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Things of Middle-earth

Gandalf's Letter to Frodo

Type: Books & Scrolls

Description:

The letter of instructions for Frodo that Gandalf leaves with Barliman Butterbur, proprietor of the Prancing Pony in Bree, which Frodo does not receive until months later.
[Said] the landlord.... 'Three months back [old Gandalf] walked right into my room without a knock.... I want a message took to the Shire. Have you anyone you can send, and trust to go? I can find someone, I said, tomorrow, maybe, or the day after. Make it tomorrow, he says, and then he gave me a letter.

'It's addressed plain enough,' said Mr. Butterbur, producing a letter from his pocket...:

Mr. FRODO BAGGINS, BAG END, HOBBITON in the SHIRE.

'A letter for me from Gandalf!' cried Frodo.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 10, Strider

Gandalf's letter in Tengwar.
Gandalf's letter of instructions to Frodo, written in Westron (as English) with Sindarin-style Tengwar (Elvish script).
Frodo looked carefully at the seal before he broke it. It seemed certainly to be Gandalf's. Inside, written in the wizard's strong but graceful script, was the following message:
THE PRANCING PONY, BREE.
Midyear's Day, Shire Year, 1418.

Dear Frodo,

Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of July at latest. I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you, if I find that you are gone. Leave a message for me here, if you pass through Bree. You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the Road: a Man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our business and will help you. Make for Rivendell. There I hope we may meet again. If I do not come, Elrond will advise you.

Yours in haste

GANDALF. G-Rune

PS. Do NOT use It again, not for any reason whatever! Do not travel by night! G-Rune

PPS. Make sure that it is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is AragornG-Rune
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
PPPS. I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber-room: thing wanted always buried. If he forgets, I shall roast him.

Fare Well!  G-Rune
Frodo read the letter to himself, and then passed it to Pippin and Sam. 'Really old Butterbur has made a mess of things!' he said. 'He deserves roasting. If I had got this at once, we might all have been safe in Rivendell by now.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 10, Strider

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 15Jul07, 7Apr10, 24Apr10

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