Gandalf versus the Balrog? Sam facing Shelob in Cirith Ungol? Legolas’s solo at Helm’s Deep? If all these heroic impulses are among the most recognized in the Lord of the Ringsthe greatest achievements of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring lie elsewhere, and are largely underestimated.
The Fellowship of the Ring’s Greatest Feat
To help Frodo in his quest to destroy the One Ring, and then unite around the same banner, the free peoples of Middle-earth against Sauron, the members of The Fellowship of the Ring have carried out a series of defining feats. Among which are the battle of Moria, and everything that goes with it (from the fight against the goblins to the sacrifice of Gandalf against the Balrog), or those of Helm’s Deep or Minas Tirith. Gandalf, like Aragorn, succeeded in restoring faith in Men to fight against the enslavement of Sauron.
However, our heroes performed a much more remarkable feat – less bombastic than Aragorn’s sword fights and Legolas’s pirouettes – during the three volumes of JRR Tolkien, which Peter Jackson put on film from 2001 to 2003. At the beginning of Two Towers, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas set out on the trail of Merry and Pippin, captured by Saruman’s Huruk-Hai. At Peter Jackson’s, we see the trio running many kilometers, the shots of which are successively cut. Between two jokes from Gimli,This montage serves to make us understand that they travel very great distances running to catch up with the Orcs.
54.2 km per day, running
But it is by looking at the British novelist’s book that we see that the group has achieved a staggering feat – certainly one of the most remarkable of their entire journey. In the chapter “The Horsemen of Rohan”Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas cross paths with Éomer and his exiled riders, after they have annihilated the Huruk. After a tense exchange, Éomer expresses his astonishment at their long journey. Tolkien writes: “A great surprise invaded Éomer’s eyes. “Strider is too poor a name, son of Arathorn,” he said. “I name you Wingfoot. This act of the three friends should be sung in many halls. You measured forty leagues and five before the end of the fourth day! Robust is the race of Elendil!” From the banks of the Anduin on February 19, the starting day of their journey, to the plains of Rohan on the evening of February 22, our heroes ran 135 miles in 72 hours and 34 minutes. Which is equivalent to 217 kilometers in just over 3 days (Legolas spots Éomer’s squad in the early morning, February 23. Dividing by three, we arrive at an average of 54.2 km per day).
Knowing that they carried extra few weapons and provisions, and that they were accumulating fatigue, especially after a fierce fight and very short nights, this is an unparalleled feat. Special mention to Gimli, whose shorter legs are a liability, despite boasting of being a natural sprinter, and dwarven armor much heavier than that of his friends. On the other hand, it is important to mention that the Lembas, the elven bread that was given to them during their stay in Lorien, with Galadriel helped them considerably in their trek.
