The Great River (FOTR) - By Hildie

With Lothlorien behind I am always a bit depressed. This chapter isn't one of the great memorable chapters but it does have a few moments. Frodo frosts my cookies in it of course, as he always does. This time he says aloud, not long after an attack by the enemy, that Galadriel wields one of the elven rings of power. I mean seriously, HELLO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING? Anyone with half a brain would know that speaking of those rings is forbidden. Honestly, Elrond said it, Galadriel said it, didn't one of the other elves say it, and even perhaps Gandalf? Anyway, who said it is beside the point, if he'd heard it once he should know better. Especially since she may not have wanted the others to know about the ring, she only showed Frodo and didn't announce it to the whole Fellowship. *kicks Frodo* He frustrates me in his stupidity.

Okay so they're in the boats, going down the Anduin river. Their major choice is coming up: Which way will they go? Boromir is trying to con them into going with him, from little hints Tolkien gives you can still tell he's coveting the ring for himself. I mean the way he's staring at Frodo, it's kinda creepy. Someone needs to smack him about the chops!

I do enjoy the descriptions of the terrain here, but I can see that some non-Tolkien nuts might find it a bit tedious. It does take a lot of words and a long time to get there in this chapter.

The one bit of action and excitement comes with the orc attack and Legolas shooting the beast out of the sky. While Frodo doesn't come out and say it outright we get the idea that this possibly could be one of the Black Riders but on a beast that can fly. It describes how Frodo felt cold and pain in that old wound on his shoulder etc. Go Legolas is all I have to say! He rocks! And the Bow Of Lothlorien sounds brilliant! I love it!

We also see Gollum here, and find out that it was indeed him that Frodo heard in Moria and saw in the talan in Lorien. At least we know that someone with half a brain Sam knows about him and find out that Aragorn also knew. As if Frodo would notice something that Aragorn hadn't... yeah right.

So finally they're almost to where they have to be to make the decision for the finale of this book. They can hear Rauros, and the first bit of the quest is over. Now they've go to decide Minas Tirith or Mt. Doom? In my opinion there never was any question, especially with CREEPY Boromir eyeing up Frodo every chance he gets. The only question is who goes with whom? Do they all go together, split the fellowship or what? By the title of the next chapter we do have a good idea, we just don't know quite how it'll be done.

Only one more to go and we're done with Fellowship of the Rings!