Barliman's Chat This Saturday, Hall of Fire resumes reading through Fellowship of the Ring as Aragorn assumes command of the Company.

The Ranger leads them away from the Khazad-dum toward the Elvish refuge of Lothlórien.

‘There lie the woods of Lothlórien!’ said Legolas. `That is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey.’

FoTR Book II Chapter VI: Lothlórien

Stopping briefly to tend to Frodo’s injury, Aragorn is amazed to find Bilbo’s coat of mithril, which saved Frodo from his spear wound in Moria.

When they move on, Legolas and Aragorn are relieved to reach Lórien ahead of persuing orcs. However, Boromir is wary: among Men, the name of the forest is surrounded by strange rumours.

The elves of Lothlórien prove equally mistrustful, especially when they discover a dwarf in the party. They guide the party into Lórien, but later demand Gimli be blindfolded. Gimli objects they seem destined come to blows until Aragorn steps in with a deft solution — all the Company shall go blindfolded.

Join us tomorrow (Saturday, July 14) at 6.00pm ET (New York time), when we’ll discuss all this and much more as we continue our Fellowship of the Ring read-through!


Frodo and Haldir in Lothlórien by Ted Nasmith.

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