FtF Part III: From Lothlórien to Mount Doom

[Urambo Tauro]

Follow the Fellowship: Part III
From Lothlórien to Mount Doom

Welcome to Follow the Fellowship!
In this thread we will explore Frodo & co.'s journey from Lothlórien to Mount Doom. At the same time, we will track what is happening with the other members of the Fellowship along with some other events.

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:
14 Two-VII/VIII
351 One evening Frodo and Sam were
360 nodding. The night was growing old.

"14" is the date, Solmath the 18th (our February 18th).
"Two-VII/VIII" is book-and-chapter. Remember, Tolkien wrote TLotR as six books (Book Four is Frodo's story in TTT). So, "Two-VII/VIII" is The Mirror of Galadriel & Farewell to Lórien, but we're not looking at the whole chapter(s), we're looking at...
"351 One evening Frodo and Sam were" is where the reading starts. "351" 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 "351" is the first six words of the passage to read.
"360 nodding. The night was growing old." 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 Lothlórien.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week One:
Monday, Solmath 14 through Friday, Solmath 18
(or February 14 through February 18)


14 Two-VII/VIII
351 One evening Frodo and Sam were
360 nodding. The night was growing old.

14 Three-V
491 'Naked I was sent back - for a
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

15 Two-VIII
360 In the morning, as they were
370 he fell into an uneasy sleep.

15 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

16 Two-IX
371 Frodo was roused by Sam. He
371 dull grey hours passed without event.

16 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

17 Two-IX
371 But he insisted that at least
371 dull grey hours passed without event.

17 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 Counsel I gave and counsel took.

18 Two-IX
371 The dull grey hours passed without
372 that was the frontier of war.

18 Three-V
491 I tarried there in the ageless
491 Counsel I gave and counsel took.


This week starts late, as nothing noteworthy happens until Monday. Gandalf returns to life, as Frodo peers into the Mirror.

Although the Farewell to Lórien is supposed to take place on the 16th (according to appendix B), I have reason to believe this is a typo and ought read 15 instead. (Contact me for more info if interested.)

The end of this week finds the Fellowship on the Anduin, entering the Brown Lands. Gandalf, meanwhile is recuperating in Lothlórien. He arrived there just a couple of days after the Ring left! But he's in no condition right now to catch up to them...

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Two:
Saturday, Solmath 19 through Friday, Solmath 25
(or February 19 through February 25)


19 Two-IX
372 In the next day or two,
375 so much as a shadow again.

20 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 without event until the seventh day.

21 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 without event until the seventh day.

22 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 at it and puckered his brows.

23 Two-IX
375 The next day the country on
380 trees above them began to drip.

24 Two-IX
380 When the day came the mood
383 of rain an hour before dawn.

25 Two-IX/X
383 As soon as it was fully
386 Anduin. We must go warily tomorrow.'


As this week begins, the Fellowship spends a quiet day floating down-river, and Gollum is spotted at night. Gandalf is now out of the picture, as I can't find anything between last week's events and Aragorn's birthday.

Now, the first few pages of The Great River are still a little vague time-wise, but I think I did it right.

The week ends with the Fellowship passing the Argonath and landing at Parth Galen.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Three:
Saturday, Solmath 26 through Friday, Rethe 02
(or February 26 through March 03)


26 Two-X/Three-I/II
386 The day came like fire and
412 they sprang from stone to stone.

26 Three-III
434 Pippin lay in a dark and
440 seized and dragged for some distance.

26 Four-V
651 'Five days ere I set out
651 our borders had seen him pass.

26 Five-I
738 I heard it blowing dim upon
739 the northern marches thirteen days ago,

27 Three-II
412 Swiftly now the pursuers turned and
416 had swooned or fallen asleep again.

27 Three-II
426 But scouts warned me of the
427 éored, men of my own household;

27 Three-III
440 The warmth of the orc-draught had
440 fell, till black dreams took him.

28 Three-II
416 Dawn came glimmering, and slowly a
418 down and fen when day returns.'

28 Three-II
427 and we overtook the Orcs at
427 we put an end to them.

28 Three-III
440 But he did not long escape
448 blowing and swaying in the breeze.

28 Four-I
589 'Well, master, we're in a fix
590 were sheltered from the easterly wind.

29 Three-II
418 As before Legolas was first afoot,
419 vault above. So the night passed.

29 Three-III/IV
448 Out of the shadows the hobbits
467 the drops the hobbits fell asleep.

29 Four-I/II
590 'Did you see them again, Mr.
609 and sat down by his master.

29 Four-V
651 And on the third night after
651 down the River to the Sea.'

30 Three-II
419 Together they watched the dawn grow
433 and the horses did not return.

30 Three-IV
467 They woke to find a cool
472 of trees that he had loved.

30 Four-II
609 When he woke up the sky
611 spreading of the thin grey light.

01 Three-IV
472 The next day they spent also
473 under hurrying clouds and fitful stars.

01 Three-V/VI
477 'My very bones are chilled,' said
495 moon sank into the cloudy West.

01 Four-II
611 In a chill hour they came
617 to encourage him with clumsy words.

01
(Faramir leaves Minas Tirith on an errand to Ithilien.)

02 Three-IV
473 The third day broke, bleak and
476 'Night lies over Isengard,' said Treebeard.

02 Three-VI/VII
495 A bitter chill came into the
514 night passed without tidings or alarm.

02 Three-VII
515 We were driven back yesterday over
515 Helm's Deep. The rest are scattered.

02 Three-IX
551 'We came down over the last
554 in his old head long before.

02 Four-II
617 When day came at last the
617 their breath and parched their mouths.


The week opens on Parth Galen with The Breaking of the Fellowship.

You will notice how the film's time-line diverges from that shown in the book, (patricularly between Frodo's journey and Aragorn's). Much of the story told in The Two Towers film occurs within this week (with a few exceptions).

At the end of this week Merry and Pippin witness the unleashing of Isengard, and the Ents begin their initial attack at Orthanc. Gandalf has healed the king of Rohan and they have begun the journey to Helm's Deep. Erkenbrand has also ordered the retreat of his men to Helm's Deep. Meanwhile, Frodo starts to genuinely feel the weight of the Ring as they leave the Dead Marshes.


NOTE: Because 2008 is a leap year, the days in March are only off by one day. Normally, Rethe 1 falls on March 3. While our leap day is in the wintertime, the Shire calendar places it in the summer.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Four:
Saturday, Rethe 03 through Friday, Rethe 09
(or March 04 through March 10)


03 Three-VII
514 At dawn the horns sounded, and
527 again the defenders cast them down.

03 Three-IX
554 Then they just faded silently away
557 flat saucepan, all steaming and bubbling.'

03 Four-II
617 The remainder of that journey was
617 their breath and parched their mouths.

04 Three-VII/VIII
527 At last Aragorn stood above the
540 again, as it had ever done.

04 Three-IX
557 By the morning, yesterday morning, the
558 gone to now, I don't know.

04 Four-II/III
617 At last, on the fifth morning
623 fire smouldered in the hill beneath.

05 Three-VIII/IX/X/XI
540 At dawn they made ready to
586 with a great noise of wind.

05 Four-III/IV
623 Day came, and the fallow sun
634 soon they struggled on once more,

05 Five-I
731 There had been the first ride
731 at terrible speed without a halt,

05 Five-II
756 Gandalf was gone, and the thudding
758 a brief while and take counsel.

06 Four-IV
634 until the dawn began to spread
636 too, and did not relish it.

06 Five-I
731 and then in the dawn he
731 again riding, riding in the night.

06 Five-II
758 Merry slept until he was roused
765 Company passed swiftly over the plain,

06 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

07 Four-IV/V/VI/VII
636 At the first signs of day
679 the business of the day began.

07 Five-II
765 and on the next day in
767 turned and vanished into the night.

07 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

08 Four-VII
679 After a while water was brought
681 the night, he did not say;

08 Five-I
731 Pippin looked out from the shelter
732 ere the coming of the day.

08 Five-II
767 When the light of day was
772 the Shadows that hedged them round.

08 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

09 Four-VII
681 but he returned with the first
683 for the slow growth of day.

09 Five-I
732 Pippin woke to the sound of
755 begun. There will be no dawn.'

09 Five-II
772 But when the dawn came, cold
773 of the King of the Dead.

09 Five-III
774 Now all roads were running together
783 asleep at last in his tent.

09 Five-IV
794 It began yestereve, and all Ithilien
794 garrison at the fords of Osgilliath.


At the start of this week, the men reach Helm's Deep and give battle at night. Meanwhile, the Ents complete Isengard's destruction via flooding. Frodo is on his way to the Black Gate.

As the week comes to a close, Frodo is on the road to the Morgul Vale, while Gandalf and Pippin have reached Minas Tirith and met with Denethor. Aragorn and the Grey Company, having passed Erech, have come to Calembel. Hirgon has delivered the Red Arrow to Théoden at Dunharrow, and Faramir lay at Cair Andros.

As Faramir takes notice of the early nightfall, Gandalf declares-- 'The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.'

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Five:
Saturday, Rethe 10 through Friday, Rethe 16
(or March 11 through March 17)


10 Four-VII/VIII
683 But no day came, only a
695 gnawed and carved the sunless stone.

10 Five-II
773 But the next day there came
773 sight; but the Dead followed them.

10 Five-III
783 He was wakened by a man
787 of Edoras, they camped that night.

10 Five-IV
788 Pippin was roused by Gandalf. Candles
797 can be so, sometimes. Good night!'

10 Five-IX
857 and then came the day without
857 and Ciril and Ringló we crossed;

11 Four-VIII
695 And now the red light in
699 Lay your head in my lap.'

11 Five-III
787 And then on again through the
787 and hope waned in every heart.

11 Five-IV
797 The next day came with a
799 could hold the fords for long.

11 Five-IX
857 and on the third day we
857 wastes in the blackness before us.

12 Four-VIII/IX/X
699 And so Gollum found them hours
714 heart, and he knew no more.

12 Five-III
787 And so King Théoden departed from
787 and hope waned in every heart.

12 Five-IV
799 The next day, though the darkness
799 upon the wall and gazed eastward.

12 Five-IX
857 And over the wide land, trampling
857 sea-birds innumerable cried on its shores.

13 Four-X
714 When at last the blackness passed,
725 alive but taken by the enemy.

13 Five-III
787 And so King Théoden departed from
787 and hope waned in every heart.

13 Five-IV
799 The bells of day had scarcely
803 not be guessed in the darkness,

13 Five-V
812 It was dark and Merry could
813 before it disappeared among the trees.

13 Five-IX
857 'for we came then at last
859 ships were made ready and manned;

14 Five-IV
803 but when morning, or its dim
811 and flames ran down the blade.

14 Five-V
813 Presently he came to an open
819 away to hide in the hills.

14 Five-IX
859 and in the morning the fleet
859 whitened the foam at our prows.

14 Six-I/II
877 Sam roused himself painfully from the
896 as soon as evr we can.'

15 Five-IV
811 Gandalf did not move. And in
811 blowing. Rohan had come at last.

15 Five-V
819 Then suddenly Merry felt it at
820 terrible came even to the City.

15 Five-VI
821 But it was no orc-chieftan or
831 fell the dew in Rammas Echor.

15 Five-VII/VIII
832 When the dark shadow at the
853 King had been but a dream.

15 Six-II
896 Day was coming again in the
901 himself into a deep untroubled sleep.

16 Five-IX
854 The morning came after the day
864 last battle is fought,' he said.

16 Six-II
901 They woke together, hand in hand
905 eastern edge of the stony valley.


The Dawnless Day sets the tone for this week, as Frodo witnesses Sauron's armies set forth from Minas Morgul. Meanwhile, Gandalf rescues Faramir and accompanies him to his father. The Grey Company crosses the river Ringló and Merry meets Dernhelm as the Rohirrim ride for Gondor.

Théoden's jorney eastward is a little vague in the text, so I included the same passage on the 11th, the 12th, and the 13th.

At week's end, Minas Tirith is saved (for the time being), and the Last Debate has been held. Frodo and Sam have escaped from Cirith Ungol and are on their way to the Mountain.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Six:
Saturday, Rethe 17 through Friday, Rethe 23
(or March 18 through March 24)


17 Six-II
905 When a grey light crept back
906 trudge with a few brief halts.

18 Five-X
865 Two days later the army of
866 draw the Eye of Mordor thither.

18 Six-II/III
906 At the first hint of grey
912 the ground a thin cold air.

19 Five-X
866 So the next day when the
867 in the noisome fields and departed.

19 Six-III
912 In the morning a grey light
914 the deadly fields of Imlad Morgul.

19 Six-V
937 Over the city of Gondor doubt
937 was passing in the brooding East.

20 Five-X
867 The day after, being the third
867 of evil grew heavier on them.

20 Six-III
914 So the desperate journey went on,
914 the last end of the world.

20 Six-V
937 When the captains were but two
940 garden, but she did not come.

21 Five-X
867 They went openly but heedfully, with
868 them could not be shaken off.

21 Six-III
914 So the desperate journey went on,
914 the last end of the world.

22 Six-V
940 But in the morning, as Faramir
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

22 Five-X
868 And from that evening onward the
868 and the hopeless journey wore away.

22 Six-III
914 There came at last a dreadful
915 hateful night passed slowly and reluctantly.

22 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

23 Five-X
868 Upon the fourth day from the
868 small parties from the main host.

23 Six-III
915 Such daylight as followed was dim;
918 away. The Mountain too slept uneasily.

23 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.


This week begins in the aftermath of the battle at Minas Tirith. As the rest of the city recovers from the assault, preparations are being made for the Army of the West's march the following day. At the same time, Frodo & Sam are making their way north from Cirith Ungol.

At the close of this week, Frodo & Sam take measures to make the remainder of their journey easier. Meanwhile, the Army comes out of Ithilien and the Marshes can just be seen in the distance. Aragorn tactfully dismisses the faint-hearted. Also, the patients in the Houses of Healing are regaining their strength.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Seven:
Saturday, Rethe 24 through Sunday, Rethe 25
(or March 25 through March 26)


24 Five-X
868 They advanced now slowly, expecting at
869 mists of Mordor. It grew cold.

24 Six-III
918 The last stage of their journey
919 and body. Then sleep took him,

24 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

25 Five-X
869 As morning came the wind began
874 and his eyes saw no more.

25 Six-III/IV
919 and the dim light of the
930 out of the darkness and the fire.

25 Six-V
940 And so the fifth day came
942 all the ways of the City.