Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Book 1, Chapter III, Three is Company

Third Age (From Appendix B)

• 3018, April: Gandalf Reaches Hobbiton
• 3018, September: Frodo’s 50th Birthday, He Leaves the Shire and Four Riders Enter the Shire, One Goes to Hobbiton
• 3018, September, 23: Frodo Leaves the Shire and Four Riders Enter the Shire, One Goes to Hobbiton
• 3018, September, 24: Day two in the country, black rider, another black rider, meet the elves, stay with them for the night

Gandalf stays with Frodo upon his return to Bag End. Frodo already is aware of the need to leave the Shire, but makes no sign of doing so after two or three weeks had passed. The two talk and Frodo suggests leaving on his birthday to give himself time to put his affairs in order.

Soon word was out that Frodo had sold Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses. The price was debated and many believed that the money had finally run out. Frodo was said to be moving to Buckland among his Brandybuck relations.

At the end of June, most arrangements had been made and Gandalf informed Frodo that he must be leaving. He was going South to get some news. Into September it went and no word came from Gandalf. The Hobbits packed up the house and sent two carts to Buckland from Bag End.

On Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday the Hobbits had a feast together at Bag End. In the morning one last cart was readied. Merry and Fredegar Bolger took the cart to Crickhollow. Frodo, Sam, and Pippin would walk. Folco went home after lunch. The three hobbits had a final meal, Sam took the key to the Gaffer for the Sackville-Bagginses, and they were off.

They walked quietly until they were far away from inquisitive ears. They went for several hours, had a light meal, and walked some more. Finally Pippin expressed how tired he was and they decided to get a night’s sleep. Frodo agreed as Merry wouldn’t be expecting them right away.

They sat round a fire and before long each fell asleep. There was no watch as they felt safe in the Shire. As they slept a fox came by and found it peculiar that three Hobbits would be outdoors sleeping.

They woke, ate as Hobbits do and had there first walk. They were in no hurry and stopped for lunch. Then as they were walking Sam heard a horse on the path. They wondered if it was Gandalf. Then Frodo had a bad feeling and encouraged them to get off the road.

It is there first near encounter with a Black Rider. Only Frodo sees him and tells the others after the rider moves on. Sam then tells of the Gaffers encounter with the rider.

They start off again, but stay clear of the road. After supper as they are again walking they hear hooves and take cover. As the rider sniffs for them the singing of elves is heard and the rider leaves.

They meet Gildor and his company. When mention of the rider happens the elves are visibly bothered and invite the Hobbits to join them. It was a long walk to their camp and when they arrived, they slept until called. There was food and drink, laughter and singing.

Frodo spoke with Gildor, but he was very cautious in what he would reveal and would not give advice as Frodo wished for him to do. After their talk, even before it was over, Frodo was falling asleep as the other two Hobbits had already done.

Note

The chapters weren’t separated during the early drafts and consequently I inadvertently included the references to the fox, rider, and talk to Gildor in the prior post.

My Take

This chapter primarily covers two days, although the total time line is longer as it covers two months of Gandalf’s time with Frodo where the plan for Frodo’s departure is discussed and agreed upon. The rest of the chapter is the departure from Bag End to the meeting with Gildor and the Elves.

In working with students, whenever ‘literature’ is discussed, most complain that these works take too long to develop. They want page-turners. One scene after the other rapidly moving forward to the end. This chapter would not work for them. This is a chapter to be digested slowly.

Frodo remains reluctant to leave, but with his friends he is more encouraged to do so. They make jokes, but they appear to be masking how they really feel. For Sam and Frodo are leaving Hobbiton at least for a long while and journeying into the unknown.

It is mentioned that Sam has great knowledge of the lands within twenty miles of Bag End, but after that he has none. Frodo has walked far in his days within the Shire, but not beyond it as far as we know.

Each step of the journey becomes heavier and this is more true as the general fear they had of leaving catches up to them in the form of the Black Rider. It never occurred to them that a fear outside of themselves would come to them in the Shire as it was to them a protection in and of itself (and unknown to them, protected by the Rangers as best they could given their limited numbers).

The second time the rider catches up with them is only moments before the elves approach and he flees from them. Including the Gaffers interaction with a Rider, this does mark the third time Hobbits encounter a Rider on the first day of their journey in the Shire.

The time with Gildor is informative though Frodo would have preferred it to be more instructive. None-the-less, we learn that the Elves are aware of Frodo, his likely journey, though they do not know the reason, and that Frodo has knowledge from Bilbo of their language and some of their customs.