Barliman's Chat This Saturday, Hall of Fire rejoins Frodo, Sam and Pippin on the road to Bucklebury Ferry as we return to our chapter-by-chapter read-through of Fellowship of The Ring.

“That settles it!” said Frodo. “Short cuts make delays, but inns make longer ones. At all costs we must keep you away from the Golden Perch. We want to get to Bucklebury before dark.”

FoTR Book 1, Chapter 4: A Shortcut to Mushrooms

In the morning, Gildor and his company of elves are gone. Frodo decides the road is too dangerous, and heads cross-country instead.

They scramble through bog and briar, finally emerging in the fields of Farmer Maggot — Frodo’s nemesis in his mushroom-stealing youth. But Maggot informs the trio that a Black Rider has already been there, searching for “Baggins”. With night fast approaching, how shall Frodo get to the ferry un-noticed?

Does Frodo make the right choices in going cross-country? Is he clever to disregard the more knowledgable misgivings of Pippin, or a little foolhardy? And what does it say about his character that he remains reluctant to fully involve his friends despite the increasing danger?

Also, what of Sam’s musing on the nature of elves; Maggot’s sharp guesses into what brings the Black Riders to the Shire; and Pippin’s badgering at Frodo for infromation?

Join us Saturday at 6pm ET in #thehalloffire when we will explore all these questions and more as we continue our Fellowship of the Ring read-through!

Farmer Maggot and the Nazgûl by Andy Smith.

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