Hello!
I am so sorry that I haven't posted anything new in the past month! My summer is very busy and I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend working on entries (as you can see) I will try to get one posted every once and a while but it probably won't be very often.
Well I just wanted to let you all know, in case you thought I was no longer posting or something. Feel free to leave comments still. I will get back to them!
The name Shadowfax means "shadowy grey coat." It is an anglicized version of the name Sceadu-faex in the language of Rohan. The word fax is an obsolete English word meaning "hair." Also called Shadowfax the Great and Prince of Horses.
Greatest of all horses at the end of the Third Age; steed of Gandalf. Shadowfax was the chief of the magnificent breed of horses known as the mearas. The mearas were descended from Felarof, a wild horse tamed by Eorl, the first King of Rohan. It was believed that the ancestors of the mearas were brought to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands by Orome, one of the Valar.
Shadowfax was a beautiful horse. In the daylight his coat appeared silver, while at night it was a shadowy grey that made Shadowfax nearly invisible in the dark. He was light-footed and extremely swift and could run great distances without tiring.
Shadowfax was the finest horse in Rohan, but no one had ever been able to ride him. On September 20, 3018, Gandalf met with King Theoden of Rohan to warn him of Saruman's treachery. Theoden would not listen to Gandalf and threw him out, telling him to take any horse and go.
On September 21, Gandalf saw Shadowfax running in the fields, and over a period of three days he persuaded the horse to bear him. Shadowfax would not wear a saddle or bridle, so Gandalf rode bareback. They went north at great speed, traveling all the way from Rohan to the Shire in only six days from September 23 to September 28.
In the rough terrain of the Ettenmoors, Gandalf released Shadowfax. Shadowfax returned home, arriving in Rohan on February 23, 3019. But Shadowfax had become friends with Gandalf and would come if the Wizard called him.
On February 30, Shadowfax was in the south of Rohan when he became aware that Gandalf was directing his thoughts to him, bidding him to come quickly to Fangorn Forest. During the night, Shadowfax encountered Arod and Hasufel - the horses of Aragorn and Legolas that had gone astray from their riders. The two horses greeted Shadowfax with joy. The next morning Gandalf whistled and Shadowfax came to him, bringing Arod and Hasufel along.
Gandalf rode Shadowfax to Meduseld, where he freed King Theoden from Saruman's influence. Theoden offered a gift to Gandalf in gratitude. Gandalf requested Shadowfax and Theoden agreed.
Riding Shadowfax, Gandalf gathered the scattered Riders of Rohan and brought them to the Battle of Helm's Deep at dawn on March 4. When Saruman's forces saw the White Rider descending down the slope toward them, they were terrified. The Men surrendered and the Orcs fled into the forest of Huorns and were never seen again.
The next day, Pippin Took looked into the palantir and saw Sauron, and Gandalf took the young Hobbit up on Shadowfax and rode swiftly with him to Minas Tirith. When they reached the City, Shadowfax was housed in the stables on the sixth level. On March 10, Gandalf rode out of the City on Shadowfax to rescue Faramir and his Men from the Nazgul. When the Pelennor Fields were overrun by the Enemy forces on March 13, Gandalf rode out once more to the aid of Faramir's retreating rear-guard.
At dawn on March 15, the Great Gate of Minas Tirith was broken and the Lord of the Nazgul rode into the City. Gandalf was there to confront him, mounted on Shadowfax. Shadowfax was the only free horse in Middle-earth who was able to endure the terror of the Nazgul and he stood unmoving. Then the Riders of Rohan arrived and the Lord of the Nazgul departed. Gandalf rode Shadowfax up through the streets of Minas Tirith to save Faramir from the funeral pyre set by Denethor.
After the War of the Ring, in September of 3021, Gandalf rode Shadowfax to the Grey Havens. Gandalf boarded a ship and sailed to the Undying Lands on September 29. He was permitted to take Shadowfax with him and the horse accompanied his rider into the West.
Gandalf was first called the White Rider by Aragorn in contrast to Sauron's Black Riders.
"Do I not say truly, Gandalf," said Aragorn at last, "that you could go whithersoever you wished quicker than I? And this I also say: you are our captain and our banner. The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads." The Two Towers: "The White Rider," p. 104
Gandalf arrived at Rivendell on October 18 and learned that the Elf-lord Glorfindel had already set out in search of Frodo. Frodo reached the Ford of Bruinen on October 20 and was confronted by the Nazgul. Elrond commanded the river to rise against the Nazgul, and Gandalf added a few touches to the waves in the form of white horses and rolling boulders.
Gandalf sat by Frodo's bedside while the Hobbit recovered from the wound he had received from the Lord of the Nazgul at Weathertop. On October 25, the Council of Elrond was held to determine what to do with the Ring. Gandalf told the Council how he had discovered that the One Ring had been found and of Saruman's treachery. It was decided that the Ring had to be taken to Mordor and destroyed, and Gandalf said that this was the last thing Sauron would suspect.
"... let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning." The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 282-83
Frodo volunteered to be the Ring-bearer and Gandalf told his friend that he intended to accompany him. Elrond agreed, saying, "Gandalf will go; for this shall be his great task, and maybe the end of his labours." (FotR, p. 289) Gandalf persuaded Elrond that Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took should be part of the Fellowship, for he thought that friendship and loyalty should be given consideration over wisdom and power. The nine members of the Fellowship left Rivendell on December 25.
The Fellowship was prevented from crossing the Misty Mountains over the Redhorn Gate by a blizzard. Gandalf suggested an alternate route under the mountains through the Mines of Moria. Aragorn advised against it, for he had a premonition that danger awaited Gandalf in Moria, but he agreed to accept the Wizard's guidance. The others were also reluctant, but an attack by Wargs persuaded them to seek shelter in the Mines.
At the West-gate of Moria on January 13, Gandalf tried a number of spells to open the Doors of Durin before realizing from a hint of Merry's that the password was given in the inscription, "Speak, friend, and enter." Gandalf had entered Moria once before through the East-gate, so he was able to lead the Fellowship through the tunnels. During a rest stop while Gandalf tried to determine the right passage to take, Pippin dropped a stone down a well and drums began to sound in the deep. Gandalf rebuked Pippin, calling him "Fool of a Took," but then he took pity on the young Hobbit and relieved him of guard duty.
In the Chamber of Mazarbul on January 15, Gandalf found the Book of Mazarbul, a record of Balin's ill-fated attempt to reclaim Moria. Just as he read the closing line, "They are coming," drums began to sound once more and the Fellowship was attacked. They fought the Orcs and then fled through the east door. Gandalf attempted to seal the door with a spell, but he sensed an opposing presence in the chamber beyond and the effort to counter it cost him much strength.
At the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Gandalf came face to face with the evil presence. It was a Balrog, a terrible creature of shadow and flame. Gandalf told his companions to run and he stood on the bridge and confronted the Balrog.
"You cannot pass... I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass." The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Bridge of Khazad-dum," p. 344
Gandalf shattered the Balrog's sword with Glamdring and the Balrog leaped onto the bridge. Aragorn and Boromir started to come to his aid, but Gandalf smote the bridge with his staff and shattered the rock under the Balrog's feet. The Balrog's fiery whip dragged Gandalf to the edge of the abyss, and with a cry of "Fly, you fools!" Gandalf fell into shadow as his friends looked on helplessly.
"Gandalf!" Eomer exclaimed. "Gandalf Greyhame is known in the Mark: but his name, I warn you, is no longer a password to the king's favour. He has been a guest in the land many times in the memory of men, coming as he will, after a season, or after many years. He is ever the herald of strange events: a bringer of evil, some now say." The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," p. 37
Greyhame means "greycoat" from the Old English grég or graég meaning "grey" and hama meaning "covering, garment." This is a reference to Gandalf's grey robes. ("Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Greyhame)
In April of 3018, Gandalf returned to the Shire and told Frodo of his suspicions. He then performed the final test and cast the Ring into the fireplace, revealing the inscription that proved that it was in fact the One Ring. Frodo offered to give the Ring to Gandalf, but the Wizard refused.
"No!" cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. "With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly." His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. "Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me." The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," p. 70-71
Gandalf told Frodo that he would help him as best he could but that it was up to Frodo to decide what to do. When Frodo volunteered to carry the Ring out of the Shire in order to save his home from Sauron's wrath, Gandalf was pleased and somewhat surprised at his friend's response.
It was decided that Frodo would leave the Shire after his birthday on September 22 and head for Rivendell with Samwise Gamgee. On May 1, Gandalf met Aragorn at Sarn Ford and informed him of this plan. At the end of June he made another reconnaissance trip to the southern border, intending to return in a few days. But he heard rumors of war and of the Black Shadow, so he went northeast along the Greenway towards Bree, where he encountered a fellow Wizard, Radagast the Brown.
Radagast told Gandalf that Saruman had sent him with the news that the Nine Nazgul were seeking the Shire. Gandalf decided to go see Saruman at once. He told Radagast to alert the birds and the beasts to gather news of the Nazgul and bring it to Isengard. Gandalf then spent the night in at the Prancing Pony and gave the innkeeper Barliman Butterbur a message to be delivered to Frodo urging him to leave the Shire at once. Unbeknownst to Gandalf, the message was forgotten and never delivered.
When Gandalf arrived at Isengard, he discovered that Saruman had become corrupted by the desire for power. Saruman suggested to Gandalf that they join forces with Sauron or take the One Ring for themselves. When Gandalf refused, Saruman imprisoned him on the pinnacle of Orthanc. From there Gandalf could see that Saruman had destroyed the gardens of Isengard and replaced them with machinery and an army of Orcs and Wargs.
On September 18, Gwaihir the Windlord came to Isengard bringing news of Gollum's escape from Mirkwood. The Great Eagle rescued Gandalf and brought him to Edoras in Rohan. There Gandalf found that King Theoden had fallen under the influence of Saruman. Theoden would not listen to Gandalf's warnings but bade him to take a horse and be gone. Gandalf tamed the magnificent Shadowfax and rode north with all speed.
In Hobbiton on September 29, Gandalf learned from the Gaffer that Frodo had left Bag End less than a week earlier. The next day he found Frodo's house at Crickhollow had been ransacked and he despaired. But when he arrived in Bree he was overjoyed to learn that Frodo had just left the town in the company of Aragorn.
At Weathertop on October 3, Gandalf found the Nazgul waiting for him and he was besieged in the ruins of the Tower of Amon Sul. The flashes of light and fire from their battle could be seen for miles around. At dawn the next day, Gandalf escaped. Hoping to draw the Nazgul away from Frodo, Gandalf took a circuitous route through the Ettenmoors to Rivendell.
Gandalf arrived at Rivendell on October 18 and learned that the Elf-lord Glorfindel had already set out in search of Frodo. Frodo reached the Ford of Bruinen on October 20 and was confronted by the Nazgul. Elrond commanded the river to rise against the Nazgul, and Gandalf added a few touches to the waves in the form of white horses and rolling boulders.
Gandalf Gandalf learns more of the Ring:
When Gandalf was sent back to Middle-earth after his fight with the Balrog, he was clad in white. He replaced the traitorous Saruman -- who had forsaken white for robes of many colors -- as the head of the order of Wizards. "'Yes, I am white now," said Gandalf. "Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been."
Gandalf accepted the wisdom of his superior but he remained uneasy. He continued to visit Bilbo in the Shire and found it odd that the Hobbit did not appear to age as the years passed. That coupled with the discovery that Bilbo had lied about his encounter with Gollum made Gandalf wonder whether the magic Ring was more powerful than he had thought.
Hoping to learn how Gollum had acquired the Ring, Gandalf set a watch for the creature. Gollum emerged from the Misty Mountains, and his path eventually took him through Mirkwood to Lake-town and back again. The Wood-Elves tracked Gollum but lost his trail when he turned southward. Gandalf then decided to give up the hunt for Gollum, much to his regret when he later learned that the creature had been drawn to Mordor.
In September of 3001, Gandalf returned to the Shire for Bilbo's 111th birthday party. September 22 was also the birthday of Bilbo's heir Frodo Baggins, who was coming of age that year. Gandalf had come to provide fireworks for the party and also to see off his old friend Bilbo who was planning to leave the Shire after the party.
Gandalf was not happy with Bilbo's use of his magic Ring to disappear before his guests' eyes, but he was even more disturbed by Bilbo's behavior afterwards. The Hobbit told Gandalf that he was beginning to feel thin and stretched. When it came time to leave the Ring behind for Frodo, Bilbo became strangely reluctant to do so. He became angry with Gandalf and called the Ring his Precious as Gollum had once done. At length, Gandalf was able to help his old friend give up the Ring and Bilbo immediately felt as if a burden had been lifted from him.
Gandalf, however, became increasingly concerned. He feared that Bilbo's Ring was the One Ring wrought by the Dark Lord Sauron, and he decided that he needed to learn more about the Ring's origins. Gandalf called upon Aragorn, a Ranger of the North and the Heir of Isildur and the Kings of old. He had first met Aragorn in 2956, and the Wizard and the Ranger had become friends and allies. Aragorn suggested that they should resume the hunt for Gollum, and over the next several years they did so without success.
Gandalf visited Minas Tirith upon occasion, seeking information about the fall of Sauron and of Isildur, who had cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, reluctantly gave Gandalf access to the archives, though he distrusted the Wizard. Denethor's son Faramir, however, was eager to learn from Gandalf. In 3017, Gandalf returned to Minas Tirith, having recalled that Saruman had once mentioned that there were markings on the One Ring. He found a scroll written by Isildur describing an inscription that appeared when the Ring was heated: "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them."
Gandalf received word that Aragorn had captured Gollum so he went to Mirkwood to question the creature. He learned that the Ring had been found in the Anduin near the Gladden Fields where Isildur had fallen. He also learned that Gollum had once been a Hobbit-like person named Smeagol who had killed his friend Deagol to obtain the Ring and that he had been hiding in the Misty Mountains for 500 years before Bilbo encountered him.
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Glamdring
Sword of Gandalf:
The name Glamdring comes from the word Glamhoth, a Sindarin term for Orcs that literally means "din horde" or "host of tumult." The word glam means "noise" and the word dring means "beat, strike." Called Beater by the Orcs and the Foe-hammer in the Common Speech.
Sword of Gandalf. Glamdring was forged in Gondolin, a great realm of the Elves in the First Age. It once belonged to Turgon, the King of Gondolin. It is not known how Glamdring survived the Fall of Gondolin.
Six thousand years later, in the year 2941 of the Third Age, Gandalf found Glamdring in the Troll-hoard of Bert, Tom, and William in the Trollshaws. The swords Orcrist and Sting were also found in the Trolls' cave. Glamdring had a beautiful scabbard and a jewelled hilt and was engraved with runes. Elrond was able to identify the blade as Glamdring the Foe-hammer from the runes. A special property of the blade was that it glowed with blue light when Orcs were near.
When Thorin Oakenshield and company were attacked by Orcs in the Misty Mountains, Gandalf came to their rescue with a flash of fire and smoke. He used Glamdring to behead the Great Goblin. The other Orcs recognized the legendary sword, which they called Beater, and fled. Gandalf used Glamdring to cut the bonds of Bilbo and the Dwarves. Later, at the Battle of the Five Armies, it is likely that Gandalf used the sword against the attacking Orcs and Wargs.
Gandalf bore Glamdring when the Fellowship left Rivendell on December 25, 3018. In Moria, he wielded the sword in the battle against the Orcs in the Chamber of Mazarbul. On the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Gandalf confronted the Balrog with Glamdring. The blade glittered with white light and it shattered the Balrog's red sword into molten fragments. Gandalf then smote the bridge with his staff, and he and the Balrog fell into the abyss. Gandalf continued to fight the Balrog, hewing him with Glamdring until the Balrog fled up the Endless Stair. In the Battle of the Peak, Gandalf defeated the Balrog.
When he returned as Gandalf the White, he still had Glamdring. He left the sword in the care of Hama, the Doorward of Theoden at Meduseld. Gandalf later retrieved Glamdring and bore it throughout the War of the Ring. When Gandalf returned to Bree with the Hobbits in October of 3019 he was wearing the sword at his side. It is not known whether Gandalf took Glamdring with him when he left Middle-earth in September of 3021.
Tharkun was the name by which Gandalf was known among the Dwarves. It was said to mean "staff man."
In the late summer of 2941, the White Council convened and Gandalf once again urged them to take action against Sauron. This time Saruman agreed, and the Council attacked Dol Guldur and Sauron fled before them.
Gandalf returned north and arrived at the Lonely Mountain to find that Smaug was dead but the Dwarves were barricaded in the mountain while armies of Lake-Men and Wood-Elves were camped outside. One night Bilbo emerged from the mountain bearing the Arkenstone which he presented to the leaders of the Men and Elves as a bargaining tool to end the stand-off. Gandalf was impressed by the Hobbit's effort at diplomacy, but the conflict was not resolved until an army of Orcs and Wargs appeared and Gandalf convinced the Dwarves, Men, and Elves to join forces against them.
After the Battle of the Five Armies, Gandalf travelled with Bilbo to the Shire. On the way they stopped at Rivendell, where Gandalf and Elrond discussed the the attack on Sauron's stronghold in Mirkwood.
"Ere long now," Gandalf was saying, "The Forest will grow somewhat more wholesome. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, I hope. Yet I wish he were banished from the world!" The Hobbit: "The Last Stage," p. 310
Unbeknownst to Gandalf and the White Council, Sauron had been prepared for the assault and had retreated to Mordor where the Nine Nazgul awaited him. In 2951, Sauron declared himself openly and began to rebuild the Dark Tower of Barad-dur. The White Council met once more and discussed Sauron's attempts to find the One Ring that he had made and that held much of his power. Saruman, who was knowledgeable about the Rings of Power, assured the Council that the One Ring had long ago fallen into the Anduin and had been carried out to Sea where Sauron would never find it.
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Narya
The Ring of Gandalf:
Also called Narya the Great, the Ring of Fire, the Red Ring, and the Third Ring. The name Narya comes from the Quenya word nar meaning "flame, fire."
The Ring of Fire. Narya was set with a red stone. At the time of the War of the Ring, Gandalf was the bearer of Narya.
When the Three Rings were hidden in 1693 of the Second Age, Narya was entrusted to Gil-galad. He passed it on to Cirdan, the Lord of the Grey Havens. It is not certain when Gil-galad did this. In one version of "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" it is said that Gil-galad gave Narya to Cirdan shortly after he received it from Celebrimbor, and this seems to be supported by comments in "The Tale of Years" and The Silmarillion which imply that Cirdan held Narya from the start. But a marginal note to "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" says that Gil-galad waited until he left Lindon with the Last Alliance in 3431 S.A. to give Narya to Cirdan.
When Gandalf arrived at the Grey Havens around the year 1000 of the Third Age, Cirdan perceived that he was the wisest of the Wizards and had the greatest spirit. He gave Narya to Gandalf, saying:
"Take this ring, Master, for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill." Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 366
Gandalf bore Narya in secret, but Saruman became aware of Cirdan's gift and he grew resentful of Gandalf. Gandalf's spirit was enhanced by Narya, and he countered the destructive fire of Sauron with a kindling fire of hope. At the end of the War of the Ring, Gandalf returned to the Grey Havens openly wearing Narya. He bore the Ring with him when he sailed into the West with Elrond and Galadriel, the bearers of Vilya and Nenya.
Mithrandir was the name given to Gandalf by the Elves. It means "Grey Wanderer" or "Grey Pilgrim" and refers to his color and his travels across Middle-earth.
Gandalf was unique among the Wise for his interest in Hobbits. It is not known when he first went to the Shire, but he appeared there from time to time and was famous among Hobbits especially for his fireworks. He was also held responsible for causing several Hobbit lads and lasses to embark on adventures. Gandalf came to the aid of the Hobbits during the Long Winter of 2758-59 and was impressed by their courage and pity for one another in the face of dreadful hardship. He also knew Hobbits to be stealthy, a quality he deemed useful for sneaking into a Dragon's lair.
The particular Hobbit he selected for the quest was Bilbo Baggins. Gandalf had known and admired Bilbo's mother Belladonna Took and he recalled Bilbo as an eager and curious young Hobbit. But when the Wizard arrived at Bag End one morning in late April of 2941 he found that Bilbo had settled into a comfortable existence and claimed to have no interest in adventures.
Nevertheless, Gandalf marked Bilbo's door with a sign indicating that Bilbo was a burglar seeking employment, for that is what he had told the Dwarves. The thirteen Dwarves arrived at Bag End the next day in time for tea. Thorin was not pleased with Gandalf's choice of burglar and told the Wizard so later that night. But Gandalf had a strong feeling that Bilbo must go on this quest and he stood by his decision until Thorin reluctantly relented. The next morning, April 27, Gandalf sent Bilbo running out the door of his home to embark on the quest of the Lonely Mountain.
When Bilbo and the Dwarves were captured by Tom, Bert, and William, Gandalf tricked the three Trolls into arguing over how to cook their prey until the sun came up and turned the Trolls into stone. In the Troll-hoard, Gandalf found the sword Glamdring the Foe-Hammer that had once belonged to the King of Gondolin.
Gandalf led the company to Rivendell, where Elrond interpreted the runes on the map of the Lonely Mountain. After a short rest, the company set out over the Misty Mountains. They took shelter from a storm in a cave called the Front Porch in the High Pass and the Dwarves and Bilbo were captured by Orcs. Gandalf had heard the Orcs coming and evaded capture. He came to the rescue of his companions and beheaded the Great Goblin with Glamdring. Gandalf led the company through the tunnels to the exit on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, but there they discovered that Bilbo was no longer with them.
To their relief, Bilbo appeared shortly afterwards. Bilbo was evasive about how he had managed to escape and Gandalf suspected there was more to his story and he later tried to learn the truth. When Bilbo first mentioned the magic Ring he had found, he said that that Gollum had intended to give the Ring to him as a present if he won the Riddle Game. Gandalf eventually got the true story out of Bilbo and it disturbed him that the Hobbit had lied contrary to his nature. It was not until many years later that the Wizard learned just how serious a matter Bilbo's magic Ring was.
Gandalf means "staff Elf." This name was given to him by Men in reference to the staff he carried and the mistaken belief that he was one of the Elves. The word gandr means "staff" especially one used for magic.
Gandalf was one of the Order of Wizards sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. During his 2,000 years in Middle-earth, Gandalf came to understand and love the land and its peoples, particularly Hobbits. Gandalf worked ceaselessly to counter Sauron's plans to dominate Middle-earth, and he set in motion a chain of events that ultimately resulted in the Dark Lord's downfall.
Gandalf was one of the Maiar, spirits who helped and served the Valar. When he lived in the Undying Lands he was known as Olorin, and he was the wisest of the Maiar. He sometimes walked among the Elves unseen or as one of them and shared wisdom and fair visions with them. For much of the time, Olorin dwelled in Lorien, the gardens of the Vala Irmo for which the woods of Lothlorien in Middle-earth were named.
Olorin also frequently visited Nienna in her home in the far west near the walls of the world. It was said that Olorin learned pity and patience from Nienna. But Olorin seems to have been most closely associated with the Valar Manwe and Varda, and it was they who sent Olorin to Middle-earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age.
The Maiar who were sent by the Valar to Middle-earth were given the bodies of old men and were known as Istari, or Wizards. Their mission was to help the free peoples of Middle-earth oppose Sauron without seeking domination or power for themselves. Olorin was the last of the Five Wizards to arrive at the Grey Havens in northwestern Middle-earth. There Cirdan the Shipwright gave him Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, saying:
"Take this ring, Master, for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you." Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 366
Among Men Olorin became known as Gandalf the Grey and the Elves called him Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim. He wandered far and wide throughout Middle-earth and had no fixed abode. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows and he wore a blue pointed hat, a silver scarf, and a long grey cloak.
Around the year 1100, the Wizards and the chief Elves discovered that an evil power had built a stronghold at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. At the time, they thought it was one of the Nazgul. But the shadow that fell on the forest grew, and by 2060 the Wise feared it might be the return of Sauron, who had been overthrown at the end of the Second Age. Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in 2063 to investigate, and Sauron fled and went into hiding in the East.
The Watchful Peace lasted until 2460, when Sauron returned with increased strength to Dol Guldur. Three years later the White Council was formed, made up of the chief Wizards and Elves. The leader of the White Council was Saruman, who was the head of the order of Wizards. Galadriel had suggested that Gandalf lead the Council, but Gandalf had refused for he did not want to be beholden to anyone or anything except his true mission in Middle-earth.
Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur in disguise in 2850 and found Thrain, father of Thorin Oakenshield, in the dungeon. Thrain gave Gandalf a map of the Lonely Mountain and a key to its secret door before he died. Gandalf learned that the evil presence in Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron and he urged the White Council to take action but Saruman overruled him.
Despite the ruling of the head of his order, Gandalf was troubled by the presence of Sauron. He feared that the Dragon Smaug, who had taken the Lonely Mountain from the Dwarves, might be used as a tool by Sauron to wreak havoc in the north and allow Sauron to attack Rivendell and Lothlorien.
By chance one day in March of 2941, Gandalf met Thrain's son Thorin Oakenshield in Bree. Thorin wanted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug and Gandalf saw an opportunity to rid the north of the threat of the Dragon, so together they devised a plan. Thorin gathered a company of twelve other Dwarves while Gandalf selected a Hobbit to be the fourteenth member of the party. This turned out to be one of the key decisions that led to Sauron's downfall.
Before the time of Helm Hammerhand, the Rohirrim called the Hornburg the Súthburg. The name Súthburg means "southern fortress," because it guarded the southern side of the Gap of Rohan.
King Theoden arrived at Helm's Deep with a force of more than 1,000 Rohirrim from Edoras on the evening of March 3. Theoden entered the Hornburg while his nephew Eomer commanded the defenses on the Deeping-wall with the help of Aragorn. Saruman's army of 10,000 Orcs as well as Men of Dunland began the assault on Helm's Deep after midnight on March 4.
Eomer and Aragorn led a sortie from the postern-door to prevent the enemy forces from battering down the gates and entering the Hornburg. But Orcs set off an explosive device in the culvert under the Deeping-wall and they entered Helm's Deep through the breach. Many of the Rohirrim retreated into the Hornburg, while others who were cut off went farther back into Helm's Deep to defend the entrance to the Glittering Caves where the refugees hid.
At dawn, the Orcs blew up the main gate of the Hornburg, but at that moment the horn of Helm Hammerhand sounded and Theoden led a charge from the gate down the causeway and all the way to Helm's Dike. Saruman's forces fled before them, and in the Deeping-coomb beyond Helm's Dike they were confronted by a forest of Huorns sent by Treebeard that had filled the valley during the night. On the western ridge of the valley, Erkenbrand arrived with Gandalf and 1,000 Rohirrim and charged down the slopes. The Men of Saruman's army surrendered, and the Orcs fled among the Huorns and never emerged again.
The day after the Battle of Helm's Deep, the dead of Rohan were buried in two mounds in the field in front of the Hornburg, while Hama, the captain of the King's guard, was buried in a solitary grave. In the middle of the next night, the Huorns buried the Orcs under a hill of stones that became known as the Death Down where no man dared to walk.
Helm's Deep
History:
The Hornburg was named for the great horn of Helm. The word burg means "fortress, castle" in Old English. The Hornburg was also sometimes simply called the Burg and the Hornrock was called the Rock.
The fortress and the Deeping-wall were built by the Men of Gondor sometime during the reign of the Ship-kings (830-1149). Its purpose was to guard the southern side of the Gap, while Isengard guarded the northern side.
In 2510, the stronghold became part of the new land of Rohan. When Rohan was invaded by Men from Dunland in 2758, King Helm led his people to take shelter there. The ravine became known as Helm's Deep, and the fortress was called the Hornburg because Helm would sound his great horn before coming forth from the stronghold to raid the enemy camps.
Helm and his people were besieged in Helm's Deep during the Long Winter of November 2758 to March 2759. After Yule, supplies ran low and the people in Helm's Deep were starving. Helm's son Hama left to find food but never returned. Helm later froze to death standing on Helm's Dike. The invaders were finally driven out of Rohan by Helm's nephew Frealaf.
At the time of the War of the Ring,King Theoden's son Theodred had his base at Helm's Deep, and Erkenbrand, the lord of the Westfold, dwelled there as well. After Theodred was killed in the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on Feburary 25, 3019, Erkenbrand realized that Saruman was planning to invade Rohan. He made necessary repairs and strengthened the defenses of Helm's Deep. Many of the people of the Westfold took shelter in the Glittering Caves. Erkenbrand rode out to gather the forces of the Westfold, leaving about 1,000 Rohirrim to defend Helm's Deep, including a company led by Gamling to man Helm's Dike.
Helm's Deep was named for Helm Hammerhand, who took refuge there. The word deep refers to the deep valley between the cliffs. Stronghold in Rohan; site of the Battle of Helm's Deep - one of the key battles of the War of the Ring.
Helm's Deep was located near the Gap of Rohan at the foot of the three-peaked mountain called the Thrihyrne in the northwestern fork of the White Mountains. Between the arms of the Thrihyrne lay a valley called the Deeping-coomb. A trench and rampart called Helm's Dike stretched across the Deeping-coomb. Two furlongs - or a quarter mile - behind Helm's Dike was Helm's Gate, the entrance to Helm's Deep.
Helm's Deep was a narrow ravine with high cliffs on the northern and southern sides that blocked out the sunlight. The Deeping-wall was built across the entrance to the ravine, and at the northern end of the wall was the fortress of the Hornburg. No enemy had ever captured the Hornburg while it was defended.
The Hornburg stood on a spur called the Hornrock that jutted out from the northern cliff. The Hornburg was surrounded by a wall, behind which was an outer court and a citadel containing an inner court and a tall tower. In the tower was the great horn of Helm Hammerhand. When the horn was sounded, it echoed throughout the ravine and caused fear and dismay among enemy forces.
A causeway led up to the Hornburg-gates. To one side of the main gate a narrow walkway led along the edge of the Hornrock to a small postern-door into the Hornburg. There was also a rear-gate with a stairway leading down from the Hornburg into the ravine behind the Deeping-wall.
The Deeping-wall stood 20 feet high and was wide enough for four men to stand side by side. The surface of the wall was smooth and nearly seamless. There was a tall parapet on the wall with openings for archers. Three staircases led down from the back of the wall into the ravine, and another staircase led up into the Hornburg.
Behind the Deeping-wall, the cliffs drew closer together and formed the Narrows. At the far end of the Narrows was the entrance to the Glittering Caves under the Thrihyrne. The Deeping-stream flowed from the caves and passed under the Deeping-wall through a small culvert and then looped around the Hornburg and under the causeway. From the Hornburg, the Deeping-road ran alongside the Deeping-stream to the Great West Road.
Welcome to this month's new theme: Helm's Deep! I may not be posting quite as often as I was with the Elves first of all, because there is not quite as much to post about with Helm's Deep, and secondly,because it takes a lot of time to make up entries.
I hope you are all still enjoying our blog and are still learning a lot in your WalkInMiddleEarth.
Hey Guys,
I hope you all have enjoyed learning about the Elves of Middle Earth! For the last entry on Elves I have decided to post on the food and drink that the Elves ate and drank. Enjoy reading!
Lembas:
Lembas is Sindarin. The older form was lenn-mbass meaning "journey-bread." The Quenya word is coimas meaning "life-bread." The word massánie is derived from masta which is Quenya meaning "bread." The word besain is dervied from the Noldorin bast also meaning "bread." The Yavannildi were called Ivonwin in Sindarin because Ivann is the Sindarin for Yavanna. Both words are from the stem yab meaning "fruit."
Waybread of the Elves. Lembas was used for long journeys. It gave strength to travellers and could also help bring healing to the wounded or sick. One cake was enough for a full day's march. Lembas remained fresh for many days if unbroken and kept wrapped in mallorn leaves. The thin cakes were a crisp, light-brown on the outside and cream-colored on the inside. They were exceptionally tasty.
Lembas was originally given to the Elves by Yavanna. She sent Orome to give the Elves lembas for their Great Journey to Eldamar. Yavanna made the lembas from corn that she grew in the fields of Aman and the cakes imparted the strength of that land to those who ate it.
The Elves learned to grow this corn in Middle-earth. The secret of making lembas was kept by Elven women called Yavannildi, the maidens of Yavanna. Only they were permitted to handle to corn and bake it into cakes. The highest-ranked woman was called massánie or besain: the Lady, or breadgiver.
The Elves rarely shared lembas with mortals because it would cause them to become weary of their mortality and to long for Aman, where they could not go. Melian showed great favor to Turin when she gave Beleg lembas to bring to his friend in the wild. This was the first time the Elves had provided lembas for the use of Men. Voronwe shared lembas with Tuor on their journey to Gondolin. Voronwe's stash of lembas had helped him survive many years lost at Sea.
Galadriel gave lembas to the Fellowship when they left Lothlorien in February of 3019. The lembas sustained the travellers on their quest. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ate lembas as they ran 45 leagues in less than four days in pursuit of the Uruk-hai who had taken Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took captive. Merry and Pippin ate some lembas to revive their strength when they escaped captivity near Fangorn Forest. "Lembas does put heart into you!" said Merry. (TTT, p. 61) Aragorn was able to discern what became of the Hobbits in part because of the crumbs of lembas and discarded mallorn leaf found at the edge of the woods.
On the way to Mordor, Sam Gamgee carefully rationed the lembas, but he worried that the supply might not last for a return journey. Frodo offered some lembas to Gollum, but Gollum spit it out calling it "dust and ashes." (TTT, p. 229) The Orcs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol also disliked the look and smell of lembas, so they left Frodo's supply when they stripped him of his possessions. This was fortunate, for without lembas Frodo and Sam would not have made it to Mount Doom.
The lembas had a virtue without which they would long ago have lain down to die. It did not satisfy desire, and at times Sam's mind was filled with the memories of food, and the longing for simple bread and meats. And yet this waybread of the Elves had a potency that increased as travellers relied on it alone and did not mingle it with other foods. It fed the will, and it gave strength to endure, and to master sinew and limb beyond the measure of mortal kind. The Return of the King: "Mount Doom," p. 213
Miruvor:
The word miruvor, or miruvóre, was said to be derived from the language of the Valar. The exact translation is not known, but Tolkien compared it to the Greek nectar, for which he gave "death-defeater" as a probable etymological meaning. Tolkien invented the word based on the Gothic midu or medu meaning "mead" and woþeis meaning "sweet."
Cordial of the Elves. Miruvor was a warm and fragrant clear liquid. Its special property was to give the drinker renewed strength and vitality. Miruvor was used by the Elves at their festivals. They did not reveal how miruvor was made, but it was thought to come from the honey of the undying flowers in the gardens of Yavanna.
Elrond gave a flask of miruvor to Gandalf when the Fellowship embarked on their quest. During the snowstorm on Caradhras, Gandalf gave each of the companions a sip of the cordial to revive their frozen and tired limbs. He gave them another sip when they stopped to rest, and a third sip when they first entered the Mines of Moria. At that point, the precious liquid had almost run out.
Miruvor was also mentioned in the lament Galadriel sang when the Fellowship left Lorien:
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva Andúnë pella ...
(The long years have passed like swift draughts of sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West ...) The Fellowship of the Ring: "Farewell to Lorien," p. 394
And sadly, that is all we have on the Elves of Middle Earth. We hope you have enjoyed it! Next, you will be learning all about Helm's Deep...
The meaning of Thranduil is not given. One possible interpretation is "across the Great River." The element thar means "across, beyond." The element anda means "long" and duin or duil means "river." These elements are also combined in the name of the Great River Anduin.
King of the Elves of Mirkwood; father of Legolas. Thranduil, the son of Oropher, was of Sindarin descent though his people were mainly Silvan Elves, or Wood-Elves. He travelled eastward from Lindon sometime before the year 1000 of the Second Age. At that time the vast forest on the east side of the Anduin was called Greenwood the Great.
By some accounts, it was Thranduil who founded the Woodland Realm; by other accounts it was Oropher. According to the latter accounts, Thranduil and Oropher fought in the War of the Last Alliance. Oropher was killed in battle, and after the defeat of Sauron in 3441 of the Second Age Thranduil led his remaining forces back to Greenwood. Around 1050 of the Third Age, a shadow fell on Greenwood and it came to be known as Mirkwood. Great Spiders and other creatures came to dwell in Mirkwood, and at Dol Guldur a stronghold was built by an evil force that was later discovered to be Sauron.
Thranduil and his people retreated to the northeastern corner of Mirkwood and built their halls near the Forest River in underground caverns guarded by great gates. Despite the dark presence in Mirkwood, the Wood-Elves still loved the forest. In the autumn, King Thranduil wore a crown of red leaves and berries in his golden hair, and in the spring his crown was made of woodland flowers. He and his people enjoyed hunting and feasting among the trees.
One day in 2941, Thranduil and a company of Elves were feasting in the woods when they were interrupted by a company of Dwarves and one Hobbit. The Elves relocated but the intruders followed them. On the third occasion the Elves captured the leader of the Dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield, and brought him before King Thranduil. Thorin was imprisoned when he would not reveal what he was doing in Mirkwood and the Elvish sword Orcrist was taken from him. His twelve Dwarf companions were caught soon after. Bilbo Baggins evaded capture by using his magic Ring and later managed to help his companions escape in barrels down the Forest River.
After the death of Smaug the Dragon, word came to Thranduil from the birds of the woods and from the messengers he had sent out after the Dwarves' escape. The King set out toward the Lonely Mountain with a company of Elves armed with bows and spears. En route they met messengers from Bard of Lake-town and went to the aid of the Lake-men whose town had been destroyed. The Elves gave them food and helped them build shelters against the oncoming winter. Then Thranduil and Bard led their armies to the foot of the Lonely Mountain, where they were surprised to find Thorin and company still alive.
Thorin was not interested in listening to Bard's claims upon a share of the treasure, and he was particularly displeased to see Thranduil who had imprisoned him. He sent for help from his cousin Dain Ironfoot and was prepared to fight, but then Bilbo brought the Arkenstone to Bard and Thranduil to use to negotiate with Thorin. Thranduil was impressed with Bilbo and urged him to remain and avoid Thorin's wrath, but Bilbo declined.
Thorin agreed to pay one-fourteenth share of the treasure in exchange for the Arkenstone, but then Dain's forces arrived. Thranduil was reluctant to start a war over gold. Then the Orcs and Wargs from the Misty Mountains came and Thranduil, Bard, and Dain agreed to join forces to fight them in the Battle of the Five Armies. Thranduil's forces were positioned on the southern spur of the Mountain, and they were the first to charge. Many Elves were killed and things looked grim until Bilbo - who had taken his stand among the Elves - cried out that the Eagles were coming. Then the tide was turned and the battle was won.
After the battle, Thranduil laid Orcrist on Thorin's tomb, where it was said to glow in warning when foes approached. Thranduil received the Emeralds of Girion from Bard and Bilbo gave Thranduil a necklace of silver and pearls. Thranduil named the Hobbit "Elf friend."
On March 21, 3018, Aragorn brought Gollum to Thranduil in Mirkwood to be held prisoner. Gollum was guarded day and night, but the Elves took pity on him and allowed him to climb a tree that stood alone. One night in June of 3018, Gollum refused to come down. The Wood-Elves were then attacked by Orcs and Gollum escaped in the confusion. Thranduil sent his son Legolas to Rivendell to inform Elrond, and Legolas was selected as one of the nine members of the Company of the Ring.
During the War of the Ring, Mirkwood was invaded by Sauron's minions and the woods were set on fire. Thranduil's Elves fought them, and on March 15, 3019, they repelled the forces that attacked them from Dol Guldur. In the middle of the forest on April 6, Thranduil met Celeborn, whose forces from Lothlorien had taken Dol Guldur. The Shadow was lifted, and they renamed the forest Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves. Thranduil's realm was in the northern part of Eryn Lasgalen, north of the mountains in the forest, and there the Wood-Elves remained untroubled for many years.
The word oro means "high" and the word phin means "skill" so a possible translation of Orophin is "highly skilled."
Elf of Lothlorien. Orophin was the brother of Haldir and Rumil. He and his brothers were wardens on the borders of Lothlorien. Orophin's language was Sindarin as it was spoken in Lothlorien and he knew little of the Common Speech.
On January 15, 3019, the brothers encountered the Fellowship near the Nimrodel in the eaves of the forest. They led the Fellowship to their flet. During the night a troop of Orcs passed and the brothers lured them away. Orophin then went with great speed to alert the other Elves of Lothlorien of the Orcs' intrusion.
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Rúmil:
Elf of Lothlorien. Rumil was the brother of Haldir and Orophin. He and his brothers were wardens on the borders of Lothlorien. Rumil's language was Sindarin as it was spoken in Lothlorien and he knew little of the Common Speech.
On January 15, 3019, the brothers encountered the Fellowship near the Nimrodel in the eaves of the forest. They led the Fellowship to their flet. During the night a troop of Orcs passed and the brothers lured them away. While Orophin went to warn the other Elves of Lothlorien of the Orcs' intrusion, Rumil accompanied Haldir and the Fellowship to the banks of the Silverlode and helped them cross using ropes. Rumil remained on the west bank and returned to the Nimrodel to keep watch.
The name Oropher may mean "high beech" from oro meaning "high" and pher meaning "beech."
King of the Woodland Realm; grandfather of Legolas. Oropher was the father of Thranduil. Though some sources say Thranduil founded the Woodland Realm, other stories say it was Oropher.
Oropher was said to be a Sindarin Elf from Doriath, the realm of King Thingol in Beleriand. After the destruction of Beleriand at the end of the First Age, Oropher and some followers came to the great forest east of the Anduin called Greenwood the Great where many Wood-elves lived. Oropher and his followers wanted to return to the simple woodland life, which they believed was the natural way of life for Elves. They merged with the Wood-elves and adopted their customs and learned their language. Oropher became the King of the Woodland Realm.
In the early part of the Second Age, Oropher and his people lived near the southwestern edge of Greenwood around the hill called Amon Lanc. But as Sauron grew in power in Mordor south of the forest, Oropher began to move his people northward. He may also have been trying to distance his realm from the realms of Lothlorien and Khazad-dum across the Anduin. The Wood-Elves settled in the fir-covered mountains of Emyn Duir north of the Old Forest Road. The population of Elves increased and they roamed far and wide throughout the forest.
Oropher and his people did not want to get involved in the affairs of Middle-earth, but Oropher realized that his people would never have peace if Sauron was allowed to expand his power unchecked. So when the Last Alliance was formed to confront Sauron, Oropher gathered a large army of his people to join them.
The Elves of the Woodland Realm fought in the Battle of Dagorlad in 3434. Oropher's soldiers were valiant but they were poorly equipped for battle and two-thirds of them were killed. Oropher kept his forces independent of the supreme command of Gil-galad. When the assault began on the Black Gate, Oropher rushed forward without waiting for Gil-galad's signal and he was killed. After the War of the Last Alliance, Thranduil returned home and became King of the Woodland Realm.
The name Mithrellas may be composed of mithren meaning "grey" and las meaning "leaf."
Elven ancestor of the Princes of Dol Amroth. Mithrellas was a Silvan Elf of Lothlorien. She was one of many Silvan Elves who fled from Lothlorien in 1981 after the Balrog awoke in nearby Khazad-dum. Mithrellas was a companion of Nimrodel, the lover of King Amroth of Lothlorien. On the journey south, Nimrodel and her companions became lost in the White Mountains.
Mithrellas was given shelter by a Man of Numenorean descent named Imrazor who lived in Belfalas. She married Imrazor and they had two children - a son named Galador and a daughter named Gilmith. One night, Mithrellas slipped away and was never seen by her husband again. She may have gone to wander in the woods, or she may have sought the havens to depart over the Sea, although Edhellond had apparently been abandoned by the Elves by that time.
Mithrellas' son Galador was the first Lord of Dol Amroth. His descendants thus had Elven blood, as was noted by Legolas when he met Prince Imrahil.
The meaning of the name Nellas is uncertain. It appears to contain the elements nel meaning "three" and las meaning "leaf." It could be related to the word neldor meaning "beech" and Neldoreth, the beech woods of northern Doriath where Nellas wandered.
Elf-maiden of Doriath who befriended Turin. Nellas lived in the woods of Doriath. She did not like to visit the underground halls of Menegroth.
Around 473 of the First Age, Turin came to Doriath. He had been sent there by his mother Morwen after his father Hurin did not return from the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Turin was eight years old at the time. Melian - the wife of King Thingol of Doriath - asked Nellas to look after Turin when he wandered into the woods.
Nellas taught Turin the ways of the woods as well as the ancient dialect of Sindarin that was used in Doriath. Nellas was older than Turin in years but she was like a child at heart and she and Turin played together. Turin was happy in her company for a while, but as he grew to manhood his friendship with Nellas faded. Nellas continued to watch over Turin secretly.
One day in 484, Nellas sat in a tree to watch Turin leave the halls of Menegroth. Turin was attacked by an Elf named Saeros who had a grudge against him. Saeros was chased through the woods by Turin and fell to his death. Nellas was persuaded by Beleg - the chief of Thingol's march-wardens - to come to Menegroth despite her fear of the caves and the crowds of people. She told Thingol that Saeros had intiated the attack and Thingol decided to pardon Turin. But Turin had already left Doriath and he did not return.
When Beleg later found Turin and told him that Nellas had borne witness for him, Turin could not even remember who Nellas was. Nellas never saw Turin again. King Thingol was slain around 502 and Doriath was ruined soon afterwards, but it is not known what became of Nellas.
Nimloth:
The name Nimloth means "white blossom" in Sindarin from nim meaning "white" and loth meaning "flower."
Grandmother of Elrond and Elros. Nimloth was a Sindarin Elf. Her father was Galathil who was the brother of Celeborn. She lived in Doriath, the realm of Thingol in Beleriand in western Middle-earth.
Nimloth married Dior - the son of Thingol's daughter Luthien and Beren - around 497 of the First Age. Nimloth went to live with Dior in a house near the waterfall Lanthir Lamath on the River Adurant in the region of Ossiriand. Their sons Elured and Elurin were born around 500 and their daughter Elwing was born around 503.
Thingol was killed by Dwarves who coveted the Silmaril in his possession. Dior was Thingol's heir and he became the King of Doriath. He and his family returned to Doriath around 504.
Around 506, Doriath was attacked by the sons of Feanor, who had sworn an oath to recover the Silmarils made by their father. Nimloth and Dior were killed. Their young sons Elured and Elurin were taken into the woods and abandoned to an unknown fate. But some Elves of Doriath escaped and they took Elwing and the Silmaril with them. Elwing later married Earendil and was the mother of Elrond and Elros.
Hello Everyone!
I hope you all are enjoying learning about various Elves from Middle Earth.
Okay, so a while back Narnialover95 (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/narnialover95/) left us a comment asking us if we could post on Legolas. Well, we finally have. I apologize for it taking so long but I hope you enjoy reading his very detailed biography. I will warn you...it's very long! I also posted a video of him at the bottom of this entry just because I like him. <3 lol
Anyway, please read and also feel free to leave a comment asking us to post about someplace or someone.
Natalie and Samantha
Legolas Greenleaf:
Legolas means "collection of green leaves" or simply "green leaf." His name is a Silvan form of the Sindarin Laegolas. The word leg means "green" in the Silvan dialect from the Sindarin laeg. The word las means "leaf" and golas means "collection of leaves" in Sindarin.
Legolas Greenleaf, son of the Elvenking of Mirkwood, was selected to represent the Elves in the Fellowship of the Ring. His endurance, keen sight, and fighting skills were of great help on the quest, but his loyalty and friendship were even greater assets to his companions. Legolas grew fond of the Hobbits and he loved and supported Aragorn, but the strongest bond he formed was his unlikely friendship with Gimli the Dwarf.
Little is known about Legolas's early life. His date of birth is not known, though he made some vague references to his age:
"It [Fangorn] is old, very old," said the Elf. "So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children." The Two Towers: "The White Rider," p. 94
"Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in my home since then," said Legolas, "and but a little while does that seem to us." The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 111
"These are the strangest trees that ever I saw," he said; "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age." The Two Towers: "The Road to Isengard," p. 152
Based on these comments it would appear that Legolas was at least several hundred years old at the time of the War of the Ring, and possibly even several thousand, but an exact age cannot be determined. The age attributed to the character of Legolas in Peter Jackson's film version of The Lord of the Rings is 2,931; however, this figure has no basis in the text.
It should also be noted that in The Book of Lost Tales II, an Elf named Legolas Greenleaf was present at the Fall of Gondolin in the First Age. But this Elf was of the Noldor and went to Tol Eressea where he remained and thus was almost certainly not the same as Legolas of the Fellowship.
Legolas was tall, lithe, and very strong. He had great vitality and was resistant to injury, hardship, and fatigue.
Legolas was a Silvan Elf of Sindarin descent. His father Thranduil was one of the Sindar who had come from Lindon sometime before the year 1000 of the Second Age. The Elves of Mirkwood were mainly Silvan, or Wood-Elves, and Legolas identified himself as one of the Silvan folk. It is not known who Legolas's mother was, and some have speculated that she may have been a Silvan Elf, but there is no textual basis for this theory.
Legolas's father Thranduil had imprisoned Thorin Oakenshield and his Dwarf companions when they passed through Mirkwood on the way to the Lonely Mountain in 2941. Thranduil also met Bilbo Baggins, to whom he gave the name "Elf-friend," and he fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. It is not known whether Legolas was involved in these events.
On March 21, 3017, Aragorn brought Gollum to Mirkwood to be held captive and questioned about his hunt for Bilbo and the One Ring. Gollum was guarded day and night, but the Elves took pity on him and allowed him to climb a tree that stood alone. One night in June of 3018, Gollum refused to come down. The Wood-Elves were then attacked by Orcs and Gollum escaped in the confusion.
Legolas was sent to Rivendell to inform Elrond of Gollum's escape. On October 25, he attended the Council of Elrond, where it was decided that the One Ring had to be taken to Mordor and destroyed. Frodo Baggins volunteered for this task, and Legolas was chosen to represent the Elves in the Fellowship that was to accompany the Ring-bearer. The Fellowship left Rivendell on December 25, 3018.
The Fellowship was prevented from crossing the Misty Mountains at the Redhorn Gate by a blizzard. Legolas was able to walk upon the snow and find the edge of the storm. He reported back to his companions that they did not have much further to go to dig their way out.
Gandalf suggested an alternate route under the mountains through the Mines of Moria. Legolas was against the idea, for although the Elves of Eregion had at one time traded with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, evil had been awoken there and Moria now had an evil reputation. But the Fellowship's decision was forced when they were attacked by Wargs. Legolas slew many with his arrows, and the Fellowship made their way quickly to the West-gate of Moria.
The West-gate had once been the site of commerce between the Elves and the Dwarves. Both Legolas and Gimli denied that their people were responsible for the rift between the two races. Gandalf urged the Elf and the Dwarf to remain friends for he needed their help.
The journey through Moria took several days. In the Chamber of Mazarbul on January 15, they discovered the tomb of Balin, who had led an ill-fated expedition to Moria thirty years earlier. Then the Fellowship was attacked by Orcs. Legolas shot two through the throat, and altogether his companions slew thirteen. The Orcs retreated and the Fellowship fled. Legolas had to drag Gimli away from his kinsman Balin's tomb.
At the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Legolas saw a creature of shadow and flame approaching and realized that it was a Balrog. Gandalf told the others to flee and he fought with the Balrog until they both fell into the abyss.
The Fellowship made their way towards the woods of Lothlorien. Legolas realized that Frodo and Sam were lagging behind, and they stopped to tend the Hobbits' injuries. At last they came to the eaves of the Golden Wood. Legolas had never been to Lothlorien, but he had heard that Elves still dwelled there guarded by a secret power.
By the Nimrodel, Legolas sang of the Elf-maiden for whom the stream was named. He then began to climb one of the mallorn trees seeking shelter for his companions, but a voice speaking in Elvish from high in the branches stopped him. The Elves were border wardens of Lothlorien, and they had heard Legolas singing and recognized him as one of their Northern kindred. They asked him to climb up with Frodo to their flet.
The leader introduced himself as Haldir and Legolas told him who his companions were. Haldir was not pleased to learn that one of them was a Dwarf. After questioning Legolas he agreed that Gimli could remain, but cautioned Legolas to keep an eye on him.
The next day, Gimli balked at being the only member of the Fellowship who had to wear a blindfold through the woods. The Dwarf said he would agree if Legolas wore one too, and the Elf replied, "A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" (FotR, p. 362) At last Aragorn convinced them to compromise, and the entire Fellowship went blindfolded, though Legolas was unhappy.
"Alas for the folly of these days!" said Legolas. "Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!" The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," p. 362
At Caras Galadhon on January 17, the Fellowship was brought before Celeborn and Galadriel, the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. The Fellowship stayed in Lothlorien for a month. The Elves of Lothlorien sang laments for Gandalf, but Legolas would not interpret them for the others for he was still grieving the Wizard's loss. Legolas spent much time among the Elves, yet he also took Gimli with him and the two began to form a bond of friendship that surprised their companions.
The Fellowship left Lothlorien on February 16. Legolas received a bow of the Galadhrim and a quiver of arrows from the Lady Galadriel. They set out down the Anduin, and Legolas shared a boat with Gimli. The Dwarf wept at his parting from Galadriel and wondered why he had come on the quest. Legolas comforted his friend.
"Alas for us all! And for all that walk the world in these after-days. For such is the way of it: to find and lose, as it seems to those whose boat is on the running stream. But I count you blessed, Gimli son of Gloin: for your loss you suffer of your own free will, and you might have chosen otherwise. But you have not forsaken your companions, and the least reward that you shall have is that the memory of Lothlorien shall remain ever clear and unstained in your heart, and shall neither fade nor grow stale." The Fellowship of the Ring: "Farewell to Lorien," p. 395
On the night of February 23, Orcs fired arrows at the Fellowship from the eastern shore. Then a great shadow passed overhead, blotting out the stars, and fear touched the hearts of the Fellowship. Legolas fired at the shadow and there was a cry as it fell out of the sky. The Elf did not know what he had hit, but Frodo sensed that the thing that had flown overhead was one of the Nazgul. As it turned out, Legolas had killed one of the Fell Beasts used by the Nazgul as mounts, though its rider had survived.
At Amon Hen on February 26, it was time to decide their next course. Frodo went off alone to decide what to do. Legolas suggested that they help Frodo by voting on the matter, saying that he would vote to go to Minas Tirith, but that in the end he would go where Frodo chose: "It would be faithless now to say farewell." (FotR, p. 419)
But then Boromir told them that he and Frodo had argued and that Frodo had vanished. The members of the Fellowship went off in different directions searching for him. Legolas and Gimli encountered Orcs in the woods and slew many, but then they heard Boromir sound the Great Horn. They came to his aid too late, for he had been slain defending Merry and Pippin.
Aragorn determined that Frodo and Sam had set out for Mordor and that Merry and Pippin had been taken towards Isengard. He decided that they should pursue the Orcs who had captured the two young Hobbits. Legolas said that they must not leave Boromir's corpse for the carrion, so they sent his body down the Anduin in a boat.
They then set out at a swift pace and traveled 45 leagues across the plains of Rohan in less than four days. Legolas did not need to sleep, and he was reluctant to stop and rest. He urged his companions onward, saying, "The thought of those merry young folk driven like cattle burns my heart." (TTT, p. 27)
Legolas's keen eyes were able to see their enemies' trail for a great distance across the plains. On the morning of the fourth day, he saw a group of horsemen approaching them from five leagues distance. They were Riders of Rohan led by Eomer, the Third Marshal of the Mark, who demanded to know their business. When Gimli and Eomer nearly came to blows over a perceived slight of Galadriel, Legolas came swiftly to his friend's defense, but Aragorn intervened.
Aragorn declared himself to be Isildur's Heir, and it appeared to Legolas that a white flame shone on Aragorn's brow like a crown. Eomer listened to their tale and gave them horses to speed them on their way. Legolas was mounted on Arod without saddle or rein, and Gimli sat behind him uneasily.
Eomer had said that his Riders had slain all the Orcs, and when the Three Hunters reached the burning pile of corpses near the edge of Fangorn they found no trace of the Hobbits. That night they saw a strange old man by their campfire, and then their horses ran off. Legolas said that horses had not sounded terrified but as if they had met an old friend.
The next morning, the Hobbits' trail led them into Fangorn Forest. Legolas had heard legends among his people that the Onodrim, or Ents, lived there long ago. The forest felt old to him and full of memory. He perceived that the woods were not evil, though there were dark patches, but there was a watchfulness and anger, for the forest had suffered.
Then Legolas caught a glimpse of an old man in a grey cloak walking through the trees. They thought at first it was Saruman, but then the old man threw off his cloak and Legolas recognized him as Gandalf. The Wizard told them of his fight with the Balrog and his return as Gandalf the White. He brought messages from Galadriel, who said to Legolas:
"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,
Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more." The Two Towers: "The White Rider," p. 106
Legolas was surprised and intrigued when Gandalf told them that Merry and Pippin were safe with an Ent named Treebeard and that the Ents were rising against Saruman, who had destroyed many trees in the forest. Gandalf then told the Three Hunters that their business now lay in Rohan and that they must make for Edoras with all speed. When Shadowfax came at Gandalf's call, the horses Arod and Hasufel came with him, for Shadowfax was their chieftain and it was he that Legolas had heard them meeting in the night.
At Edoras, Gandalf convinced King Theoden to ride to war against Saruman. Legolas was arrayed in mail by the Rohirrim and rode with them. At the Battle of Helm's Deep on the night of March 3-4, Saruman's army of 10,000 launched an assault upon the Rohirrim. Legolas was kept busy with his bow and his long knife. In the end he had slain forty-one Orcs, but Gimli beat his count by one.
At dawn Gandalf arrived with Erkenbrand and 1,000 Riders. Looking out, Legolas was amazed to see that a forest had sprung up in the dale overnight. The Orcs fled into the forest and were never seen again. Later when Legolas rode through the forest on the way to Isengard, he felt a great wrath from the trees - which he later learned were Huorns from Fangorn - and looking back he saw eyes among their branches. He nearly turned back, but was stopped by Gimli and Gandalf. Still Legolas hoped to go one day to Fangorn, and Gimli agreed to go with him if Legolas would come to see the Glittering Caves that lay behind Helm's Deep.
The Three Hunters were reunited with Merry and Pippin at Isengard on March 5, and Legolas also met Treebeard. A parley was held with Saruman and Gandalf broke the traitor's staff and cast him out of the Order of Wizards.
The next day, Aragorn decided to take the Paths of the Dead to the southern coast, for he had looked into the palantir of Orthanc and had seen that the Corsairs posed a threat to Minas Tirith. Legolas chose to accompany him, saying that he did not fear the Dead. Arod balked at the Dark Door, but Legolas soothed the horse and led him through. Gimli was also deeply afraid but he followed his friend.
At the Stone of Erech, Aragorn called upon the Dead to fulfill their oath, and they proceeded to Pelargir where they seized the ships of the Corsairs. There Legolas heard the cry of seagulls, and though he had not yet seen the Sea he felt a longing for it as Galadriel had foretold. For a moment he forgot the war, but he held fast to the commitment he had made and went on.
Legolas and Gimli sailed with Aragorn up the Anduin and arrived in Minas Tirith on March 15 during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. After the battle was won, the Elf and the Dwarf went into the city seeking Merry and Pippin. Legolas noted that more gardens were needed and pledged that his people would bring birds and trees once Aragorn was crowned King. When Legolas met Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, he bowed for he recognized in Imrahil the blood of the people of Nimrodel from Lothlorien long ago.
The Captains of the West decided to march to the Black Gate and engage the Enemy in an attempt to distract Sauron long enough for the Ring-bearer to fulfill his quest. Legolas chose to go with them, both as a representative of the Elves of Mirkwood and out of love for Aragorn. The Host of the West arrived at the Black Gate on March 25 and they fought the forces of Sauron in the Battle of the Morannon until at last the Ring was destroyed and the realm of Sauron was ended.
The Fellowship was reunited at the celebrations on the Field of Cormallen and Legolas wandered happily in the woods of Ithilien. He decided that he would settle there with some of his people if Thranduil would permit it.
Aragorn was crowned King on May 1 and the Fellowship remained in Minas Tirith until after his wedding to Arwen on Mid-year's Day. The Fellowship left Minas Tirith on July 22. When they arrived at Helm's Deep, Legolas accompanied Gimli into the Glittering Caves as he had promised and the Elf was left speechless by what he saw. At Isengard, the pair said farewell to their companions and went to visit Fangorn.
Legolas brought Elves from the Woodland Realm to Ithilien, and the land that had fallen to neglect under the shadow of Mordor bloomed once more under their care. But ever did Legolas hear the call of the Sea coming up the Great River. When Aragorn died in the year 120 of the Fourth Age, Legolas decided to follow his heart. He built a grey ship and set sail down the Anduin. It is said that his great friend Gimli accompanied him, and that together the last two members of the Fellowship left Middle-earth and sailed over the Sea into the West.
The name Elwing means "Star-spray" in Sindarin from el meaning "star" and wing meaning "foam, spray." She was named for the starlight shining in the waterfall near her parents' house on the night of her birth. She was called Elwing the White.
Mother of Elrond and Elros. Elwing was born in Middle-earth on a starry night around the year 503 of the First Age. She had two older brothers, Elured and Elurin. Her father was Dior and her mother was Nimloth. Nimloth was an Elf but Dior was of mixed heritage. His father Beren was a Man and his mother Luthien was the daughter of Thingol, the Elvenking of Doriath, and Melian, a Maia from the Undying Lands. Elwing was considered one of the Half-elven, or Peredhil.
When Elwing was born, her parents lived in a house by the waterfall of Lanthir Lamath on the River Adurant in the region of Ossiriand in eastern Beleriand. Shortly after her birth, they moved to the halls of Menegroth in Doriath. Thingol had been slain by Dwarves who coveted the Silmaril that Thingol possessed. As the son of Thingol's only child Luthien, Dior was Thingol's heir and he became King of Doriath.
Luthien kept the Silmaril for a time but she died and it was brought to Dior in Doriath. The sons of Feanor had sworn to recover the Silmarils made by their father, and they launched an attack on Doriath around 506. Dior and Nimloth were killed and their sons Elured and Elurin were taken into the woods and abandoned to an unknown fate.
But Elwing survived along with some of her kin. They escaped with the Silmaril and settled at the Mouths of Sirion by the Sea. Soon afterwards another group of refugees arrived from the ruin of Gondolin. The newcomers were led by Tuor and Idril who brought with them their young son Earendil. Tuor and Idril departed over the Sea around 525 and Earendil became the lord of the people who lived at the Havens of Sirion.
About the same time, Earendil married Elwing. They had twin sons, Elrond and Elros, born around 532. Earendil was a mariner and he spent much time at Sea, seeking his parents and trying to find a way to the Undying Lands to beseech the Valar to help the peoples of Middle-earth defeat Morgoth.
Around 538, while Earendil was at Sea, the remaining sons of Feanor demanded that Elwing give them the Silmaril. When she refused, the sons of Feanor attacked the Havens of Sirion. Many Elves were killed and Elrond and Elros were captured. Elwing took the Silmaril and dove into the Sea. She was turned into a white bird by Ulmo, the Vala of the Waters, and she flew to find Earendil's ship Vingilot.
Elwing was exhausted from her flight and she collapsed on the ship's deck near death but awoke the next morning in her own form. Elwing and Earendil believed their sons would be killed, though in fact their lives were spared by Feanor's son Maglor. Earendil decided to continue his search for the Undying Lands and Elwing remained with him.
Vingilot finally reached the Undying Lands around 542. Earendil told Elwing to wait for him aboard the ship, but she came ashore. He went alone to seek the Valar while Elwing went to Alqualonde, the Haven of the Swans, and met the Elves of the Teleri who lived there.
Mortal Men were not permitted to come to the Undying Lands. Elwing and Earendil both had the blood of Men, but Manwe - the chief of the Valar - judged that they should be spared though they were not permitted to return to Middle-earth.
Since they were Half-elven, Elwing and Earendil and their sons were given the choice whether to be counted among the mortal Men or the immortal Elves. Elwing chose to be an Elf, and Earendil chose the same for her sake though he had greater affinity with Men.
The Valar set the ship Vingilot in the heavens and Earendil sailed the skies with the Silmaril on his brow. The Star of Earendil gave hope to the peoples of Middle-earth and caused Morgoth to doubt. The Valar heeded Earendil's request and Morgoth was defeated in the War of Wrath.
Elwing did not accompany Earendil on his voyages. She lived in a white tower on the coast in the north. Sea-birds came to the tower and Elwing learned their languages and she also learned to fly using wings that were white and silver-grey. Sometimes she flew to meet Earendil when he returned to the Undying Lands.
Elrond and Elros were given the same choice as their parents. Elros chose to be a Man and he became the first King of Numenor and died in the year 442 of the Second Age. Elrond chose to be counted among the Elves and he remained in Middle-earth for many millennia until he sailed to the Undying Lands at the end of the Third Age.
Lost Elf-maiden of Lothlorien. Nimrodel was graceful and beautiful, with long hair that shone like golden mallorn leaves in sunlight. She was a Silvan Elf, or Wood-elf. Nimrodel spoke only the language of the Wood-elves even after Sindarin became the common tongue of Lothlorien.
Nimrodel loved Amroth, the King of Lothlorien, but she refused to marry him. Amroth was a Sindarin Elf, and Nimrodel was unhappy that many Sindarin and Noldorin Elves had come to Lothlorien because she believed that they exposed her peaceful woods to the war and unrest of Middle-earth. She preferred to live apart from them and maintain the ways of the Wood-elves.
Nimrodel lived alone near the river that later bore her name. Her home was near the northwestern border of Lothlorien. She may have dwelled in a grotto - or small cave - by a waterfall, but when Orcs from the nearby Misty Mountains began encroaching on the forest she may have started living high in the branches of a tree. This may have inspired the creation of flets - platforms used as dwelling places in the trees by the Elves of Lothlorien.
In 1980, a Balrog awoke under the Misty Mountains, and the next year the Dwarves abandoned their realm of Khazad-dum which became a place of evil called Moria. Nimrodel was distraught and she fled alone from Lothlorien. She reached the eaves of Fangorn Forest but she found the trees there frightening and some of them - which may have been Huorns - moved to prevent her from entering the forest.
Amroth followed Nimrodel and found her near Fangorn. She promised to marry him if he could bring her to a land of peace. Amroth agreed to leave Lothlorien and go with Nimrodel to the Undying Lands. They set out for the Elf-haven of Edhellond on the Bay of Belfalas in the south. They were accompanied by other Silvan Elves from Lothlorien. One of Nimrodel's companions was an Elf-maiden named Mithrellas, who later wed the forefather of the Princes of Dol Amroth.
When they reached the White Mountains, Nimrodel and Amroth became separated. Amroth reached Edhellond and waited for Nimrodel aboard their ship, but a storm swept the ship out into the bay. Amroth leaped overboard trying to return to land to find Nimrodel, but he drowned in the rough waters.
Nimrodel wandered for a while in the mountains until she came to the River Gilrain, which reminded her of the stream she had lived near in Lothlorien. She sat by a pool, listening to the water and looking at the stars reflected in it, and her heart was lightened. Nimrodel fell into a long, deep sleep. When she awoke, she came down from the mountains into Belfalas, but the ship was long gone and Amroth was lost. What became of Nimrodel afterwards is not known.
It was said that in springtime her voice could be heard singing in the falls of the River Nimrodel in Lothlorien, while the voice of Amroth came up the Anduin on the south wind.
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