| Man (early) Wraith (later) | |
| "F" | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Mordor and probably[1] Dol Guldur |
| Affiliation | Nazgûl Eye of Sauron |
| Language | Mannish Black Speech |
| Birth | Second Age Middle-earth |
| Death | 25 March T.A. 3019 (aged 4200+) Morannon |
| Notable for | Aiding Khamûl with pursuing Frodo Baggins |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Steed | Black horse |
In a manuscript by J.R.R. Tolkien, a Nazgûl simply labeled "F" accompanied Khamûl in tracking the Shire-hobbits during the Hunt for the Ring.[2]
History
Like the other Nazgûl, "F"[2] was one of nine Men to whom Sauron gave one of the Rings of Power, who became mighty kings, sorcerers or warriors, and eventually faded into a wraith that was under the rule of Sauron.[3] By S.A. 2251 "F" and the other eight Men who had received rings of power first appeared as Ringwraiths.[4]
In T.A. 2951, when Sauron declared himself openly to his enemies, "F" was probably[1] one of the two Ringwraiths under Khamûl's command that were sent to Dol Guldur.[5][6]
In the evening of 23 September,[7] after the Nazgûl approach near the Three-Farthing Stone in the Shire,[1] "F"[2] probably lurked south of Whitfurrows, watching the East Road and the Stock Road as Khamûl arrived in Hobbiton and asked Hamfast Gamgee about "Baggins".[8]
On 25 September, "F" was summoned by Khamûl with cries after failing to find Frodo Baggins on the ridge above Woodhall. Together, they ride east over the fields and visit Farmer Maggot.[9] After leaving Farmer Maggot, "F" was sent off by Khamûl to head down the Causeway in the direction of the Overbourn Marshes. "F" reached the Bucklebury Ferry at night soon after Khamûl arrived too late to the catch the Hobbits before they crossed the Brandywine River.[10]
Other versions of the legendarium
In an early draft of The Lord of the Rings labeled "Scheme D", Tolkien identified each Nazgûl by letters between A and I. It is not known which of these early draft labels correspond with "F". The Nazgûl trailing "the hobbits in the Shire" were labeled "D" and "E" respectively.[11]
Portrayal in adaptations
1987: Middle-earth Role Playing—Lords of Middle-earth: Vol. II:
- Adûnaphel is mentioned in the supplement as one of the Ringwraiths sent to Dol Guldur, as well as being the only of that group to accompany Khamûl in the Shire, which would likely make her "F".[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from an unpublished version of The Hunt for the Ring, p. 97
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XXI. From The Hunt for the Ring", pp. 374-5
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 2251, p. 1083
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2951, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring", "(i) Of the Journey of the Black Riders"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", pp. 1091-2
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from an unpublished version of The Hunt for the Ring, p. 99
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Short Cut to Mushrooms", pp. 93-4
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from an unpublished version of The Hunt for the Ring, p. 116
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "I. Gandalf's Delay"
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. et al. (1987), Lords of Middle-earth Vol II: The Mannish Races (#8003), p. 83