Dangerous Delays

I've titled this post as a play on the next chapter in The Return of the Shadow: Delays are Dangerous. This was a defacto title Tolkien scribbled on the papers which would eventually become chapter 3 in Fellowship. With each revision the story becomes closer aligned with the published version (obviously). Practically that means I will blog a bit less as I have been most interested, thus far, in details that differ, never came to be, or were dropped altogether. It's fun to think about what could have been.

Indeed, the title is attributed to the fact that Bingo delayed the start of his journey while anxiously waiting for Gandalf (though is only a day late in this version). This proves dangerous as Bingo and his friends (who are not fully aware of Bingo's full plan; at least by Bingo's admission) encounter Black Riders.

I found a quote by Gandalf (before the plan to leave was set) was quite interesting. Again, it's a nice subtle reference to The Hobbit plus it's decidedly ominous (which is perhaps why it wasn't included in the published story). Bingo decides he will go on the journey: "'And to go there but not come back again, likely enough,' added Gandalf grimly" (p. 274, The Return of the Shadow).

In this revision there appears the name Michel Delving (Great Delving) the chief town of the Shire. After the first encounter with a Black Rider the hobbits wonder what to say if they are overrun and asked about Baggins (as they knew from Gaffer Gamgee the Black Riders might ask). Bingo gives a clever answer: "'Give him a true answer,' said Bingo. 'Either say: Back in Hobbiton, where there are hundreds; or say Nowhere. For Mr. Bingo Baggins has left Bag-end, and not yet found any other home'" (p. 280, The Return of the Shadow).

Another interesting conversational tidbit is between Bingo and Gildor (the Elf). While the Elf questioned why Bingo and friends are on a dangerous journey Bingo mentions that an "un-hobbitlke" fate was laid on him. To which Gildor replied: "'Then you are not an ordinary hobbit,' said Gildor, 'for otherwise that could not be so. But the half that is plain hobbit will suffer much I fear from being forced to follow the other half which is worthy of a strange fate, until it too becomes worthy (and yet remains hobbit)...The hobbit half that loves the Shire is not to be despised but it as to be trained...'" (p. 281, The Return of the Shadow).

I think this is an interesting and insightful conversation. Essentially Gildor is thinking that Bingo has not been given a burden that the hobbit is unable to bear; but it will no easy journey and Bingo will need to die to parts of his nature that are unwilling to bear the burden. At least that's how I read it--it rings true for all of life to me.

The New Mr. Baggins of Bag End

Next Tolkien explained what happened after Bilbo left as Bingo became the new Mr. Baggins of Bag End. The name Baggins certainly carried baggage in the Shire at this point but Bingo seemed not to mind as he had a circle of close friends. As the year passed (with Bingo still celebrating Bilbo's birthday) he began to feel restless and had thoughts of following his uncle.

Gandalf began to turn up again and visit Bingo; often coming late at night and leaving before dawn or never leaving Bag End on extended stays. Only Merry and Frodo new of the visits. When Bingo was 47 (14 years after Bilbo's disappearance) Gandalf came more frequently and for longer intervals. "He began to be worried about Bingo; and also odd things were happening" (p. 252, The Return of the Shadow). Bingo had some knowledge of events beyond the Shire has he would visit with Elves or Dwarves passing through: tales of the Necromancer, Mordor, and the Black Tower (this is the first time these lands are given an approximate location).

The thrust of this new chapter was Gandalf's telling Bingo the history of the magic ring Bilbo found. They were sitting in silence after Gandalf said his peace; "Gandalf was thinking of a spring nearly 80 years before, when Bilbo had run out of Bag-end without a handkerchief" (p. 255, The Return of the Shadow). A nice nod to The Hobbit.

Bingo was understandably alarmed. Gandalf performs the final test by throwing the Ring into the fire and confirming it is indeed the One Ring. He recites for Bingo the Ring poem (One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them...). And he proceeded to tell Bingo about the forging of the One Ring.

As the conversation moved on (very similar to that in Fellowship) Gandalf turned his tale to Gollum and his role in the Ring lore. In fact, the wizard had found Gollum and interrogated him. At this point in time the Wood-elves of Mirkwood helped him find Gollum. "'He had developed a skill in climbing trees to find nests, and creeping into houses to find cradles. He boasted of it to me'" (p. 264, The Return of the Shadow). That little detail did not make the final cut. It certainly gives a cold ruthlessness to Gollum--eating babies? That's intense.

Unfortunately for Gandalf and Bingo Gollum found his way to Mordor before the wizard captured him. Ultimately Bingo decides to bear the burden and leave the Shire. Gandalf suggests that he leave soon but may not need to leave alone if he could think of someone he could trust and who would be willing to go. Even so, Gandalf cautioned Bingo from sharing too much even with his closest of friends.

Back to Hobbiton

Tolkien began rewriting his Hobbit sequel from the beginning deciding upon a somewhat simpler story of Bilbo disappearing at the party and leaving the ring with Bingo. There are added snippets of conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf about his plan (taking place outside of Bag End in Bilbo's magnificent garden!). Gandalf not necessary on board with Bilbo's full plan.

After he disappears there is added detail before he sets off--Bilbo's gathering of old treasures: such as a weather stained and mended traveling cloak; clearly kept from his original adventure. At Bag End four Dwarves await Bilbo: Lofar, Nar, Anar, and Hannar. Christopher Tolkien noted that his father took these names from the Elder Edda as he did for the company of Dwarves in The Hobbit.

Gandalf arrives before Bilbo departs, none too pleased at the joke, and insisting that Bilbo leave the ring for Bingo. While Bilbo says he finds it difficult to leave the ring there is no dramatic tension between he and Gandalf.

Bilbo departs and Gandalf stays just long enough to exhort Bingo to keep the ring secret. As he left "...Bingo thought the wizard looked rather bent, almost as if bowed under a heavy burden" (p. 243, The Return of the Shadow). Clearly Tolkien is ramping up the tension of the story from where he first began.

One final note: in these jottings and writings the beloved Sam Gamgee makes his first appearance in the story.

Queries and Alterations

These are the sections that excite me the most in the History of Middle-earth Series. As Tolkien pauses to reflect on where his stories are going. Christopher Tolkien notes his father took an extended break on The Hobbit sequel at the point of Bingo's conversation with Gloin. He also noted that when his father went back to writing Bingo would not appear again; replaced by our well known Frodo. A series of jumbled notes that Tolkien titled Queries and Alterations shows what he was thinking about with his new story at this time:

• Tolkien was rethinking the appearance of Big People bringing party supplies to the Shire. Perhaps it was felt they would tell Bingo all the news from Dale and there would be no need for the conversation with Gloin. Which is too bad since I liked the bit about all the Inns running dry because of Men. I think it could be adequately added back in as it's Bilbo's party and Frodo doesn't leave for another 17 years requiring an refresher on the happenings in the East. 
• Tolkien was rethinking the number of hobbits on the journey; he was thinking too many. And there's this gem: "Also Bingo Bolger-Baggins a bad name. Let Bingo = Frodo…" (p. 221, The Return of the Shadow). Ultimately Tolkien decided he was too used to Bingo but when he did get back to writing Frodo won!
• Gandalf is now against Bingo telling anyone he is leaving
• Lots of questions about what happened to Bilbo's armor and Sting--particularly the armor since he did not have it at Weathertop (Lost in the Barrow? Too heavy and left? Stolen at Bree?)
• "Bree-folk are not to be hobbits" (p. 223, The Return of the Shadow). 
• Queries about the nature of rangers. It seems Tolkien was leaning toward it was better if they were not hobbits. But who was Trotter? It seems Professor Tolkien was opting for all or nothing: either Trotter was a hobbit, well known, or not a hobbit at all. He toyed with the idea of Trotter being Bilbo (but that contradicts The Hobbit's happily ever after); he then thought about making Trotter Bingo's first cousin (Fosco Took) with reference to Bilbo's line at the beginning of The Hobbit about Gandalf's reputation for taking young hobbits off into mad adventures.
• Tolkien decides Bingo uses the Ring entirely too much in the first draftings. 
• Gandalf's uneasiness is heightened; he does not approve of Bingo's disappearing joke at the party. 
• Gandalf needs to hurry because he is known by the Dark Lord and hopes to draw riders away from Bingo.
• Queries about Elves and their history with the Necromancer-rings.
• Rivendell projections (where the story is going): Bilbo is seen, shadows in the South, the Lord of Dale is being suspected of being corrupted, fate of Balin, Ori, and Óin.
• Perhaps the missing dwarves left to colonize but they would need a ring to start their hoard--did they reach out to Bilbo about his? This would have been an interesting development if pursued. 
• Bilbo's ring is proven to be the one missing Ring; not necessarily the one Ruling Ring
• But when ruminating on this Ring and why the Dark Lord desired it so Tolkien wrote: "Because if he had it he could see where all the others were, and would be the master of their masters…" (p. 227, The Return of the Shadow). As Christopher Tolkien notes the emergence of the Ruling Ring is now complete. 
• Tolkien thought about simplifying the story--it's Bilbo who disappears at the party and Bingo decides to follow him some years later (that's a bit simplified be me as well). 
• One last fun little note: "Bilbo carries off 'memoirs' to Rivendell" (p. 229, The Return of the Shadow). 

Rivendell

The Rivendell chapter of The Return of the Shadow has all sorts of interesting tidbits included in the early writings. It begins with Bingo waking in bed with Gandalf present; the wizard recounts to the recovering hobbit what happened. There is another return of the narrator explaining the Last Homely House. When talking about Trotter Bingo says: "'It is an odd thing, you know, but I keep on feeling that I have seen him somewhere before'" (p. 207-208, The Return of the Shadow). We'll come back to this, but it's a detail that is mentioned again in the rewrites of the chapter.

Bingo meets Glóin at dinner and the two quickly recognize their connection through Bilbo. Glóin gives Bingo wink (a little detail missing from Fellowship) and catches him up on the happenings of Erebor. Here a break occurs and Tolkien jotted down some notes regarding unanswered questions:

• What happened to Balin?
• Who is Trotter?
• Lastly, Bilbo must be seen (he's been referred to twice in present tense, quickly corrected to past tense in the presence of Bingo)

In a rewrite Bingo asks Gandalf if Rivendell is safe. Gandalf thinks it is and gives an interesting rationale: "'They fear no Ring-wraiths, for they live at once in both worlds, and each world has only half power over them. while they have double power over both'" (p. 212, The Return of the Shadow). That is a curious statement and one that, with much thought, I could likely unpack. 

In one of the rewrites Tolkien began to plot out where the story was headed after Rivendell:

• Consultation
• Journey over Misty Mountains, down the Great River, to the Dark Tower and Fiery Hill
• Elrond's account of Gil-galad?
• Glorfindel tells of his life in Gondolin
• Who is Trotter?

The Trotter has been asked before and it coincides with the what I quoted in the first paragraph of this post. I think Tolkien was going to explore the fact that Bingo had known Trotter at some point, before he became a ranger of the wild. The Glorfindel bit is interesting as Tolkien ultimately decided Glorfindel of Gondolin and Rivendell were, indeed, one and the same. After his "death" in Gondolin Glorfindel was released by/from Mandos and returned to Middle-earth. 

The last bit of this chapter has a sketch of Elrond telling about the Last Alliance and the heroics of Gil-galad and Elendil. He reveals to Bingo that he was there as Gil-galad's minstrel and counselor giving great depth, age, and wisdom to Elrond who had not specifically appeared integral in the mythology previously. 

Attack on Weathertop

Once again the narrative of the early manuscripts matches well with the published version of The Fellowship of the Ring. In fact, the flight from Weathertop to the Ford is nearly identical and I will not be providing any commentary on that section. The attack on Weathertop does have some interesting details that ultimately did not make the final cut; but they are details I rather enjoyed. So I will likely explore ways to integrate them into the text.

One early details hearkens back to The Hobbit. Both in it's content and writing style. At this stage Tolkien was still rather deliberate in tying his new stories of hobbits in with his older one. One of the tell tale features of The Hobbit, whether you love it or hate it, is the narrator. I must admit I was thrown for a loop by the narrator's voice and it took me several attempts to complete The Hobbit (which I read for the first time after reading The Lord of the Rings). We catch a glimpse of the narrator here: "Cram was, you may remember, a word in the language of the men of Dale and the Long-lake - to describe a special food they made for long journeys" (p. 177, The Return of the Shadow).

It's hard to picture what we know as The Lord of the Rings with a narrator popping up from time to time. I'm rather glad that didn't stay. But it gives good insight on Tolkien's mindset as he's writing at this time. Beyond the narrator I particularly enjoy the reference back to The Hobbit. If this is to be an interconnected Middle-earth those little details are appreciated. And it also gives some practicality to the wandering wizard. For it was Gandalf who left some stores at Weathertop: cram, bacon, dried fruit, wood for fires, and (best of all) tobacco. It seems Gandalf purposely left the supplies for Bingo and friends rather than leaving them under duress as he was attacked in The Fellowship of the Ring.

As they built up a fire and waited out the night hoping the Black Riders had not seen them Frodo asked Trotter about Gil-galad whom the ranger had mentioned earlier. Trotter felt that tale not appropriate but decided to tell the hobbits about Tinúviel. Trotter proceeds to recite some verses about fair Lúthien and Beren followed by some narrative tales. It seems altogether longer than what is in Fellowship but I'd have to go back and compare.

As the tale ended Odo, the watchmen, rushed back to the others: "'I don't know what it is,' he said, 'but I feel that something is creeping up the hill. And I thought (I couldn't be sure) that away there, westwards, where the moonlight is falling, there were two or three black shapes. They seemed to be moving this way'" (p. 185,  The Return of the Shadow). I like this description. Tolkien is very good about creating an eery and fear inducing picture with this scene.

From the attack to the flight the rest of the narrative is very close to that in Fellowship. It's nice to see the story taking shape and moving forward. But obviously some major items have not come to be; namely the rise of Frodo the Ring Bearer and Aragorn the Ranger.

Bree to Weathertop

I am falling woefully behind on my reading. I was hoping to cover one book a month in the History of Middle-earth series. I was able to get slightly ahead of schedule by starting The Return of the Shadow in May; but here we are on July 10th and I am not quite half-way through. I must pick up the pace a bit and grind through the journey much like Bingo and his friends are currently doing.

I've covered the leg of the journey from Bree (the night of the attack on the Inn) to Weathertop (Trotter spies the Black Riders approaching). Minus the finer details (timelines, distances, names of characters) it is very similar to what is written in The Fellowship of the Ring. That makes for a dry blog entry but a chance to make up some days in the journey (I feel dismayed like Bingo who can't quite seem to catch up to Gandalf). I will highlight a couple items that stood out to me:

• Clearly Bree is a hobbit village; even Bill Ferny is referred to has a hobbit.
• The ponies of Bingo and friends are driven away in the Inn attack and found there way to Fatty Lumpkin (Tom Bombadil's pony). Two interesting things: Tom, fearing something happened to Bingo, went to Bree to learn what he could. And Fatty was quite pleased for he now had friends to share his stories and workload with. There are glimpses of some of Tolkien's thoughts on fairy stories to be found in his work--like animals talking and thinking
• Bingo comments on his shrining waistline quipping he'll become a wraith before long. "'Don't speak of such things!' said Trotter quickly, and with surprising earnestness" (p. 168, The Return of the Shadow). 

Will you have Trotter?

The story moves forward with two versions of Trotter's conversation with Bingo regarding the hobbit's predicament. Trotter offers to give Bingo additional information for the promise of a reward: taking the ranger-hobbit with him. Essentially asking Bingo: will you have Trotter?

In version A Trotter begins telling his tale to Bingo, Odo, and Frodo (Merry is still outside the Inn taking in some fresh air). He tells them that a few days prior he avoided being seen by Gandalf and friends (assortment of dwarves and elves) and overheard their conversation about Bingo and his traveling companions. Bingo tried to keep calm that this wild hobbit knows more than he was comfortable with and the fact that he seemed to be quite the eavesdropper. But the conversation was interrupted by the Barnabus Butterbur, the inn keeper. 

Butterbur began to tell Bingo of more strange events: chiefly how Gandalf stopped by the inn and asked him to watch for four traveling hobbits with five ponies. What's more--he had heard that request before as Black Riders asked him to watch for four hobbits with five ponies. They offered him much gold if he would tell them the whereabouts of the hobbits. 

Butterbur left and Trotter confirmed he was going to say much of the same and that there were seven total Black Riders by his count.  He also told Bingo there were plenty of characters in Bree who would gladly sell Bingo's whereabouts to the Riders. When Trotter turned his attention to the Riders: "He shuddered, and they saw with surprise that he had drawn his hood over his face which was buried in his hands" (p. 153, The Return of the Shadow). He stayed like this for some moments before the fit passed. And Trotter then asked Bingo if he would have him. 

Bingo did not like the look of Trotter and yet something felt familiar about him. Frodo was for Trotter voting to take him on and (rightly) recognizing the ranger would be able to track them even if they didn't. As Bingo deliberated  Trotter produced a letter (short, sweet, and to the point--no all who wander are not lost poetry) from Gandalf confirming the Wizard's trust in the ranger. Bingo immediately trusted Trotter and asked why he didn't start with the letter and why he invented the tale of eavesdropping on Gandalf. Trotter was hopeful that the hobbits would trust him without added confirmation and it was true about eavesdropping on the Wizard as he gave Gandalf quite a fright when he jumped up. 

Version B is virtually identical to A with a couple of differences (that I find interesting):

• Butterbur produces the letter from Gandalf to Bingo, not Trotter (although it is not read right away)
• The encounter with the Black Riders where they offer gold is with Trotter not Butterbur

Lastly, in version's A and B Trotter explicitly calls Butterbur a hobbit. Much different than the absent minded man in the published stories (although, his absent mindedness is not altogether absent in these early versions).

Trotter

Finally, at long last we meet Strider. One of the key players in The Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Dunedain, Heir of Númenor, King of Gondor. A leader of men, a courageous warrior, a humble servant, complete with healing hands. For many Aragorn represents the best in men and is a favored character of Tolkien's. But the first iteration of this character, known as Trotter, had some remarkable differences.

"Suddenly Bingo noticed that a queer-looking, brown-faced hobbit, sitting in the shadows behind the others, was also listening intently. He had an enormous mug (more like a jug) in front of him, and was smoking a broken-stemmed pipe right under his rather long nose. He was dressed in dark rough brown cloth, and had a hood on, in spite of the warmth, - and very remarkably, he have wooden shoes!" (p. 137, The Return of the Shadow).

Very interesting that this character is a hobbit! It seems counter intuitive, if one knows anything about hobbits, that one of them would be one of the wild folk--rangers. But there it is. Mystery still surrounds Trotter at this point (he got his name from the clitter-clap of his wooden shoes): why is he interested in the traveling hobbits? How does he seem to know too much about Bingo and his purpose? Why does he have wooden shoes? How does a simplistic hobbit become a wild ranger?

Adventures with Tom Bombadil

Next up in The Return of the Shadow are some of Tolkien's earliest writings concerning the Hobbit adventures with Tom Bombadil (the Old Forest and Barrow-Wights). As we've seen many of the important meta-themes were present in the very beginning; it's a meter of fleshing out the supporting details. One fun fact: it's during this series of manuscripts that the first appearance of Meriadoc occurs in place of Marmaduke. This now makes the four hobbits: Bingo, Odo, Frodo, and Meriadoc. Here are some other interesting points:

Tom Bombadil first refers to himself as an aborigine: being present before hobbits, elves, and necromancers.

I love Bingo's response when being awoken at Bombadil's house: "'Black riders,' Bingo though. 'Black riders, a host of Black riders...'" (p. 118, The Return of the Shadow). I really enjoy the repetition there; you can tell he's freaking out a little bit. It's not clear in these early writings if Bingo was dreaming or really waked by Black Riders outside his window. It's interesting to see Tolkien's notes that accompanied these writings as he wrestled with the connection between Black Riders and Barrow-Wights; perhaps they were even one and the same?

In a re-writing Bombadil expands more on his aborigine comment. Concluding with: "'He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from outside'" (p. 121, The Return of the Shadow). Christopher Tolkien expounded on the importance of this comment deciding that Tom is referring Morgoth's return to Middle-earth with Ungoliant or it is a reference to a new, yet unwritten, conception of Morgoth's history.

The first notes on the Barrow-wight adventure (and beyond) have some plot points that did not come to fruition: Tom rescues the hobbits much as in the published story, he leads them to an inn and departs, then a fast and adventure-less journey to Rivendell. There was one detour: a stop to see Bilbo's stone trolls, this allows the Black Riders to catch up but the hobbits make it across the ford and when pursued the river rises in torment chasing away the Riders. At Rivendell they meet Bilbo, Gandalf is there (he caused the river to rise), the Wizard is shocked to hear about Bombadil, they take counsel with Elrond, and the Quest for the Fiery Mountain begins.

In this outline the skeleton of the story is present with the end goal first evident. Two major items missing: Strider and Weathertop. Neither has yet made an appearance; nor even a forerunner of these two significant story pieces.