Book 2 Chapter 5: The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

First off, the last post pushed me over 1,000 lifetime views which is pretty cool. Thanks for reading my ramblings on here. I hope I'm providing a bit of insight and some thought provoking ideas but will settle for a few pity reads. 

Thank you for the pity reads.

The Bridge of Khazad-Dum is one of the most memorable chapters in Tolkien due primarily to the loss of Gandalf into the darkness of Moria. This first breaking of the Fellowship is the most significant set-back thus far (which is a pretty bold statement in itself!) and shapes the entire narrative of the next four books.

Sam the Fearless Guardian

At the beginning of the chapter, the Fellowship fights for their life in the Tomb of Balin. Frodo is famously stabbed (saved by his mithril!) and everyone gets to show off their cool action-figure-y skills. (Boom, headshot! says Legolas)

During the course of the battle, Sam is the only one to receive any physical injury: a scratch across his face. Narrowly avoiding a much deeper blow, Sam thrusts his sword through the offending orc. Here's Tolkien's description:

"A fire was smouldering in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards, if he had seen it."

Can you imagine Sam doing this only a single chapter ago before they entered Moria? How about when he thought that Rivendell would be the end of their trip? Is Sam just discovering a part of himself that was always there or is he changing?

I think Sam is discovering who he really is. Shedding naivete and starting to see the broader scope of their task, Sam is building on the tenacity that was already there. It doesn't matter if it is a stubborn weed in the Gaffer's garden or an army of Orcs in Moria, if Sam needs to do something, he is going to do it.

A version of the Balrog that leans heavily on the Peter Jackson interpretation.

A Balrog is come!

Of course, despite how awesome Sam's inner ferocity is, most of y'all are going to take away just one thing from this chapter and that's Durin's Bane, a damned Balrog of Morgoth.

We discussed Balrogs a few times in previous sections and I'll probably discuss them again (because they are awesome) but the real winner here is Gandalf.

As the Fellowship fled from the Tomb of Balin, Gandalf tried to place a shutting spell on the door (not the same level as a "Cheat Code"-esque Word of Command, more like exploiting a glitch for personal gain). However, this was apparently not enough.

"I have met my match and have nearly been destroyed...I am rather shaken."

Alright, so Gandalf is appearing visually exhausted but what caused this? Just that spell? Tolkien explains,

"The counterspell (to the shutting spell) was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open. I had to speak a Word of Command."

Gandalf's power hasn't been directly matched yet and here is something that stands right up to him and seems like an equal. Balrogs were once Maia (the lesser Valar) like Gandalf himself before they became corrupted by Morgoth. This gives them abilities above and beyond creatures like the Nazgul and more like Saruman or Sauron himself.

So Gandalf is pretty messed up already, but they're nearing the exit. Finally, they reach the bridge which was built as an ancient defense, forcing armies to walk single-file across bridge. I can't describe the scene any better than Tolkien himself did so here it is, in his own words:

"It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it. Then with a rush it leaped across the fissue. The flames roared up to greet it and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. Its steaming mane kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs."

Gandalf's Speech

Legolas basically craps himself when seeing the Balrog and Gimli is dumbstruck over seeing Durin's Bane in person. Gandalf stands alone on the bridge urging the Fellowship on. Turning on the Balrog, Gandalf defies him with probably the most iconic line in the story.

"You cannot pass!"

That's right. Cannot pass. This is different than the films but unlike most of the minor changes, this one is important. "You CANNOT pass" makes it a physical impossibility. The Balrog literally cannot physically pass the bridge. Gandalf's words are not idle threats or taunts at Durin's Bane, they are proclamations of law.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow. You cannot pass."

He may have been challenged before by the Balrog but he did not know his opponent at that time. Now, he knows what he faces and specifically how to defeat it.

To do so, he is invoking some powerful phrases here. Let's break it down.

"Servant of the Secret Fire"

To Tolkien, the Secret Fire was what we would refer to as the "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit". It's the surrounding factor in our lives that emanates from Eru (God) and breathes life into the world. Gandalf is invoking the supreme directly, bypassing the Valar and the Balrog's original master Morgoth. This is the most powerful force in Middle-Earth.

"flame of Anor"

Anor is the sun, which is a fire and light that gives us life. Without the sun's fire, we couldn't exist. This reinforces Gandalf as a servant of fire, like Sauron and the Balrogs, but unlike them, he is a servant of the "good" fire.

"flame of Udun"

Tolkien likes his fire metaphors. The flame of Udun is conversely, the flame of darkness or the flame that destroys. Fire can be a fantastic tool for growth, culling brush so that forests may thrive and providing sustenance and warmth for survival. However, taken too far, fire can destroy absolutely. 

Conclusion

Tolkien uses fire as a common metaphor because it is precisely the theme of the overall story. The Lord of the Rings  is about the corrupting nature of power and that while some power is needed to accomplish great things (Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam each wield a certain "power") but taken too far, this power can bring anyone to ruin including those who wish to use the power for good (Saruman).

Fire, like power, is necessary in the world but a balance is needed otherwise the fire will consume you.

Book 2 Chapter 1: Many Meetings

My brief pause in writing came at a perfect moment in the story. Frodo has just collapsed on the banks of the Bruinen and witnessed the Nazgul being swept away. After this moment, he is rescued by the folk of Rivendell and Elrond begins healing him. It's quite some time, many days, later that he finally wakes up so pretend that my gap in posts is due to staying in character. :)

A Note on Terminology

This is the first chapter of Book Two! It is important to point out that Tolkien did NOT write a trilogy. He wrote one narrative with six constituent books. For example, Books 1 and 2 are typically split into the subheading of "Fellowship of the Ring". Therefore, it is most accurate to read Tolkien in one large volume where it is easier to physically feel the sense of progression throughout the story. The breaking of the Fellowship is not the end of its own novel, it's a dramatic point (one of many) on the slopes of the storyline.

It's a minor distinction but I feel an important one.

Now, onto the chapter itself!

"Many Meetings" along with the following "Council of Elrond" are two of the most lore-dense, plot filled chapters in all of Lord of the Rings and can be a challenge to slog through after several chapters of Cat-and-Mouse through the Lone Lands and the Trollshaws. However, these chapters really allow Tolkien to shine in what he does best, tell a story and make it seem like we're only scratching the surface of his world.

The chapter opens with Frodo waking up to Gandalf (who he hasn't seen in a long, long time) who promptly explains why he was delayed. He also comments on Frodo's EXCEPTIONAL strength. He bore the wound from the Morgul blade for a full 17 days without succombing to the darkness. Gandalf insinuates that most anyone else would have faltered long before which is a great foreshadowing of Frodo's ability to weather the Ring's increasingly powerful effects without being too controlled by it.

The Fair Valley of Rivendell by Ted Nasmith

Lords of the Eldar

Frodo finds himself in Rivendell, home to Elrond, among others, which is famed as being a haven of the "elf-wise, Lords of the Eldar from beyond the farthest sea". These powerful lords of the Elves are beings who once lived in Valinor (the Undying Lands) in the First Age and then came back to Middle Earth. Tolkien writes that these beings "live in both worlds and have great power against the seen and unseen."

Do you remember in the last chapter, Frodo describing a bright light across the river before he blacks out? He is falling under the sway of the Shadow, much like he does when he puts on the Ring and passes into the Unseen World. In this Unseen World, he catches a bright light that shines across the water and then the chapter ends without much further explanation. This light was Glorfindel who, as we've previously discussed, is certainly a capable threat against the Seen and Unseen.

But just who are the other "Lord of the Eldar from beyond the farthest sea"?

Glorfindel told Aragorn in the previous chapter that “few, even in Rivendell, ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south.” So clearly, Glorfindel is one of these Elves and rode West to find them. But who were the other two?

I have two theories on this:

1. Elladan and Elrohir - Elrond's two sons are logical choices since they are very well-esteemed among Elves (Legolas praises them heavily throughout the tale) and are old friends of Aragorn's. However, it is unlikely that Glorfindel would describe the two as capable of riding openly against the Nine, especially since they have not been to Valinor and would not have the same might as someone who has seen Aman.
2. Two of Elrond's Advisors - Elrond has numerous advisors in Rivendell and Tolkien would not have introduced all of them to us. Think of it this way; if you were telling the story of World War II in the South Pacific, you wouldn't necessarily name Winston Churchill even if was undoubtedly important and played an important role. I think it is very feasible that some of Elrond's advisors were born in Aman and then came over to Middle-Earth. This would place them mighty among the Elves and give them power to ride openly against the Nine.

Your thoughts?

Glorfindel, Elrond, and Earnur go to war.

Powers of the Eldar

But glowing in the Unseen World is not the only power these Lords of the Eldar command. Despite not being born in Valinor, Elrond himself possesses a magic unlike anything else we've seen, or will see. Gandalf reveals that Elrond commanded the flood of the Bruinen and the river is under his control. Gandalf also shares that only Elrond had the power needed to bring Frodo back from the grievous wound he received.

I think this is a very important section and one that really fleshes out some key themes for Tolkien. Elrond is not a divine being. In fact, he is half-Elven; a cross between his Elven mother and Human father. Despite this, Elrond has powers that Gandalf, an immortal being created, not born, cannot match.

Similarly, in the First Age, Feanor created the Silmarils: three brilliant jewels that contained the beauty and light of the world before evil corrupted it. These jewels were perfect, unable to be destroyed, even by the Valar, and not even the mightiest craftsmen of the Valar could match Feanor's skill at crafting.

Also as I discussed in the Glorfindel post, there are examples of Elves fighting Balrogs and Dragons one on one. Balrogs are generally regarded as being the same type of being as Gandalf, mid level immortals who defected to Morgoth.

Time after time, we have the Children of Iluvatar, those that are not truly immortal standing up to the great powers of the world, and besting them in unexpected ways! Tolkien is lauding the capacity of Men and Elves to succeed. In them lies tremendous greatness that can exceed even the brilliance of the Gods, but it is not for everyone and it is not without sacrifice of one's own.

What do you think Tolkien is saying here? Do you find this important or intentional?

The Fellowship Begins to Form

Outside of a discussion on Tolkien's intent, a few plot points happen in this chapter and are important to note. I'm going to throw out a bullet point list with brief comments on a few areas because this post is already long.

• Sam hardly left Frodo's side during the days he was at Rivendell. Remember that these two WERE NOT EVEN FRIENDS before this trip began. Merry and Pippen were not always present and they had been Frodo's best friends. Does this say more about Sam or Merry/Pippen? I think it says more about Sam's character.
• Frodo meets Gloin who came to Rivendell with his son Gimli. Gloin, you'll remember, is one of the 12 Dwarves that went with Bilbo to the Lonely Mountain. They talk briefly but neither really knows why everyone has been summoned. Gloin shrugs it off and says that "Master Elrond" will sort it out. When has a Dwarf been this respectful of an Elf? Is the line out of character or does Elrond command such respect among other races?
• Bilbo is alive and well! He is living in Rivendell with the Elves who treat him with the highest level of respect. At feasts, Elrond treats Bilbo as an old friend, sharing food and wine personally. Bilbo and Aragorn have also been acquainted for years and Aragorn often helps him write and sing new songs and tunes. This helps explain why Aragorn was unsurprised when Frodo said Bilbo had translated some of the Ballad of Beren and Luthien before the party had reached Weathertop.
• Aragorn himself is accorded a great deal of respect. He grew up in Rivendell and is referred to as The Dunadan. Dunadan means "Man of the West", but with "The" as a prefix, it implies that he is the most important one. 

Frodo has found himself with some pretty dang important people doing things at a higher level than he can really understand right now. Glorfindel alone has lived longer than just about everyone introduced to the story so far (excepting a few notable ones) combined and Aragorn's mysterious shroud is being slowly revealed, piece by piece, often leaving more questions than answers in the wake.

Next up is the Council of Elrond. The longest chapter in the history of literature (that was hyperbole) and also the most dense (also hyperbole). Disregarding the hyperbole, there is a lot to dissect and I'll likely grab two blog posts to do it.