed related somehow. Finally Frodo was satisfied with Gollum's promise to serve the Master of the Precious and ordered Sam to remove the rope; which he did unhappily. "At once Gollum got up and began prancing about, like whipped cur whose master has patted it. From that moment a change, which lasted for some time, came over him...he was friendly, and pitifully eager to please. He would cackle with laughter and caper, if any jest was made, or even if Frodo spoke kindly to him of any sort, and weep if Frodo rebuked him" (p. 225, The Two Towers). The Moon passed and last moments of February 29th faded away as Gollum began to lead Frodo and Sam out of Emyn Muil toward the Dead Marshes where he had found a secret path.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, Februar 29th (FYI: There are 30 days in every month of the year in Middle-earth
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 210-211; 64-70; 30-31; 70-81; 211-218; 31-32; 218-226.
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