The Houses of Healing, The Last Debate, and The Black Gate Opens

Today I was just supposed to read The Houses of Healing. Buuuut, the kids wanted me to keep going so I also read the The Last Debate and The Black Gate Opens and so finished up book five. We had some good discussions during the evening.

First the eight year old said: “I hope [Sauron] is paying so much attention to the outside world that he will be distracted and they can throw it in the fire. If Sam is attacked (just Sam because Frodo was captured) it will just be a random attack.”

I thought she picked up on Gandalf’s strategy quite well. Then once Gandalf mentioned that the Nazgûl were abroad they following exchange ensued.

8YO: “But only eight of his riders returned.”

6YO: “ The eight riders.”

8YO: “That sounds so funny, only eight.”

6YO: “Did the ring disappear when the Ringwraith was killed?”

Me: “I’m not sure. Maybe.”

6YO: “I hope he didn’t marry and have kids.”

8YO: “He’s long out of his time because the ring kept him alive.” [i.e. any kids of his would be long since dead]

6YO: “MORDOR, WHERE THE SHADOWS LIE. We must away before break of day to find our long forgotten gold.” (she uttered this on repeat while I was typing up this conversation)

Later on when the Mouth of Sauron brings forth the tokens the six year old was distraught as she assumed (like Pippen) that all was lost and Frodo and Sam had both been captured along with the ring.

6YO: “Now Sauron has the ring.”

8YO: “No he doesn’t.”

6YO: “Yes he does.”

8YO: “But he only captured Frodo.”

Then they argued, the six year old still certain Sam had been captured and the eight year old positive only Frodo had been taken. Finally I reminded her that the only items displayed were those on or with Frodo when he was captured and she said “Ohhh!”

Tomorrow we’ll enter the home stretch as we get back to Sam (the eight year old said I shouldn’t say Sam and Frodo since Frodo was captured—she thinks Sam will take the ring the rest of the way.)