Anyone else remember the hue and cry when George RR Martin released A Feast for Crows but announced that we wouldn't be getting any more of Jon or Bran or Dany or Tyrion in it? These days I just roll me eyes at that kind of reaction (poor GRRM - creates one of the most beloved and engrossing fictional universes anywhere and still can't do anything right) but younger me felt much the same way about the first half of TTT. Aragorn is great and all, but where's the Ring-Bearer? Well, here we get to find out. It's an odd approach to storytelling, and I can't really think of anything else like it (aFfC aside, which was a special case). Anyone have any examples I'm not thinking of?
But anyway, here they are. In the time that the rest of the Fellowship managed to cross the entire breadth of Rohan, Frodo and Sam haven't gone very far at all despite their best efforts. Interesting to see a book where the characters are unable to get out of the mountains - usually people are unable to get over them in the first place.
The chapter opens with Sam saying, “Well master, we're in a fix and no mistake,” and he's entirely correct. Neither Frodo nor Sam really is qualified to do what they're trying to do - they can literally see where they're trying to get to (including an occasional flash of red from Orodruin peeking over the Mountains of Shadow), but they are hopelessly unable to get there. Remember the last time Frodo tried to lead the way? The journey from Crickhollow to Bree didn't go that well, and neither did the one from Bag-End to Crickhollow despite being in the freaking Shire. They're a long way from the Shire now, ill-equipped and ill-prepared.
Not quite so ill-equipped as they seem at first, because Sam is a giant doof and forgets about the length of rope he picked up in Lórien. Luckily he remembers before either of them breaks his neck. Still doesn't get them out of the Emyn Muil, though.
Enter Gollum.
He's been described as the tenth member of the Fellowship, and there's truth to that. The only event of real significance the Fellowship endured that he wasn't around for was the attempt to cross over Caradhras. He'd been lost in Moria for some time, and finally found his way to the West-gate only to discover that a very inconsiderate eldritch abomination had blocked it just before he got there. He followed the Fellowship through Moria, through Lórien, down Anduin, and tagged along after Frodo and Sam departed. Frodo and Sam are very aware of him, and are able to ambush and capture him.
“Pitiable” is the word that comes up again and again, and he really is. Gollum is a vicious, savage creature, coming pretty close to throttling Sam despite being caught completely by surprise, until the moment Frodo gets Sting near his throat. Then he completely flips, becoming a snivelling terrified creature. Only to flip back the moment he thinks it's safe to. Having him restrained, Frodo thinks back to his conversation with Gandalf way back in chapter 2 of Fellowship, and feels pity himself for the wretched creature. So do I.
But what to do with the guy? They aren't going to execute him in cold blood, nor are they going to leave him tied up for the elements to kill. They can't travel with a bound captive.
So Frodo has him swear an oath.
Oaths are a big deal in Tolkien. It’s something that will come up later when Aragorn raises the Army of the Dead, and plays a huge, huge role in The Silmarillion through the Oath of Fëanor. Gollum offers to serve the master of “the Precious,” and to swear “on the Precious.” Frodo doesn’t let him see or touch the Ring, but lets him swear by it, but with this warning:
‘On the Precious? How dare you?’ he said. ‘Think! One Ring to rule them all and in the Darkness bind them. Would you commit your promise to that, Sméagol? It will hold you. But it is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words. Beware!’
I’m really not sure what to make of those lines, even after all these years. I’d welcome your thoughts.
I also want to draw your attention to what is, I think, one of the most important little passages in the trilogy:
For a moment it appeared to Sam that his master had grown and Gollum had shrunk: a tall stern shadow, a mighty lord who hid his brightness in grey cloud, and at his feet a little whining dog. Yet the two were in some way akin and not alien: they could reach one another’s minds.
Important, and ominous.
One final point I want to mention. The thunderstorm that Frodo & Sam get caught in is “the very storm of Mordor” that was pouring on Helm’s Deep during the battle. This is something that Tolkien does a number of times, drawing attention to events that link the disparate members of the Fellowship to one another in time.
Next post, we debate what kind of flavor a fine single malt Scotch would get if made using peat from the Dead Marshes. I’m guessing it’d be something like an Islay.