Post by Stormrider on Apr 4, 2008 6:12:57 GMT -6
It has been a long time since I actually read LOTR again (it was at our B&N study) so I had forgotten this information about Ent Draught. I just thought I would post it here.
From the "Treebeard" chapter of The Two Towers when they stop at the ent-house half way to Treebeard's house:
The next morning they drank a different draught:
What was with the colored lights? Is that the way Ents cook?
Why did the trees in the court begin to glow? Was Treebeards preparation of the draught drawing from those trees or nourishing them?
I rather like the idea of the ent-draughts having different tastes. It is nice to have a variety of flavors. Interesting also on how the hobbits felt the effects of the draught on their persons as it rose up their bodies. It seems like it was very stimulating and invigorating.
From the "Treebeard" chapter of The Two Towers when they stop at the ent-house half way to Treebeard's house:
Treebeard lifted two great vessels and stood them on the table. They seemed to be filled with water; but he held his hands over them, and immediately they began to glow, one with a golden and the other with a rich green light; and the blending of the two lights lit the bay, as if the sun of summer was shining through a roof of young leaves. Looking back, the hobbits saw that the trees in the court had also begun to glow, faintly at first, but steadily quickening, until every leaf was edged with light: some green, some gold, some red as copper; while the tree-trunks looked like pillars moulded out of luminous stone.
'Well, well, now we can talk again,' said Treebeard. 'You are thirsty, I esxpect. Perhaps you are also tired. Drink this!' He went to the back of the bay, and then they saw that several tall stone jars stood there, with heavy lids. He removed on the lids, and dipped in a great ladle, and with it filled three bowls, one very large bowl, and two smaller ones.
'This is an ent-house,' he said, ' and there are no seats, I fear. But you may sit on the table.' Picking up the hobbits he set them on the great stone slab, six feet above the ground, and there they sat dangling their legs, and drinking in sips.
The drink was like water, indeed very like the taste of the draughts they had drunk from the Entwash near the borders of the forest, and yet there was some scent or savour in it which they could not describe: it was faint, but it reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night. The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair. Indeed the hobbits felt that the hair on their head was actually standing up, waving and curling and growing. As for Treebeard, he first laved his feet in the basin beyond the arch, and then he drained his bowl at one draught, one long, slow draught. The hobbits thought he would never stop.
'Well, well, now we can talk again,' said Treebeard. 'You are thirsty, I esxpect. Perhaps you are also tired. Drink this!' He went to the back of the bay, and then they saw that several tall stone jars stood there, with heavy lids. He removed on the lids, and dipped in a great ladle, and with it filled three bowls, one very large bowl, and two smaller ones.
'This is an ent-house,' he said, ' and there are no seats, I fear. But you may sit on the table.' Picking up the hobbits he set them on the great stone slab, six feet above the ground, and there they sat dangling their legs, and drinking in sips.
The drink was like water, indeed very like the taste of the draughts they had drunk from the Entwash near the borders of the forest, and yet there was some scent or savour in it which they could not describe: it was faint, but it reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night. The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair. Indeed the hobbits felt that the hair on their head was actually standing up, waving and curling and growing. As for Treebeard, he first laved his feet in the basin beyond the arch, and then he drained his bowl at one draught, one long, slow draught. The hobbits thought he would never stop.
The next morning they drank a different draught:
He poured them out two full bowls from a stone jar, but from a different jar. The taste was not the same as it had been the night before: it was earthier and richer, more sustaining and food-like, so to speak. While the hobbits drank, sitting on the edge of the bed, and nibbling small pieces of elf-cake (more because they felt that eating was a necessary part of breakfast than because they felt hungry), Treebeard stood, humming in Entish or Elvish or some strange tongue, and looking up at the sky.
What was with the colored lights? Is that the way Ents cook?
Why did the trees in the court begin to glow? Was Treebeards preparation of the draught drawing from those trees or nourishing them?I rather like the idea of the ent-draughts having different tastes. It is nice to have a variety of flavors. Interesting also on how the hobbits felt the effects of the draught on their persons as it rose up their bodies. It seems like it was very stimulating and invigorating.
