Treebeard and Quickbeam greeted the guests. Treebeard seemed to be well-informed on the events of the War. He and the Ents had battled a large force of Orcs after capturing Saruman and destroyed most of them. The remaining Orcs were handled by Celeborn and Galadriel whom Treebeard called Great ones. Aragorn thanked Treebeard saying the Ents help would never be forgotten. "'Never is too long a word even for me,' said Treebeard" (p. 258, The Return of the King). Gandalf questioned Treebeard about Saruman and quickly noted the former White Wizard was spoken of in the past tense. Treebeard revealed that he had let Saruman go seven days earlier hating to cage any living creature and deeming him harmless. "'You might be right,' said Gandalf; 'but this snake had still one tooth left, I think. He had the poison of his voice, and I guess that he persuaded you, even you Treebeard, knowing the soft spot of your heart'" (p. 258, The Return of the King).
As their conversation ended Quickbeam gave the keys of Orthanc to Aragorn who in turn gave the valley to the Ents to do as they pleased. As they made ready to depart Legolas, with Treebeard's permission, decided to leave for his land through Fanghorn with Gimli by his side as the Dwarf had promised. "'Here then at last comes the ending of the Fellowship of the Ring,' said Aragorn" (p. 259, The Return of the King). Gimli said goodbye to the hobbits no longer fearing for their peril. He hoped to see them again but was not sure that all of the Company would ever be gathered together again. "Then Treebeard said farewell to each of them in turn, and he bowed three times slowly and with great reverence to Celeborn and Galadriel. 'It is long since we met by stock or by stone, A vanimar vanimalion nostari!' he said. 'It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending. For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air. I do not think we shall meet again.' And Celeborn said: 'I do not know, Eldest.' But Galadriel said: 'Not in Middle-earth, nor until the lands that lie under the wave are lifted up again. Then in the willow-meads of Tasarinan we may meet in the Spring. Farwell!'" (p. 259, The Return of the King). There are several glimpses in Middle-earth leading one to believe it will pass away and be made new again.
Merry and Pippin shared one last end-draught with Treebeard who was quite happy to see them again. As they left he reminded them to send news if they should have any signs of the Ent-wives. As they rode toward the Gap of Rohan Aragorn left the company to the dismay of the hobbits. He had been a constant in their journey. Pippin was especially sad wishing he had a seeing stone to check in on his friend. Aragorn revealed his plan to perhaps reinstate the Orthanc stone so he could see his realm and reminded Pippin he was still in the service of the King who could call at anytime. He said goodbye to Galadriel who said to him: "'Elfstone, through darkness you have come to your hope, and now have all your desire. Use well the days!'" (p. 260, The Return of the King). I love that: use well the days. May I remember those wise words; to use well my days. As they rode away they took a look back at the King. "Then Aragorn took the green stone and held it up, and there came a green fire from his hand" (p. 260, The Return of the King).
"'...King Elessar, when he was crowned in Gondor, began the re-ordering of his realm, and one of his first tasks was the restoration of Orthanc, where he proposed to set up again the palantir recovered from Saruman'" (p. 276-277, Unfinished Tales). Many hidden treasures were discovered in the tower including artifacts of great value to Rohan; obviously stolen for Saruman by Grima Wormtongue. "At last behind a hidden door that they could not have found or opened had not Elessar had the aid of Gimli the Dwarf a steel closet was revealed. Maybe it had been intended to receive the Ring; but it was almost bare. In a casket attached to a fine chain; it was empty and bore no letter or token, but beyond all doubt it had once borne the Ring about Isildur's neck. Next to it lay a treasure without price, long mourned as lost forever: the Elendilmir itself, the white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of mithril that had been descended from Silmarien to Elendil, and had been taken by him as the token of royalty in the North Kingdom" (p. 277, Unfinished Tales). At this time Aragorn bore an Elendilmer though it was but a replica forged in Imladris for the line of Isildur. He took the original with great reverance and only wore it during the high days of the North Kingdom. Men were puzzled by the finding of these two great artifacts. For the body of Isildur had never been discovered, or so they thought, and it seemed impossible for anyone to possess these treasures without finding them on his bones. "Had Saruman found, and scorned them--burned them with dishonour in one of his furnaces? If that were so, it was a shameful deed; but not his worst:" (p. 277, Unfinished Tales).
Six days after parting from Aragorn, near the Misty Mountains, they came upon Saruman and Grima. He was combative as ever sparring words with Gandalf. His venomous tirades weren't reserved for Gandalf alone. "'And as for the Lady here, I do not trust her: she always hated me, and schemed for your part. I do not doubt that she has brought you this way to have the pleasure of gloating over my poverty'" (p. 261, The Return of the King). Galadriel assured him that it was not so, but rather good fortune, that he might have a last chance. "'If it truly be the last I am glad,' said Saruman; 'for I shall be spared the trouble of refusing it again'" (p. 261, The Return of the King). Berating Grima Saruman sought to move on from his unwelcome company. He could not help but stare at the hobbits as he left and commenting how they had everything they could want including the best pipe weed. Moved by pity Merry offered him the last of his weed recovered from the sack of Isengard. This displeased Saruman, who took it anyway, and said: "'Well, it will serve you right when you come home, if you find things less good in the Southfarthing than you would like. Long may your land be short of leaf!'" (p. 262, The Return of the King).
As Saruman and Grima left Sam was quite uncomfortable with the former Wizard's words concerning the Shire. Gandalf agreed that Saruman was still capable of evil deeds but Frodo was intent on seeing Bilbo in Rivendell before going home. As they neared the Gates of Moria the company camped for seven days. Galadriel and Celeborn were ready to depart but wanted first to speak with Elrond and Gandalf. Long they spoke of ages past, their labor in the world, and what was to come and yet no words were spoken as they shared their thoughts in each other's minds. Hence the telepathic bits we see in the movie adaptations. Finally they parted, at least until the power of the Three Rings was appointed to pass away. Frodo watched them go and saw a flash of light and Frodo knew that Galadriel had held aloft her Ring as a gesture of farewell.
At long last they arrived in Rivendell and the hobbits went straight away to Bilbo who was alone in his room. It was littered with papers and pencils and he was old and tired. They were able to celebrate his birthday (129!) on September 22nd and stayed sometime afterword. Bilbo wished to hear and record all their adventures but would often fall asleep as they talked and seldom wrote anything down. "The only part that seemed really to rouse him and hold his attention was the account of the crowning and marriage of Aragorn" (p. 264, The Return of the King). One October night Frodo felt it was time to leave Rivendell and go to the Shire; Sam wholeheartedly agreed. They spoke with Elrond and he agreed to allow them to go. "To their delight Gandalf said: 'I think I shall come too. At least as far as Bree. I want to see Butterbur'" (p. 265, The Return of the King).
They said goodbye to Bilbo who was sad to see them go. To Frodo he gave several books he had been working on. "To Sam he gave a little bag of gold. 'Almost the last drop of the Smaug vintage,' he said. 'May come in useful, if you think of getting married, Sam.' Sam blushed" (p. 265, The Return of the King). To Merry and Pippin he gave some of his sage Bilbo-advice. He asked Frodo about his Ring one last time; if he could see it. Frodo reminded Bilbo it was lost; that it needed to be. The old hobbit remembered how his little magic Ring had gotten caught up in all sorts of big plans. he began to sing a version of his road goes ever on song and fell asleep. Sam lamented that Bilbo had gotten very far on his books which woke the old hobbit right up. "'You see, I am getting sleepy,' he said. 'And when I have time to write, I only really like writing poetry. I wonder, Frodo my dear fellow, if you would very much mind tidying things up a bit before you go? Collect all my notes and papers, and my diary too, and take them with you, if you will. You see, I haven't much time for the selection and the arrangement and all that. Get Sam to help, and when you've knocked things into shape, come back, and I'll run over it. I won't be too critical'" (p. 266, The Return of the King). Of course Frodo agreed.
The next day the hobbits and Gandalf departed. Elrond gave Frodo some words telling him there would be no need to return to Rivendell. For in the future Bilbo would return to the Shire and Elrond would be with him. "These words no one else heard, and Frodo kept them to himself" (p. 267, The Return of the King).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, mid-July to beginning-October
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 256-260; Unfinished Tales, page 369; The Return of the King, pages 260-267
Six days after parting from Aragorn, near the Misty Mountains, they came upon Saruman and Grima. He was combative as ever sparring words with Gandalf. His venomous tirades weren't reserved for Gandalf alone. "'And as for the Lady here, I do not trust her: she always hated me, and schemed for your part. I do not doubt that she has brought you this way to have the pleasure of gloating over my poverty'" (p. 261, The Return of the King). Galadriel assured him that it was not so, but rather good fortune, that he might have a last chance. "'If it truly be the last I am glad,' said Saruman; 'for I shall be spared the trouble of refusing it again'" (p. 261, The Return of the King). Berating Grima Saruman sought to move on from his unwelcome company. He could not help but stare at the hobbits as he left and commenting how they had everything they could want including the best pipe weed. Moved by pity Merry offered him the last of his weed recovered from the sack of Isengard. This displeased Saruman, who took it anyway, and said: "'Well, it will serve you right when you come home, if you find things less good in the Southfarthing than you would like. Long may your land be short of leaf!'" (p. 262, The Return of the King).
As Saruman and Grima left Sam was quite uncomfortable with the former Wizard's words concerning the Shire. Gandalf agreed that Saruman was still capable of evil deeds but Frodo was intent on seeing Bilbo in Rivendell before going home. As they neared the Gates of Moria the company camped for seven days. Galadriel and Celeborn were ready to depart but wanted first to speak with Elrond and Gandalf. Long they spoke of ages past, their labor in the world, and what was to come and yet no words were spoken as they shared their thoughts in each other's minds. Hence the telepathic bits we see in the movie adaptations. Finally they parted, at least until the power of the Three Rings was appointed to pass away. Frodo watched them go and saw a flash of light and Frodo knew that Galadriel had held aloft her Ring as a gesture of farewell.
At long last they arrived in Rivendell and the hobbits went straight away to Bilbo who was alone in his room. It was littered with papers and pencils and he was old and tired. They were able to celebrate his birthday (129!) on September 22nd and stayed sometime afterword. Bilbo wished to hear and record all their adventures but would often fall asleep as they talked and seldom wrote anything down. "The only part that seemed really to rouse him and hold his attention was the account of the crowning and marriage of Aragorn" (p. 264, The Return of the King). One October night Frodo felt it was time to leave Rivendell and go to the Shire; Sam wholeheartedly agreed. They spoke with Elrond and he agreed to allow them to go. "To their delight Gandalf said: 'I think I shall come too. At least as far as Bree. I want to see Butterbur'" (p. 265, The Return of the King).
They said goodbye to Bilbo who was sad to see them go. To Frodo he gave several books he had been working on. "To Sam he gave a little bag of gold. 'Almost the last drop of the Smaug vintage,' he said. 'May come in useful, if you think of getting married, Sam.' Sam blushed" (p. 265, The Return of the King). To Merry and Pippin he gave some of his sage Bilbo-advice. He asked Frodo about his Ring one last time; if he could see it. Frodo reminded Bilbo it was lost; that it needed to be. The old hobbit remembered how his little magic Ring had gotten caught up in all sorts of big plans. he began to sing a version of his road goes ever on song and fell asleep. Sam lamented that Bilbo had gotten very far on his books which woke the old hobbit right up. "'You see, I am getting sleepy,' he said. 'And when I have time to write, I only really like writing poetry. I wonder, Frodo my dear fellow, if you would very much mind tidying things up a bit before you go? Collect all my notes and papers, and my diary too, and take them with you, if you will. You see, I haven't much time for the selection and the arrangement and all that. Get Sam to help, and when you've knocked things into shape, come back, and I'll run over it. I won't be too critical'" (p. 266, The Return of the King). Of course Frodo agreed.
The next day the hobbits and Gandalf departed. Elrond gave Frodo some words telling him there would be no need to return to Rivendell. For in the future Bilbo would return to the Shire and Elrond would be with him. "These words no one else heard, and Frodo kept them to himself" (p. 267, The Return of the King).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, mid-July to beginning-October
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 256-260; Unfinished Tales, page 369; The Return of the King, pages 260-267
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