"Fog on the Barrow-Downs" (II), Chapter 9. "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" & Chapter 10. "Strider"

Now Tolkien means business. I totally agree with my friend Carlos: if you make it to Bree, you cannot put the book down. I still remember the excitement at the change in the narrative pace the first time I read The Lord of the Rings; whenever I re-read it, I look forwart do arriving there.

But before that, the hobbits have to begin the last leg of their journey with Tom. They start the day having breakfast and receiving treasures that Tom has taken from the mound, not before putting a spell on them so that no Wight could try to take it. I love it particularly that Tom includes all sentiend beings in his incantation, provided they are kind, making the treasures "free to all finders, birds, beasts, Elves or Men, and all kindly creatures." As with Goldberry's song in the previous chapter, Tom's words have the power to conjure up images, and so, when he talks about the Men of Westernesse who forged the daggers he's given the hobbits, they "did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow. Then the vision faded, and they were bak in the sunlit word." Only when we go further into the narrative we'll realise that the hobbits are seeing not only the past, but also a moment in time yet to come. It is risky to say that they are seeing the future, but one can argue that they're seeing what is meant to be.

 While Tom rides with them, it is easy to share the hobbtis' feeling that nothing bad may happen to them; yet Tom cannot take the journey with them. Before leaving them, he expresses his hopes that the Riders won't follow them tonight and returns to Goldberry. They make for Bree where Sam expect to find some comfort at the sign of The Prancing Pony.

And we are finally in Bree and inside The Prancing Pony. These two episodes are certainly a tour de force in the narrative. The hobbits are in a completely alien territory, Barliman Butterbur may be a kind man, but he can do little to change the not-so-welcoming atmosphere. The hobbits feel watched... and they certainly are. Enter Strider who, according to Barliman, is not to be trusted: he's one of those Rangers, and he cannot keep his eye off the hobbits. I remember how I imagined Strider when I first read The Lord of the Rings: he had really long legs and he was not nearly as handsome as Viggo Mortensen. Hey! I'm not complaining! 

I don't know how many times the hobbits have been told to be careful, but they have not yet realised that they cannot be careful enough when carrying that treacherous Ring, which takes the first opportunity to slip into Frodo's finger while he's trying to divert everyone's attention from Merry and Pippin's careless conversation. That Strider knows that Mr Underhill is actually Mr Baggins causes uneasiness, but he seems to know what he's doing, and Gandalf's letter comes just in time to confirm the trust the hobbits are beginning to place on him. When Merry comes in bringing news of a Black Rider at the inn, Strider's presence becomes truly comforting. They have now gone to sleep.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king