Barliman Butterbur

In Chapter 10, Strider, a mysterious stranger named Strider approaches the hobbits and asks to accompany them on their journey, which he seems to know entirely too much about.

Frodo and his friends are obviously hesitant until the innkeeper, Barliman Butterbur, happens to deliver a letter from Gandalf which informs Frodo that Strider, whose real name is Aragorn, is a friend who can be trusted.

Actually, for those of you who are curious, this is not the first mention of Aragorn.

He's also mentioned in Chapter 2, The Shadow of the Past.

Without people like Bill Ferny feeding them information, the Black writers would probably still succeed in their nefarious endeavors, but they would have a much harder time.

And, you know, the converse is also true.

It is the small, helpful actions of good people like Barlam and Butterbur, the innkeeper, which are equally crucial to the success of Frodo and his friends.

In fact, there's a small moment in chapter 10 that I really, really like.

All right, folks.

What does Barliman have in his bag for us tonight, Sara?

[laughs]

[laughs]

I think Barliman's probably got lost in all of your prose there, Arlen, but, uh-

[laughs]

[laughs]

It's always fun to find something in the text that I can just kind of tweak a little bit and plug Barliman in, and it never fits, and that's the point.

He tells them his true name, shows them the broken sword, and says the verse is about him.

He may be secretive with less discreet people like dear Barliman, but to the hobbits he proudly tells them who he is and that he will be king.

When we get to the Council of Elrond, there is no angry confrontation with Legolas telling Boromir that Aragorn is his rightful king.

In fact, it's Bilbo getting a bit indignant that Boromir doesn't know who Aragorn is and Aragorn calmly just acknowledging who he is, even though he doesn't look particularly noble right then.

If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so.

That has been the task of my kindred while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown.

I'll admit to wanting to defend Barliman a bit here.

When the Nazgul turned up at his door, his heart did not freeze.

So him and I traveled along the Great East Road and went to Bree.

And went to Barman Butterbur in The Prancing Pony.

And he pointed us in the direction of a man named Fred.

So we looked for Fred and couldn't find him.

Now I'm debating on if I should do anything else within Bree, such as find reinforcements.

check on any Blackpact activity.

I'll ask Barliman Butterbur.

Let me go ahead and pull up the chart here.