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Timeline Event

Hobbits depart Crickhollow

Event Type: General

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: September 26, 3018

Description:

An event in Frodo's Departure from the Shire; see that entry for an overview:
'I have made up my mind,' [Frodo] said finally. 'I am starting tomorrow, as soon as it is light. But I am not going by road.... If I go through the North-gate my departure from Buckland will be known at once.... And... the Bridge and the East Road near the borders will certainly be watched.... The only thing to do is to go off in a quite unexpected direction.'

'But that can only mean going into the Old Forest!' said Fredegar horrified. 'You can't be thinking of doing that. It is quite as dangerous as Black Riders.'

'Not quite,' said Merry. It sounds very desperate, but I believe Frodo is right. It is the only way of getting off without being followed at once. With luck we might get a considerable start.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 5, A Conspiracy Unmasked

Frodo woke suddenly.... Merry was standing there with a candle in one hand, and banging on the door with the other.... 'What is it?' said Frodo....

'It is time to get up. It is half past four and very foggy. Come on! Sam is already getting breakfast ready. Even Pippin is up. I am just going to saddle the ponies.... Wake that sluggard Fatty! At least he must get up and see us off.'

Soon after six o'clock the five hobbits were ready to start. Fatty Bolger was still yawning. They stole quietly out of the house. Merry went in front leading a laden pony, and took his way along a path that went through a spinney behind the house, and then cut across several fields. The... grass was grey with cold dew. Everything was still....

In their shed they found the ponies; sturdy little beasts... good for a long day's work. They mounted, and soon they were riding off into the mist.... After riding for about an hour..., they saw the Hedge looming suddenly ahead.... 'How are you going to get through this?' asked Fredegar.

'Follow me!' said Merry, 'and you will see.' He turned to the left along the Hedge, and soon they came to a point where it bent inwards.... A cutting had been made..., and went sloping gently down into the ground. It... formed a tunnel that dived deep under the Hedge and came out in the hollow on the other side.

Here Fatty Bolger halted. 'Good-bye, Frodo!' he said. 'I wish you were not going into the Forest. I only hope you will not need rescuing before the day is out. But good luck to you — today and every day!'

'If there are no worse things ahead than the Old Forest, I shall be lucky,' said Frodo. 'Tell Gandalf to hurry along the East Road: we shall soon be back on it and going as fast as we can.'

'Good-bye!' they cried, and rode down the slope and disappeared from Fredegar's sight into the tunnel.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 6, The Old Forest

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 20Jun08

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