Bilbo kept the Ring in the Shire for many years until the effects of its power forced him to give the Ring to his adopted nephew Frodo. Warned by the wizard Gandalf, Frodo then embarked on the greatest quest of his lifetime, to destroy the Ring in the heart of Mordor where it was made, Mount Doom. Fleeing from the Shire, Frodo fled with his companions Merry, Pippin, and Sam towards Rivendell. On the journey the hobbits traveled through the Old Forest and met one of Tolkien’s most interesting and delightful characters, the jolly Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry. There are many theories on the origins of Tom, but perhaps two of the most common are that he is a Maiar (one of the original spirits created before the world) or an incarnation of Eru (God). After being saved from an evil willow tree and the mysterious Barrow-wights the Hobbits travel to Bree where they travel to Rivendell with Strider, or Aragorn, the chieftain of the Dunedain of the North and the last direct descendant of the blood-line of Elendil.
Once they reach Rivendell, it is decided that Frodo will continue the quest and destroy the Ring in Mordor. A Fellowship of Nine Companions is formed: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir (the son of the Steward of Gondor), Legolas (a Sindar Elf, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood), and Gimli the Dwarf (son of Gloin). As the Fellowship head east towards Mordor, they are forced to travel through the dangerous road in the mines of Moria. There, Gandalf is killed protecting the Fellowship from the Balrog, a maiar and fell spirit of fire and shadow corrupted by Morgoth during the First Age. In sorrow, the Fellowship travel to Lothlorien where they receive the hospitality and gifts of Galadriel and Celeborn. Shortly after their stay in Lothlorien, the Fellowship is split. Frodo and Sam depart alone to Mount Doom, Boromir dies saving Merry and Pippin who are captured by Uruk-Hai who are taking then to Isenguard, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and later Gandalf (who returns from death to the aid of the Fellowship) head to the country of Rohan, a country ruled by horse loving Men who are close allies with Gondor.
Frodo and Sam, on their way to Mordor, encounter Gollum who they capture and use as a guide. Although he at first appears faithful according to the oath that he swears to Frodo, Gollum has other agendas. This situation is made worse when Faramir, son of Denethor the Steward of Gondor, captures Frodo and Sam in Ithilien. Gollum is later caught fishing in the Forbidden Pool. In order to save him from death, Frodo had to betray Gollum to Faramir. Faramir later found out that Frodo bore the Ring of Power because of an outburst from Sam. But luckily, the Ring was not able to seduce him and he allowed the hobbits to go free. Gollum, angry and bitter from his betrayal, led the hobbits to Shelob’s Lair, the dwelling place of a hungry giant spider. Frodo was bitten, but Sam managed to greatly injure Shelob. Thinking that Frodo was dead, Sam mourned and took the Ring to continue the quest. He left Frodo, who was captured by orcs who claimed he was still alive and taken to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Enraged that Frodo was still alive and in the hands of the orcs, Sam mounts a daring rescue and saves Frodo. He returns the Ring to Frodo as well and the too set of once more to Mount Doom.
In the Battle of Helm’s Deep, the evil wizard Saruman attacked the people of Rohan who were outnumbered. With the help of Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, the Rohirrim were able to defeat Saruman’s army. Merry and Pippin had their own part to play in the battle as well. They escaped from their captors and fled into Fangorn Forest where they met Treebeard, and Ent or tree-like being. Saruman had caused much destruction of the forests in Fangorn and the Ents were outraged. Merry and Pippin managed to stir in them enough anger that they marched into Isenguard after all it’s armies were emptied (these armies were traveling to Helm’s Deep to battle the Rohirrim). The Ents captured Saruman in his tower and kept him their under watch. After the Battle of Helm’s Deep, King Theoden’s victorious army rides to Isenguard where Merry and Pippin are reunited with the Fellowship. But they are quickly separated. Pippin rides with Gandalf to Minas Tirith, the capital city of Gondor where Sauron will attack, and Merry stays with the Rohirrim.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are joined by the Dunedain of the North and the Sons of Elrond and together they enter the Paths of the Dead where Aragorn summons the army to fulfill the oath that they made to Isildur long ago but failed to keep. With this army, Aragorn is able to defeat the Corsairs of Umbar which would have joined the attack on Minas Tirith. He releases them of their oath and then sails to Minas Tirith during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. In this battle, the Rohirrim come to the aid of Gondor just in time and together the forces of Minas Tirith and Rohan defeat Sauron’s army. During the battle, King Theoden dies, Eowyn the Shieldmaiden of Rohan kills the Witch King (the lord of the Nazgul) with the aid of Merry, Denethor the Steward of Gondor commits suicide, and Faramir the son of Denethor is wounded shortly before the battle. The loses are great, but it is decided that the armies of Gondor and Rohan will now attack Sauron in Mordor in order to distract Sauron so that Frodo can destroy the Ring. The plan is successful, the armies of Men defeat Morgoth in the Field of Cormallen and Frodo successfully destroys the Ring and Gollum dies after falling into the Cracks of Doom.
Frodo and Sam are rescued from Mount Doom and brought to Gondor where they were honored. Aragorn was crowned King of Gondor and Arnor and he was wed to Arwen, the daughter of Elrond. After the death of King Theoden, his nephew Eomer became the King of Rohan. Eowyn and Faramir, who met in the Houses of Healing because of their injuries, fell in love and wedded. Gimli and Legolas departed together to the North towards their homes. And finally, the four hobbits traveled back to the Shire. But everything was not the same as when the hobbits left it. Saruman the Wizard had escaped from guard of the Ents in Isenguard and had taken control of the Shire. Together the four hobbits organized a rebellion and Saruman was killed by the hand of his servant, Grima. Even though the Shire was back in the hands of the hobbits, Frodo had not completely healed from his quest. He sailed to the West, to the blessed realm of Valinor with Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, and Bilbo. But Sam stayed behind in the Shire because of his wife, Rosie Cotton and their children. Sam became the Mayor of Hobbiton 7 times and often met with King Elessar (Aragorn) in Gondor. Merry and Pippin met also with Eomer and Aragorn towards the end of their lives. They died in Gondor and where buried with Aragorn in the tombs of the Gondorian kings. After the death of Merry and Pippin Legolas and Gimli also sailed west together to Valinor and Gimli was accepted into the blessed realm because of his friendship with Legolas and his reverence for Galadriel. The last of the Elven ships set sail for Valinor never to return, and the Fourth Age of the world began with the Dominion of Men.
