Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Book 1, Chapter V, A Conspiracy Unmasked

Third Age (From Appendix B)

• 3018, September, 25: Cross Country, Farmer Maggot’s Home, Arrival in Crickhollow
• 3018, September, 26: Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Sam enter the Old Forest

The Hobbits finally arrived at the Ferry and met up with Merry, who had ridden to make sure they were alright. They took the only ferry-boat across the Brandywine to Buckland

Sam spotted a Black Rider on the dock and pointed it out as Merry looked astonished and asked what it was. Frodo said “something that is following us.”

Merry takes the basket and rides ahead to tell Fatty they are on their way. Pippin led them from the river to Crickhollow. There the home appeared dark, Pippin knocked and as Fatty opened the door “a friendly light” shone out. They stepped inside, and kept it in.

“‘Well, what do you think of it?’ asked Merry coming up the passage. ‘We have done our best in a short time to make it look like home.’”

Frodo looked around and found it was a pleasant, comfortable, welcoming place with many of his, and Bilbo’s favorite things. He told them it was delightful, and it was, but he knew he was going to have to tell them tonight that he must leave very soon.

They had a bath. The hobbits began jesting as to who would go first. Merry interrupted, “Trust me to arrange things better than that! We can’t begin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths. In that room there are three tubs, and a copper full of boiling water. There are also towels, mats and soap. Get inside and be quick!”

Then, in the kitchen near the fire they had supper, some beer, and mushrooms. When they were done Merry said they could clean up later as he wanted to hear of their adventure.

Pippin told the story as Frodo was quiet. When he was done, he told Merry that Frodo has been very close and it was time for him to open up. After some talk of how close Maggot’s guesses were, Frodo did open up and so did Merry, Pippin, Sam and Fatty.

Frodo is amazed at what he has heard. When Pippin tells him that he and Merry are going along with him and Sam, Frodo is moved, but said he could not allow it. He said they did not understand. This was no treasure hunt, it was to go from deadly peril into deadly peril.

“Of course we understand. That is why we have decided to come. We know the Ring is no laughing-matter, but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy.” Merry told Frodo.

Now Frodo is beyond amazed, they even knew about the Ring. And then Sam is revealed as a conspirator. Frodo asked if there was anyone he could trust. Again it was Merry who spoke: “You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”

Frodo said, “You are a set of deceitful scoundrels! But bless you!” He laughed. He agreed for them to come with him, and they discussed their next steps. They ultimately decided to take the Old Forest so no one would see them leave and by doing so would get a head start. Fatty had never planned on going, instead he was to stay at Crickhollow and put up that Frodo was still there as long as could be managed. He even had old clothes of Frodo’s to wear.

My Take

Bag End, Crickhollow, Tom Bombadil’s House, and Rivendell are the four sanctuaries of the four  hobbits. Of the four, Crickhollow is the most overlooked as they were only there together for an evening and the next morning. 

All four offer comfort having food, beds, drink, and baths, security, as far they know, and provide solace. They are sanctuaries in the midst of peril. They are places to recover physically and emotionally from the wilderness between them.

The relief they find in these sanctuaries highlights how dangerous their journey had been. In each sanctuary, the next journey was more challenging than the one before it, and as such, the hobbits wanted to stay longer, because they were in need of greater recovery.

In Crickhollow, even once safely inside, their remains tension. Not all has been eased as it should have, because Frodo knew he had to tell them he was leaving soon, and they had to tell him he would not go alone.

This changed when the conspiracy was slowly revealed to Frodo and in the end all agreed to their roles and next steps.

This would not have been possible without their already strong bonds of friendship. These bonds would grow in accordance with their further journeys, but at this point in time, it was clear their friendship ran deep.

Merry’s meticulous planning was out of love. Sam journeying outside the lands he knew was out of love. Pippin’s confidence, particularly with addressing Farmer Maggot, was out of love. And Fatty, though his role was very limited, would not have engaged in this endeavor had he not also loved Frodo. All but Sam were relations of some sort and had grown up together, so they knew one another well.

The dinner prep and bathtub scene is a great example of show me how they love one another, don’t tell me. And for that it is one of my favorite scenes.

From Hammond and Scull

Khamul, the Nazgul, renews his hunt once the Elves leave. He summons his companions with a cry. Believing the one with the Ring is a mighty man, don’t check around Maggot’s Farm, instead believing he has already passed, sends one rider down the causeway towards Overbourn while goes north along it towards the bridge, they meet up at night, too late as Frodo crosses by the ferry just before Khamul arrives, the second rider arrives just after. The river is a barrier they must go around

Tolkien explains the Nazgul would not touch the Brandywine as its waters were ‘Elvish.’

“I have prepared practically everything” this is when the reader really gets to know Merry as a responsible, thoughtful character able to plan and prepare, distinguishing him from the more impulsive, less mature Pippin.

Return of the Shadow

Here, Tolkien adds it would not be safe to leave a letter behind. Originally it was written that a letter was to be left. So Tolkien not only removed it, but made it a part of the story none-the-less.

Hammond and Scull as well as Christopher note that the Tower Dream is hard to place here, but that Tolkien wanted it in the story and struggled to find the right location, having moved it several times before settling on Crickhollow.