Hello and welcome to the discussion thread of chapters 9 and 10 of Book 2 of The Fellowship of the Ring! If you are new to this forum, please check in at the LOTR OOC thread before posting.
SUMMARY: LOTR Book 2, Chp 9, The Great River
The morning arrives with the party off-river, and they soon set back on to the river to again drift southwards. They allow the river to carry them at its pace, but rise early and staying afloat as many hours of the day as possible. Days pass and the landscape transistions from bare to bleak. Sam catches sight of Gollum in the river, and Aragorn mentions he has been aware of their follower since Moria. Aragorn tells Frodo and Sam he will watch for the remainder of that night.
Another day passes and the party comes upon rapids at night, and they quickly turn the boats aside to escape the danger. However, their turning takes them to the eastern shore, and they are assaulted by a rain of orc-arrows. After some struggle, they manage to turn the boats and land on the western shore, only to hear an evil cry in the night sky above. Legolas' bow proves a great boon, as he manages to shoot the thing out of the sky, much to the dismay of the orcs on the opposite shore.
The morning brings debate about which way the party should travel, and again it is seen that Boromir is intent upon returning to his homeland, but rescinds to support the fellowship in their travels as far as he can go, to the Tindrock. The boats are carried over land past the rapids and the party again takes to the water. After a brief journey through rain and fog, the party is awed by the sight of the Argonath, the fearsome carvings of the kings of old, seemingly warning away anyone who would venture in between. Sam's fear is put to rest by Strider, who in a brief moment of awakening, reveals his kingly stature as Aragorn.
The boats shoot past the chasm of the stone sentinels which opens onto a long lake flanked by tall hills at the far end. The falls of Rauros are audible just beyond sight past the hills, where the fellowship must decide their final path.
SUMMARY: LOTR Book 2, Chp 10, The Breaking of the Fellowship
For rest and shelter, Strider directs the landing on the west bank. Frodo is wary, and his sword Sting reveals faint orc-sign. The dawn is red with black clouds in the east. The party gathers to discuss the final path, but no one volunteers a decision, and so, given the task of choosing, Frodo asks for an hour alone to consider. Boromir quietly leaves the group and follows Frodo, feigning to guard him, but instead pleading and cajoling insistingly with Frodo for the cause of taking the ring to use in force against Sauron. Frodo steps away in fear of Boromir's apparent anxiety, and as Boromir lunges at him, enraged, Frodo uses the ring to escape. Boromir yells at Frodo, accusing him of plotting to take the ring to Sauron. However, Boromir trips and falls in the pursuit of Frodo, and crying, he comes to himself in the realization of his grievous error.
Frodo runs away to the hill top, where he looks across the land. He perceives the searching of the eye, and manages to remove the ring before he is caught. He comes to terms with the fact that he must leave the fellowship and continue on alone. His decision made, he heads down the hill, placing the ring back on his hand for concealment.
The party wonders what his decision will be, and notices the time has passed, and just then Boromir walks up and confesses what he has done. In fear for his safety, the search for Frodo commences. Sam quickly catches on and runs to the boats, and jumps into the water to follow the apparently empty boat that is leaving without him, calling to Mr. Frodo. Frodo pulls him into the boat, and the two land on the far shore, and begin making their way to the east and into the Emyn Muil.