Re-reading the Lord of the Rings, Chapter 21

The purpose of the second last chapter of the second book is to give a sense of linear progression; although yet unknown whereto, both Minas Tirith and Mordor appear to lie near and the rest of the journey appears to be, just as before, simply a matter of going.

That is to say, at the most eleven more chapters and we should be through, a third still to come and not merely a third so far behind us.

It is a reflection upon the nature of foresight, that, where we lack distinct expectation, premonition, our view of the future is but an enlargement of the present, swelling Aragorn's chest here: a desire is there, but where is the fuel to be burned by it?

Up to this point Tolkien avoids any ominous signs though, the attack of the Uruk-hai is only being foreshadowed in the next chapter. Instead Tolkien follows his usual routine of weaving difficulties that the reader can relate to and difficulties that the reader cannot relate to together, the carrying of a boat over land and the shooting down of a Ringwraith. And he introduces Elvish camouflage as a military element. So the situation looks actually quite promissing. But the Company will have to make greater uses of its strength than it assumes.