After the defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, the One Ring
of power was kept by Isildur King of Gondor, who was killed in an Orc attack the next year.
Lost in the Anduin River for over 2000 years, the ring eventually came into the possession
of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit of the Shire who had no notion whatsoever as to its origins.
Forged to obey only Sauron, the One Ring wrought obsession in the lives of those who held it,
and destroyed the lives of three others before it came to Bilbo, yet somehow the hobbit was
largely able to resist its unnatural allure.
Though he did grow attached to the ring after many years and was tempted to take it with
him when he departed to live with the Elves, in the end he was able to voluntarily pass
it on to his nephew Frodo Baggins, along with his house and other possessions.
Yet in time, Sauron learned of the ring’s location, forcing Gandalf to send Frodo on
a journey east, so he might attend a Council in Rivendell.
Joined by 3 hobbit companions, Frodo left the Shire and survived the difficult journey,
though he suffered grievous wound at the hands of the witch king of angmar, who sought the
ring on Sauron’s behalf.
During the Council of Elrond, it was decided that one of them must travel to Mordor and
destroy the One Ring in the fires of mount doom.
Bilbo was a worthy candidate but he was too old, and so the task fell to Frodo who like
his uncle had proven able to resist corruption.
To help and defend him a company was formed, with nine walkers selected to contrast the
nine riders of the Nazgul.
The Fellowship of the Ring, as it became known, included the ringbearer Frodo Baggins, the
Wizard Gandalf the Grey, the heir to the throne of Gondor Aragorn to represent men, Legolas
heir to the Woodland Realm to represent elves, and Gimli son of Gloin to represent the Dwarves
of Durin’s Folk.
Boromir was selected as a valiant warrior and representative of Gondor, while the rest
of the positions went to Frodo’s hobbit companions, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck
and Peregrin Took, who refused to be left behind.
Sharing dangers and bonding over the course of their journey, the members of the Fellowship
forged a strong connection to each other.
Yet despite their best intentions the journey was harrowing and the fellowship eventually
broke apart after Gandalf was lost in Moria, and Boromir fell to temptation, trying to
take the ring for himself.
The eldest son and heir of Denethor the Steward of Gondor, Boromir was a seasoned warrior
and experienced commander who along with his brother Faramir, had a dream about the One
Ring, though they did not understand it at the time.
Boromir then travelled to Rivendell where he attended the Council of Elrond and learned
about Frodo and the ring, suggesting that it be given to Gondor, who were on the front
lines of the war with Sauron, so it could be used as a weapon against the enemy.
When it was decided that the ring was too dangerous to be wielded and must instead be
destroyed, Boromir tried to set aside his misgivings and joined the Fellowship, but
inside continued to believe the mission was a mistake.
Though he was genuine in his desire to help the group and fought bravely to defend them
throughout the journey, he ultimately surrendered to a moment of weakness, and tried to forcibly
take the ring from Frodo.
Fortunately, the hobbit was able to evade him, leaving Boromir to recover his control
and regret his actions.
He then died defending Merry and Pippin from an unexpected Uruk-hai attack at Amon Hen,
afterwhich his brother Faramir became heir to the Stewardship of Gondor, and commander
of their armies in the war of the Ring.
As for the rest of the fellowship, Boromir’s momentary betrayal and the ensuing battle
with Uruk-hai resulted in their separation.
Though the surviving members of the fellowship went on to suffer many hardships, witnessing
death and destruction on a terrifying scale, each of them continued to play an important
role in the ultimate defeat of the dark lord, including Gandalf the White who was reborn
after his death facing the balrog of Moria.
A Maia of Valinor, Gandalf was among 5 Istari who were selected to travel to middle earth
and help the population defeat Sauron, and so when he died, Eru the creator sent him
back to complete his task.
After Frodo and Sam destroyed the One Ring of power, and Sauron was defeated, the fellowship
reunited in Minas Tirith, where Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli were in attendance
to watch Frodo and Gandalf participate in the coronation of Aragorn, as King Elessar
of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor.
Having survived the horrors of the War of the Ring, Elessar was eager be among friends,
and so the fellowship remained together for a time in Minas Tirith.
During their stay, the hobbits were named Princes of the realm, and Frodo was given
a white gem upon a silver chain by Queen Arwen as well as her seat on an elven ship sailing
west to the paradise of the Undying Lands, as she was staying behind to live a mortal
life with her husband Aragorn.
When it was at last time to move on from Gondor, the Fellowship rode north, where they witnessed
the coronation of Eomer as King of Rohan.
While guests of the Horse Lords, Meriadoc Brandybuck was honored by the King and the
princess Eowyn, for his service to Theoden during the war, and was gifted a silver horn
forged by the Dwarves and recovered from the Dragon Scatha the Worm, who was defeated by
an ancestor of their family.
Though they soon departed the King’s hall, the fellowship spent more time in Rohan, with
Gimli and Legolas touring the Glittering caves, before they all stopped at Isengard to check
on Treebeard and the Ents.
Then at last the Fellowship separated, with Elessar reminding Peregrin Took, who pledged
his service to Denethor during the war, that he was still a Knight of Gondor, and that
one day the King would reclaim the northern half of his realm.
Elessar then returned south, while Legolas and Gimli went to explore Fangorn forest before
making their way North to their homes in Mirkwood and Erebor.
Continuing on to the Shire, the hobbits rode alongside Gandalf, stopping near Lorien to
bid farwell to Galadriel and Celeborn, before heading to Rivendell where they spent two
weeks with Frodo’s uncle Bilbo Baggins.
Before departing Old Bilbo gave each of the hobbits a gift, with Merry and Pippin given
smoking pipes made by the elves, while Frodo received a stack of books translated from
Elvish, and Sam was given a pouch, containing gold recovered from the Dragon Smaug the terrible.
The hobbits and Gandalf then travelled to Bree, where Sam was reunited with Bill the
Pony, and Frodo told his story to the townsfolk who asked him to write book about his adventures.
They then departed Bree together, but Gandalf soon left them so he might visit his old friend
Tom Bombadil who lived nearby.
Unfortunately as the hobbits neared the Shire, they started to hear rumours of trouble and
could no longer rely on Gandalf to help them, as his mission was over and he would no longer
interfere in the affairs of Middle Earth.
But the four hobbits were now experienced warriors who’d faced countless adversities
during the War of the Ring, and were confident in their ability to deal with whatever awaited
them.
Quickly they saw that this was not the Shire they remembered, encounteing a closed gate
on the road before being refused entrance into their own homeland.
Forced to make threats in order to be allowed through, the hobbits soon learned of a Boss
named Sharkey and his gang of ruffians who had taken charge of the region, creating harsh
new rules that among other things, restricted access to beer, food and pipe weed.
As the hobbits travelled to Bag End, they were confronted by some of these Ruffians
who insulted Frodo and mocked their claim that a new king sat in the white city.
After hearing his words, Pippin, who was a sworn knight of Gondor, was outraged and drew
his sword, hastily backed up by Sam and Merry also took out their weapons, intimidating
the ruffians into retreating.
Merry and Sam then rallied together their people to form a militia, and started to make
war plans while Pippin led a group to Tooklands, where they had resisted the Ruffians, bringing
back a hundred more warriors.
The Captains Merry and Pippin then led their forces to victory in the battle of the bywater,
resulting in the death of nearly seventy ruffians and 19 hobbits.
Frodo and his companions then went to Bag End where they learned that Sharkey was in
fact Saruman the White, a mighty wizard of Valinor who’d betrayed the free peoples
and fallen so low he sought petty revenge against the hobbits of the Shire.
Yet even after causing so much harm, Frodo insisted that he be sparred, wanting no more
blood be shed.
But it was not be, as Saruman’s servant Grima Wormtongue then attacked and killed
his master, before the hobbits slew him as well.
Frodo then freed Sharkey’s prisoners and served as Deputy Mayor for a time, working
to help restore the Shire to its former glory.
Living in Bag End, Frodo wrote about his adventures in the Red Book of Westmarch, before leaving
middle earth to join Gandalf, and Bilbo as they voyaged west to live in the Undying lands.
Bag End, the Red Book and all his other belongings were left to Samwise Gamgee, who married Rosie
Cotton and had 13 children, naming 4 of his boys after Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Bilbo.
Sam went on to serve seven terms as Mayor of Michel Delving, and created a family dynasty
of great importance to these lands, who eventually changed their last name to Gardener, to reflect
their contribution to the restoration of the Shire.
After the death of his wife Rosie in the year 61of the 4th age, Sam, who had briefly become
a ringbearer during the war against Sauron, left the Shire and according to family legend,
journeyed to the Grey Havens, where he was allowed passage into the Undying Lands of
the West, so he might be reunited with his old friend Frodo.
Meriadoc Brandybuck, went on to marry Estella Bolger, and became head of his family as Master
of Buckland.
Earning the nickname Merry the Magnificent, he authored a number of works including, Herblore
of the Shire, The Reckoning of Years, and Old Words and Names in the Shire.
Peregrin Took married Diamond of Long Cleeve, fathering a son they named Faramir, and held
the important office of Thain, where he became Master of the Shire-moot and captain of the
Shire-muster and Hobbitry-in-arms In addition to becoming leaders in their community,
when King Elessar began expanding his realm to reclaim the lands of Arnor, Samwise, Merry
and Pippin, were named Counsellors of the North-kingdom.
After raising families and living for decades in the Shire, Merry and Pippin eventually
retired in the year 63 of the Fourth Age, leaving their positions of Influence to travel
south at the request of King Eomer of Rohan.
After the passing of their old friend, the hobbits journeyed to Gondor where they stayed
with the King until their deaths.
Yet Merry and Pippin were so valued and honoured that when Elessar died in the year 120, their
bodies were laid to rest at his side.
The ruler of Gondor and Arnor, who was once known as Aragorn, lived a long and storied
life, marrying the elf maiden Arwen, daughter of Elrond, and together had a number of children,
the first being Eldarion, heir to the throne.
King Elessar ruled for 122 years, able to live far longer than most of his kind due
to his ancestry which included the blood of Numenor and a number of ancient heroes of
both elven and human nobility.
Among the many gifts and honors he bestowed, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, was given the
Lordship of Emyn Arnen and title Prince of Ithilien.
The Oath of Eorl was also officially restored with King Eomer of Rohan, confirming their
friendship and alliance.
After forging a lasting peace with their neighbour, Elessar was determined to restore the glory
of both Gondor and the lost kingdom of Arnor, while also dealing with the remnants of Sauron’s
armies, fighting and defeating those Easterling and Haradrim factions who remained hostile
to his realm.
Throughout his reign he accomplished much, including the opening and exploration of Orthanc,
Saruman’s ancient tower, brimming with secrets and treasures.
Bringing the area into his domain, Elessar gifted the land to the Ents who founded the
Treegarth of Orthanc, where they were allowed to govern their own affairs.
The Drúadan Forest was given to the Druidain, a mysterious but kind hearted people who suffered
much persecution throughout the years and helped the alliance during the war of the
Ring.
Ever grateful towards the hobbits of the Fellowship, the King was generous with the Shire when
he travelled north to re-establish the kingdom of Arnor, expanding their territory to include
the westmarch, allowing them self-governance and restricting outside access to the region
out of respect for their isolationist ways.
When the King at last died in the year 120 of the fourth age, the throne passed to his
son Eldarion, while his wife Arwen did not wish to go on without her husband and gave
up her life the following year.
In the North, after returning to Erebor, the elf-friend Gimli organized an expedition and
travelled once more to the Glittering Caves, where he became Lord of a new settlement whose
craftsmen gained renowned throughout Gondor and Rohan, even constructing a new gate for
Minas Tirith, forged of mithril and steel.
Legolas, Gimli’s closest friend had similar notions to that of the dwarf, and returned
home of the Woodland Realm, only to leave once more with a party of followers, founding
a new settlement in Ithillien which became the fairest country in all the westlands.
After the death of their friend King Elessar, both Legolas and Gimli decided to leave middle-earth
and sail west to the undying lands of Aman, where they might be reunited with Gandalf,
Frodo and Sam.
Though a mortal being who was not a ringbearer would not normally be allowed passage west,
some say Gimli was permitted because of his deep bond of friendship with Legolas, which
was stronger than any that ever existed between dwarves and elves.
However others say that it was his affection for the lady Galadrial, which convinced her
to speak on his behalf to the Valar of Aman.