Gil -Galad, the only son of the High King of Fingon, was born in Beriland late in the First Age, and was still a child at the time of the Dagor Bagollach.  His father sent him to Cirdan at the Havens for safekeepings when Morgorth broke the Seige of Angband in the battle. 

Fingon was lost in the Nirath Arnoe and died, but the crown passed to Gil-galad's Uncle Turgon in Gondolin, rather than Gil-galad himself (presumeably because of his youth at that time).  When the city of Gondolin was defeated, Gil-galad received the Kingship of Noldor.  He dwelt with the Exiles of the city at the Mouth of Sinon during the remainder of the First Age.  

After the destruction of Beriland during the War of the Wrath, Gil-galad founded a kingdom in Lindon in the far northwest Middle-Earth, between the Blue Mountains and the Great Sea.  There, he and his people prospered, until Sauron returned.  He came first to Lindon in the form of Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, but Gil-Galad and Elrond rejected him.  Soon after, the One Ring was forged, and there was war in Middle-Earth between the Elves and Sauron. 

After the Downfall of Númenor and the establishment by the Elendili of the Dúnadan kingdoms in exile, there was peace in Middle-Earth.  For a time it was believed that Sauron had been destroyed in the fall of Númenor but this not the case.  Sauron began a war against Gondor, which was closest to Mordor. 

Gil-Galad then formed the Last Alliance of Men and Elves with Elendil, High King of the Dúnadain-in-Exile.  The armies of Elves and Men, victorious after the Battle of Dagorlad, laid siege to Sauron in Mordor.  At the end of the siege, both Gil-Galad and Elendil were slain by Sauron himself when he came out of Barad-Dúr and did battle. Gil-Galad died from the heat of Sauron's body.      

Legolas is the son of Elvenking Thranduil of the woodland Realm of Northen Mirkwood,who appears as "the Elvenking" in The Hobbit.  His father rules over the Sindran Elves who dwell there.

Legolas 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 suported Aragorn but the strongest bond he formed was with Gimli the Dwarf.

Legolas and his friends reached Lothlorien, the golden wood, after facing many dangers, such as Caradhadas, Sauron's wolves in Hollin, and Moria.  In Lothlorian, Legolas serves as an intitial spokesperson for the company, speaking for the Gladrihim, whom he consinders close kin.  They take the leave, but not before they receiving several gifts. There, Legolas receives a new longbow and cloak from lady Galadriel and lord Celborn. 

While the Fellowship is on the River Anduin, Legolas shoots down a fell beast with one shot. After Boromir is killed and Merry and Pippin are captured, he, Aragorn and Gimli set forth in pursuit of the two (Frodo the Ring-bearer and Sam have left to destroy the Ring). Meeting the revived Gandalf and the Rohirrim, they fight at the battle of Hornburg,and witness Sauraman's (partial) downfall at Isengard, where they meet the two abducted Hobbits. In the battle of Hornburg Legolas and Gimli engage in a Orc-slaying contest (Gimli wins by one killing 42 to 41, but the real result is stronger mutal respect.) 

When  Aragorn passes through the Pass of the Dead  Legolas and Gimli acompany him, along with the Grey Company                                                                                                             

The Balrogs originated as Maiar,  the same as Sauron himself. Primordial spirits of fire that allied themselves with Melkor in ancient times , they became the most feared of Melkor's servants, especially the wars of Beriland in the First Age. There are probably no more than seven. Before the First Age, Melkor corupted Maiar into his service in the distant past of the world, in the days of his splendor.  They were originlly gatherd by him in his ancient fastness of Utumno during the time of the lamps of the Valar. When this fortress was destroyed by the Valar, at least some fled and lurked in the pits of Angband (whether any of the origenal Balrogs were slain in the Valar's attack on Utumno is not known. In the First Age when Melkor and Ungoliant escaped from Valinor three ages later with the Simarils, the Balrogs were still to be found in the ruins of Angband. Unigoliant  trapped Melkor in her webs demanding the Simarils for herself, but the Balrogs issued from their hiding-place and rescued their lord. The Balrogs were aparently first encounterd by the elves during the Dagor-nuin -Giliath in the first year of the First Age. After the great victory of Noldor over Morgorth's Orcs, Feanor died of his wounds soon after, and his spirit departed for the Halls of Mandos.                                                                      

No one knows who Tom is.  .Is he one of the elven folk, Maia, Valar or Iluvuta himself? Well, he is not an elf because in the Fellowship of the Rings, it said: "when the elves passed,  Tom was here already." 

MAIA: There is no direct evidence for this- he can't be a Valar so he must be a Maia-but he might be a valar,and there is at least one other posibility for him to be a Maia.  The ring had NO EFECT ON HIM, for it said, "Then Tom put the ring around his little finger and held it up to the candalelight... There was no sight of Tom disappearing!"

More information can be gathered from the website:  The Encyclopedia of Arda.  Here is the link:  http://www.glyphweb.com/Arda/default.asp

What are your feelings about Tom Bombadil?  Please comment.