Day Eighteen: At the House of Elrond

Last night’s fireworks display prevented our usual late night reading, but I’m behind posting and thought I’d take this sunny Saturday to catch up.

The night before last found us tackling chapter 1 of book 2, “Many Meetings.” The meetings take place at Rivendell, “the Last Homely House east of the Sea” (all capitals are Tolkien’s). When Frodo wakes up, he’s a little fuzzy on how he actually got there, but fortunately he’s able to get the whole story from Gandalf.

Yes, Gandalf! At long last, the Hobbits meet back up with him, and though he at first sounds curmudgeonly and tells Frodo his behavior has been “absurd,” relief quickly wins out. He admits that he is, in fact, impressed that Frodo and the others have made it this far. Frodo is quick to praise Strider for his help. Gandalf lets Frodo know a bit more about Strider’s past, and Frodo is in awe to discover more of Aragorn’s real history. Awe is a state Frodo will continue in as he roams about Rivendell and sees how many great and mighty people are gathered there.

For the moment, however, he is just happy to be safe, and to have Gandalf once again at his side. Sam has been faithfully watching over him for much of the past four days – that’s how long he’s been asleep. We understand that his escape was a very near thing, and that what he escaped was, in fact, far worse than death. Gandalf earnestly explains that if Frodo had slipped under the power of the Ringwraiths – for we discover here that Ringwraiths are what the Nine Riders actually are – he would have become like them, in thrall to Sauron, and experiencing torment at his hands. Gandalf tells Frodo that he has resisted the evil of the splinter of the knife for much longer than many bigger people might have.

Tolkien does something here he doesn’t do often – he gives us a glimpse of a character’s thoughts that the other characters are not privy to. When Gandalf looks closely at Frodo, he notes there is a new kind of “transparency” about him, especially of the left hand. And he worries. “He is not half through yet…” he says to himself, and he wonders to what end Frodo will come, an end that even Elrond can’t foresee.  “Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.”  It is one of our first real indications of just how much this quest may cost Frodo in the end. While it’s worrying, there is also something beautiful in the image. A wearied Frodo, worn down to his essentials, will be like a glass filled with light.