Read LotR aloud: The Ring Goes South, post 1

[dreamflower]

I had to divide my reading into two parts, as LJ kept cutting me off. Also, I apologize for my voice. I've got a cold, and I'm dreadfully hoarse. Text is behind the cut.




'I will tread the path with you, Gandalf! ' said Gimli. 'I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there-if you can find the doors that are shut.'

'Good, Gimli! ' said Gandalf. `You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf's head will be less easy to bewilder than Elves or Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria. I sought there long for Thráin son of Thrór after he was lost. I passed through, and I came out again alive! '

`I too once passed the Dimrill Gate,' said Aragorn quietly; 'but though I also came out again, the memory is very evil. I do not wish to enter Moria a second time.'

'And I don't wish to enter it even once,' said Pippin.

'Nor me,' muttered Sam.

`Of course not! ' said Gandalf. 'Who would? But the question is: who will follow me, if I lead you there? '

'I will,' said Gimli eagerly.

'I will,' said Aragorn heavily. `You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now – if this last warning does not move you. It is not of the Ring, nor of us others that I am thinking now, but of you, Gandalf. And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware! '

`I will _not_ go,' said Boromir; 'not unless the vote of the whole company is against me. What do Legolas and the little folk say? The Ring-bearer's voice surely should be heard? '

'I do not wish to go to Moria,' said Legolas.

The hobbits said nothing. Sam looked at Frodo. At last Frodo spoke. `I do not wish to go,' he said; `but neither do I wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf. I beg that there should be no vote, until we have slept on it. Gandalf will get votes easier in the light of the morning than in this cold gloom. How the wind howls! '

At these words all fell into silent thought. They heard the wind hissing among the rocks and trees, and there was a howling and wailing round them in the empty spaces of the night.

Suddenly Aragorn leapt to his feet. 'How the wind howls! ' he cried. 'It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains! '

'Need we wait until morning then? ' said Gandalf. `It is as I said. The hunt is up! Even if we live to see the dawn, who now will wish to journey south by night with the wild wolves on his trail? '

'How far is Moria? ' asked Boromir.

`There was a door south-west of Caradhras, some fifteen miles as the crow flies, and maybe twenty as the wolf runs,' answered Gandalf grimly.

'Then let us start as soon as it is light tomorrow, if we can,' said Boromir. 'The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears.'

`True!' said Aragorn, loosening his sword in its sheath. `But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls.'

`I wish I had taken Elrond's advice,' muttered Pippin to Sam. `I am no good after all. There is not enough of the breed of Bandobras the Bullroarer in me: these howls freeze my blood. I don't ever remember feeling so wretched.'

'My heart's right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin,' said Sam. 'But we aren't etten yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, I'll wager it isn't a wolf's belly.'

Comments

[shirebound]

Poor baby, I'm sorry to hear that you're sick. Thank you for reading. You had fun hobbit dialogue here.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

Great selection for The Reading™! "The Ring Goes South" is one of my favorite chapters as it shows the Fellowship becoming a cohesive unit, has some dramatic moments, and contains a remark on Legolas' part about those whom the stones lament that piqued my interest when I first read it in 1968 and has culminated 43 (!!!) years later in a spate of fan fiction.

Sorry to hear you've caught a cold. Here's hoping your immune system kicks the bugger to the curb in short order.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you're sick, sweetie. Take care of yourself.

Your reading was fine, though.

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness, you are sick! I'm so sorry! But you still read wonderfully. I love Gimli in this part and the dialog between Sam and Pippin is such a highlight. Thank you!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh you sound so sick, you poor thing! Despite it all, I had forgotten how much I love the fellowship's interaction here!

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

'My heart's right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin,' said Sam. 'But we aren't etten yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, I'll wager it isn't a wolf's belly.'
Sam the Stouthearted! :-D

You too are very stouthearted for braving the reading with such a bad cold! Well done, dear!!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I've always liked the way, after given the chance, Frodo takes charge of things here. He doesn't push anyone to decide in Gandalf's favor. He just gives them all time to think it through knowing that they will come to the correct decision. It shows his strength, but not in an over-powering way. I enjoyed listening to this and hope your cold is better soon.

[hildigard-brown.livejournal.com]

Even with your cold, you still read very well--I hope you're feeling better now. I really enjoyed listening to the discussion among the Fellowship, and especially that last comment by Sam! :-DD

[dreamflower]

My voice still sounds pretty raspy, but I seem to be better otherwise!

I enjoyed that bit of dialogue. Pippin and Sam conversation is kind of rare, but I like those two together.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! It's a favorite chapter of mine as well-- though it is now filled with countless non-canonical adventures that various friends of mine have unearthed! LOL! I think this chapter inspires many!

My raspy voice and a slight cough have lingered, but I am otherwise OK! Thanks!

[dreamflower]

(((hugs))) Thank you, dear!

[dreamflower]

Thank you for giving me this section! I enjoyed reading it very much!

[dreamflower]

Yes, you can see that they really have begun to form a good group dynamic! I really like Boromir in this-- even though he disagrees with the decision, he remains respectful. But I love how he says "I will not go", in one sentence, and then when they hear the wargs he says "How far is Moria?" LOL!

[dreamflower]

Well, I haven't missed a single one yet, and I was not about to let a cold ruin my record. Forgetting my password almost ruined my record, but then I finally remembered it!

[dreamflower]

You are right. Some think Frodo following Gandalf's and Aragorn's lead was kind of passive of him, but I don't see it that way. He just knew that for the most part they were more knowledgeable about the situations they were in than he was. But he also takes responsibility for making a decision.

My cold is better, though my voice is still harsh, and I still have a little cough.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! And I am mostly better now!

I really loved that bit of Sam and Pippin dialogue! I enjoyed reading it.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

yeah, I LOVE Boromir's sense of humor!

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you were sick when you read this (you still read it very beautifully though! Love how you do the different voices.). I hope you are feeling better now!