The Lord of the Rings: The Palantir (Part Three)

The Tale

 

Gandalf returns to the others who stand around the covered stone and reports the situation to Aragorn, Theoden, and Eomer. They have had a narrow escape, but in answer to Aragorn’s query he says that Pippin should be alright now. With typical Hobbit resiliency he seems to be recovering from the horror. Perhaps too quickly; he should not know where the Orthanc-stone is bestowed. Will Aragorn take it for safe keeping? ‘It is a dangerous charge.’

Not to him, Aragorn counters. For surely this is the Palantir stone that Elendil set in the tower ages ago, and so rightfully belongs to his Heir. ‘My hour draws nigh. I will take it.’

To the others’ surprise Gandalf lifts the covered stone, bows, and presents it to Aragorn. The wizard says it is a token of many things that shall be given back, but he counsels him to be careful and not use it yet. Aragorn counters he has always been careful through these long years, and Gandalf replies then be sure and do not stumble at the end of the race.

Especially Pippin should not know where it is, lest the temptation overcome him again. For he has handled the stone. Gandalf blames himself for not being quicker on the uptake, but he was busy with Saruman and did not immediately guess the nature of the stone.

Aragorn says that now much is explained: the link between Isengard and Mordor and how it worked. ‘Strange powers have our enemies, and strange weaknesses!’ said Theoden. ‘But it has long been said: oft evil will shall evil mar.’ Even so, says Gandalf, they have been strangely ‘fortunate’. If he himself had tried looking into the stone he might very well have been ensnared, and at the very least revealed himself to the Enemy too soon, which would be disastrous before the time of secrecy was no longer of any help.

Aragorn says surely that time has come, but Gandalf disagrees. There is now a short period of doubt and confusion. The Enemy thinks Pippin was captive in Isengard, perhaps driven to look into the Stone for his own torment. They must move before he learns his error. Gandalf will ride away with Pippin at once; they are still too close to the neighborhood of Isengard, where Sauron’s forces will now come looking. Theoden says they will follow at dawn, and Gandalf again counsels them to ride to the cover of the hills and Helm’s Deep.

At that moment a shadow falls between them and the moonlight. Several Riders cry out; ‘a blind fear and a deadly cold fell over them.’ A vast winged shape wheels over them and turns north, going faster than any wind. Then it is gone.

Gandalf stands, rigid with clenched fists. ‘Nazgul!’ he cried. ‘The Messenger of Mordor. The Nazgul have crossed the river. Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn!’

He springs away, calling for Shadowfax. Aragorn follows. Gandalf scoops up Pippin where he lies, saying that now indeed he shall ride with him. Gandalf carries him to where the wizard lay sleeping before. Shadowfax stands waiting there.  Aragorn takes Pippin. ‘Slinging the small bag which was all his luggage across his shoulders, the wizard leapt upon the horse’s back.’ Aragorn hands him the young hobbit, still bundled in cloak and blanket, and Gandalf is off, advising them to follow fast. ‘Then [Shadowfax] leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.’

‘A beautiful, restful night!’ said Merry to Aragorn.’ Pippin is lucky: he didn’t want to sleep and he wanted to ride with Gandalf, and off he goes! ‘Instead of being turned into a stone himself to stand here for ever as a warning.’ Aragon replies, who knows? If Merry had tried the Stone first, who knows what would have happened? But now Merry’s fate is to go with him. Bring anything Pippin left behind. They must make haste!

 

Bits and Bobs

Whoever claims Tolkien is always too wordy should try putting passages like this into shorter form. My ‘distillation’ is nearly as long as the passage itself, so terse is the telling.

Theoden quotes another proverb, “Oft evil will shall evil mar”, a theme that is repeated throughout the story. This is a principle stated more fully in The Silmarillion by Eru himself: ‘And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.’ God does not will evil, but his grace can turn it to even greater good.

In describing the proposed magical punishment for Pippin’s curiosity by being turned into a stone himself, Merry once again reinforces the ‘folk’ concept in Middle-earth of what magical powers should be. Compare Frodo’s joke about Sam being turned into a spotted toad, a joke that Sam seems to take all too seriously. Any ‘real’ magic we see in the tale is of a much more subtle nature.