Shelob's Lair

March 12 3019 TA

To say that I am a LITTLE behind schedule would be an understatement, but I shall do my best to catch up. Doing two at a time for a little while should do the trick.

Shelob's Lair

They arrive at the entrance to the tunnel

"Presently they were under the shadow, and here in the midst of it they saw the opening of a cave.'This is the way in,' said Gollum softly. 'This is the entrance to the tunnel.' He did not speak its name: Torech Ungol, Shelob's Laid. Out of it came a stench, not the sickly odor of decay in the meads of Morgul, but a foul reek, as if filth unnameable were piled and hoarded in the dark within."

I think it's interesting to point out that the movie makes Sam seem more faultless then he was. I the movie, the only thought is "everyone is stupid except for Sam". But in the book, as shown by the scene where Gollum sees Frodo asleep and ALMOST decides not to take him to Shelob, Gollum did feel pity and remorse himself. It is my belief that if Sam had been a little kinder, as Frodo suggested, Gollum might not have done what he did.

Of course, if Frodo hadn't been stung by Shelob and hadn't been taken to the tower, then they might not have gotten into Mordor so easily, and if Gollum hadn't been horrible then he might not have taken the Ring and fallen over the edge and everything would have ended terribly. Or it might not have. "Even the very wise cannot see all ends."

Gollum abandons them, and Frodo bethinks himself of the star-glass of Galadriel.

"For a moment it glimmered, faint as a rising stay struggling in heavy earthward mists, and then as its power waxed, and hope grew in Frodo's mind it began to burn, and kindled to a silver flame, a minute heart of dazzling light, as though Earendil had himself come down from the high sunset paths with the last Silmaril upon his brow."

Not that it does much good.

"But other potencies there are in Middle-earth, powers of night, and they are old and strong. And She that walked in the darkness had hear the Elves cry that cry far back in the deeps of time, and she had not heeded it, and it did not daunt her now. Even as Frodo spoke he felt a great malice bent upon him, and a deadly regard considering him. Not far down the tunnel, between them and the opening where they had reeled and stumbled, he was aware of eyes growing visible, two great clusters of many-windowed eyes - the coming menace was unmasked at last."

Then it sort of worked, when backed by his own courage.

"'Galadriel!' he called, and gathering his courage he lifted up the Phial once more. The eyes halted. For a moment their regard relaxed, as if some hint of doubt troubled them. Then Frodo's heart flamed within him, and without thinking what he did, whether it was folly or despair or courage, he took the Phial in his left hand, and with his right hand drew his sword. Sting flashed out, and the sharp elven-blade sparkled in the silver light, but at its edges a blue fire flickered. Then holding the star aloft and the bright sword advanced, Frodo, hobbit of the Shire, walked steadily down to meet the eyes."

On another note:

Faramir retreats.

Theoden makes camp on his way to Minas Tirith.

Aragorn drives the enemy towards Pelargir.

 

(Lest there should be any confusion or matter of rights and whatnot, all quotes in this post are from The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, unless otherwise mentioned. There may be slight errors, misspellings, or alternate punctuation in the quotes, and if you notice such, please inform me so that I can speedily remedy them. But I think the fact that I made this blog proves that I would never intentionally change something of Tolkien's in the transcribing of it.)