shewhodoesnotexist:weirdpolis:shiremaiden:LOTR CHAPTERS: THE TWO TOWERS - Chapter Eight: The Road to
shewhodoesnotexist:weirdpolis:shiremaiden:LOTR CHAPTERS: THE TWO TOWERS - Chapter Eight: The Road to IsengardThe ring beyond was filled with steaming water: a bubbling cauldron, in which there heaved and flowed a wreckage of beams and spars, chests and casks and broken gear. Twisted and leaning pillars reared their splintered stems above the flood, but all the roads were drowned. Far off, it seemed, half veiled in winding cloud, there loomed the island rock. Still dark and tall, unbroken by the storm, the tower of Orthanc stood. Pale waters lapped about its feet.The king and all his company sat silent on their horses, marvelling, perceiving that the power of Saruman was overthrown; but how they could not guess.This cuts of at the best part!And now they turned their eyes towards the archway and the ruined gates. There they saw close beside them a great rubble-heap; and suddenly they were aware of two small figures lying on it at their ease, grey-clad, hardly to be seen among the stones. There were bottles and bowls and platters laid beside them, as if they had just eaten well, and now rested from their labour. One seemed asleep; the other, with crossed legs and arms behind his head, leaned back against a broken rock and sent from his mouth long wisps and little rings of thin blue smoke. I could never not laugh at that image of the hobbits and subsequent dialogue.was it Saruman that ordered you to guard his damaged doors, and watch for the arrival of guests, when your attention could be spared from plate and bottle?’‘No, good sir, the matter escaped him,’ answered Merry gravely. ‘He has been much occupied. Our orders came from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard. He commanded me to welcome the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have done my best.’‘And what about your companions? What about Legolas and me?’ cried Gimli, unable to contain himself longer. ‘You rascals, you woolly-footed and wool-pated truants! A fine hunt you have led us! Two hundred leagues, through fen and forest, battle and death, to rescue you! And here we find you feasting and idling – and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villains? Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!’‘You speak for me, Gimli,’ laughed Legolas. ‘Though I would sooner learn how they came by the wine.’‘One thing you have not found in your hunting, and that’s brighter wits,’ said Pippin, opening an eye. ‘Here you find us sitting on a field of victory, amid the plunder of armies, and you wonder how we came by a few well-earned comforts!’‘Well-earned?’ said Gimli. ‘I cannot believe that!’Come on, this is gold. And then Theoden says they are clearly good friends. I loved that part.And then they sit together and talk for a whole chapter and two meals, and Gimli grumpily forgives hobbits some of the debt they acuired by getting themselves kidnapped, and then they barbecue Legolas in weed’s smoke, and it’s seriously the best part of the book. -- source link
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