LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 08 - Fog on the Barrow-Downs

[alatar]

This chapter ends with Tom seeing the hobbits off on the Road towards the next chapter in their adventure, the Prancing Pony. Later, in Strider's tale, we learn that the ranger listened in while Tom directed the hobbits eastward.

Question1: Was Tom aware of Aragorn? (2) If Aragorn saw Tom guiding the hobbits, why does he later mistrust them (he considers that the hobbits may be a trap)?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by alatar

Question1: Was Tom aware of Aragorn? (2) If Aragorn saw Tom guiding the hobbits, why does he later mistrust them (he considers that the hobbits may be a trap)?

Answer 1: With Tom, it is well possible, I guess that even if he knew about him, he would have easily ignored him. Answer 2: I would say he simply did not trust anything easily. If you look at what he says and how he acts, actually, I find it likely that he did basically trust the Hobbits, something like 90%. He only, probably out of personal carefulness, did not yet totally dismiss the chance that they might be a trap after all. Simply this sort of "what if". Like, if Saruman can betray, why not Bombadil? Theoretically. (Of course Aragorn didn't know about Saruman back then, but I guess similar things just happened from time to time, so "constant vigilance!") But he acts pretty straightforward towards them, so I think he was more or less going for them with the assumption that they are not a fake.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Question 2:
Perhaps he was advised by Prince Humperdinck:

"I always think everything is a trap until proven otherwise," the Prince answered. "Which is why I'm still alive."