… a simplified explanation of the story…

By Kiwi J. N.

Long, long ago in the land of Middle Earth many different creatures dwelled. For theses creature’s rings were forged that would give the bearer power to rule their race. Three rings for the elves, five for the dwarfs and nine for the race of men, who hunger most for power. But in the fires of Mount Doom, one other ring was forged, one with the power to rule all of Middle Earth. The dark lord, Sauron, forged this ring. One by one towns and villages fell to the ring and its evil keeper. All hope seemed lost for Middle Earth until the last free peoples staged an attack. Lord Sauron didn’t miss the chance to attend. He killed the king of men and that was when the king’s son, Isildur took up her fathers broken sword and cut of the finger off the Lord. That was the end of Sauron, but it wasn’t the end of the ring.

Isildur had a chance to destroy the ring, but his thirst for power didn’t allow him to do it. He was murdered soon after and the ring was left to lie in the bottom of a river. Thousands of years went by, many forgot about the evil ring. One day the creature Gollom found the ring, then the hobbit, Bilbo stole it from him and it stayed in the Shire with the hobbits for 60 years until Bilbo, decided to go on a final adventure and left all of his possessions, including the ring to his nephew Frodo. Gandalf, a wise wizard and Frodo’s friend figures out that it was the ring of power and tells Frodo to leave the Shire with the help of Frodo’s friend, Sam because the ring is not safe from evil there. Merry and Pippin, who are also hobbits, soon join them. When Gandalf fails to meet them at an inn in Bree, Aragorn, a warrior, helps them avoid the Black Riders who have been chasing the hobbits. When Frodo gets stabbed, the group then headed for Rivindale when a wise elf cured him and where a meeting was held to decide what to do with the ring. It had to be destroyed in Mount Doom.

Frodo and his hobbit friends along with Gandalf, Aragorn, Boramir, Legolas and Gimli, went to complete the task. Traveling there, the fellowship encountered many hardships including the death of Gandalf and Boramir. Frodo and Sam continue the quest on their own while the others fight to protect Middle Earth from the all out war that is beginning with the orc and Uruk-hai (evil creatures). This was happening because Sauron was starting to regain strength again. He could not yet take physical form until he had the ring so it was crucial to destroy the ring before he got it. Gandalf also comes back to life, stronger than ever and joins the others in their fight.

Sam and Frodo meet up with Gollom who becomes their guide to Mount Doom but was not to be trusted for he lusted the ring. Meanwhile Aragorn who was a descendant of Isildur and the rightful king of all men had been avoiding his job until he realized he was the only one who could unite the men (who had been without a king for some time) and wage a strong attack. When he finally accepts this job he awakens ghosts to help fight the evil creatures. Sam, Frodo and Gollom’s journey was becoming harder after they had been kidnapped but let go. Gollom then begins to plot against them. Unfourtnatly, Frodo had begun to trust Gollom and abandons loyal Sam because Gollom advises him to. Gollom then goes on the lead Frodo into a trap with a giant spider. 

Sam returns to aid the apologetic Frodo and the two begin their most treacherous journey up the mountain to mount Doom where they realize they will not survive the trek back down the mountain but their lives will be a sacrafice for the peace of Middle Earth. Aragaorn, now king along with the others wage strategic attacks to distract the evil creatures from Frodo and Sam’s quest. Frodo finally casts the ring into the fire of Mount Doom where it is destroyed and miraculously Gandalf saves them from the mountaintop with giant birds. After everyone has taken a well-deserved rest now that the 13 month quest is over, Aragorn is crowned King formally and reunites with his elf princess girlfriend, Arwen. 

Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin make the long journey back to the shire where Sam gets married. Four years later, Frodo leaves with Gandalf and Bilbo for another land because he just doesn’t feel the same in the shire after his encounter with the ring. It ends with Frodo leaving on a boat and Middle Earth finally at peace.