LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: Three is Company

Chapter III is almost a fill in type chapter for Tolkien to better expound on the character of Frodo. Unlike the film where Frodo leaves in the middle of night, in the original text he prolongs the journey for three weeks and most of the story is about his preparation for leaving his only home. A great deal of time and detail is spent focusing on the mental attitude of Frodo as he begins to understand the full weight that he has taken on. He sells his home to his detestable cousins and sends out a story that he has decided to move to Buckland to live with his Brandybuck cousins. 

The title Three is Company of course refers to Frodo, Sam and Pippin as they make their way from Hobbiton to Buckland, or at least that's what Frodo has told Pippin. However, twice they are tracked down by large, black hooded figures on horses. These men or creatures find the hobbits hiding and sniff them out. Each time out of fear and desperation, Frodo is tempted to put the Ring on and hide, but he manages to resist. 

However, these nightmarish riders are not the only travelers that Frodo, Sam and Pippin meet. After the second run in with the Black Riders, the three hobbits come across a company of elves. Led by wise Gildor of Inglorian, these beautiful high elves are taking leave of Middle-Earth and traveling to the Great Sea. The time of the elves is coming to an end. A bittersweet thought to many, especially as the elves have loved and cared for Middle-Earth for centuries. The elves provide rest and shelter for Frodo and his companions who are in great need for peace, if only for a small time.

Frodo is never without friends and Tolkien is very clear on that. He has his cousins and his childhood friends, however, also unlike the film he doesn't really seem to consider Samwise Gamgee an actual close friend. Sam is Frodo's servant and Frodo is Sam's master. There's a master/servant bond between the two, but it has not really come to the point of an actual bonded friendship with one another. 

It's interesting seeing the contrasts between the book and the movie while reading the books for the first time. Everything that Frodo did in the film was completely contradictory to all that was done in the book! It is unfortunate that they were not able to add Gildor in the film as he gave Frodo good council. To be swift in his journey, choose trusty friends, flee the evil that hunts him and above all, find in courage for it is found in the most unlikely places.

Heidi's Questions:

• Does your heart turn to journeying in the autumn? Do you like walking in the dark?

It may not be journeying, but I always enjoy walking down the country roads in the autumn time. I like the briskness and there is a particular scent in the air that just seems so clean, as if the sweat of summer has finally been removed. I'm not particularly fond of walking in the dark, but when I do take my country road walks. I start in the late afternoon and when I turn around to go home the sun has just gone down and the streetlamps are on. The twilight hour is about to end and the dark is just about to settle in. 

• I'm curious... if you've seen the movie, are you noticing events unfolding any differently at this point?

As I mentioned in my summery review, Frodo's prolonged leaving in the book compared to sneaking out in the middle of the night in the film. As well Pippin is already part of the company (although he's unaware of what he's getting into).