The Bridge of Moria

Christopher Tolkien said it well when he opened the next chapter of The History of Middle-earth series: "We come at last to the point where my father took up the narrative again beside Balin's tomb in Moria" (p. 190. The Treason of Isengard). It took nearly 200 pages of Treason to reach the point of new writings. If nothing is this excellently illustrates the amount of painstaking work Tolkien took when writing his masterpiece. Fine tuning the details, ironing out the plot, eradicating inconsistencies to get it just so. A testament to hard work.

It was still written on examination paper dated August 1940 so, real life chronology, it's the early Forties as this is being written (still a dozen or so years off from publication!). We finally meet up alongside the Fellowship as they read the Book of Mazarbul and learn the tragic fate of Balin's sortie to retake Moria. They linger to long and drums in the deep start. Soon goblins and orcs (with the name Orcs set to overtake goblins in this chapter) are upon them and they have a cave troll. (Several, but that's just a great line from Boromir in the movie).

It's fun to see Frodo's wrath aroused and his sword drives deep into the trolls foot whereas Boromir's blade made no impact. "'One for the Shire!' cried Trotter delightedly. 'You have a good blade, Frodo son of Drogo'" (p. 193, The Treason of Isengard). A desperate fight ensues culminating with a great Orc-chief spearing Frodo. Aragorn kills the Orc-chief and picks up Frodo only to be astonished the hobbit is still alive. The company flees with Gandalf staying at the door conjuring a spell. There is a great dazzling light, loud boom, and Gandalf is thrown down the stairs into the company.

The wizard reports that he has destroyed the chamber of Mazarbul burying Balin forever but keeping their pursuers at bay stating: "'I have lost my staff, part of my beard, and an inch of my eyebrows'" (p. 195, The Treason of Isengard). Interesting the text stops shortly after this and Tolkien began an immediate rewrite. It's close to the first writing but this time Gandalf does not lose his staff and calls for Gimli to aid him in leading the retreat. It also extends to the point where they are able to rest and ask Frodo what happened.

Finally the fellowship nears the bridge of Khazad-dûm. The pursuing Orcs are cut off by fire and a Balrog appears. Gandalf ushers the company across the bridge and stops to hold it against this ancient enemy. This history and depth of the Balrog is hinted at in a line written (and immediately struck out): "'You cannot pass,' he said. 'Go back...into the fiery depths. It is forbidden for any Balrog to come beneath the sky since Fionwë son of Manwë overthrew Thangorodrim'" (p. 198, The Treason of Isengard). I love this line. It takes me back to the first time I read The Lord of the Rings--it all felt so real, so historical, a depth to this world that made one feel it had actually existed. It's also interesting to see that the reconceptualization of the First Age was not complete--clearly the Valar still had offspring at this point.

Of interest as well is a rapidly written line concerning Legolas: "Legolas [?raised] his bow, and [an] arrow pierced his shoulder" (p. 198, The Treason of Isengard). This note would be lost altogether as nowhere in the published story does Legolas suffer wound; and if one's picture of Legolas is Peter Jackson's image this a jarring line to read. I rather like it and could advocate for it's remaining in the story; for his wounds could be healed during their stay in Lothlórien. Gandalf falls and the company made it out of Moria and at that point the original chapter writing ends.

Christopher Tolkien noted that immediately after the first manuscript was completed his father went back and made a fair manuscript of the chapter (and with it some emendations to the text) rather than moving on with the story. The changes, of course, brought the story more in line with the published version and I make only two final notes.

The aforementioned Legolas bit becomes a bit more startling: "he turned to fly and an arrow struck him in the shoulder. He stumbled and began to crawl on all fours along the bridge" (p. 203, The Treason of Isengard). Now we see the brave Elf shot in the back while running and reduced to crawling away in fear and hurt. In Fellowship he simply cries out in terror and runs--I'm not sure which of these looks fits him best. Lastly, a little more glimpse of the company after they escape Moria and are filled with grief at the loss of Gandalf. Aragorn offers the encouraging words: "'But now we must do as we can without our friend and our guide. At least we may yet avenge him. Let us gird ourselves. It is better for us to strike hard than to mourn long'" (p. 204, The Treason of Isengard).