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away； and with them the Third Age is ended； and the Tales of the Eldar in Middle…earth draw to then…close。 Those were
the Fading Years； and in them the last flowering of the Elves east of the Sea came to its winter。 In that time the Noldor
walked still in the Hither Lands； mightiest and fairest of the children of the world； and their tongues were still heard by
mortal ears。 Many things of beauty and wonder remained on earth in that time； and many things also of evil and dread：
Orcs there were and trolls and dragons and fell beasts； and strange creatures old and wise in the woods whose names are
forgotten； Dwarves still laboured in the hills and wrought with patient craft works of metal and stone that none now can
rival。 But the Dominion of Men was preparing and all things were changing； until at last the Dark Lord arose in
Mirkwood again。
Now of old the name of that forest was Greenwood the Great； and its wide halls and aisles were the haunt of
many beasts and of birds of bright song； and there was the realm of King Thranduil under the oak and the beech。 But
after many years； when well nigh a third of that age of the world had passed； a darkness crept slowly through the wood
from the southward； and fear walked there in shadowy glades； fell beasts came hunting； and cruel and evil creatures laid
there their snares。
Then the name of the forest was changed and Mirkwood it was called； for the nightshade lay deep there； and few
dared to pass through； save only in the north where Thranduil's people still held the evil at bay。 Whence it came few
could tell； and it was long ere even the Wise could discover it。 It was the Shadow of Sauron and the sign of his return。
For ing out of the wastes of the East he took up his abode in the south of the forest； and slowly he grew and took
shape there again； in a dark hill he made his dwelling and wrought there his sorcery； and all folk feared the Sorcerer of
Dol Guldur； and yet they knew not at first how great was their peril。
Even as the first shadows were felt in Mirkwood there appeared in the west of Middle…earth the Istari； whom Men
called the Wizards。 None knew at that time whence they were； save Círdan of the Havens； and only to Elrond and to
Galadriel did he reveal that they came over the Sea。 But afterwards it was said among the Elves that they were
messengers sent by the Lords of the West to contest the power of Sauron； if he should arise again； and to move Elves
and Men and all living things of good will to valiant deeds。 In the likeness of Men they appeared； old but vigorous； and
they changed little with the years； and aged but slowly； though great cares lay on them； great wisdom they had； and many
powers of mind and hand。 Long they journeyed far and wide among Elves and Men； and held converse also with beasts
and with birds； and the peoples of Middle…earth gave to them many names； for their true names they did not reveal。
Chief among them were those whom the Elves called Mithrandir and Curunír； but Men in the North named Gandalf and
Saruman。 Of these Curunír was the eldest and came first； and after him came Mithrandir and Radagast； and others of the
Istari who went into the east of Middle…earth； and do not e into these tales。 Radagast was the friend of all beasts and
birds； but Curunír went most among Men； and he was subtle in speech and skilled in all the devices of smith…craft。
Mithrandir was closest in counsel with Elrond and the Elves。 He wandered far in the North and West and made never in
any land any lasting abode； but Curunír journeyed into the East； and when he returned he dwelt at Orthanc in the Ring of
Isengard； which the Númenóreans made in the days of their power。
Ever most vigilant was Mithrandir； and he it was that most doubted the darkness in Mirkwood； for though many
deemed that it was wrought by the Ringwraiths； he feared that it was indeed the first shadow of Sauron returning； and he
went to Dol Guldur； and the Sorcerer fled from him； and there was a watchful peace for a long while。 But at length the
Shadow returned and its power increased； and in that time was first made the Council of the Wise that is called the
White Council； and therein were Elrond and Galadriel and Círdan； and other lords of the Eldar； and with them were
Mithrandir and Curunír。 And Curunír （that was Saruman the White） was chosen to be their chief； for he had most studied
the devices of Sauron of old。 Galadriel indeed had wished that Mithrandir should be the Lead of the Council； and
Saruman begrudged them that； for his pride and desire of mastery was grown great； but Mithrandir refused the office；
since he would have no ties and no allegiance； save to those who sent him； and he would abide in no place nor be subject
to any summons。 But Saruman now began to study the lore of the Rings of Power； their making and their history。
Now the Shadow grew ever greater； and the hearts of Elrond and Mithrandir darkened。 Therefore on a time
Mithrandir at great peril went again to Dol Guldur and the pits of the Sorcerer； and he discovered the truth of his fears；
and escaped。 And returning to Elrond he said：
'True； alas； is our guess。 This is not one of the úlairi； as many have long supposed。 It is Sauron himself who has
taken shape again and now grows apace； and he is gathering again all the Rings to his hand； and he seeks ever for news
of the One； and of the Heirs of Isildur； if they live still on earth。'
And Elrond answered： 'In the hour that Isildur took the Ring and would not surrender it； this doom was wrought；
that Sauron should return。'
'Yet the One was lost；' said Mithrandir； 'and while it still lies hid； we can master the Enemy； if we gather our
strength and tarry not too long。'
Then the White Council was summoned； and Mithrandir urged them to swift deeds； but Curunír spoke against
him； and counselled them to wait yet and to watch。
'For I believe not；' said he； 'that the One will ever be found again in Middle…earth。 Into Anduin it fell； and long
ago； I deem； it was rolled to the Sea。 There it shall lie until the end； when all this world is broken and the deeps are
removed。'
Therefore naught was done at that time； though Elrond's heart misgave him； and he said to Mithrandir：
'Nonetheless I forbode that the One will yet be found； and then war will arise again； and in that war this Age will
be ended。 Indeed in a second darkness it will end； unless some strange chance deliver us that my eyes cannot see。'
'Many are the strange chances of fee world；' said Mithrandir； 'and help oft shall e from the hands of the weak
when the Wise falter。'
Thus the Wise were troubled； but none as yet perceived that Curunír had turned to dark thoughts and was already
a traitor in heart： for he desired that he and no other should find the Great Ring； so that he might wield it himself and
order all the world to his will Too long he had studied the ways of。 Sauron in hope to defeat him； and now he envied him
as a rival rather than hated his works。 And he deemed that the Ring； which was Sauron's； would seek for its master as he
became manifest once more； but if he were driven out again； then it would lie hid。 Therefore he was willing to play with
peril and let Sauron be for a time； hoping by his craft to forestall both his friends and the Enemy； when the Ring should
appear。
He set a watch upon the Gladden Fields； but soon he discovered that the servants of Dol Guldur were searching
all the ways of the River in that region。 Then he perceived that Sauron also had learned of the manner of Isildur's end；
and he grew afraid and withdrew to Isengard and fortified it； and ever he probed deeper into the lore of the Rings of
Power and the art of their forging。 But he spoke of none of this to the Council； hoping still that he might be the first to
hear news of the Ring。 He gathered a great host of spies； and many of these were birds； for Radagast lent him his aid；
divining naught of his treachery； and deeming that this was but part of the watch upon the Enemy。
But ever the shadow in Mirkwood grew deeper； and to Dol Guldur evil things repaired out of all the dark places
of the world； and they were united again under one will； and their malice was directed against the Elves and the
survivors of Númenor。 Therefore at last the Council was again summoned and the lore of the Rings was much debated；
but Mithrandir spoke to the Council； saying：
'It is not needed that the Ring should be found； for while it abides on earth and is not unmade； still the power that
it holds will live； and Sauron will grow and have hope。 The might of the Elves and the Elf…friends is less now than of
old。 Soon he will be too strong for you； even without the Great Ring； for he rules the Nine； and of the Seven he has
recovered three。 We must strike。'
To this Curunír now assented； desiring that Sauron should be thrust from Dol Guldur； which was nigh to the
River； and should have leisure to search there no longer。 Therefore； for the last time； he aided the Council； and they put
forth their strength； and they assailed Dol Guldur； and drove Sauron from his hold； and Mirkwood for a brief while was
made wholesome again。
But their stroke was too late。 For the Dark Lord had foreseen it； and he had long prepared all his movements； and
the úlairi； his Nine Servants； had gone before him to make ready for his ing。 Therefore his flight was but a feint； and
he soon returned； and ere the Wise could prevent him he re…entered his kingdom in Mordor and reared once again the
dark towers of Barad…d？r。 And in that year the White Council met for the last time； and Curunír withdrew to Isengard；
and took counsel with none save himself。
Orcs were mustering； and far to the east and the south the wild peoples were arming。 Then in the midst of
gathering fear and the rumour of war the foreboding of Elrond was proved true； and the One Ring was indeed found
again； by a chance more strange than even Mithrandir had foreseen； and it was hidden from Curunír and from Sauron。
For it had been taken from Anduin long ere they sought for it； being found by one of the small fisher…folk that dwelt by
the River； ere the Kings failed in Condor； and by its finder it was brought beyond search into dark hiding under the roots
of the mountains。 There it dwelt； until even in the year of the assault upon Dol Guldur it was found again； by a wayfarer；
fleeing into the depths of the earth from the pursuit of the Orcs； and passed into a far distant country； even to the land of
the Periannath； the Little People； the Halflings； who dwelt in the west of Eriador。 And ere that day they had been held of
small account by Elves and by Men； and neither Sauron nor any of the Wise save Mithrandir had in all their counsels
given thought to them。
Now by fortune and his vigilance Mithrandir first learned of the Ring； ere Sauron had news of it； yet he was
dismayed and in doubt。 For too great was the evil power of this thing for any of the Wise to wield； unless like Curunír he
wished himself to bee a tyrant and a dark lord in his turn； but neither could it be concealed from Sauron for ever； nor
could it be unmade by the craft of the Elves。 Therefore with the help of the Dúnedain of the North Mithrandir set a
watch upon the land of the Periannath and bided his time。 But Sauron had many ears； and soon he heard rumour of the
One Ring； which above all things he desired； and he sent forth the Nazg？l to take it。 Then war was kindled； and in battle
with Sauron the Third Age ended even as it had begun。
But those who saw the things that were done in that time； deeds of valour and wonder； have elsewhere told the
tale of the War of the Ring； and how it ended both in victory unlocked for and in sorrow long foreseen。 Here let it be
said that in those days the Heir of Isildur arose in the North； and he took the shards of the sword of Elendil； and in
Imladris they were reforged； and he went then to war； a great captain of Men。 He was Aragorn son of Arathorn； the nine
and thirtieth heir in the right line from Isildur； and yet more like to Elendil than any before him。 Battle there was in
Rohan； and Curunír the traitor was thrown down and Isengard broken； and before the City of Gondor a great field was
fought； and the Lord of Morgul； Captain of Sauron； there passed into darkness； and the Heir of Isildur led the host of the
West to the Black Gates of Mordor。
In that last battle were Mithrandir； and the sons of Elrond； and the King of Rohan； and lords of Gondor； and the
Heir of Isildur with the Dúnedain of the North。 There at the last they looked upon death and defeat； and all their valour
was in vain； for Sauron was too strong。 Yet in that hour was put to the proof that which Mithrandir had spoken； and help
came from the hands of the weak when the Wise faltered。 For； as many songs have since sung； it was the Periannath； the
Little People； dwellers in hillsides and meadows； that brought them deliverance。
For Frodo the Halfling； it is said； at the bidding of Mithrandir took on himself the burden； and alone with his
servant