While Tolkien Reading Day occurred yesterday, a migraine left me with no energy to prepare a post or do much on social media. Even though I'm a day late, I thought I'd quickly pull and share a few quotes which have really resonated with me and deal with this year's theme, which was friendship:
'You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin–to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer
than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble
alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.'
–The Fellowship of the Ring, A Conspiracy Unmasked
'But you won't send him off alone surely, Master?' cried
Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner where
he had been quietly sitting on the floor.
'No indeed!' said Elrond, turning towards him
with a smile. 'You at least shall go with him. It is hardly possible to
separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are
not.'
–
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Council of Elrond
 |
The Brothers Hildebrandt |
'I should dearly love to journey in Fangorn's Wood. I scarcely
passed beyond the eaves of it, and I did not wish to turn back.'
Treebeard's eyes gleamed with pleasure. 'I hope you may
have your wish, ere the hills be much older,' he said.
'I will come, if I have the fortune,' said Legolas. 'I
have made a bargain with my friend that, if all goes well, we will visit
Fangorn together–by your leave.'
'Any Elf that comes with you will be welcome,' said
Treebeard.
'The friend I speak of is not an Elf,' said Legolas; 'I
mean Gimli, Glóin's son here.'
–The Two Towers, The Voice of Saruman
 |
Éowyn and Faramir by Ted Nasmith |
'How should I ease your care, my lord?' she said. 'And I
do not desire the speech of living men.'
'Would you have my plain answer?' he said.
'I would.'
'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.'
–The Return of the King, The Steward and the King
 |
Beleg's Death by Anke Eissmann |
'Thus ended Beleg Strongbow, truest of friends, greatest
in skill of all that harboured in the woods of Beleriand in the Elder Days, at
the hand of him whom he most loved; and that grief was graven on the face of Túrin
and never faded.'
–The Children of Húrin, The Death of Beleg
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What are some of your favourite book quotes relating to friendship in Middle-earth? Leave a comment below or Tweet me @TolkienBritta!