The Fellowship of the Ring Chapters 1 - 5
Frodo awakens several days later in Rivendell and finds himself facing Gandalf. The wizard tells Frodo that he had borne a splinter from the Witch-King’s sword in his wound, a poison that would have felled many mighty warriors. Frodo had survived despite being hours away from fading into the wraith world, and he even now retained a certain transparency. Elrond had cured Frodo, and the other members of his company had safely arrived in Rivendell. Frodo reunites with Bilbo as well, who appears significantly older. He had traveled to the locations of his old adventure and had finally settled in Rivendell, where he had grown close to Aragorn. Bilbo momentarily transforms at the sight of Frodo’s ring, as greed and malice told his features for a brief second. Bilbo is wearied, and Frodo spends a few quiet moments with his uncle that night. The following morning, Elrond holds a council with representatives from various races to decide the fate of the ring. He informs the council about the Second Age, when Sauron had forged the One ring, and the Last Alliance between Men, and Elves was created to oppose him. They had defeated Sauron, but the Isildur failed to destroy the ring. The Enemy continued to dwell in Mordor where he continued to regain his strength, and he was now strong enough to mount an attack. Gloin, a dwarf, informs the council of Mordor’s demand that the Dwarves aid Sauron in finding a ring or risk a war. Sauron’s influence had never penetrated the southern region of Middle-Earth due to the Kingdom of Gondor.
Boromir, the son of the steward of Gondor, informs the council of the increased assaults from the East and attests that he had recently survived a particularly brutal battle. He clarifies that he does not seek Military aid, but rather aid in deciphering a dream. He tells the council about a dream of a sword that would be reforged to stand against the forces of Sauron, and that a Halfling will stand forth. Aragorn, dressed in fine elven mail is introduced as the Heir of Isildur, as well as heir to the Kingdom of Gondor. He promises Boromir that he will reforge Isildur’s sword and come to Gondor’s aid, but Boromir appears doubtful. Gandalf informs the council of his recent altercation with Saruman the white, now renegade wizard in service to Sauron. Saruman is preparing an army of Orcs to take the ring for himself, as such it is agreed that the ring ought to be taken to Mordor and destroyed. Boromir suggests they attempt to use the ring but both Elrond and Gandalf explain that its powers of corruption are too great. The council cannot agree on a solution until Frodo volunteers to carry the ring to Mordor.
Elrond forms a council of nine to protect Frodo against the nine Ringwraiths of Sauron, who had been gravely injured and returned to reform in Mordor. The council includes Boromir, who intends to accompany the group no further than Gondor, and Aragorn, who has now reforged the sword of Isildur. Frodo’s friends don’t wish to part from him, so Elrond reluctantly allows Sam, Marry, and Pippin to join the fellowship. Gandalf, Legolas, the Elven Prince from Mirkwood, and Gimli, son of Gloin, become the other members of the Fellowship of the Ring. They set out for Mordor, but in their first leg, they face a severe snowstorm in the Misty mountains and are forced to search for an alternative route for their journey south. The group decides on journeying south through the mines of Moria, the ancient homeland of the Dwarves, that a Dwarf named Balin had tried to retake in recent memory.
At the doors of the mine, the fellowship is attacked and fissures begin to appear among the relationships of the members. Legolas and Gimli argue about the enmity between their races while Boromir berates Gandalf for choosing to journey through the mines. Frodo is captured by a tentacle, as the doors of Moria are opened but Sam manages to rescue him. In the vast mines of Moria, the hobbits learn of Durin, the ancient ancestor of the Dwarves. He had founded the Kingdom of Moria, which was the only place where Mithril could be found, and the dwarves had mined too greedily. They had awoken a primal evil in the depths of the earth, a creature called Durin’s bane, who had destroyed the kingdom of Moria. The group finds a room with the Tomb of Balin and a book that details Balin’s attempt to reclaim Moria. He had failed to do so and been defeated by Orc invaders. Pippin throws a pebble down a well that alerts the resident Orcs and they begin to attack. Frodo survives the onslaught due to Mithril's chainmail, which Bilbo had given him along with the elven blade called Sting. The group nearly reaches the exit of the mines without loss, but Gandalf falls into a vast abyss as he attempts to hold back Durin’s bane. The creature is a Balrog, a vast humanoid shape of black smoke and flame. Gandalf tells the fellowship to escape with his last words.
Analysis
The themes of friendship and the fight between Good and Evil feature prominently in this section of the second book. Elrond’s council provides a greater context to the events occurring in Middle-earth, and the intricacy of these storylines demonstrates the depth of Tolkien's world creation, which hadn’t ever been done to this degree by any author before him. In addition to history, the readers also glimpse the cracks in the race relations that have come forth since the last alliance of Men and Elves. The disunity of the present world order is not a consequence of Sauron’s evil but the failings of the forces of good. These failings are further developed during the initial stages of the Fellowship’s journey as Gimli and Legolas bicker over the history of their races, and the Boromir treats everyone with suspicion.
The answer to the force of evil is repeatedly indicated to be friendship, and it is developed through the Hobbits, along with characters like Gandalf and Aragorn. The hobbits are deeply loyal to one another, and only ever become truly upset at the notion of being separated from their friends. Frodo voluntarily decides to bear the burden of the ring for the greater good, and his friends insist on joining him despite the perils that await them on such an arduous journey. Gandalf demonstrates his loyalty to his friends, as he shields them from the Balrog even at the cost of his own life.
