THE JOYS OF A BEARD
by
Soledad
Disclaimer: Not mine, all Tolkien’s, except the Mary Sue and the weird plot. Sue me, and you’ll be given the Sue – pardon the really bad pun.
Rating: PG-13, for some interspecies… erm… interaction.
Summary: The Fellowship travels from Rivendell to Hollin. Chaos ensues.
Author’s notes: Basically, this is the way of the Fellowship to Hollin and beyond.
Quotes are from ’’The Return of the Shadow’’ (HoME 6) and ’’The Treason of Isengard’’ (HoME 7). The randomly appearing Elvish words have – as it is a rule in this sort of stories – no reason why they couldn’t be said in English. It is called ’’atmosphere’’, you know. They probably aren’t even correct, but who cares?
Also, we can witness the overly popular Boromir cliché (from evil lustling to mad rapist and/or crazed villain) raising its ugly head. Which won’t stop the younger hobbits from lusting after him, of course. You haven’t really expected me to miss that one, have you? Just wait and be very afraid!<evil grin>
I apologize for being so late with this update – Real Life had drowned me in other sorts of work lately. Alas, I cannot promise to be quicker in the future. Updates might be few and far between for quite some time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
’’If the Elves knew the joys of a beard, no dwarf would be safe.’’ – Legolas, in ’’A Diamond Between Wood and Stone’’, the most poetic Legolas/Gimli story I’ve ever read. Written by Pythoness, may the Valar bless her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER 9: THE POWER OF YAVANNA
After the Ford
they left the West Road that crossed Bruinen; and turning left
they went on by narrow paths among the folded lands. They were
going South. Their purpose was to hold this course for many miles
and days on the western side of the Misty Mountains. The country
was much wilder and rougher than in the green valley of the Great
River in Wilderland on the eastern side of the Mountain, and
their going now would be much slower, but they hoped in this way
to escape the notice of enemies. The spies of Sauron had hitherto
seldom been seen in the western regions; and the paths were
little known except to the people of Rivendell.
Gandalf walked in
the front and with him went Trotter who knew this country even in
the dark. They flanked the Princess on both sides, to protect her
from any possible perils. The hobbits followed them in no
particular order, then came Legolas and Gimli in companionable
silence. Boromir as rearguard walked behind.
The first part of
their journey was cheerless and grim and Frodo remembered little
of it, except the cold wind. It blew icily from the eastern
mountains for many sunless days and no garment seemed able to
keep out its searching fingers. They had been well furnished with
warm clothes in Rivendell, and had jackets and cloaks lined with
fur as well as many blankets, but they seldom felt warm, either
moving or at rest. They slept uneasily during the middle of the
day, in some hollow of the land, or hidden under the tangled
thorn-bushes that grew in great thickets in those parts. In the
late afternoon they were roused and had their chief meal: usually
cold and cheerless and with little talk, for they seldom risked
the lighting of a fire. In the evening they went on again, as
nearly due south as they could find a way.
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Neither Legolas,
nor his sister seemed to be bothered by the weather. The Prince
of Mirkwood stuck to his Dwarven friend, keeping him company on
the way during the night and sharing blankets with him during the
daily rests – after the others had fallen asleep, for they had
to be careful. Usually, they slept on the farthest side of their
camp, so that they could sneak away when one of them was to keep
watch(1).
’’Ai, Gimli,
you are as hot as the furnaces under the Mountain’’, the Elf
Prince moaned softly, burrowing himself into the deep caves of
the stout Dwarven body under the guise of his shadowy grey cloak.
’’What a lucky Elf I am to have such a furnace to warm myself
at it! Oh, melethron, how I wish that this quest were over
and we could return to our lives! But alas! I fear that a long
time shall be gone ere we can devour the sweetness of love
undisturbed.’’
’’That is my
fear, too’’, the Dwarf grunted, panting in his heavy labour,
for though Dwarves bear great hardnesses easily, even their
strength has is limits, and the journey and the cold began taking
its toll on Gimli. ’’But speak not of gloomy days yet to
come, my dear, limber Elf. Let me drink deeply of the fountain of
love ere we find some much-needed rest.’’
Legolas did as he
was asked, muffling his cries in the magnificent beard of his
Dwarf, and after having regained control over their trembling
limbs, they returned to the camp. Neither of them noticed
Boromir, standing a little farther away, looking after them with
hooded, jealous eyes.
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
At first it
seemed to the hobbits that they were creeping like snails and
getting nowhere; for each day the land looked much as it had done
the day before. Yet all the while the Mountains which south of
Rivendell bent westward were drawing nearer. More and more often
they found no paths and had to make wide turns to avoid either
steep places, or thickets, or sullen treacherous swamps. The land
was tumbled in barren hills and deep valleys filled with
turbulent waters.
Merry and
Faramond mostly remained with Boromir, for they could not hope
that the Princess Telepampaiel(2) would care for their
company; she made it painfully obvious that only Gandalf and
Trotter were her equals in knowledge and leadership – mayhap
not even them. So, the younger hobbits followed the big Man
faithfully, relishing in his strength that helped them getting
over the obstacles many times and cuddling with him during the
rests eagerly. For the most time, Boromir simply ignored their
advances, but when the weather turned bitterly cold, even he
learnt to appreciate the warm little bodies pressing against his
side under the shared blankets.
Finally, when
they had been about ten days on the road, the weather grew better
The wind suddenly veered southward. The swift flowing clouds
lifted and melted away, and the sun came out.
There came at
dawn at the end of a long stumbling night march. The travellers
reached a low ridge crowned with ancient holly trees, whose pale
fluted trunks seemed to have been formed out of the very stone of
the hills. Their berries shone red in the light of the rising
sun. Far away south Frodo saw the dim shapes of the mountains
that seemed now to lie across their path. To the left of this
distant range a tall peak stood up like a tooth: it was tipped
with snow but its bare western shoulder glowed redly in the
growing light.
Gandalf stood by
Frodo’s side and looked out under his hand. ’’We have done
well’’, he said. ’’We have reached the borders of the
country called Hollin: many Elves lived here once in happier
days. Eighty leagues we have come(3), if we have come
a mile, and we have marched quicker than winter from the North.
The land and weather will be milder now – but perhaps the more
dangerous.’’
’’Danger or
not, a real sunrise is mighty welcome’’, said Frodo, throwing
back his hood and letting the morning light play on his face.
’’Mountains
ahead!’’ said Faramond. ’’We seemed to have turned
eastward.’’
’’No, ’tis
the mountains that have turned’’, said Gandalf(4).
’’Do you not remember Elrond’s map in Rivendell?’’
’’No, I did
not look very carefully at it’’, said Faramond. ’’Frodo
has a better head for things of that sort.’’
’’Well,
anyone who did look at the map’’, said Gandalf, ’’would
see that away there stand Taragaer or Ruddyhorn(5) –
that mountain with the red side. The Misty Mountains divide there
and between their arms lies the land(6) of Caron-dún,
the Red Valley(7). Our way lies there: over the Red
Pass of Cris-caron(8), under Taragaer’s side, and
into Caron-dún and down the River Redway(9) – to
the Great River, and… He stopped.
’’Yes, and
where then?’’ asked Merry.
’’To the end
of the journey – in the end’’, said Gandalf. ’’But at
first the evergreen forest of Fangorn, through the midst of which
runs the Great River(10). But we will not look too far
ahead. Let us be glad that the first stage is safely over. I
think we will rest here for a whole day. There is a wholesome air
about Hollin. Much evil must befall any country before it wholly
forgets the Elves, if once they have dwelt there.’’
’’That is
true’’, said the Princess, and once again, her pale face took
on that otherworldly look as if she would be listening to
something audible to her only. ’’But the Elves of this land
were of a strange race, and the spirit that dwells here is alien
to us, who are of the woodland folk Here dwelt Noldor, the
Elven-wise, and all the stones about cry to me with many voices:
they built high towers to heaven, and delved deep to earth, and
they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long
ago.’’
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
That morning they
lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by the great holly trees,
and their supper was merrier than it had been since they left the
house of Elrond. They did not hurry to bed afterwards, for they
had all the night to sleep in and did not mean to go on until the
evening of next day. Only Trotter was moody and restless. After a
while he left the company and wandered about on the ridge,
looking out on the lands south and west. He came back and stood
looking at them.
’’What is the
matter?’’ said Merry. ’’Do you miss the east wind?’’
’’No
indeed’’, answered Trotter. ’’But I miss something. I
know Hollin fairly well, and have been here in many seasons. No
people dwell here now, but many other things live here, or used
to – especially birds. But now it is very silent. I can feel
it. There is no sound for miles round, and your voices seem to
make the ground echo. I cannot make it out.’’
Gandalf looked up
quickly. ’’But what do you think the reason is? He
asked. ’’Is there more in it than surprise at seeing a whole
party of hobbits (not to mention Boromir and me) where people are
so seldom seen?’’
’’I hope that
it is’’, said Trotter. ’’But I get a feeling of
watchfulness and of fear that I have never had here before.’’
’’Very well!
Let us be more careful’’, said Gandalf. ’’If you bring a
Ranger with you, it is best to pay attention to him –
especially if the Ranger is Trotter, as I have found before.
There are some things that even an experienced wizard does not
notice. We had better stop talking now, and rest quietly and set
a look-out.’’
It was Sam’s
turn to take the first watch, but Trotter joined him. The others
soon fell asleep, one by one. The silence grew till even Sam felt
it. The breathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard. The
swish of a pony’s tail and the occasional movements of his feet
became loud noises. Sam seemed to hear his very joints creaking
if he stirred or moved. Over all hung a blue sky as the sun rode
high and clear. The last clouds melted. But away in the
south-east a dark patch grew and divided, flying like smoke to
the north and west.
’’What is
that?’’ said Sam in a whisper to Trotter. Trotter made no
answer, for he was gazing intently at the sky, but before long
Sam could see what it was for himself. The clouds were flocks of
mean-looking, black birds going at great speed – wheeling and
circling and traversing all the land as if they were searching
for something.
’’Lie flat
and still’’, hissed Trotter, drawing Sam down into the shade
of a holly-bush – for a whole regiment of birds had separated
from the western flock and came back flying low right over the
ridge where the travellers lay. Sam thought they were some kind
of crow of a large size. As they passed overhead one harsh croak
was heard.
Not till they had
dwindled in the distance would Trotter move. Then he went and
wakened Gandalf. ’’Regiments of black crows are flying to and
fro over Hollin’’, he said. ’’They are not natives to
this place. I do not know what they are after – possibly there
is some trouble going on away south: but I think they are spying
out the land.’’
’’They are crebain,
from Dunland and the Fangorn that is also called the Topless
Forest’’, the Princess added soberly. Trotter stared at her
with open mouth, admiring her vast knowledge about the beasts and
birds of even far-away places, though he should not have been
surprised that much. The Cult of Yavanna was bound to every
living thing on Earth – not even the most evil creatures could
hide from the prying eyes of the Anointed Ones.
’’I think too
that I have seen hawks flying higher in the sky’’, he then
said. ’’That would account for the silence(11). We
ought to move again this evening. I am afraid that Hollin is no
longer wholesome for us: it is being watched.’’
’’And in that
case so is the Red Pass, and how we can get over it without being
seen I do not know’’, said Gandalf. ’’But we will think
about that when we get nearer. About moving on from here tonight:
I am afraid you are right.’’
’’It is as
well that we let our fire make little smoke’’, said Trotter.
’’It was out again (I think) before the birds came over. It
must not be lit again.’’
’’Well, if
that is not disappointing!’’ said Faramond. The news had been
broken to him as soon as he woke (in the late afternoon): no
fire, and a move again by night. ’’I had looked forward to a
real good meal tonight, something hot. All because of a pack of
crows!’’
’’Well, you
can go on looking forward’’, said Gandalf. ’’There may be
many unexpected feasts ahead of you! Personally I should like a
pipe of tobacco in comfort, and warmer feet. However, we are
certain of one thing, at any rate: it will get warmer as we go
south.’’
’’Too warm, I
should not wonder!’’ said Sam to Frodo. ’’Not but what I
would be glad to see that Fiery Mountain, and see the road’s
end, so to speak. I thought that there Ruddyhorn or whatever its
name is might be it, till Mr. Gandalf said not.’’ Maps
conveyed nothing to Sam, and all distances in these strange lands
seemed so vast that he was quite out of his reckonings.
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
The travellers
remained hidden all that day. The birds passed over every now and
again; but as the westering sun grew red they vanished southwards(12).
Soon afterwards the party set out again; and turned now a little
eastward making for the peak of Taragaer which still glowed dully
red in distance. Frodo thought of Elrond’s warning to watch
even the sky above, but the sky was now clear and empty overhead,
and one by one white stars sprang forth as the last gleams of
sunset faded.
Guided by Trotter
and Gandalf as usual, they struck a good path. It looked to
Frodo, as far as he could guess in the gathering dark, like the
remains of an ancient road that had once run broad and
well-planned from now deserted Hollin to the pass beneath
Taragaer. A crescent Moon rose over the mountains, and cast a
pale light which was helpful – but was not welcomed by Trotter
or Gandalf. It stayed but a little while and left them to the
stars(13). At midnight they had been going again for
an hour or more from their first halt. Frodo kept looking up at
the sky, partly because of its beauty, partly because of
Elrond’s words. Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow pass over the
stars – as if they faded and flashed out again. He shivered.
’’Did you see
anything?’’ He said to Gandalf, who was just in front.
’’No, but I
felt it, whatever it was’’, said the wizard. ’’It might
be nothing, just a wisp of thin cloud.’’ It did not sound as
if he thought much of his own explanation(14).
Still, the others
found it better not to bother him with their questions. Only the
Princess seemed not frightened by his bad mood.
’’We have to
do something, Gandalf’’, she said. ’’We cannot remain
here unprotected – the crebain might return, just like
that black shadow that passed the sky above us a moment
ago.’’
’’I know
that’’, the wizard grumbled. ’’But unlike my good cousin
Radagast, I have no powers over the birds and the beasts to turn
them away at my own convenience.’’
’’Mayhap’’,
the Princess answered, ’’but I do. I can perform a
protection spell by the Power of Yavanna, that would hide us from
prying eyes. ’Tis a perilous spell, but I am strong enough to
cast it – with your help.’’
Gandalf
considered it for a moment, then he nodded. ’’Let us try it.
What should I do?’’
The Princess
looked around under she found a large stone with a deep dent in
its middle. She brought forth a small silver pitcher and poured
some water into the dent. Then she produced a crystal vial from a
hidden pocket of her tunic, half-filled with some glowing blue
liquid. Chanting slowly in the secret tongue of the Wood-Elves,
she added three droplets of this mysterious liquid to the water,
before sealing the vial safely again and letting it disappear
among the folds of her clothing.
Smoke began to
ascend from the natural basin in the stone. The Princess
straightened, stretching her beautiful arms skywards, her voice
rose with the ancient, perilous magic of the woodland folk. A hot
wind came up, loosening the tight braid of her hair and blowing
the ebony tresses powerfully, ’til they floated around her pale
face like a storm cloud. A barely visible, green glow enveloped
her fragile frame, threatening to tear her apart any minute, and
her eyes were burning with living fire.
All stared at her
with open mouths, and even Gandalf felt a little frightened, for
the unleashing of such strong magic could have brought serious
damage to the delicate balance of power in the order of Arda. But
the Princess seemed to know what she was doing; for after a few
moments, her glowing slowly became subdued, ’til it disappeared
entirely; and she staggered and sunk into the eager arms of
Trotter who stood next to her(15).
’’Now we
shall be safe from spying eyes for the rest of our journey’’,
she murmured in utter exhaustion, too tired to protest when
Trotter gathered her up in his strong arms and carried her to the
bedroll the eager hobbits had already prepared for her. No-one of
them noticed the hateful glare Boromir sent after them, nor
Gandalf’s unveiled amazement that was clearly visible upon his
wrinkled and bearded face.
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Nothing more
happened that night. The next morning was even brighter than
before, but the wind was turning back eastward and the air was
chill. For three more nights they marched on, climbing steadily
and ever more slowly as their road wound into the hills and the
mountains drew nearer and nearer. On the third morning Taragaer
towered up before them, a mighty peak tipped with snow like
silver, but with sheer naked sides dull red as if stained with
blood.
There was a black
look in the air and the sun was wan. The wind was now gone
towards the North. Gandalf sniffed and looked back. ’’Winter
is behind’’, he said quietly to Trotter. ’’The peaks
behind are whiter than they were.’’
’’And
tonight’’, said Trotter, ’’we shall be high up on our way
to the red pass of Cris-caron. What do you think of our course
now? If we are not seen in that narrow place – and waylaid by
some evil, as would be easy there – the weather may prove as
bad an enemy.’’
’’I think no good of any part of our course, as you know well, Master Ingold’’, snapped Gandalf. ’’Still we have to go on. It is no good whatever our trying to cross further south into the land of Rohan. The Horse-kings have long been in the service of Sauron(16).’’
’’No, I know that. But there is a way – not over Cris-caron, as you are well aware.’’
’’Of course I am. But I am not going to risk that, until I am quite sure there is no other way. I shall think things out while the others rest and sleep(17).’’
TBC
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
End notes:
(1) Hey, don’t look at me! I was not the one who came up with the excellent idea letting them go for it while they were supposed to keep watch! It is almost a game imperative nowadays.
(2) Bird-tamer. You’ll see the reason for it later.
(3) This is the
first occurrence of Hollin; but the Elvish name Eregion does not
appear. In the Etymologies the Elvish name of Hollin is
Regornion. In FOTR Gandalf says that they have come 45 leagues,
but that was as the crow flies: ’’many long miles further our
feet have walked. Oh, and the words about the lost Elves of
Hollin originally belonged to Legolas, of course.
(4) Another
fabulous change in the mythic Tolkien geography.
(5) The name of
the vale was first Carndoom the Red Valley.
(6) ’’The
’’red horn mountain’’ had seven (!) different names ere
the Great Maker settled for Caradhras.
(7) No, we wont
go into detail about Tolkien’s ever-changing geography. It
seems that the shaping of Middle-earth was never quite
finished.<g>
(8) The name of
the pas was first written Criscarn.
(9) The later
Silverlode.
(10) Tolkien
mentions in an outline given earlier that Beleghir the Great
River divided into many channels in Fangorn Forest. I realize, of
course, that giving you all these names has no true reason, but
every self-respecting writer should dig up some unpronounceable
names from practically unknown sources. They sound cool, they
confuse the reader and they make the author feel superior in her
supposed Tolkien-scholarship.
(11) While in
FOTR Aragorn says that he has seen hawks flying high up, he does
not say as Trotter does here, ’’That would account for the
silence’’.
(12)
’’southwards’’ changed from what was originally
’’northwards’’.
(13) It was now
28 November (since they walked for three nights after this and
attempted Cris-caron on 2 December).
(14) This
incident was retained in FOTR, but it is not explained. The
Winged Nazgúl had not yet crossed the River, according to
’’The Two Towers.
(15) The whole
ridiculous ritual is the product of my sick mind, of course,
though the radioactive, glowing Galadriel of the movie did
have some influence on me while I created it.
(16) This is
unquestionably the point at which the name Rohan arose. The
sentence itself was changed to ’’Rohan where the Horsekings
or Horselords are’’, and later in FOTR to ’’Who knows
which side now the marshals of the Horse-Lords serve?’’
(17) In the
original story Trotter favoured the passage of Moria and Gandalf
the pass; in FOTR it was Aragorn who favoured the pass.