Fellowship of the Ring

2012-12-11T02:25:21Z

24.44.3.139: /* Members */

{{disambig-more|Fellowship of the Ring|[[The Fellowship of the Ring (disambiguation)]]}}
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{{quote|The Company of the Ring shall be Nine; and the Nine Walkers shall be set against the Nine Riders that are evil...|[[Elrond]]}}
[[File:Michael Komarck - The Lord of the Rings- The Confrontation.jpg|thumb|400px|The Fellowship of the Ring by [[Michael Komarck]].]]
The '''Fellowship of the Ring''', also known as the '''Company of the Ring''', was formed from nine members of the [[Free peoples]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. Its purpose was to take [[the One Ring]] to [[Mordor]], the only place where it could be destroyed.

==Members==
[[File:Adam McDaniel - The Fellowship.jpg|''The Fellowship'' by Adam McDaniel|thumb|250px]]
* [[Gandalf]] — One of the [[Wizards]] sent to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Valar]]. He was the leader of the Fellowship.
* [[Aragorn]], son of [[Arathorn II|Arathorn]] — The [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and the last heir to the throne of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]. He led the Fellowship after the loss of Gandalf.
* [[Boromir]], son of [[Denethor]] — Captain-general of [[Gondor]] and next-in-line to be the [[Ruling Steward]] of Gondor.
* [[Legolas]], son of [[Thranduil]] of [[Mirkwood]] — Emissary of the [[Elves of Mirkwood]].
* [[Gimli]], son of [[Glóin son of Gróin|Gloin]] — A [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] of the [[Lonely Mountain]].
* [[Frodo Baggins]] — A [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] from [[the Shire]], he was chosen to carry [[the One Ring]].
* [[Samwise Gamgee]] — A Hobbit, he is Frodo's gardener, servant and close friend.
* [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck]] — A Hobbit and cousin of Frodo, he and Pippin are best friends.
* [[Peregrin Took|Peregrin "Pippin" Took]] — A Hobbit and also a cousin of Frodo, he was the youngest of the Fellowship.

==History==
The Fellowship of the Ring was formed in [[Rivendell]] with the purpose to destroy [[the One Ring]], and the only way do so was to throw it into the [[Cracks of Doom]]. It was decided that nine walkers should contrast the [[Nazgûl|nine riders]] of [[Sauron]] with Frodo as the [[Ring-bearer]] and Gandalf as the leader.

Although the purpose was fixed by the [[Council of Elrond]], it was not decreed how, in what manner and through which route this could be done; such details were left to the Fellowship's discretion. As a consequence, the Fellowship started with no stable plan. One option was to go directly to [[Mount Doom]], the other was to ask help from Boromir's father, [[Denethor|Denethor II]].

The way of how to reach the East was a problem. After moving south from Rivendell, they encountered [[crebain]] on their arrival in [[Hollin]]. Fearing that they were used as spies by Saruman, the Fellowship spent the entire day in hiding, without a campfire.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Anger of the Mountain.jpg|thumb|Attempting to pass Caradhras]]
When they had to pass the [[Misty Mountains]]; Boromir proposed the [[Gap of Rohan]] (the way through which he arrived to Rivendell), Gandalf insisted to pass through [[Khazad-dûm|Moria]] but [[Aragorn]] though the [[Redhorn Pass]] would be safer. However after attempting in vain to pass the blizzard, they followed Gandalf's opinion.
[[File:Igor Kordej - Fellowship.jpg|thumb|left|The Fellowship fights the wolves in [[Hollin]].]]
After fighting with [[wolves]] and the [[Watcher in the Water]], they managed to open the [[Doors of Durin]] and enter Moria. There they found the Orcs who overran [[Balin's Colony]] years ago. They also saw [[Durin's Bane]], who devastated Moria in the first place. Gandalf to buy them time, destroyed the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] and both [[Maiar]] fell together into the abyss, while the Company escaped back to the light.
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Caras Galadhon.jpg|thumb|The Fellowship reaches [[Caras Galadhon]].]]
Aragorn was appointed the head of the Company, and their next stop was to meet with [[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]], the elf-lords of [[Lothlórien]]. They stayed there for several days, resting and counseling for their plan and route. On their leave, the elves gave them several useful [[gifts of Galadriel|gifts]] and gave them boats to sail the [[Anduin]].

Meanwhile, [[Saruman]] who served Sauron, sent a band of [[Uruk-hai]] to capture the [[Halflings|halfling]] who bore the Ring and bring him to [[Isengard]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Argonath.jpg|thumb|left|The Fellowship approach the Argonath]]
Frodo began to realize not only that [[Gollum|someone]] was following them, but also that the Ring was having a malevolent effect on some members of the party, especially Boromir. It was he who tried to take the ring from him, after the passage through the [[Argonath]]. In the process, Frodo put on the ring to escape him, but he was followed by Sam. The rest of the Company was attacked by orcs while trying to find the [[Ring-bearer]]. Seeing no other halfling, the Orcs succeeded in capturing Merry and Pippin, killing Boromir who tried to protect them.
[[File:Matt Stewart - The Horn of Boromir.jpg|thumb|Boromir's last stand protecting Merry and Pippin]]
And so, the Fellowship was broken, but not yet disbanded. Sam followed Frodo down the [[Emyn Muil]] having decided to go to Mordor himself. Aragorn with Gimli and Legolas (the "[[Three Hunters]]") decided to follow the Orcs into [[Rohan]] and rescue Pippin and Merry. Unknown to them all, Gandalf had resurrected and visited Lothlórien after them.

==Timeline==
[[File:Steven White Jr. - Fellowship's Journey.png|thumb|The route of the Fellowship]]
===December===
* [[18 December|18]] - The Company of the Ring is formed
* [[25 December|25]] - The Company of the Ring leaves [[Rivendell]] at dusk

===January===
* [[7 January|7]] - They pass the ridge of [[Hollin]]. [[Crebain]] appear. A shadow passes above them at night.
* [[8 January|8]] - The Company reach Hollin.
* [[11 January|11]] - They climb until midnight. Snow on [[Caradhras]].
* [[12 January|12]] - More snow
* [[13 January|13]] - The Company is attacked by [[Wolves]] in the early hours. They reach the [[West-gate]] of [[Moria]] at nightfall. The [[Watcher in the Water|Watcher]] attacks and jams the West-gate. [[Bill the Pony]] leaves. [[Gollum]] begins to trail the [[Ring-bearer]].
* [[14 January|14]] - The road through Moria. The Company spends the night in Hall [[Twenty-first Hall|Twenty-one]].
* [[15 January|15]] - They find the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]] and [[Balin's Tomb]]. Gimli takes the [[Book of Mazarbul]]. Attack of the Orcs and the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]]. The Company reaches the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]], which is ruined. Fall of Gandalf. Aragorn leads the Company and they escape outside. The Company reaches [[Nimrodel (river)|Nimrodel]] late at night and they meet [[Haldir (elf of Lórien)|Haldir]], [[Rúmil (elf of Lórien)|Rúmil]] and [[Orophin]]. They sleep on [[flets]].
* [[17 January|17]] - The Company passes the [[Silverlode]] and reach the [[Naith]] and [[Cerin Amroth]]. They come to [[Caras Galadhon]] at evening.

===February===
* [[14 February|14]] - Frodo and Sam look into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]]. Frodo offers the Ring to her, and [[Galadriel|she]] passes the test.
* [[16 February|16]] - The Elves give the [[cloaks]], and the [[gifts of Galadriel]]. Farewell to Lórien. Gollum in hiding on the west bank observes the departure by boat.
* [[22 February|22]] - Sam sees Gollum and talks about him to Frodo.
* [[23 February|23]] - The boats are attacked at night near [[Sarn Gebir]] and retreat. A flying shadow approaches but leaves.
* [[24 February|24]] - They carry the boats through a passage above Sarn Gebir and continue sailing after. The shadow is seen again.
* [[25 February|25]] - The Company passes the [[Argonath]] and reaches [[Nen Hithoel]]. They camp at [[Parth Galen]].
* [[26 February|26]] - '''[[Breaking of the Fellowship]]'''. Orcs from the North, Mordor and Isengard attack, and kill [[Boromir]]. [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Meriadoc]] and [[Peregrin Took|Peregrin]] are captured and carried off towards Isengard. [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] enter the eastern [[Emyn Muil]]. [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]] set out in pursuit of the orcs at evening.

==Terminology==
Though usually called '''Fellowship of the Ring''' in adaptations and by fans, the actual term is not used in full until the chapter ''[[Many Partings]]'', when [[Aragorn|Elessar]] disbands it. In the story itself, they are usually referred to as the '''Fellowship''', the '''Company of the Ring''' (more so than ''Fellowship''), and the '''Nine Walkers''' (in opposition of the [[Nazgûl|Nine Riders]] who pursued them).
{{references}}
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[[Category:Organizations]]
[[de:Gemeinschaft des Ringes]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:communaute_de_l_anneau]]
[[fi:Sormuksen Saattue]]

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Fellowship of the Ring