News In Bree

The hobbits, with Gandalf, finally set out for the Shire. As they crossed the Ford of Bruinen Frodo became very detached and solemn. "'Are you in pain?' said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo's side. 'Well, yes I am,' said Frodo. 'It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.' 'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,' said Gandalf. 'I fear it may be so with mine,' said Frodo. 'There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?' Gandalf did not answer" (p. 268, The Return of the King). I am struck by how Frodo understands things will never be the same. I have never been in combat and have the utmost respect for those who are. I imagine they have similar sentiments about going back home as Frodo did.

On they rode and after while came to Weathertop. Frodo would not not even look upon that place nor let them tarry long in its presence. Near the end of October they came upon Bree. The gate was locked and their knocks took long to answer by an armed guard. Seeing Gandalf he let them in right away. The old gatekeeper, Harry, was no longer residing in Bree. They came to The Prancing Pony and were greeted by an astonished Nob. He ran for Barliman who was equally surprised figuring to never see the hobbits again after they vanished with Strider long ago. Butterbur was his whirl-wind self as usual and quickly set up Gandalf and the hobbits with room and board. Later he came by for conversation but when Gandalf asked for some pipe-weed Butterbur hinted that things were not well in the Shire for no weed could be found. After settling in with Bree bred pipe-weed the travelers shared their adventures with Barliman who said repeatedly, "'You don't say'" (p. 271, The Return of the King) as he could not believe his ears.

Butterbur, in his turn, revealed that things had not gone well in Bree. Outsiders had come to the area and attacked travelers on the road so that barely anyone traveled now and only by day. There had even been an attack on Bree where five Bree-landers were killed during the new year of 3019. He revealed that Harry the Gatekeeper and Bill Ferny had joined the Outsiders but had been run out of town. Pippin remarked that they had not been attacked and they had traveled by night no less. Butterbur said: "'They wouldn't go for armed folk, with swords and helmets, and shields and all'" (p. 271, The Return of the King). The hobbits realized many of the looks they had received were due to their appearance rather than their return. They had become quite accustomed to the weapons of war by this time. Butterbur continued to lament, "'You see, were not used to such trouble; and the Rangers have all gone away, folk tell me. I don't think we've rightly understood till now what they did for us'" (p. 272, The Return of the King).

Gandalf encouraged the inn-keeper telling him the Rangers would be returning and furthermore the King had returned. Barliman wasn't sure how to take this news and mostly worried about if the King would let Bree be. "'He will,' said Gandalf. 'He knows it and loves it'" (p. 273, The Return of the King). This puzzled Barliman, particularly when told the King was fond of his beer (which was uncommonly good since Gandalf's last visit!). Sam finally spelled it out plainly for the confused Butterbur: "'He's Strider. The chief of the Rangers. Haven't you got that in your head yet?'" (p. 273, The Return of the King). As they discussed Barliman remembered something that had stood on the edges of his brain, Bill the Pony, whom they took to the very Gates of Moria had returned to Bree. Sam was overjoyed and ran to see his beloved pony on the spot. They stayed in Bree for the next day answering many questions of the town folk. "'Bree memories being retentative, Frodo was asked many times if he had written his book" (p. 274, The Return of the King).

As they departed from Bree, with Bill the pony, the hobbits wondered what Barliman was getting at about the Shire. Sam recalled his vision in Galadriel's mirror and felt that things were gone horribly wrong. Pippin was sure it had to do with Lotho Sackville-Baggins but Gandalf reminded them that Saruman had been interested in the Shire for some time. Merry felt assured with Gandalf's help that wouldn't be an issue but Gandalf would not be going with them to the Shire. "'You must settle its affairs yourselves; that is what you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My time is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help. You are grown up now. Grown indeed very high; among the great you are, and I have no longer any fear at all for any of you'" (p. 275, The Return of the King). The Wizard revealed that his plans were to visit Tom Bombadil and have a long talk with him. I would have liked to have read that conversation!

As they came near the Barrow-downs Frodo wishfully looked to see old Bombadil but he was not there. Gandalf assured him Tom would be as good and unconcerned as ever. Perhaps the only thing that would interest him in all their tales would be the Ents. He encoruaged the hobbits to hurry on before the gates around the Shire were locked. Merry informed him there are no gates. "'There weren't any gates, you mean,' said Gandalf. 'I think you will find some now. And you might have more trouble even at the Buckland Gate than you think. But you'll manage all right. Good-bye, dear friends! Not for the last time, not yet. Good-bye!'" (p. 276, The Return of the King). And like a bolt of lightening Gandalf and Shadowfax bolted across the Downs. Now just the hobbits remained: Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Frodo who had started the journey long ago together.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, October 6th-End of October
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 268-276