The Church as Miniature Rivendells: Rivendell as a Haven of Rest
The Inklings Option: The Church as Miniature Rivendells, Part Three
A Scene in Rivendell
Frodo woke and found himself lying in bed. At first he thought that he had slept late, after a long unpleasant dream.... Or perhaps he had been ill? But the ceiling looked strange; it was flat, and it had dark beams richly carved. He lay a little while longer looking at patches of sunlight on the wall, and listening to the sound of a waterfall.
'Where am I, and what is the time?' he said aloud to the ceiling.
'In the House of Elrond, and it is ten o'clock in the morning.' said a voice. 'It is the morning of October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know.'
'Gandalf!' cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by the open window.
'Yes,' he said, 'I am here. And you are lucky to be here, too, after all the absurd things you have done since you left home.' Frodo lay down again.... He was fully awake now, and the memory of his journey was returning: the disastrous 'short cut' through the Old Forest; the 'accident' at The Prancing Pony; and his madness in putting on the Ring in the dell under Weathertop. While he was thinking of all these things and trying in vain to bring his memory down to his arriving in Rivendell, there was a long silence, broken only by the soft puffs of Gandalf's pipe, as he blew white smoke-rings out of the window.
'Where's Sam?' Frodo asked at length. 'And are the others all right?'
'Yes, they are all safe and sound,' answered Gandalf. 'Sam was here until I sent him off to get some rest, about half an hour ago.'
'What happened at the Ford?' said Frodo. 'It all seemed so dim somehow; and it still does.'
'Yes, it would. You were beginning to fade,' answered Gandalf. 'The wound was overcoming you at last. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit! As you showed in the Barrow. That was touch and go: perhaps the most dangerous moment of all. I wish you could have held out at Weathertop.'
'You seem to know a great deal already,' said Frodo. 'I have not spoken to the others about the Barrow. At first it was too horrible; and afterwards there were other things to think about. How do you know about it?'
'You have talked long in your sleep, Frodo,' said Gandalf gently, 'and it has not been hard for me to read your mind and memory. Do not worry! Though I said "absurd" just now, I did not mean it. I think well of you — and of the others. It is no small feat to have come so far, and through such dangers, still bearing the Ring.'
Introduction
Welcome to the latest installment of The Inklings Option.
This marks the third installment of "The Church as Miniature Rivendells." For those who may not be caught up, the "Introduction to The Inklings Option" is available here. The initial installment, titled "Many Meetings," can be found here. Part One of "The Church as Miniature Rivendells" is accessible here, and Part Two is located here.
Upon concluding Part Three, anticipate a forthcoming Part Four, delving into Rivendell as a Fortress, before we transition to explore other topics.
Up to this point, we've delved into Rivendell as a sacred space and as a repository preserving the forgotten wisdom of bygone eras. Now, our attention shifts to Rivendell as a sanctuary of repose. The role of Rivendell as a place of rest holds a pivotal position in Tolkien's narrative. Without Rivendell providing a haven for rest, Thorin's Company wouldn't have acquired the essential wisdom to decipher the runes on Thror's Map which led to them taking back Erebor from Smaug, and Frodo wouldn't have recovered from his wound inflicted by the Morgul Blade and bore the ring to Mordor.
In Tolkien’s world, people are not machines. They are creations of a Creator. This truth, resonant in the Primary World as well, underscores our finite nature. It highlights the essential need for rest, the mending of wounds, and a purposeful pace in acquiring wisdom.
With Rivendell established as a sanctuary for rest, let us now delve into the pivotal role it plays in providing repose, a crucial element in Tolkien's narrative.
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