so-called-quail

[so-called-quail]

I saw someone a while back complaining that Aragorn stops being interesting in RotK because once he becomes king he's too lofty and remote and loses the humanity of his character, and I just...

Aragorn lets Beregond think he's being banished for a solid five seconds before telling him he's being sent to be Faramir's captain of the guard. He refuses to tell his friends that he's getting married because if they can't figure it out then they're just going to have to wait and see. Yes, he is a great and lofty king, but he is also still clearly a man whose best friends include Gandalf and Bilbo, and who consistently trolls people as a love language.

#very fair point #yea you can tell he’s spent a lot of time with bilbo and gandalf haha #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter april 23rd

[so-called-quail]

we didn't have one last year but it feels like we should because godDAMN what a ride

all previous ribbons:

week 2 by @cornerful

book 1 and fellowship of the ring by @so-called-quail

the two towers and end of the newsletter by me

#NEW RIBBON??? #OH HELL YES #you are so right after the non-stop entries we need to celebrate #crazy to think we haven't had a break for over a month #ngl i felt very sad finishing today's entry... the story is getting closer to ending and i'm not ready ;-; #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 25th

[so-called-quail]

But in truth all now are in like danger. Though it may be our part to find a bitter end before the Gate of Mordor, if we do so, then you will come also to a last stand, either here or wherever the black tide overtakes you. Farewell!'

At last the trumpets rang and the army began to move. Troop by troop, and company by company, they wheeled and went off eastward. And long after they had passed away out of sight down the great road to the Causeway, Merry stood there. The last glint of the morning sun on spear and helm twinkled and was lost, and still he remained with bowed head and heavy heart, feeling friendless and alone. Everyone that he cared for had gone away into the gloom that hung over the distant eastern sky; and little hope at all was left in his heart that he would ever see any of them again.

As if recalled by his mood of despair, the pain in his arm returned, and he felt weak and old, and the sunlight seemed thin. He was roused by the touch of Bergil's hand.

Forever soft about how important even small characters like Bergil are shown to be, or that rider who saved Merry and Pippin. Anyone can do good, not just the heroes. The great wheels that move the world are turned by many hands, often without heed for the grand design.

None of the plot would happen without the unseen actions of so many, but we get glimpses that prove minor characters are not just set pieces. I like that.

#oh. I like this :) #anyone can do good #the great wheels that move the world are turned by many hands #💖💖💖 #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 18th

[so-called-quail]

Pardon my catching up with the posting 💚

'Then we must take the road, Mr. Frodo,' said Sam. 'We must take it and chance our luck, if there is any luck in Mordor. We might as well give ourselves up as wander about any more, or try to go back. Our food won't last. We've got to make a dash for it!'

'All right, Sam,' said Frodo. 'Lead me! As long as you've got any hope left. Mine is gone. But I can't dash, Sam. I'll just plod along after you.'

'Before you start any more plodding, you need sleep and food, Mr. Frodo. Come and take what you can get of them!'

Had an incredible amount of feelings about Lead me, for my hope is wasted but even without it I will not dishonor yours. I've been thinking hard about the humility of Sam's love lately, and here is the humility in Frodo's.

And of course the ways their roles are being broken down and here reversed gets me good. Frodo and Sam and the theme of following. Augh. Ough.

#💖💖💖 #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 18th

[so-called-quail]

🗡That will depend on the manner of your return 🏹

#ah… forgot to reblog this one too #gorgeous art love it #I guess it’s crying over faramir hours now ;-; #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 11th #<- for the quote #lotr newsletter march 13th #<- for the drawing

[so-called-quail]

not a legolas girl or an aragorn girl but a third, more insane thing (faramir girl)

#oh I had this in my drafts and forgot to post this lmao #but yea someone got this on my dash last year before I got to read about faramir and this has been living in my head rent free #just tossing this thought around like a beach ball and wondering who is this guy and what to expect when he shows up #and yea after everything that’s happened up to this point I just gotta say. I get it now #faramir my beloved 💖 #funny enough my phone wants to autocorrect to FARAMIR in all caps everytime I type his name #guess I’ve been yelling about him in my notes too much alsjfhskdjsksj #lotr newsletter

[so-called-quail]

If it is destroyed, then he will fall; and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of the strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that was made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed.

I am having thoughts about these words in the context of Sméagol. And others. And fairy stories.

Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.

This is why I bother to pick broken bits of plastic out of the ground and litter out of forests! I have to believe in a future where that small work wasn't for nothing. Even if I can't fix the huge problem myself, I can do that, and I refuse to be cynical like the people who say such efforts are wasted 😤

Plus I prefer not to find bits of sticker and bin among my root vegetables, thanks.

'If this be jest, then it is too bitter for laughter. Nay, it is the last move in a great jeopardy, and for one side or the other it will bring the end of the game.' Then he drew Andúril and held it up glittering in the sun. 'You shall not be sheathed again until the last battle is fought,' he said.

Sword Autism 💚

'...Tower raided and all, and hundreds of your lads done in, and prisoner got away. If that's the way you fighters go on, small wonder there's bad news from the battles.'

'That's cursed rebel-talk, and I'll stick you, if you don't shut it down, see?'

I'm fascinated by the orcs' infighting, particularly "rebel-talk" and what it might mean. Plus the obvious thread of surveillance among peers...

The other halted, and his voice was full of fear and rage. 'You cursed peaching sneakthief!' he yelled. 'You can't do your job, and you can't even stick by your own folk. Go to your filthy Shriekers, and may they freeze the flesh off you! If the enemy doesn't get them first. They've done in Number One, I've heard, and I hope it's true!'

!!!!! The vitriol!! Compels me

There the hobbits sat under the cover of the thorny bush, while the drear light of Mordor faded slowly into a deep and starless night; and Sam spoke into Frodo's ear all that he could find words for of Gollum's treacherous attack, the horror of Shelob, and his own adventures with the orcs. When he had finished, Frodo said nothing but took Sam's hand and pressed it.

'Well, I suppose we must be going on again,' he said. 'I wonder how long it will be before we really are caught and all the toiling and the slinking will be over, and in vain.' He stood up. 'It's dark, and we cannot use the Lady's glass. Keep it safe for me, Sam. I have nowhere to keep it now, except in my hand, and I shall need both hands in the blind night. But Sting I give to you. I have got an orc-blade, but I do not think it will be my part to strike any blow again.'

A a a a a ah

#reblogging this like I’m scrapbooking here teehee #just love reading these quotes and commentary and want to save them #curious about your sméagol thoughts! it’s been fascinating reading commentary on him in the tag #he’s such an interesting and complicated character. and it’s really cool having sam brought up as a sort of counterpart #idk how soon I’ll reread these books but I’ll definitely be looking closer at sméagol in the future #also sword autism got a laugh from me aksjskdjdhs #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 16th

[so-called-quail]

suddenly Merry awoke, and he said:

'I am hungry. What is the time?'

- ICONIC

#BLESS THIS MOMENT #HOBBITS 💖 #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 15th

[so-called-quail]

the 15th of March, in fragments:

The Houses of Healing

A mist was in Merry's eyes of tears and weariness when they drew near the ruined Gate of Minas Tirith. He gave little heed to the wreck and slaughter that lay about all. Fire and smoke and stench was in the air

Slowly the lights of the torches in front of him flickered and went out, and he was walking in a darkness; and he thought: 'This is a tunnel leading to a tomb; there we shall stay for ever.' But suddenly into his dream there fell a living voice.

'Well, Merry! Thank goodness I have found you!'

🌸

'Lean on me, Merry lad!' said Pippin. 'Come now! Foot by foot. It's not far.'

'Are you going to bury me?' said Merry.

'No, indeed!' said Pippin, trying to sound cheerful, though his heart was wrung with fear and pity. 'No, we are going to the Houses of Healing.'

🌿

'If ever I see the Lady again, I will tell her!' he cried. 'Light and now water!' Then he stopped. 'Let me drink first, Mr. Frodo,' he said.

'All right, but there's room enough for two.'

'I didn't mean that,' said Sam. 'I mean: if it's poisonous, or something that will show its badness quick, well, better me than you, master, if you understand me.'

'I do. But I think we'll trust our luck together, Sam; or our blessing. Still, be careful now, if it's very cold!'

✨

Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising

I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.

To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking...

🌅

upon the foremost ship a great standard broke

🏴

For it is said in old lore: The hands of the king are the hands of a healer.

🤲🏽🌿

as the sweet influence of the herb stole about the chamber (...) an air wholly fresh and clean and young, as if it had not before been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam.

'His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.'

...the scent of orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees, suddenly Merry awoke

🦋

'I shan't ever be able to smoke again without thinking of him, and that day, Pippin, when he rode up to Isengard and was so polite.'

'Smoke then, and think of him!' said Aragorn.

🥮

Dear me! We Tooks and Brandybucks, we can't live long on the heights.'

'No,' said Merry. 'I can't. Not yet, at any rate. But at least, Pippin, we can now see them, and honour them. It is best to love first what you are fitted to love, I suppose: you must start somewhere and have some roots, and the soil of the Shire is deep. Still there are things deeper and higher; and not a gaffer could tend his garden in what he calls peace but for them, whether he knows about them or not. I am glad that I know about them, a little. But I don't know why I am talking like this. Where is that leaf? And get my pipe out of my pack, if it isn't broken.'

🍎

Far above the Ephel Dúath in the West the night-sky was still dim and pale. There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

🍃

#“are you going to bury me” STOOOP IT HURTS #I am. having big feelings over merry. everything that’s happened to him makes me want to SOB #gosh march 15th really had it all #the action. the death and despair. the rebirth and triumph and healing. #and most importantly. hope 💖💖💖 #things have been so dreary since then. and knowing tomorrow (25th) is a Big Day. I’d like to carry over some of that hope #thanks for sharing your favorite moments for this day :) #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 15th

[so-called-quail]

the 15th of March, in fragments:

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

&

The Pyre of Denethor

'But Faramir!' cried Pippin. 'He is not dead, and they will burn him alive, if someone does not stop them.'

alone in the porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond, clad in the black and silver of the Guard; and he held the door against them.

Denethor's eyes flamed again, and taking the Stone under his arm he drew a knife

🗡

'I can go on now. But this blind dark seems to be getting into my heart. As I lay in prison, Sam, I tried to remember the Brandywine, and Woody End, and The Water running through the mill at Hobbiton. But I can't see them now.'

🍂

Yet one stood there still: Dernhelm the young, faithful beyond fear; and he wept, for he had loved his lord as a father.

Merry crawled on all fours like a dazed beast, and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick.

'King's man! King's man!' his heart cried within him. 'You must stay by him...'

But his will made no answer, and his body shook.

Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking; yet now the voice seemed strange,

Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. 'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'

🐉

She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least she should not die alone, unaided.

🌱

'Lord, lord,' began Merry brokenly, 'she is—'; but at that moment there was a great clamour, and all about them horns and trumpets were blowing. Merry looked round: he had forgotten the war, and all the world beside, and many hours it seemed since the king rode to his fall, though in truth it was only a little while.

🐾

Then suddenly he beheld his sister Éowyn as she lay, and he knew her. He stood a moment as a man who is pierced in the midst of a cry by an arrow through the heart

'Éowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!'

Over the field rang his clear voice calling: 'Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!'

And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more.

Death

they cried with one voice loud and terrible

🌬

Faithful servant yet master's bane,

Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane.

⛰

Under the lifting skirts of the dreary canopy dim light leaked into Mordor...

'Things are looking up, Mr. Frodo. Haven't you got some hope now?'

'Well no, not much, Sam,' Frodo sighed. 'That's away beyond the mountains. We're going east not west. And I'm so tired. And the Ring is so heavy, Sam. And I begin to see it in my mind all the time, like a great wheel of fire.'

☄

#OH THAT SECOND QUOTE #sam had a moment on the 23rd that parallels that!! where he’s thirsty and imagines bodies of water in the shire #and he’s actually able to draw on his memories and feel as though he’s there… vs frodo here who can’t… #gosh I forgot frodo had this moment. I’m going to be Thinking about this #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 15th #and also #lotr newsletter march 23rd #though I really should make my own post highlighting the passage from the 23rd. oops not tonight…

[so-called-quail]

the 15th of March, in fragments, part 1 of 3

Bc I didn't post my favorite bits for like a week lol whoops

'The West has failed. Go back and burn!'

The messengers without bow or answer turned and fled.

he stood up and looked the old man in the eyes. 'I will take your leave, sir,' he said; 'for I want to see Gandalf very much indeed. But he is no fool; and I will not think of dying until he despairs of life.'

⚔

a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!

Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!

And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music

📯

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. (...)and all fled before his face.

All save one.

🌄

And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.

🐎

Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it.

#hey corner! it’s nice to see you on my dash :) hope you’re doing well #ooh nice quotes here. gosh reading the 15th entry was such an ✨experience✨ tbh I’m still taking it all in #so its cool to reread some passages this way and see what stuck out you #forgot about that moment with the rooster crowing before the horns. what a great moment! #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 15th

[so-called-quail]

Éowyn, please, I love you.

#it's crying over éowyn hours #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 20th

[so-called-quail]

But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam's plain hobbit-face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.

Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam, etc etc.

Also that little 'or seemed to die' there to tell us that some deep-down part of Samwise Gamgee is still stubbornly thinking 'maybe'.

#sam 💖 #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 19th

[so-called-quail]

Wow, this description doesn’t hurt at all (says the person sobbing about it).

#“and there he lay like a dead thing” CRUEL THAT IS SO CRUEL #I’M NOT OVER MARCH 13TH YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 19th

[so-called-quail]

'Then, Éowyn of Rohan, I say to you that you are beautiful. In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still; but neither flower nor lady have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart, if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still. For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow, and the same hand drew us back.'

'Alas, not me, lord!' she said. 'Shadow lies on me still. Look not to me for healing! I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle.'

Éowyn is like... Sir, you may be valiant and kind and fine to look at, but I'm NOT in the right headspace for any of that sweet-talking right now.

#skfdhdsjfhsjd #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 20th

[so-called-quail]

The scenes with Eowyn and Faramir are my favorites in the whole series, and I will never get over the fact that they cut them from the movies.

#oh they WHAT #faramir and éowyn scenes cut from the movies?? #what a crime. I really enjoyed reading them :(( #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 20th

[so-called-quail]

and just when you think that things can't get any worse or more tense, here comes the lack of updates from frodo and sam with a steel chair

#noooo 😭 #I need to know what happens to them… #lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter march 21st