The Shape of Shadows [2]

The First War

Galadriel

"The world has changed. I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost, for none now live who remember it.

"It began with the forging of the great rings."

Nineteen rings were forged by the Elven-smiths of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor, during the second age. Sixteen of the great rings of power were forged with Sauron, Lord of Mordor, but the last three, Celebrimbor forged alone.

"Three were given to the elves; immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings."

These rings he forged alone, the greatest of the rings of power, Celebrimbor would only trust to his own Kin. Narya, Ring of Fire, held first by Gil-galad; Nenya: Ring of Adamant, worn by Galadriel; and Vilya: Ring of Air, borne first by Gil-galad, who later gave it to Lord Elrond.

"Seven to the dwarf lords; great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls."

One was bestowed upon each of the great clan leaders; Durin's Folk (Longbeards), Firebeards, Broadbeams, Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, and Stonefoots.

"And nine, nine were gifted to the race of men who above all else desire power."

These nine rings were all under the sway of Sauron and their bearers fell under his shadow. They became the Nazgûl; Ringwraiths.

"For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them, deceived. For another ring was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged, in secret, a master ring to control all others and into this ring he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One ring to rule them all.

"One by one, the free lands of middle earth fell to the power of the Ring."

Sauron sent his armies far and wide. Burning homes, taking lands and murdering innocents.

"But there were some who resisted. A last alliance of men and elves marched against the armies of Mordor, and on the slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle-Earth."

An alliance was formed between Elendil, King of Gondor, with his son Isildur by his side, and Gil-galad of the high elves, who was accompanied by Lord Elrond. They led their armies against the full might of Sauron's orc legions.

"Victory was near, but the power of the Ring could not be undone."

The soldiers began to move backwards as Sauron approached, bearing the ring on his right hand. He laid waste to much of the alliance's armies before killing Elendil.

"It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the King, took up his father's sword."

The blade shattered as Sauron stepped on it, but Isildur was not deterred. With his remaining strength, he arched the weapon upwards and severed all four fingers from Sauron's right hand. The Ring fell to the ground before all of the air seemed to get sucked towards Sauron. Soldiers stumbled forward before all of Sauron's power exploded outwards, knocking them to the floor. Sauron's helmet clattered to the floor; empty.

"Sauron, the enemy of the free peoples of Middle-Earth, was defeated. The Ring, passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own."

Isildur pulled the ring from Sauron's severed finger but, after being led into the heart of Mount Doom by Lord Elrond, would not destroy it. He kept the ring for himself, believing he could pass it on as an heirloom through his house.

"It betrayed Isildur, to his death."

Isildur was riding with his company when they were ambushed by a group of orcs. In desperation, he removed the ring from the chain around his neck and put it on; vanishing from sight. He fled from the fight, abandoning his people, and threw himself into the river. But once he was underwater, the ring removed itself from his finger and sank into the depths. Now visible, the orcs shot and killed him.

"And some things that should not have been forgotten, were lost. History became legend, legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer."

The ring was found by a halfling fisherman by the name of Deagol. But Deagol was killed, strangled to death, by his friend Sméagol. Sméagol took the ring into the mountains, where he became known as Gollum. Who had a different name for it; "My precious."

"The ring came to the creature Gollum. Who took it deep into the tunnels of the misty mountains. And there, it consumed him. The ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave, it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumour grew of a shadow in the east, whispers of a nameless fear. And the ring of power perceived its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. But something happened the ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable. A hobbit, Bilbo Baggins of the Shire."

When the goblins had captured the company of Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo had slipped away into the tunnels of the misty mountains. He had tripped and fallen, only to find a golden ring on the ground. It was then that he had encountered Gollum. After a contest of riddles, Bilbo had fled through the tunnels, away from Gollum, taking the ring with him.

"For the time will soon come when Hobbit's will shape the fortunes of all."