The Hobbit - Chapter 03 - A Short Rest

[Formendacil]

A short chapter, mostly filled with happy tidings, this chapter is one that nonetheless is a bit of a favourite for me, most likely because of its connections to the greater Legendarium.

Think about it. In this chapter we become acquainted with Elrond Halfelven- although at this stage he seems to be more emphasized as Elrond Half-Man, the son of Earendil, and an immediate link to the Silmarillion. Then we get the revelation of the true nature of Orcrist, Glamdring, and Sting- swords of Gondolin. And, to be quite serious, I really WOULD like the know the story of how those swords came from the fall of Gondolin to hands of the trolls. I've always been quite fascinated by the fact that Glamdring was "The King of Gondolin's Sword"- meaning that it belonged to Turgon. Who took it from his dead body?

On the same subject, who bore Orcrist? This sword seems to have been the partner of Glamdring- yet it is not marked out as the king's sword! Was it Tuor's? This seems unlikely, since Tuor bore an axe in the Book of Lost Tales (and from notes in Unfinished Tales, it seems that this remained Tolkien's idea). Was it Maeglin's sword? Maeglin seems like the only other of the Gondolindrim who would have been likely to bear the partner of the King's sword.

Finally, if Sting was in the same batch of weapons... was it also born by some high lord of Gondolin? There is no evidence that it was... but the fascinating possibility remains.

Another connection to the greater Legendarium that will bear major fruit in the Lord of the Rings is the mention of Durin- the father of the Longbeards. Really, from Thorin's brief description here we have the genesis of Appendix A III.

Not an action chapter, to be sure... but one that is fraught with ties to the greater world of Middle-Earth.