The Fellowship of the Ring // Book 2, Chapter 5 // The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

(Our internet's down again this morning so I'm typing this off my phone, but I think we can manage all right. :))

Well, this chapter's just packed full of excitement, isn't it?

And sorrow. Such grief and sorrow... both in the beginning and the ending. 

It's crazy how short (meaning how few chapters) the duration of the fellowship actually takes place in, but it's all these adventures and misadventures that forge everyone tightly together even through all the separations that happen in the subsequent books. In the last chapter they went through ice and now they're literally going through and under fire together.

We start in Balin's tomb with the discovery of the Book of Records, detailing the foolhardy but nonetheless brave last stand of the dwarves -- and then our brave little company promptly finds itself in the same situation. We have the whole courageous firework-y bit with everyone fighting back to back, swords out in real battle. (When they're heading out I love how Aragorn snatches Frodo up -- it's 'no man left behind' bred into the bone.)

And then after a final mad scamper through the dark, we have the Balrog. And Gandalf's last stand. And rich imagery just popping everywhere.

Bear with me for a short history lesson (and this can be confusing, so feel free to add/correct any details in the comments ;)): as I understand it, in Tolkien's legendarium, Iluvatar is the creator and source of life. The Valar (Ainur, angelic spirits), brought into being by his thought, assisted him in the creation of the earth, and obviously there are a bunch of subsidiary details about how exactly they then entered into and shepherded the creation. So keeping this straightforward, Iluvatar is at the top and center and the Valar are his angelic emissaries. Melkor (aka Morgoth) was greatest of the Ainur, but (in very short form here) he rebelled, defying the will of Iluvatar and trying to take power for himself. So we have Iluvatar, the Valar, and then the Maiar, who are lesser spirits, vassals of the Valar. Some of the Maiar are Istari, appearing in the form of old men with great powers that are supposed to be used in fighting the darkness. Sauron was also created as a Maia, but became Melkor's lieutenant in the early wars and after the fall of his master became what he is in our current tale (trying not to give any spoilers here). The Balrog is made of the same stuff and status, though following a different path -- a Maia, likewise corrupted by Morgoth. So Sauron has grown great in wickedness, cunning, and forbidden powers, but originally he, Gandalf, and the Balrog were of similar standing in the creation order.

Whew! Ok, I hope that answered any questions (or maybe raised new ones xD).

After that horrible heart-stopping moment at the edge of the chasm, I love how Aragorn immediately shoulders (well, leaps) to the front to lead them on and out and then Boromir brings up the rear guard without a second thought -- standing between everyone and the orcs and drums and unknown, mind-numbing awfulness behind them.

And then they make the final mad dash to temporary safety out under the sun, into a quiet place with clear air and the wind on their faces.

Quotes:

• "The Balrog made no answer and the fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm."
• "Aragorn smote to the ground the captain that stood in his path, and the rest fled in terror of his wrath."
  

 

For thought:

• In the chamber, why do you think the orc captain went directly for Frodo?