Book IV of The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo and Sam as they slowly journey towards the Land of Mordor. After leaving the Fellowship behind, they become lost as they wander through the wilderness. Gollum has been pursuing them at length, and finally comes to them as they wander. Rather than hiding or attacking, they take him in as their guide. Gollum guides them eagerly through the Dead Marshes and to the Black Gate, however they soon realize they will need to enter Mordor through a different path. Gollum tells them of a different, secret path which will lead them through a tunnel…

Book Three of The Lord of the Rings brings about many changes for the members of the now-broken Fellowship. A lot of this book feels like atonement for past mistakes -- for Boromir, he has paid with his life; for Aragorn, he seems desperate to discern the correct path forward; for Theoden, he has finally been freed from Grima’s influence; for Saruman, the Ents have brought about his well-deserved destruction. And Gandalf has returned against all hope!

: In this book, we see the formation and departure of the Fellowship of the Ring. Finally, the quest has fully begun. While Frodo is willing to take the burden of the Ring onto himself, he acknowledges that he doesn’t even know where to begin in terms of getting it to Mordor. And Elrond understands that he cannot go alone. However, he doesn’t send him forth with a host of great warriors -- rather he sends him in a small group meant to represent all the peoples of Middle-Earth, a group formed largely around friendship! So we see the theme of Fellowship carrying through into Book II. The life-saving, life-giving virtue of friendship…

Sixty years after returning home to Bag End from his unexpected adventure, Bilbo Baggins has become a legend among hobbits. Though nearing his eleventy-first birthday, he has not aged visibly since he was fifty; his unexplained youth and wealth have become a popular topic of gossip throughout the Shire.

As the 22nd of September draws closer, all of Hobbiton is busy making preparations for a party of special magnificence: a combined birthday celebration for Bilbo and his nephew and heir, Frodo. As packages and parcels pour into Bag End, Gandalf the wizard also arrives in the Shire, though he comes with “far more difficult and dangerous” business than anyone realizes…