Illustrating LOTR with LOTRO

[Elebraen]

They passed into the darkness like a rustle in the grasses.

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Sam meets up with Frodo and Pippin at the bottom of the hill.

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They headed westwards in single file.

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They crossed the water, west of Hobbiton, by a narrow plank bridge.

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They saw the lamps in Hobbiton.

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Frodo wonders if he will ever see that valley again.

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[Elebraen]

They traveled on the road to Woodhall.

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They made camp in a dry fir wood.

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Soon the three hobbits were fast asleep.

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[Elebraen]

I loved the opening of this next section: the hobbits in the fir-wood. I call it "Grouse for Breakfast". "Grouse for Breakfast" starts with waking up at dawn, and it ends with Pippin's birdie bath. Although still on Woodhall Road for the story, I used a mixed birch and pine area in Bindbole Wood for the needed fir tree setting.

Section 1.3.3 The Black Rider



Frodo woke up first, stiff and sore. "Why didn't I drive?"

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"And all of my beautiful feather beds are sold to the Sackville-Bagginses."

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"These tree roots would do them good."

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"Wake up, hobbits! It's a beautiful morning."

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"What's so beautiful about it," said Pippin. "Sam! Have you got the bath water hot?"

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Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin.

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[Elebraen]

And then walked off to the edge of the wood.

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The sun was rising red out of the mists.

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Pippin shouted, "Where's the water?" "I don't keep water in my pockets," Frodo said.

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Pippin's bath

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The day was turning fine and hot.

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They were looking across the Woody End

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[Elebraen]

Do elves live in those woods?

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Frodo imitates Bilbo. "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door."

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Sam heard hoofbeats.

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They looked back, but couldn't see around the bend.

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The other two ran quickly to get out of sight, but Frodo hesitated.

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The sound of hoofs drew nearer.

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[Elebraen]

On a full-sized horse sat a large man

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His face was shadowed and invisible.

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The head turned from side to side

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A sudden unreasoning fear of discovery

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He thought of the ring. His hand moved to his pocket.

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Frodo watched the rider until he dwindled in the distance.

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[Elebraen]

The hobbits discuss the Black Rider. They decide to keep moving.

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[Cordovan]

This is really cool, thanks for sharing!

[auximenes]

Great work. Thanks for sharing.

[Elebraen]

Thank you, Cordovan and Auximenes. The mention in the newsletter was both unexpected and delightful.

Concerning the Huge Hollow Tree: This pair of images got updated in 2023. It struck me as wryly amusing that Pippin has been inside of this Shire tree voluntarily, and inside of Old Man Willow involuntarily. So I used the crack from Old Man Willow and mirrored it for the parallel trees.

Section 1.3.4 - The Elves



The hobbits started off again, and stayed out of sight of the road.

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The sun had gone down red behind the hills.

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"That is the way for us," said Frodo.

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Huge Hollow Tree

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The hobbits had a light meal.

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Twilight was about them as they crept back into the lane.

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[Elebraen]

They went abreast and in step to keep up their spirits. They hummed a walking-song.

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"And now to bed!" sang Pippin in a high voice.

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"Hush! I think I hear hoofs again."

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They had no time to find any hiding place better than the general darkness under the trees.

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The sound of hoofs stopped.

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The black shadow swayed from side to side.

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[Elebraen]

The shadow bent to the ground, and then began to crawl towards Frodo.

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The desire to put on the ring was so strong that his hand was groping in his pocket.

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Clear voices rose and fell. The black shadow straightened up and retreated.

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It seemed to vanish across the lane into the darkness.

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Frodo breathed again. "Elves!" exclaimed Sam. "Elves, sir!"

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Yes, it is Elves. They wander into the Shire in Spring and Autumn.

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[Elebraen]

Frodo explained about the Black Rider. "What about the Elves?" said Sam, too excited to trouble about the rider.

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The Elves came down the lane. The last elf turned and looked at the hobbits. "Hail, Frodo!"

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The Elves gathered round.

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"Who are you?" asked Frodo.

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"I am Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod."

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Tell us about the Black Riders

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[Elebraen]

The hobbits are invited to lodge with the Elves. "I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion."

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They passed silently, like shadows and faint lights.

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The Elves turned aside from the path

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The lodge of the Elves above Woodhall.

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[Elebraen]

The mention of star constellations in this next section has always thrown me for a loop, not just because Tolkien renames the constellations that would otherwise be familiar to me, but because the elves seem to attach a special celebration significance to these two constellations in the sky in particular that I had to go look this up. So to clarify, mostly for myself but also for anyone else who needs it, the date in the journey is Sept 24. Autumn equinox falls on Sept 22 (Frodo's birthday) or Sept 23 (the day Frodo left Bag End). The elves probably arrived earlier that week for the Autumn equinox celebration, bringing their own food, drink and camping furniture that their lodging accommodations and star-gazing location was already set up.

The top star of Menelvagor's belt is where the celestial equator is located (the plane of the Earth's equator). You can't see the celestial equator to update your own navigation charts if the belt is hidden behind a heavy mist that there would be apprehension, and then elation when the mist cleared. Remmirath is one of the two gates of the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic (the V-shaped Hyades cluster being the other gate). The sun and planets all travel on the Ecliptic plane and must pass in front of Remmirath. The equinox occurs when the sun, traveling on the Ecliptic plane, crosses the Celestial plane of the equator, moving from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemispere in the Autumn equinox. Once the navigation charts were updated, the migrating elves could be back on their way that they may have only been waiting there for a clear night.

Section 1.3.5 - Frodo and Gildor



The elves seemed to take no further notice of the hobbits. Pippin fell asleep.

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The mists were swept away. Menelvagor was revealed, and the elves all burst into song.

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"Come. Now is the time for speech and merriment."

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Good enough for a birthday party

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Gildor and Frodo talk long into the night.

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Gildor led Frodo to a bower beside Pippin.

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Thanks to the addition of Yondershire, I was able to update the Gildor and Frodo discussion sequence of illustrations with some really good shots of Gildor. Thanks dev team!

[Elebraen]

If you would like to see how the narrated Chapter 3 section videos turned out, you can visit the YouTube channel Illustrating LOTR with LOTRO

[Elebraen]

Some Illustrations from Chapter 4: A Shortcut to Mushrooms
Section 1.4.1 Bog and Briar



The Elves had left fruit, drink and bread for the hobbits.

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Pippin pestered Frodo with questions while he ate breakfast.

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Sam has a destiny to fulfill.

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We will go together.

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Frodo and Pippin argue over the best course to take, the road or cross-country.

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If you're going to toil through bog and briar, let's go now.

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[Elebraen]

Their course was to leave Woodhall on their left and cut slanting through the woods.

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A stream cut across their path. "First check," said Pippin.

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They saw a horse and black figure on the top of the bank that they had climbed down.

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They plunged into the thick bushes beside the stream.

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They were no longer certain of the direction they were going. "This is the Stock-brook!" Pippin exclaimed. "We must cross at once and bear right."

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They hurried across a wide open space on the other side of the stream.

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[Elebraen]

The wind died away and the rain came streaming down.

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Section 1.4.2 Bamfurlong



The Elves had filled their bottles with a pale golden drink.

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Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go...

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They heard a long-drawn wail, answered by another.

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They could see the low hill of Buckleberry across the river. They had traveled too far to the south.

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They crept cautiously out from under the trees.

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[Elebraen]

"I know this field," Pippin said. "This is Bamfurlong, old Farmer Maggot's land."

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Frodo was terrified of Farmer Maggot and his dogs. He tells the others about stealing mushrooms. Pippin insists that Frodo make it right.

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A terrific baying and barking broke out.

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Good afternoon, Mr. Maggot!

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"There are some funny things going on today." The farmer invited them inside.

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"Mr. Baggins is it? Come inside! We must have a talk."

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[Elebraen]

Section 1.4.3 - Farmer Maggot



Mrs. Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug.

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The funny customer

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Farmer Maggot faces down the Black Rider.

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Supper at Bamfurlong

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You be careful of yourself, Maggot!

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Farmer Maggot drove out of the gate.

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[Elebraen]

They heard hooves on the road ahead.

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Merry Brandybuck had found them.

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The scent of mushrooms was rising from the basket.

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[Reaboj]

<3 <3 <3 More please

[auximenes]

They heard hooves on the road ahead.

Well done as usual, thanks for sharing.

[Elebraen]

<3 <3 <3 More please

*grin* Thanks. I just bought a new laptop that can render video, so I should have more time to work on this... dare I say it... at work. I only recently figured out how to make animated fog effects and particle effects with the video editor that I updated the last three images. I've always missed the river and marsh fog that I know should be in that area. I don't live far from a place that looks a lot like the dead marshes and there's always fog to drive through there.