FtF Part I: From Hobbiton to Rivendell

[Urambo Tauro]

Follow the Fellowship: Part I
From Hobbiton to Rivendell

Welcome to Follow the Fellowship!
In this thread we will explore Frodo & co.'s journey from Hobbiton to Rivendell. At the same time, we will track what is happening with Gandalf and Glorfindel as well.

Because we use many different editions of the text, page numbers will rarely match. However, I will try to provide enough info for you to follow along in your own reading.

Our first entry is:
18 Two-II
255 'So it was that when summer
255 the land of Rohan ere dawn;

"18" is the date, Halimath the 18th (our September 19th).
"Two-II" is book-and-chapter. Remember, Tolkien wrote TLotR as six books (Book Four is Frodo's story in TTT). So, "Two-II" is The Council of Elrond, but we're not looking at the whole chapter, we're looking at...
"255 'So it was that when summer" is where the reading starts. "255" is the page number in the hardcover one-volume edition that I use. If it doesn't match yours, I hope it will give you an idea. After "255" is the first six words of the passage to read.
"255 the land of Rohan ere dawn;" is where the passage ends. Here we have the ending page number and the last six words of the passage.Please throw me a PM if this is confusing. I'm more than willing to change this format to help you out. For reference, the one-volume edition I use is ISBN 0-616-12901-4.


Well, let's get this ball rolling! Discuss the journey and post observations. Generate some discussion. Ask questions.

We begin at Orthanc.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week One:
Sunday, Halimath 18 through Friday, Halimath 23
(or September 19 through September 24)


18 Two-II
255 'So it was that when summer
255 the land of Rohan ere dawn;

19 Two-II
255 In Rohan I found evil already
255 at work: the lies of Saruman;

20 One-III
066 On September 20th two covered carts
066 by way of the Brandywine Bridge.

20 Two-II
255 and the king of the land
255 take a horse and be gone;

21 One-III
066 The next day Frodo became really
066 kept a constant look-out for Gandalf.

21 Two-II
255 and I chose one much to
255 never seen the like of him.'

22 One-III
066 Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as
067 over, and Gandalf had not come.

22 Two-II
256 Never before had any man mounted
256 took him and I tamed him,

23 One-III
067 The next morning they were busy
071 found out any more about it.


(Some of these dates are difficult to determine, and are from my interpretation of Appendix B. You can see this is some very light reading. Be patient! There is much more to come. I apologize for posting this a few days late.)

Yessir, Orthanc! I thought about starting with Frodo leaving Hobbiton on his birthday, but we're trying to track everyone here. So, we begin just a few days earlier with Gandalf. He's been imprisoned for over two months up there, so we'll start with his escape.

The week ends with the hobbits spending their first night out-of-doors. The Journey's just begun!

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Two:
Saturday, Halimath 24 through Friday, Halimath 30
(or September 25 through October 01)


24 One-III
071 The morning came, pale and clammy.
083 at once into a dreamless slumber.

25 One-IV/V
084 In the morning Frodo woke refreshed.
106 there was a noise of thunder.

26 One-VI/VII
107 Frodo woke suddenly. It was still
126 deep content, if logs are contented.

27 One-VII/VIII
126 They woke up, all four at
132 before him under a swift sunrise.

28 One-VIII
132 The vision melted into waking; and
137 bones, and he remembered no more.

28 Two-II
256 and so speedily he bore me
256 invaded the Shire from the south.

29 One-VIII/IX/X/XI
137 When he came to himself again,
173 of wind and of galloping hoofs.

29 Two-II
256 I came to Hobbiton and Frodo
256 Then I rode on in fear.

30 One-XI
173 The wind seemed to be curling
178 one fox and a few squirrels.

30 Two-II
256 I came to Buckland and found
257 along the Road in great wrath.


At the start of this week, Frodo is shown hospitality by Gildor and the Elves.

(You can see that the reading is more substantial than last week. Especially for Halimath 29, a very busy and detailed day...)

The last day of this week finds the hobbits leaving Bree, with their new companion, Strider. Meanwhile, Gandalf is on the edge of despair, as he finds Frodo's cloak. Furious, he pursues the Riders, and when the trail leads to Bree, he prepares to confront Butterbur. Fortunately for Barliman, he has some good news for the Wizard!

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Three:
Saturday, Winterfilth 01 through Friday, Winterfilth 07
(or October 02 through October 08)


01 One-XI
178 The next day they began to
178 still all was quiet and peaceful.

01 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 galloped to Weathertop like a gale,

02 One-XI
178 On the third day out from
178 until the hobbits were nearly frantic.

02 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 galloped to Weathertop like a gale,

03 One-XI
178 The next day, the fourth, was
179 last he passed into uneasy sleep.

03 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 Weathertop since the war-beacons of old.

04 One-XI
179 They had not gone far on
180 grey light lay on the land.

04 Two-II
257 At sunrise I escaped and fled
258 made for the Ford, it seems.

05 One-XI
180 Next morning they set out again
180 were six days out from Bree

06 One-XI/XII
180 In the morning they found, for
193 The night passed slowly and wearily.

07 One-XII
193 Dawn was growing in the sky,
195 of it for a long time.


The first day of this week is a pleasant one for the company in which nothing happens. (This is in contrast to the miserable day which follows, when they have to pick their way through the Midgewater Marshes!)

Now, sometime after Gandalf leaves Weathertop, (whenever he gets to the troll-fells), Shadowfax departs, so this is to be added somewhere:
Two-II
258 for I could not ride among the
258 sent hiim back to his master;

At the end of the week, Strider tends to Frodo's wound from the attack the night before, and they are forced to put Frodo on the pony.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Four:
Saturday, Winterfilth 08 through Friday, Winterfilth 14
(or October 09 through October 15)


08 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

09 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

09 One-XII
204 'Elrond received news that troubled him.
205 my lot to take the Road,

10 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

11 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 now turned their course again north-eastwards,

11 One-XII
205 'It was my lot to take
205 I have searched for your trail.

12 One-XII
195 Strider now turned their course again
195 the Last Bridge held against us.'

12 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

13 One-XII
195 Next day, early in the morning,
197 up out of the narrow dales.

13 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

14 One-XII
197 The hobbits grew very weary. They
197 up out of the narrow dales.

14 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.


As this week begins, they are gradually leaving Weathertop behind on their way to Rivendell.

Some scouts are sent out to search for them, after Elrond receives news from Gildor's folk. One of the scouts, Glorfindel, quickly reaches Mitheithel and drives away the Black Riders.

Later, Strider leads the hobbits over the Last Bridge, and passing old ruins, they end the week struggling through a long, deep valley. At least it isn't raining!

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Five:
Saturday, Winterfilth 15 through Friday, Winterfilth 21
(or October 16 through October 22)


15 One-XII
197 They had been two days in
197 not get any fire to burn.

15 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

16 One-XII
197 The next day the hills rose
197 that stood looking over the hedge.

16 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 and followed it over the Bridge;

17 One-XII
197 In the morning he woke to
199 all the hollows of the hills.

18 One-XII
205 and today I marked where you
205 you descended from the hills again.

18 One-XII
199 The morning dawned bright and fair;
206 the road-side, and fell asleep immediately.

18 Two-II
258 'I reached here at last by
258 brought here - which proved well indeed.

19 One-XII
206 They seemed hardly to have closed
207 world seemed less pale and empty.

20 One-XII
207 The hobbits were still weary, when
209 He heard and saw no more.

20 Two-I
217 The Riders made straight for you
218 my friends and enemies and all.

20 Two-I
215 The Elves brought you from the
215 blade still in the closed wound.

21 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 blade still in the closed wound.

21 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.


This week opens with rain. The entire company is soaked; (I spoke too soon in my last post!)

At last, Glorfindel finds Strider and the hobbits, and assists them in their Flight to the Ford.

As this week comes to a close, an unconscious Frodo is kept in Rivendell's "ICU". Unfortunately, they still can't seem to find the blade-fragment that Gandalf claims is still in the wound.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Six:
Saturday, Winterfilth 22 through Wednesday, Winterfilth 26
(or October 23 through October 27)


22 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 blade still in the closed wound.

22 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.

23 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 buried, and it was working inwards.'

23 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.

24 Two-I
213 Frodo woke and found himself lying
232 Elbereth in the garden. Sleep well!'

25 Two-II/III
233 Next day Frodo woke early, feeling
267 have any power over the present.

26 Two-III
265 Elrond is sending Elves, and they
266 maybe with Thranduil's folk in Mirkwood.

26 Two-III
267 For a while the hobbits continued
267 each evening followed cool and clear.


This week starts the same way the last one ended. Frodo still hasn't wakened, and Gandalf is losing hope of finding the splinter.

But Frodo does recover, and attends Many Meetings, including The Council of Elrond.

Before the week is over, an "extended stay" begins. The Fellowship will spend about two months in Rivendell before starting their Quest.

[Urambo Tauro]

The hobbits are now in Rivendell, where they will enjoy a nice break from "adventure" and other such nonsense, (as a hobbit might say). They have planty to talk about, considering how unusual the past few weeks have been. Fear and anxiety disappear from their minds, replaced by health and hope. No doubt some of this time is spent in the Hall of Fire.

It is not very long at all before Aragorn is back in the field. With help from the Rangers and Elrond's sons, he patrols the surrounding lands, even as far as Tharbad, where the ruins of an old town can be found.

As Gandalf says, "Nothing is decided yet." Frodo and Sam at least will take on this Quest, and Gandalf may come along as well. Beyond that, they will just have to wait until more is known.


The first stage of Frodo's journey is over. Thirty-nine days have passed. From the time Frodo leaves Bag End until he reaches Rivendell, 27 days pass. In our reading, we have covered just over 200 pages.

This concludes the first part of the Ring's journey, from Hobbiton to Rivendell.