Hmm...I don't think the orcs would act as the Balrog's servants, mainly because I can't imagine what he would need servants for. I would imagine they'd just try to avoid him as much as possible...? But maybe I'm just remembering the film, when the orcs all flee as soon as the Balrog shows up.
It is interesting that the Watcher goes after Frodo first. I couldn't say if it was in league with or under Sauron's authority. I think it's Gandalf who talks about how Sauron is drawing all evil towards him, and maybe he has some way of communicating with that thing. Maybe it sensed the Ring and wanted It for its own?
Quote:
Gandalf smiled. 'I have heard all about Sam,' he said. 'He has no more doubts now.'
I really wish we had a scene with everybody trying to win Sam over; I imagine it would've been hard at first because he already is extremely protective of Frodo.
Quote:
'I suppose not,' said Frodo. 'But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shan't have to go any further. It is very pleasant just to rest. I have had a month of exile and adventure, and I find that has been as much as I want.'
In an earlier chapter, when Frodo was still in the Shire, there's a mention of Frodo poring over maps and wondering what lay beyond the edges. We all (or at least I do) have this sense that Frodo has a bit of a wander-lust, and a desire for adventure in him, and Frodo certainly seemed to think so too. Yet here he says that it's enough, that he doesn't want to go on. I wonder if Frodo himself was wrong about what he thought he wanted; if he was really content with the Shire in his deepest heart, and didn't realize it until it was too late?
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'They tried to pierce your heart with a Morgul-knife which remains in the wound If they had succeeded, you would have become like they are, only weaker and under their command. You would have become a wraith under the dominion of the Dark Lord...'
I never realized how dark this is before. If Elrond
hadn't gotten the splinter out, what would they have done? They surely wouldn't have just left Frodo as a wraith, which leaves me thinking that they would have had to
kill him. That would make a fascinating AU. Frodo dead, Sam and Merry and Pippin grieving, no Ringbearer...
And who would have done it? Gandalf? Elrond?
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Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring...so it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Luthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undomiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people.
I love you I love you I love you!!! So much headcanon on this woman. Could write a 400 page book on my ~feeeelings~.
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Why weren't you at the feast? The Lady Arwen was there.
Bilbo, you shipper.
Quote:
When he had dressed, Frodo found that while he slept the Ring had been hung about his neck on a new chain, light but strong. Slowly he drew it out. Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands He felt a desire to strike him.
A little book//movie comparison here. In the book, it seems to be Frodo who suddenly...
imagines Bilbo as this greedy person, as someone who's going to grasp the Ring and
take it from him. Frodo is the one who's under the influence of the Ring; it has a hold on him such that he suddenly sees Bilbo as this grasping creature and feels animosity towards him. The Ring is influencing the way Frodo perceives Bilbo, once a very trusted friend, whom he now feels 'a desire to strike'.
In the movie, they seem to switch attitudes; Frodo is reluctant, but it's Bilbo who
turns into this greedy grasping creature, and makes a lunge for the Ring (which doesn't happen in the book; in the book Bilbo merely 'puts out his hand'). In the movie scene he actually
lunges for it. It's Bilbo whom the Ring seems to be influencing the most. Am I being clear? Does anyone else get what I'm saying?
EDIT:
Forgot two things. One, in the book Gloin is actually
sent to Elrond because the Dwarves 'crave his advice.' That's very interesting, considering we make such a big deal out of the Dwarves vs. Elves antagonism. Elrond seems to be the type of guy that both sides can respect and trust.
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At last Elrond spoke again...'I have known few hobbits, save Bilbo here; and it seems to me that he is perhaps not so alone and singular as I had thought him.'
YAY HOBBITS!