Tolkien Calendar: The Great Years

The Council of Elrond is the last meeting of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth in the Third Age. Elrond Halfelven convenes the Council in the fall of 3018 TA at his Rivendell stronghold to decide the fate of the One Ring, which has come into the possession of the Baggins family, hobbits of the Shire. This will be the first time hobbits participate in the councils of the Great Ones, as they call them, and in the affairs of Middle Earth beyond the Shire.

Elrond Halfelven moderates the debates of the Council, and explains the history of the Rings of Power and the fight against Sauron up to the finding of his lost Ring. He is Middle Earth's greatest loremaster, and his word will carry great weight at the Council. He guides it gently toward the only answer that can be made to the question of the Ring--to destroy it in the Fires of Mount Doom. Elrond also has the sad duty to inform the Council that if the One Ring is destroyed, the remaining Three, which have done so much to protect Middle Earth, will likely fail. He knows he is presiding over the Doom of his people, but realizes it is a sacrifice they are willing to make to defeat Sauron.

Legolas, son of Mirkwood's ruler Thranduil, comes to the Council representing Wood Elves. One of his duties includes informing the Council that Gollum, left in the charge of his people, has escaped--an event which will have much bearing on the Ring Quest. Legolas will be one of the Nine Walkers, charged with representing the Elves.

Gloin and his son Gimli come from the Dwarves, who have journeyed to Imladris despite the ages-old emnity between Elves and Dwarves to seek Elrond's counsel about visits they have been receiving from the Nazgul, who are looking for a plain gold ring, in exchange for which they will give rich gifts--"rings as of old." The Dwarves are suspicious, particularly since the demands have become more strident of late, and the Nazgul are threatening punishment if the Dwarves cannot produce the Ring, or at least some knowledge of the thief who stole it, who is believed to be known to them. Elrond realizes that their story lends credence to his belief that Sauron is actively seeking the Ring, and that the Council's time to decide is short.

Indeed the thief is known to the Dwarves, for of course he is Bilbo Baggins, who found the Ring on his journey with them to the Lonely Mountain. He has passed the Ring on to his heir Frodo Baggins. Both hobbits present their stories at the Council, and bravely offer to take the Ring to Mordor. Frodo is the chosen Ringbearer, and around him all decisions taken by the Council revolve. For the first time, hobbits are center-stage in Middle Earth affairs.




Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, who helped Frodo get safely to the Council, now reveals himself as Isildur's Heir, and the rightful King in Exile of Gondor and Arnor. Any question of the Ring concerns him closely, for he cannot come into his own without the defeat of the Dark Lord. He too will be one of the Walkers.

Boromir, son and heir of Denethor, Ruling Steward of Gondor, has come to Elrond for help interpreting a dream he shared with his brother Faramir concerning Isildur's Bane, now revealed to be the Ring. To his surprise and displeasure, he discovers not only Isildur's Bane, but his Heir as well. That Heir intends to come to Minas Tirith and claim his throne. A man seemingly born to rule, Boromir is unsure that Gondor needs a king. Nevertheless, he throws his support behind the decisions of the Council, with one caveat. He is sure the Ring should be used against Sauron. He backs down temporarily in the face of the Council's advice against this, but never really lets go of the idea. Since he will be chosen as one of the Nine Walkers, his belief the Ring should be used will have great bearing on the outcome of the Quest.

The last of key players is the most important. Gandalf the Grey comes to the Council to offer information he has gathered on the Ring and to tell the story of how he tried to protect both it and Frodo from the Enemy. He also informs the Council of the dire perfidy of Saruman, who has cast his lot with the Enemy, while at the same time entertaining designs of his own concerning the Ring. But he is much more than a source of lore. For thousands of years Gandalf has opposed Sauron, and now his hour has come. It is for him to inspire and lead the Free Peoples in their last battle against the Dark Lord, an end for which he has worked tirelessly. The Ring Quest is the last and most important in a long line of perilous undertakings for the Istari in the name of the White.

These representatives on the Council of Elrond hold the future of Middle Earth in their hands--the rest of the story is shaped by their actions and their decisions, right or wrong, good or ill.

Calendar entry by librislove


Artwork: "Rivendell" and "The Council of Elrond" by Alan Lee