Chapter Two:
The Shadow of the Past
The story continues quite some time after the birthday party
featured in Chapter One, though Frodo, as he ages and Bilbo remains unseen,
continues to celebrate the feast. Gandalf has another meeting with Frodo and to
be sure, the wizard is not entirely welcome in the shire. Gandalf is benevolent
and well-meaning, but the hobbits want Frodo to settle down and cultivate some
"hobbit-sense" as opposed to the magic of Gandalf and whatever caused
Bilbo to disappear. (Indeed, Bilbo had always been in troubles of a magical
nonsensical variety).
Gandalf does not have very good news for Frodo, as is
overheard by a hobbit named San Gamgee - and of course, the news involves the
ring that has been left to Frodo. When Gandalf informs Frodo that the ring is
incredibly powerful, Frodo replies that he had been warned in a letter and that
he has worn the ring on his neck and not actually worn it on his finger.
Gandalf replies that this is very wise and he then proceeds to explain the
history of the ring and the imminent danger that looms over Frodo. Frodo's
interjection: "How terrifying" is a good indicator of how out of the
ordinary the ring's history is - as opposed to the humble, peaceable life of a
hobbit.
The history of Frodo's ring is as follows: After Gandalf saw
the negative effects on Bilbo, he suspected that they had a Great Ring of elfish
creation, on their hands. With Frodo, Gandalf tosses the ring into a fire and
ancient runes in the language of Mordor appear on the ring. These confirm the
ring's great and evil power: "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find
them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." Frodo's
ring belongs, in fact, to Sauron, the Dark Lord who desires to claim the ring.
Of course, the ring's history contains a fair share of
battle, bloodshed and changing of hands. Isildur stole it from the Dark Lord
and it was lost after Isildur's death - only to be found by Deagol, who was
murdered by his brother Smeagol, who metamorphosed into Gollum - the creature
that Bilbo stole the ring from in The Hobbit. Gollum then went down into the
land of evil, called Mordor, and joined forces with Sauron, notifying him that
Bilbo Baggins has possession of the ring. Armed with this information, Sauron
and his henchmen are on their way to the shire to get the ring. Gandalf advises
that Frodo make haste and escape with the help of Sam Gamgee. The ring has to
be destroyed or else the Middle Earth remains in perpetual peril of Sauron -
for he can do great evil with the power of the ring and basically enslave the
Free People, hobbits and elves included. Unfortunately, Orodruin, a fiery
mountainous fortress, is the only place where the ring can be destroyed. And of
course, Orodruin is in the evil land of Mordor. Hence, the story begins in
earnest. Frodo must avoid the evil contaminating power of the ring, escape the
henchmen out to apprehend him, and see that the ring is destroyed. At least he
has Gandalf on his side, and more help is sure to come.
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