The Fellowship of the Ring

Strider informs Frodo that he knows of the Ring and their destination at Rivendell and offers his guidance. The hobbits are at first suspicious of Strider, who appears as a “mysterious vagabond” (161), but Frodo senses the Ranger may “look foul and feel fair” (168). His instincts about Strider prove correct when Mr. Butterbur enters the parlor apologetically with a letter he neglected to send to the Shire three months earlier—a message addressed to Frodo from Gandalf. Frodo reads of Gandalf’s delay and that Strider is indeed a friend of the wizard. To confirm his identity, Gandalf writes that Strider’s true name is Aragorn and includes a poem with the opening lines: “All that is gold does not glitter, / Not all those who wander are lost” (167).

Sam is suspicious that Strider may be an imposter. Without seeing the letter, Strider announces his identity as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and repeats the same opening lines from the poem. While he explains that the verses accompany his name and shows the broken sword of Elendil he carries, the meaning of the final lines—“Renewed shall be blade that was broken, / The crownless again shall be king” (167)—is not explained until Book 2, Chapter 2. Not until the Council of Elrond will Bilbo reveal that he wrote the poem upon learning that Aragorn is in fact Isildur’s heir, and the broken blade he carries is the very one used to cut the Ring off Sauron.

Strider—Aragorn—comments that he sometimes wishes his rough exterior did not invoke suspicion and deter friendships. He admits that his years in the Wild have hardened his looks, and when Pippin jokes that the hobbits may end up resembling him after their strenuous journey, Aragorn responds, “[Y]ou would die first, unless you are made of sterner stuff than you look to be” (168). Frodo inquires whether the Black Riders have anything to do with Gandalf’s delay, and Aragorn informs him that it is likely, but not to fear, for Gandalf is greater than he appears. Content that the Ranger is the real Strider, the hobbits agree to forego their rooms and remain in the parlor with him for the night when Merry reports that the Black Riders have snuck into Bree. They use cushions as decoys in their guest beds and plan to depart in the morning with Aragorn as their guide.

During the night, the Black Riders make two attacks—one in Crickhollow at Frodo’s presumed new home and the other at The Prancing Pony. Fatty Bolger escapes with his life, though the Black Riders now know that the Ring is gone. At the inn, the Black Riders attack the hobbits’ guest room to find them missing. After Butterbur tells Aragorn and the hobbits that someone has taken their ponies from the stable, the group purchases the only pony left in town from the opportunistic Bill Ferny. The animal is weak and malnourished and appears only too happy to have new owners.

The group heads to Weathertop, a high hill where they can survey the land and hope to find Gandalf. Aragorn explains that Weathertop is a historical viewpoint from where Gil-galad was awaited, and when Merry asks who Gil-galad is, Sam recites verses from The Fall of Gil-galad, a ballad about the Lord of the High Elves who died fighting Sauron. The travelers take detours through the Midgewater Marshes under Aragorn’s expertise and reach Weathertop to discover a marked stone Gandalf has left as a sign. From their vantage point, they spy Black Riders in the distance and build a fire to defend themselves. Aragorn explains that the Black Riders cannot see during the day and fear fire, but they are strongest at night and drawn by the Ring. As the travelers keep their watch, Sam requests a song, and Aragorn chants the tale of the Elf Tinúviel and her mortal lover, Beren. He tells them, “It is a fair tale, though it is sad, as are all the tales of Middle-earth, and yet it may lift up your hearts” (187). As the night wears on, the Black Riders emerge from the side of the hill, braced for attack. Frodo surrenders to an inextricable desire to put on the Ring, and upon wearing it, he perceives the pale faces of the Black Riders as they truly are: Sauron’s Ringwraiths. The Witch-king—the leader of the Ringwraiths—stabs Frodo in the shoulder, and the hobbit passes out.

When Frodo awakes, the Ringwraiths are gone. Aragorn nurses Frodo’s wound with wild leaves, but the tincture only provides mild relief. Pierced by the poisoned blade of the Witch-king, Frodo is severely wounded and admonishes himself for succumbing to the Ring’s will. Though the wound has closed with a remaining white mark, Frodo is at risk of death, and the companions travel near the open road for the quickest route to Rivendell.

They stumble upon the troll cave that Bilbo discovered 60 years ago, and Sam entertains the group with a song he wrote about Tom and trolls. Frodo praises Sam’s creativity and states, “First he was a conspirator, now he’s a jester. He’ll end up by becoming a wizard—or a warrior!” (203). Sam responds that he wishes to be neither, and the group continues their route to the Ford of Bruinen. They encounter Glorfindel, a High-Elf who speaks to Aragorn in Elvish and warns them of five Black Riders on their trail and four more waiting to ambush them at the bridge. He places Frodo on his white steed, which outruns the Black Riders’ horses when they advance.

At first Frodo refuses to ride ahead of his friends, but Glorfindel reminds him that the Black Riders are after the Ring and that he is the one they are pursuing. All nine Ringwraiths chase Frodo and use their hold over the Ring to command him to stop. Frodo resists their spell and crosses the river. Before the Ringwraiths can make it ashore, the river water rises. The crashing waves, appearing like white riders on white horses, wash over three Riders as the others retreat. Before he falls unconscious, Frodo sees a white light flash on the opposite shore, and the remaining riders are swept away in the flood.