Today in Tolkien - October 25th

The Council of Elrond

It’s easy to lose track of who’s talking in a lot of the conversations, because so much of the chapter is big pieces of exposition, so I’m going to try to organize it in my head. For minor elf characters we have:

Beside Glorfindel there were several other counsellors of Elrond’s household, of whom Erestor was the chief; and with him was Galdor, an elf from the Grey Havens who had come on an errand from Círdan the Shipwright.

Sequence:

1) Gloín describes the messages the dwarves have had from Mordor seeking information on hobbits, and “a little ring, the least of rings”, with dwarven rings of power offered in exchange.

2) Elrond recounts the history of the Rings of Power, of Númenor, and of the Last Alliance. The information that Isildur took the Ring after the defeat of Sauron is news to Boromir; it is not known in Gondor (despite the fact that Isildur’s account of taking it is in the records of Minas Tirith - Gandalf found it there, but in a language that few now know). Elrond tells in brief of the history of Arnor and Gondor.

3) Boromir tells of his dream, and the needs of Minas Tirith. Aragorn shows the Shards of Narsil, and Elrond identifies Aragorn as the descendent of Isildur. Frodo shows the Ring. Aragorn asks whether Boromir wishes for the House of Elendil to return to Gondor. Boromir is skeptical about Aragorn and the sword’s identity. Bilbo gets annoyed and recites his All that is gold does not glitter poem. Aragorn is not offended by Boromir’s skepticism, and elaborates on himself, and points out that people other than Gondor, the rangers included, are fighting against evil in the world, and Gondor is only playing one of many parts. He commits to coming to Minas Tirith.

4) Boromir questions how they know that Frodo’s Ring is the One Ring, and if so, how he got it. Bilbo and Frodo give their accounts.

5) Frodo and Galdor ask about what’s been up with Gandalf, and Galdor asks for further evidence of the Ring’s identity, and for news of Saruman. Gandalf tells of his investigations into the Ring - including his finding of Isildur’s scroll in Minas Tirith (in records that few now can read, even of the lore-masters, for their scripts and tongues have become dark to later men - probably Quenya?), likely unread by, in Gandalf’s estimation, anyone but Saruman and Gandalf. Right after this discovery, he learned that Aragorn had captured Gollum, and Gandalf interrogated Gollum and learned of how he obtained the Ring. Gandalf also tells of the inscription on the Ring that he read, and also of his certainty that Gollum had been captured by Sauron.

6) Legolas tells of Gollum’s escape.

7) Gandalf tells of Saruman’s betrayal, and of captivity in Isengard.

8) Upon Gandalf’s mention of being in Rohan, that land is discussed. Gwaihir told Gandalf they pay a tribute of horses to Mordor; Boromir disputes this (though Aragorn is willling to believe it). [We later learn that Boromir is right - Mordor raids Rohan for horses, but they do not send them willingly.]

9) Gandalf continues his account with his return to the North, his conversations with Gaffer Gamgee and Butterbur, and his encounters with Black Riders and arrival in Rivendell.

10) The remainder of the chapter is the conversation about what to do next. Erestor suggests sending it to Bombadil; Gandalf, Glorfindel, and Galdor counter with why that wouldn’t work. Glorfindel suggests casting it into the Sea; Gandalf and Galdor counter that. Elrond states that they must take the Ring to Mordor to be destroyed. (He also gives an indication of his own committment to Middle-earth [bold mine]:

But it seems to me now clear which is the road that we must take. The westward road seems easiest. Therefore it must be shunned. It will be watched. Too often the Elves have fled that way. Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforeseen.

The Elves have reacted to troubles and darkness throughout the Second and Third ages by departing for Valinor. Elrond doesn’t like that; he wants them to stay in Middle-earth and contribute to solving its problems.)

Boromir advocates wielding the Ring against Sauron. Elrond tells him why that cannot and should not be done. Boromir is disappointed, and regards this as Gondor being left in the lurch.

Gloín asks if other Rings of Power could be used - first of the Seven and then, when Gandalf tells that Thrain’s ring was regained by Sauron, then of the Three, which Elrond tells him are in use but not for combat, and that they will likely lose their power if the One Ring is destroyed.

Erestor asks how they could actually get the Ring to Mount Doom, as it seems hopeless. Gandalf says that at least it will be something Sauron isn’t expecting. Elrond says “This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong,” which prompts Bilbo to volunteer (“It is plain enough what you are pointing at. Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it, or himself.”) Gandalf declines the offer. Bilbo asks the Council to come to the point - who will go on the quest? There is a long silence, and then Frodo volunteers. Elrond recognizes that this is what needs to happen. Sam, who has been sitting unnoticed in a corner all this time, insists on going with Frodo.

But That’s Not All!

The Council ends sometime in midafternoon, and the hobbits have a meeting of their own after that, in Bilbo’s room; Merry and Pippin want to go with Frodo. Gandalf pipes in through the window that he thinks he will come as well, to Frodo’s delight, and that they will not be departing for some time, until scouts have reported back on the fate of the Ringwraiths.

Aragorn has left very quickly - Gandalf says he “has gone with Elrond’s sons,” which means he must have left pretty much immediately after the Council ended. But at some point later they must split up, because when the scouts return in December we are told that Elladan and Elrohir went to what we can recognize as Lothlórien (“passing down the Silverlode into a strange country, but of their errand they would not speak to any save Elrond”), while “others…with the help of Aragorn and the Rangers had searched the lands far down the Greyflood, as far as Tharbad, where the old North Road crossed the river by a ruined town”. Given that “Many Meetings” also said that Elladan and Elrohir were away from Rivendell, this may be an inconsistency that Tolkien missed in editing.

Also, the conversation between the hobbits and Gandalf gives me the impression that Gandalf is actively enjoying teasing Pippin:

“We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will. I shall go, unless they chain me up. There must be someone with intelligence in the party.”

“Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!” said Gandalf, looking in through the window, which was near the ground. “But you are all worrying yourselves unnecessarily. Nothing is decided yet.”

[Later in the conversation, Gandalf says:] “Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.”