Let's just get right into it, shall we?
Ohhh Legolas *half-hearted swoon because another character has the rest of my heart* I absolutely NEED someone to draw this, it's a moment that seems perfect for fanart. I can so easily picture the stars forming a crown behind his head...
The orcs not being able to hit their targets probably is indeed a sign that the cloaks that the elves gave the Fellowship/Company are keeping them safe, or maybe the orcs have different targets in mind... BUT for a moment, this paragraph had me thinking that the orcs had learned how to shoot from wherever it was that the Stormtroopers were trained.
The first thing I picked up on here was how Boromir notices that Frodo would follow Aragorn anywhere. To me, this could indicate multiple things- that Aragorn has earned an immense amount of respect from Frodo, that Frodo is reluctant to lead the Fellowship/Company on his own and is shying away from making tough decisions, and that Boromir notices how Aragorn is a natural-born leader and is either awed by it, or he feels threatened. Lots of interesting ways to interpret this small moment. Of course, following it is a much bigger moment where Boromir admits that his loyalty to his home country is more important to him than his loyalty to Frodo- a clear indication of what's going to happen very soon in the story. It's unfortunate, but understandable- what connection does Boromir have to Frodo and his quest, anyway? He came to Rivendell because of a dream that he and his brother shared, in the hopes that it was an omen for the restoration of his country. I have SO many more thoughts and feelings that I'm going to get into in a bit, but I do want to note the last line Boromir says: "alone if my help has not earned the reward of any companionship." Clearly, Boromir understands the nature of the quest, but at the same time is hurt at the thought that the rest of the Fellowship would want to follow Frodo into Mordor. He feels as if this would be a betrayal, as if them not wanting to go with him means that they don't care about him and his country's plight, and therefore that they don't consider him a friend. With that in mind... wouldn't it be so much easier to simply have the entire Fellowship take the Ring to Gondor? That's Boromir's way of thinking, and sadly, it leads to disaster.
The fact that Frodo awoke on the shore after falling asleep on the boat made me wonder if Sam had been awake to help with the boat while Aragorn carried the sleeping Frodo to shore. Then I remembered that Sam is, at this point, useless around boats, and the fact that Sam wakes Frodo in this scene means he has no qualms about waking Frodo up... So I'm now imagining that BOTH of them fell asleep and Aragron carried them both to shore and that is such an adorable mental image.
OHHHH ARAGORN *WHOLE-HEARTED SWOON* (...though it's funny- I mentioned before that Aragorn is the one I had a crush on when I saw the movies when I was a kid, but now that I've seen the movies again and am reading the books, it's Samwise who has my entire heart. But I can still like Aragorn, too. Also, yes I know he's a character in a book and therefore I can't actually SEE him to swoon over him, but for what it's worth I've been picturing him the way he looks in the movies for this entire book, so... yeah, I can damn well swoon over even a book character when I have a mental image of them, and I can make that mental image as attractive as I want, too)
Yeah... That's what THEY think!
See, I *knew* it wouldn't be that easy. (Alternate reaction: DUN DUN DUNNN!!)
Actually, Sam, I think you SHOULD say something. While you may not think of yourself as the smartest member of the Fellowship, you are clearly the most practical and also one of the ones to whom Frodo is most likely to listen. (I wonder if Hobbiton's class system is to blame for Sam's way of thinking? Surely a lowly gardener like himself shouldn't offer a gentlehobbit his advice... If that's how it is, poor Sam. I hope he grows out of this mindset as the story goes on.)
Noooo, Boromir, don't do ittttt!!! It's so heartbreaking that he initially comes to Frodo as a friend. I do think this can read as manipulative, but I really don't think Boromir had it in him to attempt to charm Frodo (I think he knew Frodo probably wouldn't fall for that). I think he thinks "maybe if I explain my point to him one-on-one, without anyone else interfering and offering a different opinion, then he'll finally understand why I feel so strongly about this course of action." I think Boromir genuinely wanted to talk to Frodo in companionship, and the Ring only really took control when it looked like Frodo was going to reject his proposed course of action. At least, this is what I WANT to believe. (And also of course, Boromir is not to blame for the Ring doing what it does best.)
That being said, as much as I wanted to look on Boromir in a good light, and give him the benefit of the doubt, I did think "if he ends up insulting/belittling Frodo or admitting that he doesn't think of him or the rest of the Fellowship as friends, then it's all over." And sure enough...
My reaction here was simply: "Oh he did NOT just say that." This is Boromir at his absolute worst, and it's telling that as soon as Frodo runs away and Boromir is jarred to his senses, he starts to cry and shouts out for Frodo to come back. This nasty statement was clearly NOT Boromir talking. It was the Ring!! It was the Ring doing what it always does- affecting people's minds by playing on their weaknesses! I mentioned before that Bilbo found safety and comfort in the Ring because he had used it to escape so many tough situations during his own adventure, and therefore the Ring played into that insecurity by making him feel like he wouldn't be safe without it. For Gollum, the Ring made him feel loved, supplanting the affection that he had for Deagol (and that Deagol gave to Smeagol in return). All Smeagol wanted was love, attention, affection, and when Deagol refused to give him the Ring as a present, he saw it as a violent rejection and refusal to love him, and murdered Deagol in response. Once he had the Ring, it became his precious, just like how Deagol was once his love. And now, with Boromir... His weakness is clearly his love for Gondor and his desire to see it restored to its former glory. He is DESPERATE for a way to save his home, and his loyalty to it is in conflict with his loyalty to Frodo's quest. Therefore, the Ring accentuates that feeling to the point where Boromir believes that the only way to save his people is to possess the Ring. And this kills me. I swear to god, BOROMIR DID NOTHING WRONG. He had a weakness, and the Ring played on that, and he couldn't resist its temptation. That was all. Anyone who dislikes Boromir because of this is using the same mindset as anyone who blames a person themselves for becoming an alcoholic. Sure, like someone should be blamed for consuming a substance that is INHERENTLY ADDICTIVE. The Ring is exactly the same as a line of cocaine or a syringe of heroin, and honestly, we all have weaknesses. Who among us would fare any better were we in Boromir's position??
NOOO, FRODO, DON'T DO ITTTT!!! (Also, Frodo may be right that Sam would understand- but Sam would also understand that it's BULLSHIT, as seen towards the end of the book. Frodo cannot pull off this last part of the quest alone, no matter what he thinks. He NEEDS someone like Sam by his side.)
And now... the tears begin. Because although Sam is the one who's the most obviously devoted to Frodo... This scene clearly shows that ALL of the Fellowship are devoted to Frodo. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas' decisions all got me because it shows that their relationship with Frodo has turned from professional to personal. Before, they were set to follow him because they had been appointed to do so because of the Ring (although I think Aragorn had already developed a fondness for the hobbits, Frodo included, by the time they had reached Rivendell. Gimli and Legolas were definitely more like coworkers, though). Now, however, they've decided that leaving him now would be a betrayal of both the cause, AND their burgeoning friendship. And then we have Pippin & Merry... From the moment these two were introduced and their "conspiracy" with Sam came to light, I was deeply touched over their unquestioning determination to stick with Frodo no matter what, solely because they're his "special friends." And here, Pippin says almost the same thing that Merry said before: "But the dear silly old hobbit, he ought to know that he hasn't got to ask. He ought to know that if we can't stop him, we shan't leave him." Just... This devotion, not to the noble cause of destroying the Ring, but to FRODO, their dearest friend... That will be the death of me. I wish friendship was real.
"Not without his Sam? Yes, without even his Sam. That's hard, cruel hard..."
I am not okay. 
OH NO, SAM. Keep in mind, I was reading the last chapter of this book at a public cafe... and I had to cover my mouth at this part to quiet the whimpering I was doing. Something about this one paragraph, how desperate it feels, and yet Sam thinks absolutely nothing of wading into a river in order to follow the person he cares for the most (when he can't even swim!). Ohhhh my god I'm losing it, man.
I AM REALLY NOT OKAY. And now I'm crying. Just...
"Of all the confounded nuisances, you are the worst, Sam!" = I don't want to put you in danger, and if you come with me, you'll be in danger. I have to do this alone to keep you safe.
"Oh Mr. Frodo, that's hard... trying to go without me and all." = Stop acting all noble. You shouldn't have to bear this burden alone. Let me help you.
"...All alone and without me to help you? I couldn't a borne it, it'd have been the death of me." = Don't tell me to step aside. I would never forgive myself if I let you run headlong into danger alone. In fact, I'd rather die than let you refuse my help.
"It would have been the death of you to come with me, Sam, and I could not have borne that." = Aren't you listening? You coming with me will put you in danger, and I'D rather die than lose such a good friend!
And then. And then and then and then, we get the part that well and truly destroyed me (and I knew this line was coming because it was in the movie, but reading it in the book still hit hard):
"But I am going to Mordor."
"I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I'm coming with you."
JUST. END ME. I can't stress enough what a horrible decision it was to read this last chapter in public. The girl (lady) was certainly crying in her latte (hot chocolate) that day.
Sam was so ready to go :') And Frodo admitting that ultimately, he's glad that Sam is coming along... Man. I can't even, man. What a great ending to the first volume. (Now I can't wait to read the next one.)
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