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between_time_and_42So, I'm pretty much ready to give this book back to the library (even though I haven't read all the appendices yet, but I'm thinking at some point I'll buy a copy of The Lord of the Rings in its entirety and then I'll get the chance to read the appendices), so I'm going to try my best to wrap up my LOTR-blogging in a single post, where I talk about my reactions to the events of The Return of the King following Sauron's defeat and the Ring's destruction. Without further ado, here we go!
There's something so strangely beautiful to me about how both Bilbo and Frodo's stories ended (more or less) with the eagles showing up to provide aid. So much so that Pippin, at the end of Book Five, had assumed he was dreaming and getting his current predicament mixed up with Bilbo's adventure when he heard Gandalf crying that the eagles were coming. I know it's probably easy to see the eagles as a cheap plot device or deus ex machina, especially since it's a bit convenient for them to have saved the day twice, but I personally really love it. It just feels like a suitable way for Frodo's adventure to have ended.
"'A great Shadow has departed,' said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears. Then, as a sweet rain will pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out of the clearer, his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and laughing he sprang from his bed."
THIS FEELS SO FUCKING GOOD TO READ. First of all, Sam realizes he hasn't heard any laughter at all for a long time, but I think it's even more notable that the first laughter he hears is Gandalf's, because I can't remember the last time Gandalf laughed at anything. Everything has been far too serious for him to laugh. And now his great task is done, and he can relax and feel free again, and so can Sam. And of course Sam's first reaction is to cry- out of relief, I imagine- because he has been through so fucking much and now it's finally over and he can't believe it's over. Ugh, what a beautiful reunion. (The only thing that I'm disappointed about is that we didn't get to see Frodo's reaction when he first wakes up and finds out that Gandalf is alive. I was really looking forward to that... but I guess that's what fanfiction is for (I'm surprised I haven't said that more frequently when reading this book, lol).
"Praise them with great praise!"
Was this song/chant written by the Redundant Department of Redundancy I'M SORRY, I have a feeling that "great" is the operative word here, but I couldn't help but crack up a little when I read that.
"'...now listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom.'"
Okay, I understand that this is a very important moment and a very heartwarming one for Sam, who had been trying to keep Frodo's spirits up on Mount Doom by telling him that songs would be sung of their deed afterward, but my reaction to reading this was about as inappropriate as my reaction to reading "praise them with great praise"- which is to say I immediately thought, "how do they even know the full story?!" Gandalf and Aragorn (and Faramir, come to think of it, if he was there) surely provided all the information they knew, but Frodo & Sam have been out of sight for a long time now, and didn't they both just wake up that day? And I highly doubt that the first thing Frodo wanted to do upon waking was tell the story of how he had managed to succeed in his Quest- at least, not to anyone other than Gandalf, and certainly not for the purposes of being glorified. So I don't know how the minstrel of Gondor could have slapped this song together so quickly. Then again, maybe this is the point- that the minstrel is singing about Frodo being a great hero, when Frodo perhaps feels that he isn't because he knows that he couldn't throw the Ring into the fire. I couldn't help but notice that Sam's reactions are described throughout this scene, and nothing is mentioned about how Frodo reacted. I can imagine he has some very complicated feelings indeed about all this.
"But when, after the Standing Silence, wine was brought there came in two esquires to serve the kings; or so they seemed to be: one was clad in the silver and sable of the Guards of Minas Tirith, and the other in white and green. But Sam wondered what such young boys were doing in an army of mighty men. Then suddenly as they drew near and he could see them plainly, he exclaimed:
"'Why, look Mr. Frodo! Well, if it isn't Pippin. Mr. Peregrin Took I should say, and Mr. Merry! How they have grown! Bless me! But I can see there's more tales to tell than ours.'
"'There are indeed,' said Pippin turning towards him. 'And we'll begin telling them, as soon as this feast is ended [...] For at the present Merry and I are busy. We are knights of the City and of the Mark, as I hope you observe.'"
AHHH this is BEAUTIFUL :') I feel so absurdly proud of these two fictional characters right now, lol. Little Pippin and Merry went out into the wide world and made heroes of themselves. What an honor for two hobbits to become knights of two esteemed kingdoms! I love them SO MUCH (and I love how Sam can't get over how much taller they've become lol. Even though it's said to be a result of drinking the Ent-draught, it reminds me so much of when you haven't seen a friend's kid for a while and then you can't get over how tall they've grown when you do see them again).
"'And not only Sam and Frodo here,' said Gimli, 'but you too, Pippin. I love you, if only because of the pains you have cost me, which I shall never forget.'"
Awww. That's real friendship right there- complaining about how worried you were when your friend was in danger and you thought he was dead. :P
And now we get to the whirlwind romance of Faramir and Eowyn. I'm honestly not sure how much I want to talk about this chapter- I feel like I should put my thoughts on it in another post. But since I love Faramir and find Eowyn to be a very well-written and pleasantly complex character, I'm really happy to see them find peace, healing, and eventually love with each other. And then there's:
"'But I doubt not, lord,' said the Warden, 'that you would learn more from the Halfling that is with us; for he was in the riding of the king, and with the Lady at the end, they say.'
"'And so Merry was sent to Faramir, and while that day lasted they talked long together, and Faramir learned much, more even than Merry put into words; and he thought that he understood now something of the grief and unrest of Eowyn of Rohan. And in the fair evening Faramir and Merry walked in the garden, but she did not come."
Man, Merry is such a bro, being a wingman for Faramir and telling him all that he needs to know about Eowyn :'D
"And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden..."
WAIT. Faramir has BLACK hair?! Because I'm like 99% sure that Eowyn has blonde hair. I must have completely missed this when I read his description when he was first introduced (if his hair color was even mentioned then). I think it's probably because of the actor from the movies, and also because of the name ("Fair-amir"), but I can't believe I've been picturing Faramir as blond this whole time...
"'Eowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?'
"'I wished to be loved by another,' she answered. 'But I desire no man's pity.'
"'That I know,' [Faramir] said. 'You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory, and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl on the earth. And as a great captain may to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, the greatest that now is. But when he gave you only understanding and pity, then you desired to have nothing, unless a brave death in battle.'"
At first, I wasn't sure if Faramir was reading the situation correctly, because it had seemed to me before that Eowyn wasn't exactly looking for glamor and glory when she had been crushing on Aragorn- it was more that she wanted someone to help her escape from her current situation. And I was also displeased with the interpretation (or implication, as I first took it to be) that Eowyn had gone off seeking death in battle because Aragorn had only pitied her and couldn't return her feelings. But I think I understand now that Eowyn seeking death wasn't specifically caused by Aragorn's rejection- it was, in fact, the sort of situation from which she was longing to escape, and Aragorn had represented a chance to change what she saw to be her fate, and once she realized that he would never love her the way she had hoped he would, she felt that there was no use trying to change her fate now and resigned herself to the likelihood of falling in battle. Wow. This is what I'm talking about when I say that Eowyn is a complex and well-written character- why couldn't Tolkien have written an entire novel about her and her story?
Although I can be skeptical about romance and especially about insta-love situations, I have to say that I think Faramir's love confession was really sweet. And it's so beautiful to me that Eowyn realizes that now that she has a will to live, she wants to spend her time healing and nurturing things instead of fighting battles for her country. I know this probably comes off as anti-feminist and reinforcing gender roles... but honestly, I feel like the desire to do no harm and to put an end to violence and death-seeking is far more important in this instance. (Now, if Faramir had made the same commitment alongside Eowyn, that would be an even stronger statement... but when was this book written, anyway? The 50's? And isn't it supposed to be set in a very ancient time? The fact that we even got Eowyn the shieldmaiden is progressive enough, as far as I'm concerned.)
Oh my god, the return of Ioreth and her long-windedness at Aragorn's coronation is fucking hilarious. :'D I love that now that all is said and done, the narrative can be playful and humorous again. I really do love Tolkien's sense of humor.
I gotta say, I am SO happy that Beregond didn't receive any punishment for acting against Denethor's orders, because that would have been such bullshit. Being made the Captain of the Guard of Faramir is a great "punishment!"
"The hobbits still remained in Minas Tirith, with Legolas and Gimli, for Aragorn was loth for the fellowship to be dissolved."
SAME. Their parting is going to crush me, I just know it.
"'At last all such things must end,' [Aragorn] said, 'but I would have you wait a little while longer: for the end of the deeds that you have shared in has not yet come. A day draws near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood, and when it comes I would have my friends beside me.' But of that day he would say no more."
OHOHOHO, you don't HAVE to say any more, Aragorn... I know exactly what YOU'RE waiting for ;) ;) ;)
"And Frodo said to Gandalf: 'Do you know what this day is that Aragorn speaks of? For we are happy here, and I don't wish to go; but the days are running away, and Bilbo is waiting; and the Shire is my home.'
"'As for Bilbo,' said Gandalf, 'he is waiting for the same day, and he knows what keeps you.'"
OHOHOHO, I BET Bilbo knows what's keeping them... Mr. "The Lady Arwen was at the feast last night" ;) I must say, I absolutely love that one of Frodo's biggest concerns is that he wants to see Bilbo again soon. Their relationship is so underrated, but I love it so much.
And now we get the whirlwind romance of Aragorn and Arwen. Which, to be fair, isn't actually whirlwind, not for them, it's just that practically all of it happened off-page and therefore, if I hadn't already seen the movies, this line:
"And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfillment."
Would have elicited the biggest "WHAT THE FUCK?" from me. If you're just reading the books, that HAS to have come out of nowhere. And to think that when I was reading The Fellowship of the Ring, I was so excited to see Aragorn and Arwen's relationship expanded upon, only to find out that it's literally only mentioned in a handful of scenes... But hey! Congratulations to the King and his Evenstar!
"'It is true that I wish to go back to the Shire,' said Frodo. 'But first I must go to Rivendell. For if there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed, I missed Bilbo; and I was grieved when among all the household of Elrond I saw that he was not come.'"
NOOOOO POOR FRODO! I've been waiting three whole volumes for this reunion!! Get them back together ASAP!!!
"'You shall judge,' said Eomer. 'For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my eyes.'
"'Well, lord,' said Gimli, 'and what say you now?'
"'Alas!' said Eomer. 'I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives.'
"'Then I must go for my axe,' said Gimli.
"'But first I will plead this excuse,' said Eomer. 'Had I seen her in other company, I would have said all that you could wish. But now I will put Queen Arwen Evenstar first, and I am ready to do battle on my own part with any who deny me.'"
Oh my fucking god, this is so unbelievably funny :'D Gimli threatening to fight Eomer over his slight to Galadriel... Eomer revealing that he prefers Arwen... Eomer saying that he'll fight anyone who slights Arwen... These men are absolute children and I love it.
"But Merry stood at the foot of the green mound, and he wept, and when the song was ended he arose and cried:
"'Theoden King, Theoden King! Farewell, As a father you were to me, for a little while. Farewell!'"
Damn... Merry is still taking Theoden's death really hard... And of course this trauma is never elaborated upon after this.
"Then Eowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn, and she said: 'Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer!'
"And he answered: 'I have wished thee joy ever since I first saw thee. It heals my heart to see thee now in bliss.'"
AWWWWW. And all's well that ends well on that front <3
"Now the guests were ready, and they drank the stirrup-cup, and with great praise and friendship they departed, and came at length to Helm's Deep, and there they rested two days. Then Legolas repaid his promise to Gimli and went with him to the Glittering Caves; and when they returned he was silent, and would say only that Gimli alone could fit words to speak of them."
It touches me so much that Legolas was struck speechless by the Glittering Caves, whereas before I'm sure he never would have seen the beauty in them. Through his friendship with Gimli, he's now begun to see the world with new eyes. Not bad when he's already lived for... I have no idea how old Legolas is, but he's an Elf, so he must be very old. Shows that if you keep an open mind, you're never too late to change your perspective.
"'Come, Gimli!' said Legolas. 'Now by Fangorn's leave I will visit the deep places of the Entwood and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in Middle-earth. You shall come with me and keep your words; and thus we will journey on together to our own lands in Mirkwood and beyond.' To this Gimli agreed, though with no great delight, it seemed."
Lol. Legolas was so impressed with the caves and now Gimli can't even bring himself to go through the forest. :') I love that this is where we leave these two- setting off on their own journey together. What a beautiful friendship they developed over the course of this book. (I also find it interesting that they say they'll return to Gondor someday "if our own lords allow it." I had never considered that they might be high-ranking officials in their own lands and must ask leave to go travel elsewhere... although I guess I should have thought of that given that Legolas is literally the son of the Elvenking. Who, by the way, is never mentioned to have a bad relationship with his son like it's depicted in The Hobbit movies... What the fuck was that all about, screenwriters??)
"'I wish we could have a Stone that we could see all our friends in,' said Pippin, 'and that we could speak to them from far away!'"
Poor Pippin, born thousands of centuries before the existence of the iPhone... This really does break my heart though. The more members of the Fellowship who depart, the sadder I get.
And then Saruman turns up?? Holy shit. It's so strange to see him brought so low, but to me, it's even stranger to see Grima Wormtongue essentially reduced to a Gollum-like figure, a slave to a mightier power (Saruman) and hating it but unable to get away. I also have to say, as much as I like and respect the Ents, I don't agree with their decision to let Saruman get away. Then again, what could they have done, I wonder? I also really wish the hobbits had just decided to skip Rivendell and go back to the Shire at this point, because something was obviously going on there that wasn't to anyone liking... but then they'd have missed seeing Bilbo and my heart could not have taken that level of disappointment.
"Quickly fading into the stones and the shadows the grey-cloaked people of Lorien rode towards the mountains; and those who were going to Rivendell sat on the hill and watched, until there came out of the gathering mist a flash; and then they saw no more. Frodo knew that Galadriel had held aloft her ring in token of farewell."
OHHH LADY GALADRIEL <3 <3 <3 She isn't in this book much, but she sure made an impression with her Ring of Power and otherworldly presence. Gimli and I may have to fight over her tbh.
"First of all, before they had eaten or washed or even shed their cloaks, the hobbits went in search of Bilbo. They found him all alone in his little room. It was littered with papers and pens and pencils; but Bilbo was sitting in a chair before a small bright fire. He looked very old, but peaceful, and sleepy.
"He opened his eyes and looked up as they came in. 'Hullo, hullo!' he said. 'So you've come back? And tomorrow's my birthday, too. How clever of you! Do you know, I shall be one hundred and twenty nine? And in one year more, if I am spared, I shall equal the Old Took. I should like to beat him, but we shall see.'"
BILBO!!!!!!!! As overjoyed as the characters must be to see him, I am even MORE overjoyed. I missed him SO much. And I love that although the Ring's destruction has hastened his aging (or at least, his age has caught up to him now), he doesn't seem to be bitter or resentful of this at all, and in fact is very much at peace. I also love how the narrative treats him:
"Sitting round the fire [the hobbits] told [Bilbo] in turn all they could remember of their journeys and adventures. At first he pretended to take some notes; but he often fell asleep; and when he woke he would say: 'How splendid! How wonderful! But where were we?' Then they went on with the story from the point where he had begun to nod."
Like... this could have been so upsetting, to see Bilbo in such a forgetful and lethargic state. But to me, this isn't sad at all, because... well, age catches up with all of us, doesn't it? And Bilbo seems to be at peace with that, and he's happy. These lines in fact remind me of my grandmother and how on the few times when I would visit her in the assisted living facility where she used to live, I would tell her about my life and stuff and it didn't matter if she didn't really understand what I was saying or follow how my mind jumped around as I talked- she was just happy to hear me talk and to have me with her. (I'm also now realizing that this is the first moment in a piece of media that I've experienced that's reminded me of my grandmother that hasn't also upset me to the point of wanting to stop experiencing it. Hmm, there's something to unpack there for sure...)
"The only part that seemed really to rouse [Bilbo] and hold his attention was the account of the crowning and marriage of Aragon. 'I was invited to the wedding, of course,' he said. 'And I have waited for it long enough. But somehow, when it came to it, I found I had so much to do here; and packing is such a bother.'"
Bilbo WOULD only be interested in the wedding, that nosy little hobbit :'D He's really radiating "queer best friend" vibes here, where he's the aroace who's overly invested in his straight allo friends' relationships. And don't even act like you had anything to do at Rivendell, Bilbo, except sleep and eat and maybe write a little bit. (This is sad though because it's clear he's making an excuse for not feeling well and fit enough to go out to Minas Tirith. For which he can hardly be blamed, given the Ring's sudden lack of influence on him following its destruction.)
"In the evening they went to say good-bye to Bilbo. 'Well, if you must go, you must,' he said. 'I am sorry. I shall miss you. It is nice just to know that you are about the place. But I am getting very sleepy.' Then he gave Frodo his mithril coat and Sting, forgetting that he had already done so; and he gave him also three books of lore that he had made at various times, written in his spidery hand, and labelled on their red backs: Translations from the Elvish, by B.B."
Okay, this part was a little sad to read actually, when Bilbo forgot that he had already given Frodo those presents. But I do love the books that he gave Frodo. I love that Bilbo's initial adventures affected him so deeply that he spent the rest of his life studying Elven culture. Another example of the benefits of keeping an open mind when presented with cultures other than your own.
"To Sam [Bilbo] gave a little bag of gold. 'Almost the last drop of the Smaug vintage,' he said. 'May it come in useful, if you think of getting married, Sam.' Sam blushed."
BILBO YOU SCOUNDREL!! You were sitting on all that treasure from your adventure for so many years and you never told anyone!!! Also, I love that he's promptly inserting himself into Sam's personal affairs like a nosy relative. Well, I guess Sam is pretty much part of the family by this point...
I'm getting tired of typing everything out and to be honest, I could quote this entire section of this chapter, so I'm just going to write my reactions here without using any quotes:
-Bilbo giving Merry & Pippin "good advice" is hilariously old-person coded :'D He's just like a grandfather or an old uncle, telling his younger kin exactly what he'd do if he were them.
"'Don't let you heads get too big for your hats! But if you don't finish growing up soon, you are going to find hats and clothes expensive.'
"'But if you want to beat the Old Took,' said Pippin, 'I don't see why we shouldn't try and beat the Bullroarer.'"
Oh my god this exchange is priceless :') :') I love hobbit banter!
The fact that Bilbo interrupts himself to ask if Sam really did see an oliphaunt is hilarious as well. I feel like that's one of the few things he has any frame of reference for in their story, and that's why he latches onto it.
"'I don't think, Mr. Frodo, that he's done much writing while we've been away. He won't even write our story now.'"
Gee, what gave you THAT impression, Sam? :') God, the last part of this chapter was just such bliss. It felt SO GOOD to see Bilbo again, after so long. In fact, these chapters have all been so lovely to read. We needed this level of catharsis, and I'm so glad it's being provided in spades.
And now... A separate post must be made to go over the events of the hobbits' homecoming, because... well... it's a LOT, surprisingly.
There's something so strangely beautiful to me about how both Bilbo and Frodo's stories ended (more or less) with the eagles showing up to provide aid. So much so that Pippin, at the end of Book Five, had assumed he was dreaming and getting his current predicament mixed up with Bilbo's adventure when he heard Gandalf crying that the eagles were coming. I know it's probably easy to see the eagles as a cheap plot device or deus ex machina, especially since it's a bit convenient for them to have saved the day twice, but I personally really love it. It just feels like a suitable way for Frodo's adventure to have ended.
"'A great Shadow has departed,' said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears. Then, as a sweet rain will pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out of the clearer, his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and laughing he sprang from his bed."
THIS FEELS SO FUCKING GOOD TO READ. First of all, Sam realizes he hasn't heard any laughter at all for a long time, but I think it's even more notable that the first laughter he hears is Gandalf's, because I can't remember the last time Gandalf laughed at anything. Everything has been far too serious for him to laugh. And now his great task is done, and he can relax and feel free again, and so can Sam. And of course Sam's first reaction is to cry- out of relief, I imagine- because he has been through so fucking much and now it's finally over and he can't believe it's over. Ugh, what a beautiful reunion. (The only thing that I'm disappointed about is that we didn't get to see Frodo's reaction when he first wakes up and finds out that Gandalf is alive. I was really looking forward to that... but I guess that's what fanfiction is for (I'm surprised I haven't said that more frequently when reading this book, lol).
"Praise them with great praise!"
"'...now listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom.'"
Okay, I understand that this is a very important moment and a very heartwarming one for Sam, who had been trying to keep Frodo's spirits up on Mount Doom by telling him that songs would be sung of their deed afterward, but my reaction to reading this was about as inappropriate as my reaction to reading "praise them with great praise"- which is to say I immediately thought, "how do they even know the full story?!" Gandalf and Aragorn (and Faramir, come to think of it, if he was there) surely provided all the information they knew, but Frodo & Sam have been out of sight for a long time now, and didn't they both just wake up that day? And I highly doubt that the first thing Frodo wanted to do upon waking was tell the story of how he had managed to succeed in his Quest- at least, not to anyone other than Gandalf, and certainly not for the purposes of being glorified. So I don't know how the minstrel of Gondor could have slapped this song together so quickly. Then again, maybe this is the point- that the minstrel is singing about Frodo being a great hero, when Frodo perhaps feels that he isn't because he knows that he couldn't throw the Ring into the fire. I couldn't help but notice that Sam's reactions are described throughout this scene, and nothing is mentioned about how Frodo reacted. I can imagine he has some very complicated feelings indeed about all this.
"But when, after the Standing Silence, wine was brought there came in two esquires to serve the kings; or so they seemed to be: one was clad in the silver and sable of the Guards of Minas Tirith, and the other in white and green. But Sam wondered what such young boys were doing in an army of mighty men. Then suddenly as they drew near and he could see them plainly, he exclaimed:
"'Why, look Mr. Frodo! Well, if it isn't Pippin. Mr. Peregrin Took I should say, and Mr. Merry! How they have grown! Bless me! But I can see there's more tales to tell than ours.'
"'There are indeed,' said Pippin turning towards him. 'And we'll begin telling them, as soon as this feast is ended [...] For at the present Merry and I are busy. We are knights of the City and of the Mark, as I hope you observe.'"
AHHH this is BEAUTIFUL :') I feel so absurdly proud of these two fictional characters right now, lol. Little Pippin and Merry went out into the wide world and made heroes of themselves. What an honor for two hobbits to become knights of two esteemed kingdoms! I love them SO MUCH (and I love how Sam can't get over how much taller they've become lol. Even though it's said to be a result of drinking the Ent-draught, it reminds me so much of when you haven't seen a friend's kid for a while and then you can't get over how tall they've grown when you do see them again).
"'And not only Sam and Frodo here,' said Gimli, 'but you too, Pippin. I love you, if only because of the pains you have cost me, which I shall never forget.'"
Awww. That's real friendship right there- complaining about how worried you were when your friend was in danger and you thought he was dead. :P
And now we get to the whirlwind romance of Faramir and Eowyn. I'm honestly not sure how much I want to talk about this chapter- I feel like I should put my thoughts on it in another post. But since I love Faramir and find Eowyn to be a very well-written and pleasantly complex character, I'm really happy to see them find peace, healing, and eventually love with each other. And then there's:
"'But I doubt not, lord,' said the Warden, 'that you would learn more from the Halfling that is with us; for he was in the riding of the king, and with the Lady at the end, they say.'
"'And so Merry was sent to Faramir, and while that day lasted they talked long together, and Faramir learned much, more even than Merry put into words; and he thought that he understood now something of the grief and unrest of Eowyn of Rohan. And in the fair evening Faramir and Merry walked in the garden, but she did not come."
Man, Merry is such a bro, being a wingman for Faramir and telling him all that he needs to know about Eowyn :'D
"And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden..."
WAIT. Faramir has BLACK hair?! Because I'm like 99% sure that Eowyn has blonde hair. I must have completely missed this when I read his description when he was first introduced (if his hair color was even mentioned then). I think it's probably because of the actor from the movies, and also because of the name ("Fair-amir"), but I can't believe I've been picturing Faramir as blond this whole time...
"'Eowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?'
"'I wished to be loved by another,' she answered. 'But I desire no man's pity.'
"'That I know,' [Faramir] said. 'You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory, and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl on the earth. And as a great captain may to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, the greatest that now is. But when he gave you only understanding and pity, then you desired to have nothing, unless a brave death in battle.'"
At first, I wasn't sure if Faramir was reading the situation correctly, because it had seemed to me before that Eowyn wasn't exactly looking for glamor and glory when she had been crushing on Aragorn- it was more that she wanted someone to help her escape from her current situation. And I was also displeased with the interpretation (or implication, as I first took it to be) that Eowyn had gone off seeking death in battle because Aragorn had only pitied her and couldn't return her feelings. But I think I understand now that Eowyn seeking death wasn't specifically caused by Aragorn's rejection- it was, in fact, the sort of situation from which she was longing to escape, and Aragorn had represented a chance to change what she saw to be her fate, and once she realized that he would never love her the way she had hoped he would, she felt that there was no use trying to change her fate now and resigned herself to the likelihood of falling in battle. Wow. This is what I'm talking about when I say that Eowyn is a complex and well-written character- why couldn't Tolkien have written an entire novel about her and her story?
Although I can be skeptical about romance and especially about insta-love situations, I have to say that I think Faramir's love confession was really sweet. And it's so beautiful to me that Eowyn realizes that now that she has a will to live, she wants to spend her time healing and nurturing things instead of fighting battles for her country. I know this probably comes off as anti-feminist and reinforcing gender roles... but honestly, I feel like the desire to do no harm and to put an end to violence and death-seeking is far more important in this instance. (Now, if Faramir had made the same commitment alongside Eowyn, that would be an even stronger statement... but when was this book written, anyway? The 50's? And isn't it supposed to be set in a very ancient time? The fact that we even got Eowyn the shieldmaiden is progressive enough, as far as I'm concerned.)
Oh my god, the return of Ioreth and her long-windedness at Aragorn's coronation is fucking hilarious. :'D I love that now that all is said and done, the narrative can be playful and humorous again. I really do love Tolkien's sense of humor.
I gotta say, I am SO happy that Beregond didn't receive any punishment for acting against Denethor's orders, because that would have been such bullshit. Being made the Captain of the Guard of Faramir is a great "punishment!"
"The hobbits still remained in Minas Tirith, with Legolas and Gimli, for Aragorn was loth for the fellowship to be dissolved."
SAME. Their parting is going to crush me, I just know it.
"'At last all such things must end,' [Aragorn] said, 'but I would have you wait a little while longer: for the end of the deeds that you have shared in has not yet come. A day draws near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood, and when it comes I would have my friends beside me.' But of that day he would say no more."
OHOHOHO, you don't HAVE to say any more, Aragorn... I know exactly what YOU'RE waiting for ;) ;) ;)
"And Frodo said to Gandalf: 'Do you know what this day is that Aragorn speaks of? For we are happy here, and I don't wish to go; but the days are running away, and Bilbo is waiting; and the Shire is my home.'
"'As for Bilbo,' said Gandalf, 'he is waiting for the same day, and he knows what keeps you.'"
OHOHOHO, I BET Bilbo knows what's keeping them... Mr. "The Lady Arwen was at the feast last night" ;) I must say, I absolutely love that one of Frodo's biggest concerns is that he wants to see Bilbo again soon. Their relationship is so underrated, but I love it so much.
And now we get the whirlwind romance of Aragorn and Arwen. Which, to be fair, isn't actually whirlwind, not for them, it's just that practically all of it happened off-page and therefore, if I hadn't already seen the movies, this line:
"And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfillment."
Would have elicited the biggest "WHAT THE FUCK?" from me. If you're just reading the books, that HAS to have come out of nowhere. And to think that when I was reading The Fellowship of the Ring, I was so excited to see Aragorn and Arwen's relationship expanded upon, only to find out that it's literally only mentioned in a handful of scenes... But hey! Congratulations to the King and his Evenstar!
"'It is true that I wish to go back to the Shire,' said Frodo. 'But first I must go to Rivendell. For if there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed, I missed Bilbo; and I was grieved when among all the household of Elrond I saw that he was not come.'"
NOOOOO POOR FRODO! I've been waiting three whole volumes for this reunion!! Get them back together ASAP!!!
"'You shall judge,' said Eomer. 'For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my eyes.'
"'Well, lord,' said Gimli, 'and what say you now?'
"'Alas!' said Eomer. 'I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives.'
"'Then I must go for my axe,' said Gimli.
"'But first I will plead this excuse,' said Eomer. 'Had I seen her in other company, I would have said all that you could wish. But now I will put Queen Arwen Evenstar first, and I am ready to do battle on my own part with any who deny me.'"
Oh my fucking god, this is so unbelievably funny :'D Gimli threatening to fight Eomer over his slight to Galadriel... Eomer revealing that he prefers Arwen... Eomer saying that he'll fight anyone who slights Arwen... These men are absolute children and I love it.
"But Merry stood at the foot of the green mound, and he wept, and when the song was ended he arose and cried:
"'Theoden King, Theoden King! Farewell, As a father you were to me, for a little while. Farewell!'"
Damn... Merry is still taking Theoden's death really hard... And of course this trauma is never elaborated upon after this.
"Then Eowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn, and she said: 'Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer!'
"And he answered: 'I have wished thee joy ever since I first saw thee. It heals my heart to see thee now in bliss.'"
AWWWWW. And all's well that ends well on that front <3
"Now the guests were ready, and they drank the stirrup-cup, and with great praise and friendship they departed, and came at length to Helm's Deep, and there they rested two days. Then Legolas repaid his promise to Gimli and went with him to the Glittering Caves; and when they returned he was silent, and would say only that Gimli alone could fit words to speak of them."
It touches me so much that Legolas was struck speechless by the Glittering Caves, whereas before I'm sure he never would have seen the beauty in them. Through his friendship with Gimli, he's now begun to see the world with new eyes. Not bad when he's already lived for... I have no idea how old Legolas is, but he's an Elf, so he must be very old. Shows that if you keep an open mind, you're never too late to change your perspective.
"'Come, Gimli!' said Legolas. 'Now by Fangorn's leave I will visit the deep places of the Entwood and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in Middle-earth. You shall come with me and keep your words; and thus we will journey on together to our own lands in Mirkwood and beyond.' To this Gimli agreed, though with no great delight, it seemed."
Lol. Legolas was so impressed with the caves and now Gimli can't even bring himself to go through the forest. :') I love that this is where we leave these two- setting off on their own journey together. What a beautiful friendship they developed over the course of this book. (I also find it interesting that they say they'll return to Gondor someday "if our own lords allow it." I had never considered that they might be high-ranking officials in their own lands and must ask leave to go travel elsewhere... although I guess I should have thought of that given that Legolas is literally the son of the Elvenking. Who, by the way, is never mentioned to have a bad relationship with his son like it's depicted in The Hobbit movies... What the fuck was that all about, screenwriters??)
"'I wish we could have a Stone that we could see all our friends in,' said Pippin, 'and that we could speak to them from far away!'"
Poor Pippin, born thousands of centuries before the existence of the iPhone... This really does break my heart though. The more members of the Fellowship who depart, the sadder I get.
And then Saruman turns up?? Holy shit. It's so strange to see him brought so low, but to me, it's even stranger to see Grima Wormtongue essentially reduced to a Gollum-like figure, a slave to a mightier power (Saruman) and hating it but unable to get away. I also have to say, as much as I like and respect the Ents, I don't agree with their decision to let Saruman get away. Then again, what could they have done, I wonder? I also really wish the hobbits had just decided to skip Rivendell and go back to the Shire at this point, because something was obviously going on there that wasn't to anyone liking... but then they'd have missed seeing Bilbo and my heart could not have taken that level of disappointment.
"Quickly fading into the stones and the shadows the grey-cloaked people of Lorien rode towards the mountains; and those who were going to Rivendell sat on the hill and watched, until there came out of the gathering mist a flash; and then they saw no more. Frodo knew that Galadriel had held aloft her ring in token of farewell."
OHHH LADY GALADRIEL <3 <3 <3 She isn't in this book much, but she sure made an impression with her Ring of Power and otherworldly presence. Gimli and I may have to fight over her tbh.
"First of all, before they had eaten or washed or even shed their cloaks, the hobbits went in search of Bilbo. They found him all alone in his little room. It was littered with papers and pens and pencils; but Bilbo was sitting in a chair before a small bright fire. He looked very old, but peaceful, and sleepy.
"He opened his eyes and looked up as they came in. 'Hullo, hullo!' he said. 'So you've come back? And tomorrow's my birthday, too. How clever of you! Do you know, I shall be one hundred and twenty nine? And in one year more, if I am spared, I shall equal the Old Took. I should like to beat him, but we shall see.'"
BILBO!!!!!!!! As overjoyed as the characters must be to see him, I am even MORE overjoyed. I missed him SO much. And I love that although the Ring's destruction has hastened his aging (or at least, his age has caught up to him now), he doesn't seem to be bitter or resentful of this at all, and in fact is very much at peace. I also love how the narrative treats him:
"Sitting round the fire [the hobbits] told [Bilbo] in turn all they could remember of their journeys and adventures. At first he pretended to take some notes; but he often fell asleep; and when he woke he would say: 'How splendid! How wonderful! But where were we?' Then they went on with the story from the point where he had begun to nod."
Like... this could have been so upsetting, to see Bilbo in such a forgetful and lethargic state. But to me, this isn't sad at all, because... well, age catches up with all of us, doesn't it? And Bilbo seems to be at peace with that, and he's happy. These lines in fact remind me of my grandmother and how on the few times when I would visit her in the assisted living facility where she used to live, I would tell her about my life and stuff and it didn't matter if she didn't really understand what I was saying or follow how my mind jumped around as I talked- she was just happy to hear me talk and to have me with her. (I'm also now realizing that this is the first moment in a piece of media that I've experienced that's reminded me of my grandmother that hasn't also upset me to the point of wanting to stop experiencing it. Hmm, there's something to unpack there for sure...)
"The only part that seemed really to rouse [Bilbo] and hold his attention was the account of the crowning and marriage of Aragon. 'I was invited to the wedding, of course,' he said. 'And I have waited for it long enough. But somehow, when it came to it, I found I had so much to do here; and packing is such a bother.'"
Bilbo WOULD only be interested in the wedding, that nosy little hobbit :'D He's really radiating "queer best friend" vibes here, where he's the aroace who's overly invested in his straight allo friends' relationships. And don't even act like you had anything to do at Rivendell, Bilbo, except sleep and eat and maybe write a little bit. (This is sad though because it's clear he's making an excuse for not feeling well and fit enough to go out to Minas Tirith. For which he can hardly be blamed, given the Ring's sudden lack of influence on him following its destruction.)
"In the evening they went to say good-bye to Bilbo. 'Well, if you must go, you must,' he said. 'I am sorry. I shall miss you. It is nice just to know that you are about the place. But I am getting very sleepy.' Then he gave Frodo his mithril coat and Sting, forgetting that he had already done so; and he gave him also three books of lore that he had made at various times, written in his spidery hand, and labelled on their red backs: Translations from the Elvish, by B.B."
Okay, this part was a little sad to read actually, when Bilbo forgot that he had already given Frodo those presents. But I do love the books that he gave Frodo. I love that Bilbo's initial adventures affected him so deeply that he spent the rest of his life studying Elven culture. Another example of the benefits of keeping an open mind when presented with cultures other than your own.
"To Sam [Bilbo] gave a little bag of gold. 'Almost the last drop of the Smaug vintage,' he said. 'May it come in useful, if you think of getting married, Sam.' Sam blushed."
BILBO YOU SCOUNDREL!! You were sitting on all that treasure from your adventure for so many years and you never told anyone!!! Also, I love that he's promptly inserting himself into Sam's personal affairs like a nosy relative. Well, I guess Sam is pretty much part of the family by this point...
I'm getting tired of typing everything out and to be honest, I could quote this entire section of this chapter, so I'm just going to write my reactions here without using any quotes:
-Bilbo giving Merry & Pippin "good advice" is hilariously old-person coded :'D He's just like a grandfather or an old uncle, telling his younger kin exactly what he'd do if he were them.
"'Don't let you heads get too big for your hats! But if you don't finish growing up soon, you are going to find hats and clothes expensive.'
"'But if you want to beat the Old Took,' said Pippin, 'I don't see why we shouldn't try and beat the Bullroarer.'"
Oh my god this exchange is priceless :') :') I love hobbit banter!
The fact that Bilbo interrupts himself to ask if Sam really did see an oliphaunt is hilarious as well. I feel like that's one of the few things he has any frame of reference for in their story, and that's why he latches onto it.
"'I don't think, Mr. Frodo, that he's done much writing while we've been away. He won't even write our story now.'"
Gee, what gave you THAT impression, Sam? :') God, the last part of this chapter was just such bliss. It felt SO GOOD to see Bilbo again, after so long. In fact, these chapters have all been so lovely to read. We needed this level of catharsis, and I'm so glad it's being provided in spades.
And now... A separate post must be made to go over the events of the hobbits' homecoming, because... well... it's a LOT, surprisingly.
