"GL2" - читать интересную книгу автора (vol07)

VIII.
THE RING GOES SOUTH.

The intractable problems that had beset The Lord of the Rings thus far
were now at last resolved. The identity of Trotter had been decisively
established, and with the work done in successive versions of 'The
Council of Elrond' his place and significance in the history of
Middle-earth was already made firm - meagre though that history still
was by comparison with the great structure that would afterwards be
raised on these foundations. The hobbits were equally secure in
number and in name, and the only Bolger who ever roved far afield
would rove no more. Bombadil is to play no further part in the history
of the Ring. Most intractable of all, the question of what had
happened to Gandalf was now conclusively answered; and with that
answer had arisen (as it would turn out) a new focal point in the
history of the War of the Ring: the Treason of Isengard.
There still remained of older narrative writing the journey of the
Company of the Ring from Rivendell to the Red Pass beneath
Caradras, and the passage of the Mines of Moria as far as Balin's
tomb. One major question remained, however, and a final decision
must imperatively be made: who were the members of the Company
to be?
Notes and drafts written on the 'August 1940' examination script
show my father pondering this further. One manuscript page reads as
follows:

Chapter XV. Cut out converse in garden.(1)
Begin by saying hobbits were displeased with Sam.
Tell them of the scouts going out.
Elrond then says union of forces is impossible. We cannot send or
summon great force to aid Frodo. We must send out messages to
all free folk to resist as long as possible, and that a new hope,
though faint, is born. But with Frodo must go helpers, and they
should represent all the Free Folk. Nine should be the number to
set against the Nine Evil Servants. But we should support the war
in Minas Tirith.
Galdor Legolas (2)

Hobbits. Frodo. 1
Sam (promised) 2
Wizard. Gandalf 3



Elf. Legolas 4
Half-elf. Erestor 5
The road should go to Minas Tirith, therefore so far at least
should go:
Men. Aragorn 6
Boromir 7