...there is much else that may be told.
| Scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | |
| The Ring Goes South | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Scene | 31 (extended) 25 (theatrical) |
| Previous | The Departure of The Fellowship |
| Next | The Pass of Caradhras |
The Ring Goes South is the twenty-fifth scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and the thirty-first of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition). This scene was extended in the latter edition.
Synopsis
Having set off from Rivendell, the Fellowship of the Ring is making their way south, following the line of the Misty Mountains. Gandalf states that the goal is to travel south for forty days, then turn east at the Gap of Rohan to travel straight to Mordor. They later stop to set up a camp, with Samwise Gamgee preparing a meal there.
Gimli grouses that they're taking the long way around, and recommends that they go through the Mines of Moria, where his brother Balin would give them a royal welcome. Gandalf, however, vetoes this idea, stating he would not pass through Moria unless they had no other choice. On the other side of the camp, Boromir is training Merry and Pippin in swordplay, but accidentally strikes Pippins' hand. Pippin retaliates by kicking Boromir in the shin, and the two hobbits tackle him in a friendly tussle. Aragorn tries to break them up, but gets tripped by the hobbits and swept up into the tussle.
The levity quickly ends when Legolas sees something in the sky. Gimli writes it off as a wisp of cloud, but Boromir notes, with concern, that it's moving fast, and against the wind. The Fellowship is forced to hide both their camp and themselves as a flock of crows fly past then.
Gandalf notes with dismay that the crows are spies of Saruman, which means the passage south is being watched. Needing a new path forward, Gandalf redirects the Fellowship to the pass of Caradhras.