Post by Stormrider on Jan 20, 2009 18:08:43 GMT -6
From: AnnieofTR (Original Message) Sent: 6/22/2003 5:04 PM
Wk13, Bk6, Ch8, SUMMARY: The Scouring of the Shire
When the Hobbits arrived in Buckland, it was nightfall and they found the bridge over the Brandywine barred by gates on either side. They were told that there was no admittance between sundown and sunrise. After skirmishing with Hob Hayward and Bill Ferny, they decided to spend the night in the Guardhouse even though it was against the rules. The Hobbits had thought of resting at Crickhollow but after discovering that Bag End in Hobbiton had become the residence of the "Chief," possibly Lotho, they planned, instead, to make their way there the following day.
As they rode to Hobbiton, they noticed there had been quite a bit of burning going on and a cloud of smoke rose far away in the woody end. They arrived in Frogmorton as evening fell and were met with another closed gate this time guarded by Shiriffs who proclaimed that the Hobbits were under arrest and they were to be taken to Bywater. Frodo announced that they would go where they pleased and if the Sheriffs wished to accompany them to Bag End, well, that was their affair. To the Hobbits’ dismay they discovered that the Floating Log had been closed so they spent the night in yet another guardhouse. Sam learned that all the inns of the Shire had been closed and that they were in the company of the East Farthing Shirriffs.
After a late start the next day, they departed. When they reached the Three Farthing Stone, which marked the center of the Shire, the Sheriffs could go no further. They were tired and hungry. The Hobbits left and informed the Sheriffs that they would find them in front of the Green Dragon. In Bywater they experienced their first painful shock. Houses were missing or burned down, gardens were full of weeds, the trees had been chopped down, and a tall brick chimney was pouring out black smoke. A whole line of ugly new houses had been built. When the Hobbits reached the Green Dragon they found a group of ruffians carrying clubs. After words were exchanged, Frodo announced that the Dark Tower had fallen and that there was a king in Gondor. Pippin cast back his cloak and drew his sword. Merry and Sam drew theirs but Frodo did not move. The ruffians turned and fled.
Pippin was all for destroying Lotho but Frodo disagreed saying that he needed rescuing for he believed that Lotho was a prisoner at Bag End. Merry felt that they should raise the shire and drive out all these ruffians. Sam rode to Farmer Cotton’s to enlist his lads. After Sam informed Cotton of what was taking place, the farmer and his sons joined the others in the village. Before Sam left the farm, he exchanged a few words with Rosie and Mrs. Cotton. Soon more than a hundred 100 Hobbits were gathered armed with axes, hammers, knives, staves, and hunting bows. They built a large fire and put up barriers at either end of the village. When the Sheriffs arrived and saw what was happening, some ran away but most joined the revolt.
The ruffians arrived and were challenged. The leader charged Merry but was killed by four arrows. The others threw down their weapons and were roped together and locked up under guard. The fiercest battle was still ahead of them and they waited for the morning. Guards were placed around the village to watch through the night. Pippin took off for the Smials to gather an army of Tooks. Sam went off to visit his gaffer. Merry and Sam joined Farmer Cotton at his farm and learned all that had befallen the Shire in their absence. Later Sam and Old Gamgee joined them.
The next morning reinforcements arrived from all over the shire and Merry explained the plans for a battle that would later be called the Battle of Bywater, 1419. It wasn’t long before the army of ruffians arrived. In the ensuing battle, 70 ruffians and nineteen Hobbits lay dead on the field. The ruffians were buried in an old sand pit. The fallen Hobbits were laid together on the hillside. Later a great stone was erected and a garden was set up around it. The heroes of this battle were Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin. Frodo did not draw his sword and his role was to keep the Hobbits from slaying those who had thrown down their weapons.
After lunch at Cotton’s Farm, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and a few other Hobbits headed for Bag End to deal with the "Boss." It was a sad journey as they beheld the destruction and pollution. An ugly, dirty Mill had been built and rows of tarred sheds replaced the beauty that had been there before. Every tree had been felled, even the Party tree. It was worse than the vision Sam saw in the mirror.
At last they arrived at Bag End. When no one answered their knocks or the rings, they entered the beloved hole that now stank and was full of filth and disorder. They searched all the rooms but could not find Lotho. Suddenly Saruman appeared in the doorway and Frodo realized that this was Sharkey. Neighbors had gathered around outside and when they heard Frodo tell him to leave and never return, they cried, "Don’t let him go. Kill him." Frodo convinced them not to kill Saruman and again urged him to leave by the swiftest way. As Saruman turned to go, he called Wormtongue to follow, drew a knife and stabbed Frodo. The blade snapped on the mithril mail. Immediately the Hobbits led by Sam flung the villain to the ground. Again Frodo stopped them. Saruman announced that Worm had killed Lotho. Wormtongue leapt at Saruman, pulled back his head and slit his throat. Frodo could no longer hold the Hobbits back and they loosed their arrows. Wormtongue lay dead beside his master. So ended the Scouring of the Shire and then they turned their attention to the restoration of the Shire which as Sam had said would take a lot of time and work. Saruman had said it could not be done in their lifetimes. In the following chapter, the cleansing begins . . .
Wk13, Bk6, Ch8, SUMMARY: The Scouring of the Shire
When the Hobbits arrived in Buckland, it was nightfall and they found the bridge over the Brandywine barred by gates on either side. They were told that there was no admittance between sundown and sunrise. After skirmishing with Hob Hayward and Bill Ferny, they decided to spend the night in the Guardhouse even though it was against the rules. The Hobbits had thought of resting at Crickhollow but after discovering that Bag End in Hobbiton had become the residence of the "Chief," possibly Lotho, they planned, instead, to make their way there the following day.
As they rode to Hobbiton, they noticed there had been quite a bit of burning going on and a cloud of smoke rose far away in the woody end. They arrived in Frogmorton as evening fell and were met with another closed gate this time guarded by Shiriffs who proclaimed that the Hobbits were under arrest and they were to be taken to Bywater. Frodo announced that they would go where they pleased and if the Sheriffs wished to accompany them to Bag End, well, that was their affair. To the Hobbits’ dismay they discovered that the Floating Log had been closed so they spent the night in yet another guardhouse. Sam learned that all the inns of the Shire had been closed and that they were in the company of the East Farthing Shirriffs.
After a late start the next day, they departed. When they reached the Three Farthing Stone, which marked the center of the Shire, the Sheriffs could go no further. They were tired and hungry. The Hobbits left and informed the Sheriffs that they would find them in front of the Green Dragon. In Bywater they experienced their first painful shock. Houses were missing or burned down, gardens were full of weeds, the trees had been chopped down, and a tall brick chimney was pouring out black smoke. A whole line of ugly new houses had been built. When the Hobbits reached the Green Dragon they found a group of ruffians carrying clubs. After words were exchanged, Frodo announced that the Dark Tower had fallen and that there was a king in Gondor. Pippin cast back his cloak and drew his sword. Merry and Sam drew theirs but Frodo did not move. The ruffians turned and fled.
Pippin was all for destroying Lotho but Frodo disagreed saying that he needed rescuing for he believed that Lotho was a prisoner at Bag End. Merry felt that they should raise the shire and drive out all these ruffians. Sam rode to Farmer Cotton’s to enlist his lads. After Sam informed Cotton of what was taking place, the farmer and his sons joined the others in the village. Before Sam left the farm, he exchanged a few words with Rosie and Mrs. Cotton. Soon more than a hundred 100 Hobbits were gathered armed with axes, hammers, knives, staves, and hunting bows. They built a large fire and put up barriers at either end of the village. When the Sheriffs arrived and saw what was happening, some ran away but most joined the revolt.
The ruffians arrived and were challenged. The leader charged Merry but was killed by four arrows. The others threw down their weapons and were roped together and locked up under guard. The fiercest battle was still ahead of them and they waited for the morning. Guards were placed around the village to watch through the night. Pippin took off for the Smials to gather an army of Tooks. Sam went off to visit his gaffer. Merry and Sam joined Farmer Cotton at his farm and learned all that had befallen the Shire in their absence. Later Sam and Old Gamgee joined them.
The next morning reinforcements arrived from all over the shire and Merry explained the plans for a battle that would later be called the Battle of Bywater, 1419. It wasn’t long before the army of ruffians arrived. In the ensuing battle, 70 ruffians and nineteen Hobbits lay dead on the field. The ruffians were buried in an old sand pit. The fallen Hobbits were laid together on the hillside. Later a great stone was erected and a garden was set up around it. The heroes of this battle were Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin. Frodo did not draw his sword and his role was to keep the Hobbits from slaying those who had thrown down their weapons.
After lunch at Cotton’s Farm, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and a few other Hobbits headed for Bag End to deal with the "Boss." It was a sad journey as they beheld the destruction and pollution. An ugly, dirty Mill had been built and rows of tarred sheds replaced the beauty that had been there before. Every tree had been felled, even the Party tree. It was worse than the vision Sam saw in the mirror.
At last they arrived at Bag End. When no one answered their knocks or the rings, they entered the beloved hole that now stank and was full of filth and disorder. They searched all the rooms but could not find Lotho. Suddenly Saruman appeared in the doorway and Frodo realized that this was Sharkey. Neighbors had gathered around outside and when they heard Frodo tell him to leave and never return, they cried, "Don’t let him go. Kill him." Frodo convinced them not to kill Saruman and again urged him to leave by the swiftest way. As Saruman turned to go, he called Wormtongue to follow, drew a knife and stabbed Frodo. The blade snapped on the mithril mail. Immediately the Hobbits led by Sam flung the villain to the ground. Again Frodo stopped them. Saruman announced that Worm had killed Lotho. Wormtongue leapt at Saruman, pulled back his head and slit his throat. Frodo could no longer hold the Hobbits back and they loosed their arrows. Wormtongue lay dead beside his master. So ended the Scouring of the Shire and then they turned their attention to the restoration of the Shire which as Sam had said would take a lot of time and work. Saruman had said it could not be done in their lifetimes. In the following chapter, the cleansing begins . . .