The Ring Sets Out

[ArcusCalion]

This is the first draft of the chapter The Ring Sets Out.

This chapter uses a thoroughly mixed bag of sources, so I mark every addition made to the text.

The markings are:
FY-HL-xx for all the headlines for the Fading Years.
RSO-SL-xx for all expansions and changes to the narrative.

Some conventions of my writing:

Bold Text = source information, comments and remarks
{example} = text that should be deleted
[example] = normalized text, normally only used for general changes, as well as changes which are a part of replacement that is not grammatical.
Underlined Text = text changed for grammatical reasons in the process of combining and inserting and removing.
<source example> = additions with source information
...... = This section of the paragraph is unchanged from the source.

FY-HL-18 <THE RING SETS OUT>

RSO-SL-01 <LotR Prologue: Of the Ordering of the Shire There were many reports and complaints of strange persons and creatures prowling about the borders of the Shire, or over them: the first sign ..... And he still kept secret the ring that he had found.>
RSO-SL-02 <Letter to Milton Waldman Eventually, Bilbo {is now}turned 111 years old - old age for a hobbit. [Footnote: The normal span of hobbits is represented as being roughly in the proportion of 100 to our 80.] He {has}had adopted as his heir his favorite kinsman of a younger generation, Frodo. He {is}was generally envied for his wealth and apparently unaging health; but {conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf reveals that} all {is}was not well with the old hobbit: he {is}was finding life 'thin' and wearisome. Gandalf {shows}began to have a certain anxious curiosity about his ring.{The introduction ends with the sudden disappearance in the midst of his own birthday-party of the Hobbit,} Then Bilbo /disappeared suddenly in the midst of his own 111th birthday party/, never to be seen in the Shire again. It {is}was his last use of the ring. Gandalf {induces}induced him to leave it behind with his heir, Frodo. All his other trophies of the old adventure he {takes}took with him, and {departs}departed to {an 'unknown destination' (but of course to} the House of Elrond and peaceful memory of the past{)}.
Some seventeen years {elapse}elapsed. Frodo {is now}was then of the age that Bilbo was when he went on his Quest. He also {preserves}preserved his youth, but {is}was afflicted with restlessness. Rumors of troubles in the great world outside {reach}reached the Hobbits, especially of the rise again of the Enemy or Dark Lord. Gandalf, after long absences on perilous journeys of search, {returns}returned and {reveals}revealed that Bilbo's ring {is}was The Ring, the One; and that the Enemy {is}was aware of its existence, and probably through the treachery of Gollum {knows}knew where it {is}was. {Something of the history of the Ring is sketched (mainly how it came into the 'accidental' keeping of Gollum).} Frodo {makes}made plans to fly in secret - to the House of Elrond. A tryst {is}was made for the autumn, but Gandalf {fails}failed to keep it RSO-SL-03 {[Footnote: It is later revealed that this is}This was owing to the treason of Saruman, chief wizard, who {attempts}attempted to imprison Gandalf and force him to join the Enemy party. {], and} Frodo and his hobbit-servant Sam and two younger kinsmen {go}went off alone into the wild - in the nick of time, just as the Black Riders of Mordor (the Nine Ring-slaves in disguise) {reach}reached the Shire.>
RSO-SL-04 <HR text B {In version B it is noted that the}The Black Captain did not know whether the Ring was still in the Shire; that he had to find out. The Shire was too large for a violent onslaught RSO-SL-05 {such as he had made on the Stoors}; he must use as much stealth and as little terror as he could, and yet also guard the eastern borders. Therefore he sent RSO-SL-06 {some} <The Lord of the Rings Companion; Three is Company five> of the Riders into the Shire, with orders to disperse while traversing it; and of these Khamûl was to find Hobbiton, where ‘Baggins’ lived, according to Saruman's papers. RSO-SL-07 <The Lord of the Rings Companion; Three is Company {[}One{]} {keeps}kept to the east, passing northwards, towards the Marish, and the Bridge. {[}One{]} {takes}took road leading northwest to Michel Delving, and {[}another{]} {goes}went with him, but there {[?]fares}fared on and {traverses}traversed the North Farthing. {[}The other two{]} {go}went through the central Shire, until they {reach}reached the East Road, probably near the Three-Farthing Stone. ({[}These{]} were probably Khamûl and one of his companions, from Dol Guldur; and {[}Khamûl{]} {[is]}was the most ready of all (save {[}the Witch-King{]}) to perceive the presence of the Ring, but also the one whose power was most confused and diminished by sunlight). Drawn by the Ring {[}Khamûl{]} {goes}went to Hobbiton which he {reaches}reached at evening on {Fri. Sept.}Friday September 23rd. {[}His companion{]} {keeps}kept an eye on the East Road and Stock Road, lurking probably between the two, just south of Whitfurrows. {[}Khamûl{]} just {misses}missed Frodo, and misled by the {Gaffers [sic]}Gaffer {starts}started out east again.
{[}On 24 September he{]} {picks}picked up the Stock Road, and {overtakes}overtook Frodo at approaches to Woody End – probably by accident; he {becomes}became uneasily aware of the Ring but {is}was hesitant and uncertain because of the bright sun. He {turns}turned into the woods and {waits}waited for night.> RSO-SL-08 <The Lord of the Rings Companion; Three is Company After dark, becoming acutely aware of the Ring, {[}Khamûl{]} {goes}went in pursuit; but {is}was daunted by the sudden appearance of {the} Elves and {the}their song of Elbereth. While Frodo {is}was surrounded by the Elves he {cannot}could not perceive the Ring clearly.>
RSO-SL-09 <The Lord of the Rings Companion; Three is Company As soon as the Elves {depart}departed {[}Khamûl{] renews}renewed his hunt, and reaching the ridge above Woodhall {is}was aware that the Ring {has}had been there. Failing to find the Bearer and feeling that he {is}was drawing away, he {summons [}summoned his companion{]} by cries. {[}He{] is}was aware of the general direction that the Ring {has}had taken, but not knowing of Frodo's rest in the wood, and believing him to have made straight eastwards, he and {[}his companion{] ride}rode over the fields. They {visit}visited Farmer Maggot while Frodo {is}was still under the trees. {[}Khamûl{]} then {makes}made a mistake (probably because he {imagines}imagined the Ringbearer as some mighty man, strong and swift): he {does}did not look near the farm, but {sends [}sent his companion{]} down the Causeway towards Overbourn, while he {goes}went north along it towards the Bridge. They {tryst}trysted to return and meet one another at night; but {do}did so just too late. Frodo {crosses}crossed by ferry just before {[}Khamûl{] arrives}arrived. {[}His companion{] joins}joined him soon after. {[}Khamûl{] is}was now well aware that the Ring {has}had crossed the river; but the river {is}was a barrier to his sense of its movement.> RSO-SL-10 <Lord of the Rings Companion; A Knife in the Dark Khamûl, alarmed at the escape of the Ring over the river on the night of 25 September, summoned the other four Riders who had entered the Shire.
The Nazgûl found one another easily, since they were quickly aware of a companion presence, and could hear the cries over great distances. They could see one another also from far away, even by day when to them a Nazgûl was the one clearly visible thing in a mist. As soon as he {has}had assembled his force (in the early morning of 26th, probably) {[}Khamûl{] leaves}left one to lurk near the Bridge and watch it; he {sends [}sent two{]} along the East Road, with orders to report to {[}the Witch-king{]} the eastward movement of the Ring; he himself with {[}his companion{] passes}passed secretly into Buckland by the north gate of that land. But desiring to attract as little notice as possible he (mistakenly and against Sauron's orders) {sacrifices}sacrificed speed to stealth. {[}The two sent east{] pass}passed along the East Road, and {visit}visited Bree and 'The Prancing Pony'. They then {go}went in search of {[}the Witch-king{]} but {cannot}could not at once find him {[}until 27th September. He{] is}was elated to learn that the Ring was really in the Shire, but {is}was alarmed and angry at its escape; and also by the fact that the Bearer must {now}then certainly {know}have known that he {is}was being hunted. (If he {is}was a person of power and knowledge he {may}might find out indeed how to use it, and compel a Nazgûl to leave him unmolested at the least. But {[}he {]is}was told that Khamûl{] has}had discovered that the Bearer {is}was a very small spiritless creature with no pride or will power, and {is}was filled with terror at the approach of a Ringwraith.)
{[}The Witch-king{] is}was uncertain what to do. The Bearer {seems}seemed to be making eastwards, he {is}was therefore surely bound for Rivendell (not the Havens). He would have naturally used the East Road; but {will}would he do so, now that he {knows}knew he {is}was pursued? Probably he {will}would attempt to escape from the Shire at some unexpected point, through the Old Forest and the Downs, and there make cross-country to strike the Road beyond Weathertop, maybe. In that direction {[}he{]} {now sends}then sent out {[}three Riders{]} separately, with orders to reassemble just east of Weathertop, and then return towards Bree along or near the Road. {[}He{]} himself, {[}with two other Riders{] redoubles}redoubled his vigilance on the east-borders along the Greenway - his counsels disturbed by threat of attack. Some of the Dúnedain {have}had met Elvish messengers, and {[}he{] is}was uneasily aware that many enemies {are}were watching him and though none {has}had yet come with power to challenge him. Meanwhile {[}Khamûl and his companion{] are}were searching Buckland, but {can}could do little except at night; and they {are}were at a loss, since the Buckland did not appear in Saruman's charts of the Shire at all. By good fortune they {do}did not discover the Hay-gate or become aware that the Ring {has}had departed. [Footnote: {In his unfinished index Tolkien says that} Hay-gate is {another name for the north gate. Perhaps here he is referring to} the gate through the High Hay into the Old Forest.] On 28 September they {find}found Crickhollow at night, but {do}did not attack though {[}Khamûl{] is}was aware that the Ring {has}had been, or {is}was still, there. {[}Khamûl{] ?lurks}lurked near, and {[}his companion{] is}was sent to bring {[}the rider left by the Bridge{]} and the horses. {Road}The road between Bridge and Bree {is}was thus left unwatched. {[}Early on 29 September Khamûl and the other two Riders{] come}came back to Crickhollow and {watch}watched it as night {passes}passed.>
RSO-SL-11 <Letter to Milton Waldman Over all the 400 miles to Elrond {they are}the hobbits were pursued by the terror, and {are}were brought through only by the help of a strange man met in an inn, RSO-SL-12 known to some as Strider, whose true identity was <LotR Synopsis Aragorn the Ranger of Eriador>. His stature and power {are}were only slowly manifested.>
RSO-SL-13 <Lord of the Rings Companion; A Knife in the Dark {the}The three Black Riders who had been sent to Weathertop and told to ride back along the Road reached Bree at dusk {[}on 29 September{]}, and soon {learn}learned from the Isengard spy of the RSO-SL-14 {events}stay of Frodo’s companions in the Inn, and {guess}guessed the presence of the Ring. One {is}was sent to the {[}Witch-king{]...}. {[}He{] is}was waylaid by Dúnedain and driven away {does}did not reach {[}the Witch-king{]} until the next day. {.. [}The other two{]} foiled in their attempt to capture RSO-SL-15 Frodo’s companion Merry {make}made plans for an attack on the Inn at night. {..} The Inn was attacked by the two Riders in early hours before dawn. Crickhollow was attacked at about the same time, {.... Both}but both attacks {fail}failed. {[}The two Riders in Bree{] go}went off in haste to find {[}the Witch-king{]} to report that Bearer {has}had gone (without waiting for further news). {[}The three from Crickhollow{] ride}rode down the Buckland Gate and {make}made also for Andrath [Footnote: Sindarin 'long climb', the defile between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs through which the North-South Road (Greenway) passed. {, Unfinished Tales, p. 418}]. The Nazgûl {are}were thus all assembled at Andrath. {[}The Witch-king{] is}was exceedingly wroth, and {feels}felt certain that the Bearer {has}had gone east from Bree. He {is}was not yet aware of the presence of Gandalf, and {does}did not learn anything of Aragorn beyond the report of the spy that 'a Ranger was in the Inn on the night of September 29'. {[}The Witch-king{] now plans}then planned his pursuit. He {sends}sent four Riders across country from Andrath to Weathertop. He himself with the other four {scour}scoured all round the borders from Sarn Ford to Bree at speed, but {can}could find out nothing, or feel any trace of the Ring. {[on}On 30 September{]} knowing {now}then that the Ring {has}had escaped East {[}they{] leave}left the Greenway and {take}took the East Road; soon after midnight they {ride}rode through Bree like a storm, casting down the gates.>
RSO-SL-16 <Lord of the Rings Companion; A Knife in the Dark {on}On 2 October the four Black Riders who were sent ahead {assemble}assembled near Weathertop. {[}One{] remains [}remained while three {go}went on eastwards on or near the Road.{ . . .Oct.}On October 3{:}, Gandalf {reaches}reached Weathertop but {does}did not overtake the {[}Witch-king and other four Riders{]}; for they {become}became aware of his approach as he {overtakes}overtook them on Shadowfax, and {withdraw}withdrew into hiding beside the road. They {close}closed in behind. {[}The Witch-king{] is}was both pleased and puzzled. For a while he had been in great fear, thinking that by some means Gandalf had got possession of the Ring and was {now}then the Bearer; but as Gandalf {passes}passed he {is}was aware that Gandalf {has}had not got the Ring. What {is}was he pursuing? He himself must {be}have been after the escaping Bearer; and it must therefore somehow have gone on far ahead. But Gandalf {is}was a great power and enemy. He must be dealt with, and yet that {needs}needed great force.
{[}The five{] follow}followed Gandalf hotly to Weathertop. Since Gandalf {halts}halted there, {[}the Witch-King{] suspects}suspected that it {is}was a trysting place. Gandalf {is}was attacked by {[}the five plus the rider who had stayed near Weathertop{]} on Weathertop on {night 3-4}the night of October 3. Frodo and Aragorn {see}saw the light of the battle in the sky from their camp. {Oct.}On October 4{:}, Gandalf {repulses}repulsed the Nazgûl and {escapes}escaped northwards at Sun-rise, and {follows}followed the Hoarwell up towards the mountains. {[}Four Riders{] are}were sent in pursuit (mainly because {[}the Witch-king{] thinks}thought it possible he {may}might know of the whereabouts or course of the Bearer). But {[}the Witch-king and Khamûl{] remain}remained watching Weathertop. Thus they {become}became aware of the approach of Frodo on {Oct.}October 5. {[}The other three{] return}returned from East.>
RSO-SL-17 <Lord of the Rings Companion; A Knife in the Dark {Oct.}On October 6{.}, Frodo {reaches}reached Weathertop observed by the Nazgûl. Aragorn {sees [}saw three Riders{]} coming back from a patrol of the Road west of Weathertop. The camp {is}was attacked at night by {[}five Riders{]}; but they {are}were driven off by Aragorn; and {withdraw}withdrew after wounding Frodo. {[}The Witch-king{] now knows}then knew who {is}was the Bearer, and {is}was greatly puzzled that it should be a small creature, and not Aragorn, who {seems}seemed to be a great power though apparently 'only a Ranger'. But the Bearer {has}had been marked with the Knife and (he {thinks}thought) {cannot}could not last more than a day or two.
It {is}was a strange thing that the camp was not watched while darkness lasted of the night {Oct. 6-7}of October 6, and the crossing of the Road into the southward lands {seems}seemed not to have been observed, so that {[}the Witch-king{]} again lost track of the Ring. For this there were probably several reasons, the least to be expected being the most important, namely that {[}the Witch-king{]}, the great captain, was actually dismayed. He had been shaken by the fire of Gandalf, and began to perceive that the mission on which Sauron had sent him was one of great peril to himself both by the way, and on his return to his Master (if unsuccessful); and he had been doing ill, so far achieving nothing save rousing the power of the Wise and directing them to the Ring. But above all the timid and terrified Bearer had resisted him, had dared to strike at him with an enchanted sword made by his own enemies long ago for his destruction. Narrowly it had missed him. How he had come by it - save in the Barrows of Cardolan. Then he was in some way mightier than the Barrow-wight; and he called on Elbereth, a name of terror to the Nazgûl. He was then in league with the High Elves of the Havens.
Escaping a wound that would have been as deadly to him as the Mordor knife to Frodo RSO-SL-18 {(as was proved at the end)}, he withdrew and hid for a while, out of doubt and fear both of Aragorn and especially of Frodo. But fear of Sauron, and the forces of Sauron's will was the stronger. {Oct.}On October 7 {. He}he arose and cried out to his companions, and drew {[}the other four{]} back to him. He then {patrols}patrolled the Road to the Bridge of Mitheithel, knowing that it was practically impossible to cross the Greyflood between Tharbad and the Bridge (while {[}the four Riders who pursued Gandalf{] are}were away north along the upper river). The Nazgûl {search}searched in vain for the Bearer while Aragorn {leads}led Frodo in the pathless lands south of the Road.>
RSO-SL-19 <Lord of the Rings Companion; Flight to the Ford {Oct. 11:}On October 11, Glorfindel {reaches}reached the Bridge of Mitheithel and there {finds [}found three Riders, including Khamûl{]}. He {drives}drove them back well down the road, until they {leave}left it and {disperse}dispersed. (Thus Aragorn and Frodo {cross}crossed safely on {Oct.}October 13). Glorfindel {meets [}met the Witch-king and another Rider{]} coming east along the road, but {[}the Witch-king{] cannot}could not challenge him (especially by day) with so small help; he {flees}fled into the pathless lands. {Oct. 14: [These}On October 14, these five Riders{] reassemble}reassembled and {start}started in pursuit again. {[}The Witch-king and Khamûl{] perceive}perceived that Ring crossed Bridge but {lose}lost its trail, and {waste}wasted time hunting about. {Oct. 19: They become}On October 19, they became aware of the Ring not far ahead.>
RSO-SL-20 <Lord of the Rings Companion; Flight to the Ford {on}On 20 October the four Riders who had pursued Gandalf {return}returned from the North, reaching the Fords of Bruinen, not long before Frodo {comes}came there, pursued by the other five. After the Witch-king {breaks}broke Frodo's sword, he, Khamûl, and possibly some others {dare}dared to ford the water - for he {is}was desperate, {knows}knowing that the Ring {is}was about to escape to Rivendell. But the water {overwhelms}overwhelmed him - and Aragorn and Glorfindel {drive}drove the others into River with fire.>
RSO-SL-21 <Lord of the Rings Companion; The Ring Goes South Only the bodies of 8 horses were discovered; but also the raiment of the Captain. It is probable that the Captain took the one horse that remained (he may have had strength to withdraw it from the flood) and unclad, naked, invisible, rode as swift as he could back to Mordor. At swiftest he could not accomplish that (for his horse at least would need some food and rest, though he needed none) ere November had passed. The wrath and fear of Sauron then may be guessed; yet if there was any in the world in whom he trusted it was the Lord of Angmar; and if his wrath were lessened by perceiving that his great servant had been defeated by ill chance (and the craft of the Wise) rather than by faults of his own, his fear would be the more - seeing what power was yet in his Enemies, and how sharply fortune favored them at each turn when all seemed lost. Help no doubt was sent out to the other Ringwraiths as they made their way back, and they were bidden to remain secret again. It was no doubt at the end of 1418 that Sauron (likely aided by Angmar) bethought him of {the}their winged mounts; and yet withheld them, until things became almost desperate and he was forced to launch his war in haste.>
RSO-SL-22 <Return of the King: Synopsis {The first part, The Fellowship of the Ring, told how Gandalf the Grey discovered that the ring possessed by Frodo and the Hobbit was in fact the One Ring, ruler of all the Rings of Power. It recounted the flight of Frodo and his companions from the quiet Shire of their home, pursued by the terror of the Black Riders of Mordor, until at last, with the aid of Aragorn the Ranger of Eriador, they}Thus, Frodo and his companions came through desperate perils to the House of Elrond in Rivendell. RSO-SL-23 <Letter to Milton Waldman {The Second Book - which must, as explained before, begin with a pause, before a complete change of direction, after healing and refreshment and the gaining of wisdom - begins with the healing of}There, Frodo /was healed/, {the meeting of Frodo} and met Bilbo again.> There was held the great Council of Elrond, ..... Meriadoc and Peregrin, for the Hobbits; and Gandalf the Grey.
The Companions journeyed in secret .... Ring and still lusted for it, was following their trail.
It now became necessary for them .... Boromir attempted to seize the Ring by force. RSO-SL-24 {The first part ended with}There followed the fall of Boromir to the lure of the Ring; ..... seemed already overtaken by disaster.
RSO-SL-25 {The second part (Books Three and Four), The Two Towers, recounted}Among the deeds of all the company after the breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring {. Book Three told of}were the repentance and death of Boromir, and {of} his funeral in a boat committed to the Falls of Rauros; {of} the capture of Meriadoc and Peregrin by orc-soldiers, who bore them towards Isengard over the eastern plains of Rohan; and {of} their pursuit by Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.
The Rider of Rohan then appeared. A troop of horsemen, .... Tree-folk and their march on Isengard.
In the meanwhile Aragorn and his companions .... and rescued him from the spells of RSO-SL-26 [Gríma] Wormtongue, his evil counsellor, .... Wormtongue besieged in the indomitable tower of Orthanc.

FY-HL-19 The Battles of the Fords of Isen

RSO-SL-27 <BFI The chief obstacles to an easy conquest ..... achieving the death of Théodred.
It was clearly seen in Rohan, ..... before the arrival of Gandalf.
It has been said that the valor ..... underestimates its importance.
The Isen came down swiftly .... journey into Western Gondor.
Saruman's attack was not unforeseen, .... before it was fully prepared.
But Saruman had not revealed .... outflanking him upon the west.
He was extricated by the onset .... most eager of then-pursuers.
When Théodred gained the Fords ..... with the Uruks in pursuit.
As soon as the enemy ..... but for the coming of Elfhelm.
Elfhelm had been riding ..... ordered his companies to charge.
It was the turn of the Isengarders ..... and the other fell before Grimbold.
They stooped then to lift the body, ...... not know what might yet befall.
When after a cold and sleepless night ..... discovered whither the Uruks had gone.

So ended the First Battle .... and the invasion of Rohan began.
Erkenbrand did not at once himself ..... be their snare and not ours!’
Grimbold on the other hand ..... we are all gathered northwards.’
In the end Grimbold manned ..... before it could reach the Fords.
All went ill, as most likely ...... slopes to dislodge him; not yet.
Elfhelm had been unable to take ..... dreading what it might bring.
They did not have to wait ...... The shieldwall still held.
In vain Grimbold looked ..... though he might seem inglorious.
The night had been overcast ...... strength of wall and gate.
It was for this reason ...... he could only await the dawn.
What followed is less clear, ..... Grimbold's men he sent southward to join Erkenbrand.> RSO-SL-28 <editorial addition Thus they came to the Battle of the Hornburg in time to win the field.>

FY-HL-18: This headline seemed to fit this chapter best, since it describes the events of the narrative reasonably well. It comes from a rejected title for one of the books of LotR.

RSO-SL-01: This bit from the prologue sets the stage for the events of LotR, bringing us to the Shire and showing their perspective of what is going on in the outside world. Bilbo is brought back into our thoughts, and his situation is brought into the present. I know the end of the last chapter took place chronologically after this point, but I think this formation works best, even though there is a slight time overlap.

RSO-SL-02: Here we come to the events of LotR. The Synopsis of LotR contained in the front of Two Towers and Return of the King basically glosses over this entire portion of the narrative, picking up in detail only after the arrival in Rivendell. Therefore, I used the Letter to Milton Waldman to supplement it, since otherwise we would not adequately set up the characters. The letter is written in present tense and has several commentative bits, so I updated the tense to the past, and removed the more commentative sections.

RSO-SL-03: This is given as a footnote to the letter, but I think we should bring it into the main body of the text. This relates the events back to the previous chapter, where we saw Gandalf was captured by Saruman.

RSO-SL-04: This was given as HR-SL-15 in the last chapter. I think it fits much better here in this chapter now that Fin has added all the updates from The Reader's Companion.

RSO-SL-05: This was HR-SL-15.2.

RSO-SL-06: This was HR-SL-15.3.

RSO-SL-07: This was HR-SL-15.4.

RSO-SL-08: This is the next Hunt for the Ring bit from Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion. It picks up where 08 left off.

RSO-SL-09: This is the next Hunt for the Ring bit. It recounts the crossing of the Brandywine.

RSO-SL-10: This is the next Hunt for the Ring bit. It recounts the coming to Crickhollow.

RSO-SL-11: Here we return to the Letter to Milton Waldman. I placed this here so that we can introduce Aragorn into the story in the best way possible using these texts.

RSO-SL-12: This bit is structued somewhat oddly, but in the Letter, Tolkien never clarifies in his narrative summary who Strider is, so I pulled this bit from the LotR Synopsis and added in a clarifier. I hope this is not taking too much liberty, but I think this is the best way to combine the texts.

RSO-SL-13: Here we recount the events at Bree from the Black Riders' perspective.

RSO-SL-14: I changed the ambiguous 'events' to this more specific description, since we cannot go into too much detail without having to invent text wholecloth. I think this gets the job done.

RSO-SL-15: We have not mentioned Merry previously, so I introduced him here.

RSO-SL-16: This recounts the fight with Gandalf and the Ringwraiths on Weathertop.

RSO-SL-17: This recounts the attack on Weathertop and Frodo's wound and escape.

RSO-SL-18: I removed this reference to the Witch-king's death, since I think it is looking forward too much.

RSO-SL-19: Here Glorfindel enters the story and protects the Last Bridge.

RSO-SL-20: Here we have the altercation at the Fords of Bruinen, and the defeat of the Nazgul.

RSO-SL-21: This bit describes their movements after their demise.

RSO-SL-22: Here we come to the narrative of the LotR Synopsis. The tenses are right for much of this, and there is only a mild reference to the LotR text which I removed.

RSO-SL-23: Here I inserted a small sentence from the Letter to Milton Waldman simply to say that Frodo was healed, so that we dont leave it as an unresolved plot point.

RSO-SL-24: I removed a comment referring to the text of LotR in an external context.

RSO-SL-25: I removed a comment referring to the text of LotR in an external context.

RSO-SL-26: Since we discuss Grima in the Battles of the Fords text by name, but the Synopsis only refers to him as Wormtongue, I figured we should add his name in order to make everything clear to the reader that he is the same person.

FY-HL-19: Here we have the Battles of the Fords title. We could discuss making this a separate chapter, as its subject matter does not really fit under the header The Ring Sets Out.

RSO-SL-27: Here we insert the Battles text. I found nothing to change in this entire text, but I could have missed something. As it is, the place I inserted it in the narrative is after the mention of the battle of Helm's Deep, but I think that is important in order to understand the references of the text.

RSO-SL-28: This editorial addition is not sourced from any text, but I think we need it in order to explain the relevance of the text to the plot of LotR. Perhaps it is too much liberty.