I haven’t read the book yet, so I don’t know if this scene is explained further (or if it’s even in the book), but one thing I’ve thought about lately is, how the Hell did they pull that off? Like, what made the Nazgul go to that room, instead of the one where the ring that supposedly calls to them is actually located?
The only thing that really makes sense to me is if the Hobbit Gang already rented a room for themselves, and the Nazgul got the info from the barkeep, who didn’t know they were with Aragorn.
They had rented rooms in the hobbit portion of the inn, and it’s implied that the ‘mean swarthy-looking person’ who ‘looked more than half like a goblin’ who was staying with Bill Ferney ratted them out to the Nazgûl as well.
Strider did the sensible thing and had them stay in his room instead.
It’s stated that the Nazgûl cannot clearly sense the ring unless it’s worn by someone. They know it’s nearby, but not how close. That’s also how the hobbits and Aragorn slipped away into the wilds without being caught too.
In the books they camp out and the barkeep explains he’s working with Gandalf, gives them a note about strider, and I think Pippin gets petrified by the Nazgûl.
Can’t fully remember.
Oh also Frodo’s identity gets sussed out and he has to make up elaborate stories for the townsfolk.
and I think Pippin gets petrified by the Nazgûl.
Sounds about right. Fool of a Took!
That’s my understanding. The ring only calls to the Nazgul if it’s worn, so when Frodo fell he basically fired a flair. In the bar itself they no longer received signals, so they went to the rooms they had booked.
Nope. They were tipped off.
Oh, is it actually mentioned that the guy who tipped them off saw which room they went to?
I don’t think directly. I don’t know how many hobbit rooms he had, I might check after work.
The Nine likely knew that The Ring was being held by a halfling (“Shire, Baggins”). So they went to “nice, cozy, hobbit-sized rooms” the barkeep mentioned earlier.
I’m also spitballing but If I remember correctly there likely was an Agent of Sauron in Bywater who saw or heard them. As to why they followed his tip instead of their instinct? Maybe plot armor ooor maybe the call of the ring is less like a ping emanating from one location and more like a smell that leads them in the general direction
This is the answer. Some foreign guy staying with Bill Ferney.
