After the many revisions of the Council of Elrond Tolkien once again turned his attention to the journey of the Fellowship. Once and for all the number of walkers is determined: "Nine should be the number to set against the Nine Evil servants" (p. 161, The Treason of Isengard). Although who the company was composed of was still not finalized. A new potential member cropped up: Erestor representing the Half-Elven. But eventually the nine we have come to know and love in Fellowship was settled upon. I must admit I too would struggle with making half my company hobbits to pit against the Ringwraiths just as Elrond and Tolkien did.
The chronology of the story was also in flux at this time. At this moment of writing the company was to embark in late November about a month earlier than in the published account. Names (mountains, rivers, characters, etc) are still being tinkered with while the course of the company reaches fairly comparable details as in Fellowship. It is interesting to see at this point that Tolkien was still determining what call Aragorn (who was determined to go to Minis Tirith only) often exchanging Aaragorn for Elfstone.
"The reforging of the sword of Elendil now enters..." (p. 165, The Treason of Isengard). Also making it's first appearance in the story is the name Lothlórien where Gandalf had a mind to take the company too. During the snowstorm that stranded the company the banter between Gandalf and Boromir is changed. The light-hearted exchange is now between the Wizard and Legolas and is not nearly as light-hearted. And as Christopher Tolkien noted all but disappears in the final version. There were some fun moments in the early writings that would be fun to weave back into the story. Legolas does run light-footed across the snow yet.
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