LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Palantir

Book Three of The Lord of the Rings has probably been one of the most enjoyable books I've read so far. It's quick and rapid fire, with absolutely no time to rest at all. From frequent battles, to meeting new characters in every chapter, there has not been a dull moment at any point in the story. So it's only fitting, that Book Three would end on quite an intense cliffhanger. All thanks to Pippin.

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Voice of Saruman

 

So, we're almost to the end of book three and quite a lot have happened. From Merry and Pippin's escape and meeting Treebeard and the Ents. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimili's run across the wildlands, reuniting with Gandalf (now Gandalf the White), riding to Rohan and saving King Theodan, the Battle of Helm's Deep, the sacking of Isengard and finally meeting up again with Merry and Pippin. Now the former Fellowship and King Theoden and his men must face one final battle. Confronting Saruman.

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: Flotsam and Jetsam

With the Battle of Helm's Deep over and the Ride to Isengard completed, the story takes a bit of a break from the fighting and magic and madness. If you think about it, it's probably only been a couple of weeks from the actual breaking of the Fellowship to the reuniting of...most of them. Lest we forget, there are two other important members of the Fellowship that are wandering the vast and dangerous outskirts of their enemies homeland. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: Helm's Deep

The first army v army battle is finally presented in the story in the defending of Helm's Deep. The battle of Helm's Deep was the crux of the whole film and literally took up half the film's screen time. However, in the book it's fairly small scale and seems to do more with the building of relationships than the actual fighting itself. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The King of the Golden Hall

It surprises me that the pace of The Fellowship of the Ring was so slow and laborious in the beginning and yet the pace of The Two Towers can almost match the speed of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli trying to catch up with the Orc pack. We've finally gotten to one of my favorite parts in the movie, arriving in Rohan and the capitol city of Edoras, where the palace of Meduseld and its inhabitants, are all under the power of Saruman. I can hear the epic theme piece playing right now as the Fellowship ride up the hill and Eowyn is on the balcony in her white gown, distraught and afraid, watching them arrive. Such a classic scene!

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The White Rider

Now with Merry and Pippin in the complete care and safety of Treebeard and the Ents, it's probably time to head back to their three hunters. First can we just take a moment and appreciate Pippin's mad survival skills that got him and Merry to safety in the first place?? I mean seriously, those two didn't need help at all, plus it proves that little 'Fool of a Took,' maybe isn't so foolish. When challenged and your life and the lives of others are in danger, desperation and survival can bring out qualities that you never thought you possessed. Pippin proved this very well and he and his cousin are alive because of it.

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: Treebeard

Up to this point we've met some good creatures in Middle-Earth and some rather unsavory ones. Besides the primary races, Men, Elves and Dwarves and Tolkien's own original Hobbits. Yet, beyond all those, the other races have been less than savory. Orcs, goblins, Uruk-Hai, the Nazgul. So, when we finally come across a non-human like race that is actually on the side of good, it's almost a relief.

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Uruk-Hai

 

We pick up with Merry and Pippin who have been taken hostage by a grouping of Orcs, goblins and the Uruk-Hai. Told primarily from Pippin's POV, both Hobbits face unimaginable abuse at the hands of Sarumon's monsters. However, in typical practical Hobbit fashion, both of them are calm and collected, scared yes, but oddly enough, not panicking. With Merry fading in and out of consciousness, Pippin must rely on his wits to get both of them out. Something he does remarkably well.

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Riders of Rohan

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli now dubbed 'the three hunters,' are racing the clock to find Merry and Pippin. Running, running and running. Across miles and miles and wildlands and rivers. Very little rest, food or sleep. As they continue to gain up on the orc pack, the three hunters cross path with Rider's of Rohan. Led by Eomer, Third Marshall of the Riddermark, these are highly skilled and lethal soldiers who secure the borders of the kingdom of Rohan. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Departure of Boromir

So, moviewise, The Two Towers is my favorite. I loved meeting the new characters, seeing the kingdom of Rohan, the Ents and of course, the epic Battle of Helm's Deep! Am I spoiling anything? It's interesting that the first book in this saga is called The Fellowship of the Ring, however, we only get a few chapters with the Fellowship as a whole. At the same time the Fellowship stays connected even when their separated. No one is ever really alone. And maybe no one is ever meant to be alone. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Breaking of the Fellowship

As the story relays, the Fellowship's quest is coming to an end. Our band of diverse heroes have come to a crossroads of what to do with themselves. Do they continue on to Mordor or follow Boromir into Gondor, do they all go their own way? A difficult question after all that they've been through together. The decision is laid before Frodo. Only the Ring bearer can decide the fate of all of them now.

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Great River

Upon leaving the safety of Lothlorien, the Fellowship now embark on a winding and twisting ride on the Great River, Anduin. And as you would expect from Tolkien, most of the chapter is nothing but descriptions of rocks, rivers, trees, banks and the occasional black swan. Oh, and the crazy little creature that keeps popping up in the corner of Frodo's eye. Of course, it's Gollum and he knows it. Frodo has figured that Gollum has been following them for some time. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: Farwell to Lorien

 

After everything the Fellowship has been through, I would find it hard to leave a site such as Lothlorien. It's safe, it's beautiful, peaceful and not without its mystery. Celeborn and Galadriel must feel the same way as they all give the Fellowship a chance to leave the journey and remain in Lorien. However, the ever faithful Fellowship of eight are determined to finish what they started. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Mirror of Galadriel

After the great buildup into the journey to Lothlorien, the Fellowship are led into its great city, Caras Galadhon, the City of Trees. There the Fellowship are introduced to the Lady Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien and her husband, Lord Celeborn (also known as Elrond's in-laws). While Lothlorien is Galadriel's domain, her husband seems to run everything (not a bad marriage deal, either). As the Fellowship tell their story, they soon realize that there is an extraordinary power and magic to the Lady Galadriel. Amid Celeborn's snark and shady comments, Galadriel is able to work her way into their minds, release their deepest emotions and leave them frightened and empty.

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: Lothlorien

Just when I thought that Tolkien's endless descriptions couldn't get any worse...well, they got worse. After reading chapter after chapter of the constant greenery of the Shire, up to four pages describing a door on the side of the mountain and paragraphs of of the dimly lit ruins of Moria, I was not prepared for Lothlorien. And it seems like the Fellowship wasn't either. However, we do get to meet my favorite secondary character and find that he was infinitely more fleshed out in the book than in the film (you failed Peter Jackson).

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

The Fellowship's endless walk through the dark halls of Moria comes to an unexpected halt when they come across the tomb of Balin, Gimli's cousin and former lord of Moria. Gandalf finds a written account of  Moria's history. As Gandalf pages through the record book he comes across several passages referring to 'drums in the deep...we cannot get out...they are coming.' It's not long before the Fellowship hear the drums in the dark. And the 'they' never actually left. They have been waiting in the dark for a long time.

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: A Journey in the Dark

After the disaster of the Caradhras Mountains, the Fellowship must choose another route that will keep them out of Saruman's sight. Eventually, their options are narrowed down to one less than desirable path. The Mines of Moria. A once powerful and glorious country built entirely underground within a mountain. However, Moria has become a desolate hell hole of only which Gandalf and Aragorn have been through and neither wish to go back. However, they have no other alternative and must brave the mines. First they have to get through the door.

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Ring Goes South

So now that Frodo has volunteered to take the Ring the rest of the way to Mordor, guess what we get to do?

I hate guessing games, but this one is merited. 

Just one guess.

On little teeny, tiny, guess.

Oh, yes! We get to...

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Council of Elrond

So, the title is pretty self explanatory. An elite grouping of representatives of the primary races of Middle-Earth--men, elves, dwarves, Gandalf for the Istari and of course, Frodo--gather together to discuss the fate of the Ring. Throughout the chapter, the council goes through a 'pass the parcel' discussion of each races connection to the Ring in some form. 

LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: Many Meetings

We're into book two!

Frodo's alive!

And he's finally made it to Rivendell!

Oh look...Gandalf is back.