This isn’t a chapter where a huge amount happens (according to a fairly limited definition of “stuff that happens”), but it is nevertheless a chapter that I think has a lot of importance to it.
So things begin with Aragorn reminding everyone that they might have escaped Moria, but the only thing keeping the Orcs from following is sunlight - in other words, they need to get the hell out of there. The description of the Dimrill Dale and the dark, still waters of the Mirrormere is strikingly beautiful - I can only assume that the inspiration came from Tolkien’s trip through the Swiss Alps in his younger days, which we know inspired Rivendell.
I’ve always loved the stream Nimrodel. There is a state park farily near where I grew up with some decently large waterfalls, and I spent a lot of time there when I was a kid and teenager. In addition to the large waterfalls, there was another one that was off the main paths. It was a small creek running through an old growth hemlock forest, perfectly clear and icy cold, that went over a waterfall maybe 5 feet high into a sandy-bottomed pool maybe 6 feet deep. I know the hemlock forest part of that isn’t correct, but that little creek will always be the Nimrodel to me. (edit: have a photo)
We get our first glimpse of Gollum here, but there’s not much else to say about that.
The real drama here is between Legolas and Gimli. Gimli is (understandably, in my opinion) outraged that he is being singled out to be blindfolded while within Lothlórien. And then when Aragorn insists that all of them be blindfolded, Legolas gets outraged in turn that he won’t get to appreciate fair Lothlórien when he himself is a kinsman. The history of the mistrust between the Dwarves and the Elves is long and complicated, with blame (as Gandalf says) on both sides (though I certainly put more of the blame on the Dwarves - nothing the Elves did really rivals the destruction of Doriath). But regardless, the kindred of Durin had nothing to do with any of that, and Gimli’s reaction of “dudes wtf” at being the only one blindfolded is reasonable. Fortunately Celeborn and Galadriel are more reasonable, recognize that distrusting a member of the Fellowship is kind of pointless, and send word that all of them are to walk freely.
At the hill of Cerin Amroth, the “heart of the realm as it was of old,” Frodo and Sam climb to the top and look around them, with the most noteworthy thing being the darkness to the east that is Dol Guldur. And they see Aragorn, lost in memories of Arwen (that hill is where they pledged themselves to each other).
And … yeah. That’s it for what “happens” during this chapter. The real value of this chapter isn’t in what Tolkien tells us, it’s in what he shows us. The imagery in this entire chapter is evocative and powerful. When Sam tells Frodo that it was like stepping back into the Elder Days, it is simple truth.
Next week: Frodo had spinach in his teeth for days and days, only realizes this when he gazes into the Mirror of Galadriel.