The Return of the King tlotr-3

by John R. R. Tolkien

  'I grieved at the fall of Thorin,' said Gandalf; 'and now we hear that Dáin has fallen, fighting in Dale again, even while we fought here. I should call that a heavy loss, if it was not a wonder rather that in his great age he could still wield his axe as mightily as they say that he did, standing over the body of King Brand before the Gate of Erebor until the darkness fell.

  'Yet things might have gone far otherwise and far worse. When you think of the great Battle of the Pelennor, do not forget the battles in Dale and the valour of Durin's Folk. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador, night in Rivendell. There might be no Queen in Gondor. We might now hope to return from the victory here only to ruin and ash. But that has been averted – because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring in Bree. A chance-meeting, as we say in Middle-earth.'

  Dís was the daughter of Thráin II. She is the only dwarf-woman named in these histories. It was said by Gimli that there are few dwarf-women, probably no more than a third of the whole people. They seldom walk abroad except at great need, They are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other peoples cannot tell them apart. This has given rise to the foolish opinion among Men that there are no dwarf-women, and that the Dwarves 'grow out of stone'.

  It is because of the fewness of women among them that the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly, and is in peril when they have no secure dwellings. For Dwarves take only one wife or husband each in their lives, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of dwarf-men that marry is actually less than one-third. For not all the women take husbands: some desire none; some desire one that they cannot get, and so will have no other. As for the men, very many also do not desire marriage, being engrossed in their crafts.

  Gimli Glóin's son is renowned, for he was one of the Nine Walkers that set out with the Ring; and he remained in the company of King Elessar throughout the War. He was named Elf-friend because of the great love that grew between him and Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and because of his reverence for the Lady Galadriel.

  After the fall of Sauron, Gimli brought south a part of the Dwarf-folk of Erebor, and he became Lord of the Glittering Caves. He and his people did great works in Gondor and Rohan. For Minas Tirith they forged gates of mithril and steel to replace those broken by the Witch-king. Legolas his friend also brought south Elves out of Greenwood, and they dwelt in Ithilien, and it became once again the fairest country in all the westlands.

  But when King Elessar gave up his life Legolas followed at last the desire of his heart and sailed over Sea.

  Here follows one of the last notes in the Red Book.

  We have heard tell that Legolas took Gimli Glóin's son with him because of their great friendship, greater than any that has been between Elf and Dwarf. If this is true, then it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it. But it is said that Gimli went also out of desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and it may be that she, being mighty among the Eldar, obtained this grace for him. More cannot be said of this matter.

  APPENDIX B

  THE TALE OF YEARS

  (Chronology of the Westlands)

  The First Age ended with the Great Battle, in which the Host of Valinor broke Thangorodrim50 and overthrew Morgoth. Then most of the Noldor returned into the Far West51 and dwelt in Eressëa within sight of Valinor; and many of the Sindar went over Sea also.

  The Second Age ended with the first overthrow of Sauron, servant of Morgoth, and the taking of the One Ring.

  The Third Age came to its end in the War of the Ring; but the Fourth Age was not held to have begun until Master Elrond departed, and the time was come for the dominion of Men and the decline of all other 'speaking-peoples' in Middle-earth.52

  In the Fourth Age the earlier ages were often called the Elder Days; but that name was properly given only to the days before the casting out of Morgoth. The histories of that time are not recorded here.

  The Second Age

  These were the dark years for Men of Middle-earth, but the years of the glory of Númenor. Of events in Middle-earth the records are few and brief, and their dates are often uncertain.

  In the beginning of this age many of the High Elves still remained. Most of these dwelt in Lindon west of the Ered Luin; but before the building of the Barad-dûr many of the Sindar passed eastward, and some established realms in the forests far away, where their people were mostly Silvan Elves. Thranduil, king in the north of Greenwood the Great, was one of these. In Lindon north of the Lune dwelt Gil-galad, last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile. He was acknowledged as High King of the Elves of the West. In Lindon south of the Lune dwelt for a time Celeborn, kinsman of Thingol; his wife was Galadriel, greatest of Elven women. She was sister of Finrod Felagund, Friend-of-Men, once king of Nargothrond, who gave his life to save Beren son of Barahir.

  Later some of the Noldor went to Eregion, upon the west of the Misty Mountains, and near to the West-gate of Moria. This they did because they learned that mithril had been discovered in Moria.53 The Noldor were great craftsmen and less unfriendly to the Dwarves than the Sindar; but the friendship that grew up between the people of Durin and the Elven-smiths of Eregion was the closest that there has ever been between the two races. Celebrimbor was lord of Eregion and the greatest of their craftsmen; he was descended from Fëanor.

  1. Foundation of the Grey Havens, and of Lindon.

  32. The Edain reach Númenor.

  c. 40. Many Dwarves leaving their old cities in Ered Luin go to Moria and swell its numbers.

  442. Death of Elros Tar-Minyatur.

  c. 500. Sauron begins to stir again in Middle-earth.

  548. Birth in Númenor of Silmariën.

  600. The first ships of the Númenoreans appear off the coasts.

  750. Eregion founded by the Noldor.

  c. 1000. Sauron, alarmed by the growing power of the Númenoreans, chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold. He begins the building of Barad-dûr.

  1075. Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.

  1200. Sauron endeavours to seduce the Eldar. Gil-galad refuses to treat with him; but the smiths of Eregion are won over. The Númenoreans begin to make permanent havens.

  c. 1500. The Elven-smiths instructed by Sauron reach the height of their skill. They begin the forging of the Rings of Power.

  c. 1590. The Three Rings are completed in Eregion.

  c. 1600. Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes the Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor perceives the designs of Sauron.

  1693. War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The Three Rings are hidden.

  1695. Sauron's forces invade Eriador. Gil-galad sends Elrond to Eregion.

  1697. Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.

  1699. Sauron overruns Eriador.

  1700. Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from Númenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.

  1701. Sauron is driven out of Eriador. The Westlands have peace for a long while.

  c. 1800. From about this time onward the Númenoreans begin to establish dominions on the coasts. Sauron extends his power eastwards. The shadow falls on Númenor.

  2251. Tar-Atanamir takes the sceptre. Rebellion and division of the Númenoreans begins. About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, slaves of the Nine Rings, first appear.

  2280. Umbar is made into a great fortress of Númenor.

  2350. Pelargir is built. It becomes the chief haven of the Faithful Númenoreans.

  2899. Ar-Adûnakhôr takes the sceptre.

  3175. Repentance of Tar-Palantír. Civil war in Númenor.

  3255. Ar-Pharazôn the Golden seizes the sceptre.

  3261. Ar-Pharazôn sets sail and lands at Umbar.<
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  3262. Sauron is taken as prisoner to Númenor; 3262-3310 Sauron seduces the King and corrupts the Númenoreans.

  3310. Ar-Pharazôn begins the building of the Great Armament.

  3319. Ar-Pharazôn assails Valinor. Downfall of Númenor. Elendil and his sons escape.

  3320. Foundations of the Realms in Exile: Arnor and Gondor. The Stones are divided (II, 54). Sauron returns to Mordor.

  3429. Sauron attacks Gondor, takes Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes down Anduin and goes to Elendil in the North. Anárion defends Minas Anor and Osgiliath.

  3430. The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed.

  3431. Gil-galad and Elendil march east to Imladris.

  3434. The host of the Alliance crosses the Misty Mountains. Battle of Dagorlad and defeat of Sauron. Siege of Barad-dûr begins.

  3440. Anárion slain.

  3441. Sauron overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring. Sauron passes away and the Ringwraiths go into the shadows. The Second Age ends.

  The Third Age

  These were the fading years of the Eldar. For long they were at peace wielding the Three Rings while Sauron slept and the One Ring was lost; but they attempted nothing new, living in memory of the past. The Dwarves hid themselves in deep places, guarding their hoards; but when evil began to stir again and dragons reappeared, one by one their ancient treasures were plundered, and they became a wandering people. Moria for long remained secure, but its numbers dwindled until many of its vast mansions became dark and empty. The wisdom and the life-span of the Númenoreans also waned as they became mingled with lesser Men.

  When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.

  They came therefore in the shape of Men, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few,54 but used such names as were given to them. The two highest of this order (of whom it is said there were five) were called by the Eldar Curunír, 'the Man of Skill', and Mithrandir, 'the Grey Pilgrim', but by Men in the North Saruman and Gandalf. Curunír journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friendship with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode.

  Throughout the Third Age the guardianship of the Three Rings was known only to those who possessed them. But at the end it became known that they had been held at first by the three greatest of the Eldar: Gil-galad, Galadriel and Círdan. Gil-galad before he died gave his ring to Elrond; Círdan later surrendered his to Mithrandir. For Círdan saw further and deeper than any other in Middle-earth, and he welcomed Mithrandir at the Grey Havens, knowing whence he came and whither he would return.

  'Take this ring, Master,' he said, '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.'

  2. Isildur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor. He delivers the South-kingdom to Meneldil. Disaster of the Gladden Fields; Isildur and his three elder sons are slain.

  3. Ohtar brings the shards of Narsil to Imladris.

  10. Valandil becomes King of Arnor.

  109. Elrond weds Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn.

  130. Birth of Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond.

  241. Birth of Arwen Undómiel.

  420. King Ostoher rebuilds Minas Anor.

  490. First invasion of Easterlings.

  500. Rómendacil I defeats the Easterlings.

  541. Rómendacil slain in battle.

  830. Falastur begins the line of Ship-kings of Gondor.

  861. Death of Eärendur, and division of Arnor.

  933. King Eärnil I takes Umbar, which becomes a fortress of Gondor.

  936. Eärnil lost at sea.

  1015. King Ciryandil slain in the siege of Umbar.

  1050. Hyarmendacil conquers the Harad. Gondor reaches the height of its power. About this time a shadow falls on Greenwood, and men begin to call it Mirkwood. The Periannath are first mentioned in records, with the coming of the Harfoots to Eriador.

  c. 1100. The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought to be one of the Nazgûl.

  1149. Reign of Atanatar Alcarin begins.

  c. 1150. The Fallohides enter Eriador. The Stoors come over the Redhorn Pass and move to the Angle, or to Dunland.

  c. 1300. Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgûl reappear. The chief of these comes north to Angmar. The Periannath migrate westward; many settle at Bree.

  1356. King Argeleb I slain in battle with Rhudaur. About this time the Stoors leave the Angle, and some return to Wilderland.

  1409. The Witch-king of Angmar invades Arnor. King Arvaleg I slain. Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad are defended. The Tower of Amon Sûl destroyed.

  1432. King Valacar of Gondor dies, and the civil war of the Kin-strife begins.

  1437. Burning of Osgiliath and loss of the palantír. Eldacar flees to Rhovanion; his son Ornendil is murdered.

  1447. Eldacar returns and drives out the usurper Castamir. Battle of the Crossings of Erui. Siege of Pelargir.

  1448. Rebels escape and seize Umbar.

  1540. King Aldamir slain in war with the Harad and Corsairs of Umbar.

  1551. Hyarmendacil II defeats the Men of Harad.

  1601. Many Periannath migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II.

  c. 1630. They are joined by Stoors coming up from Dunland.

  1634. The Corsairs ravage Pelargir and slay King Minardil.

  1636. The Great Plague devastates Gondor. Death of King Telemnar and his children. The White Tree dies in Minas Anor. The plague spreads north and west, and many parts of Eriador become desolate. Beyond the Baranduin the Periannath survive, but suffer great loss.

  1640. King Tarondor removes the King's House to Minas Anor, and plants a seedling of the White Tree. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. Mordor is left unguarded.

  1810. King Telumehtar Umbardacil retakes Umbar and drives out the Corsairs.

  1851. The attacks of the Wainriders upon Gondor begin.

  1856. Gondor loses its eastern territories, and Narmacil II falls in battle.

  1899. King Calimehtar defeats the Wainriders on Dagorlad.

  1900. Calimehtar builds the White Tower in Minas Anor.

  1940. Gondor and Arnor renew communications and form an alliance. Arvedui weds Fíriel daughter of Ondoher of Gondor.

  1944. Ondoher falls in battle. Eärnil defeats the enemy in South Ithilien. He then wins the Battle of the Camp, and drives Wainriders into the Dead Marshes. Arvedui claims the crown of Gondor.

  1945. Eärnil II receives the crown.

  1974. End of the North-kingdom. The Witch-king over-runs Arthedain and takes Fornost.

  1975. Arvedui drowned in the Bay of Forochel. The palantíri of Annúminas and Amon Sûl are lost. Eärnur brings a fleet to Lindon. The Witch-king defeated at the Battle of Fornost, and pursued to the Ettenmoors. He vanishes from the North.

  1976. Aranarth takes the title of Chieftain of the Dúnedain. The heirlooms of Arnor are given into the keeping of Elrond.

  1977. Frumgar leads the Éothéod into the North.

  1979. Bucca of the Marish becomes first Thain of the Shire.

  1980. The Witch-king comes to Mordor and there gathers the Nazgûl. A Balrog appears in
Moria, and slays Durin VI.

  1981. Náin I slain. The Dwarves flee from Moria. Many of the Silvan Elves of Lórien flee south. Amroth and Nimrodel are lost.

  1999. Thráin I comes to Erebor and founds a dwarf-kingdom 'under the Mountain'.

  2000. The Nazgûl issue from Mordor and besiege Minas Ithil.

  2002. Fall of Minas Ithil, afterwards known as Minas Morgul. The palantír is captured.

  2043. Eärnur becomes King of Gondor. He is challenged by the Witch-king.

  2050. The challenge is renewed. Eärnur rides to Minas Morgul and is lost Mardil becomes the first Ruling Steward.

  2060. The power of Dol Guldur grows. The Wise fear that it may be Sauron taking shape again.

  2063. Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur. Sauron retreats and hides in the East. The Watchful Peace begins. The Nazgûl remain quiet in Minas Morgul.

  2210. Thorin I leaves Erebor, and goes north to the Grey Mountains, where most of the remnants of Durin's Folk are now gathering.

  2340. Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took line. The Oldbucks occupy the Buckland.

  2460. The Watchful Peace ends. Sauron returns with increased strength to Dol Guldur.

  2463. The White Council is formed. About this time Déagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Sméagol.

  2470. About this time Sméagol-Gollum hides in the Misty Mountains.

  2475. Attack on Gondor renewed. Osgiliath finally ruined, and its stone-bridge broken.

  c. 2480. Orcs begin to make secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains so as to bar all the passes into Eriador. Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures.

  2509. Celebrían, journeying to Lórien, is waylaid in the Redhorn Pass, and receives a poisoned wound.

  2510. Celebrían departs over Sea. Orcs and Easterlings overrun Calenardhon. Eorl the Young wins the victory of the Field of Celebrant. The Rohirrim settle in Calenardhon.