SteveR
Member
My apologies if this has been covered. I am still catching up on Episode 111, but... re: Frodo's conversation with Gloin in Episode 110...
"'But their tolls are high," he added with a shake of his head.
Is it possible that Gloin is referring not to payment required by the Beornings, but the tolls they themselves pay to keep the pass open? Or perhaps both? Keeping such a dangerous pass open would be of significant cost to the Beornings. Most important is the physical toll of lost lives, but there is also the cost of weapons, road maintenance, and safe resting places along the way. Perhaps Gloin is shaking his head not at the money he has to pay, but in sadness at the human cost of keeping the pass open for travel, or a mixture of the two?
"'But their tolls are high," he added with a shake of his head.
Is it possible that Gloin is referring not to payment required by the Beornings, but the tolls they themselves pay to keep the pass open? Or perhaps both? Keeping such a dangerous pass open would be of significant cost to the Beornings. Most important is the physical toll of lost lives, but there is also the cost of weapons, road maintenance, and safe resting places along the way. Perhaps Gloin is shaking his head not at the money he has to pay, but in sadness at the human cost of keeping the pass open for travel, or a mixture of the two?