The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Elrond

Alfirin · 12-27-2012, 08:23 PM

Well, in his defense, Elrond probably has much higher expenses than Gladriel/Celborn. Lothlorien is extremely well hidden and isolated, I'm not sure if even that many ELVES know how to get there. So I would imagine visitors are quite rare, and for the most part, Galadriel only has to worry about meeting the needs of her own people.
In Contrast, Rivindell gets a fair amount of visitng traffic (it's nearly all elf, but that's still a fair amont) It's the "last Homely House" before the Misty Mountains (which means, I suppose it's actually the "First Homely House" if you are coming from the Misty Mountains or beyond them. A lot of elves probably stop there on the way to the Grey Havens, as well as a few men of some note (Aragorn was raised there, and I would imagine that one or two other dunedain are on good enough terms with elves that they at least pop in from time to time (especially while young Aragorn lived there, to check on thier leader) Elrond has also just hosted a MASSIVE (read expensive) summit that has lasted a LONG time; his stores have likely been depleted. And what exactly could he give them? Boats would be useless at that point in the trip, he KNOWS the fellowship is going overland (actually they'd be a hinderance, as they'd be one more thing to carry, and a heavy one) He probably actually did give them some food and clothing, just after the summit he probably did not have a lot to spare of either (and Tolkein probably did not think to mention it). They have a Ranger, a Captain of the Watch of Ithillien and a skilled elven archer in the party, foraging will probably be pretty good until they can get to Lothlorien (an excess food is more weight) Cloaks like those may be a Lothlorien secret.
I would also point out that Elrond being stingy is not borne out by the fact that he gives a LOT of stuff at other times. A footnote by Tolkien to one of the illustrations in the Annotated Hobbit says that, while in Rivendell, Bilbo (and the dwarves) was actually fitted with new boots, though Bilbo left them in Rivendell on his way back (probably because he did not need them anymore) And then there is the matter of Bilbo's retirement. No only does he permit a hobbit to reside rent free for the rest of his life in his Kingdom, he (or rather his elves) gives bilbo a lot of little gifts like the silver bound pearl mouthpieced pipes he later gives to Merry and Pippen and probably the gold he gives Sam. And presumably, given where he writes it, the actual Red Book of Westmarch is written on Rivendell Parchment (and bear in mind that, unlike modern paper, parchment is hard to make and EXPENSIVE ), with Rivendell Ink and bound in Rivendell Leather.

12-27-2012, 08:23 PM	#3
Alfirin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 435	Well, in his defense, Elrond probably has much higher expenses than Gladriel/Celborn. Lothlorien is extremely well hidden and isolated, I'm not sure if even that many ELVES know how to get there. So I would imagine visitors are quite rare, and for the most part, Galadriel only has to worry about meeting the needs of her own people. In Contrast, Rivindell gets a fair amount of visitng traffic (it's nearly all elf, but that's still a fair amont) It's the "last Homely House" before the Misty Mountains (which means, I suppose it's actually the "First Homely House" if you are coming from the Misty Mountains or beyond them. A lot of elves probably stop there on the way to the Grey Havens, as well as a few men of some note (Aragorn was raised there, and I would imagine that one or two other dunedain are on good enough terms with elves that they at least pop in from time to time (especially while young Aragorn lived there, to check on thier leader) Elrond has also just hosted a MASSIVE (read expensive) summit that has lasted a LONG time; his stores have likely been depleted. And what exactly could he give them? Boats would be useless at that point in the trip, he KNOWS the fellowship is going overland (actually they'd be a hinderance, as they'd be one more thing to carry, and a heavy one) He probably actually did give them some food and clothing, just after the summit he probably did not have a lot to spare of either (and Tolkein probably did not think to mention it). They have a Ranger, a Captain of the Watch of Ithillien and a skilled elven archer in the party, foraging will probably be pretty good until they can get to Lothlorien (an excess food is more weight) Cloaks like those may be a Lothlorien secret. I would also point out that Elrond being stingy is not borne out by the fact that he gives a LOT of stuff at other times. A footnote by Tolkien to one of the illustrations in the Annotated Hobbit says that, while in Rivendell, Bilbo (and the dwarves) was actually fitted with new boots, though Bilbo left them in Rivendell on his way back (probably because he did not need them anymore) And then there is the matter of Bilbo's retirement. No only does he permit a hobbit to reside rent free for the rest of his life in his Kingdom, he (or rather his elves) gives bilbo a lot of little gifts like the silver bound pearl mouthpieced pipes he later gives to Merry and Pippen and probably the gold he gives Sam. And presumably, given where he writes it, the actual Red Book of Westmarch is written on Rivendell Parchment (and bear in mind that, unlike modern paper, parchment is hard to make and EXPENSIVE ), with Rivendell Ink and bound in Rivendell Leather.