The Lord of the Rings Page 0,659

to watch all his movements; and notes his interest in the Shire. He soon begins to keep agents in Bree and the Southfarthing.

2954 Mount Doom bursts into flame again. The last inhabitants of Ithilien flee over Anduin.

2956 Aragorn meets Gandalf and their friendship begins.

2957-80 Aragorn undertakes his great journeys and errantries. As Thorongil he serves in disguise both Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor.

2968 Birth of Frodo.

2976 Denethor weds Finduilas of Dol Amroth.

2977 Bain son of Bard becomes King of Dale.

2978 Birth of Boromir son of Denethor II.

2980 Aragorn enters Lórien, and there meets again Arwen Undómiel. Aragorn gives her the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth upon the hill of Cerin Amroth. About this time Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob. Théoden becomes King of Rohan. Birth of Samwise.

2983 Faramir son of Denethor born.

2984 Death of Ecthelion II. Denethor II becomes Steward of Gondor.

2988 Finduilas dies young.

2989 Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria.

2991 Éomer Eomund’s son born in Rohan.

2994 Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony is destroyed.

2995 Éowyn sister of Éomer born.

c. 3000 The shadow of Mordor lengthens. Saruman dares to use the palantír of Orthanc, but becomes ensnared by Sauron, who has the Ithil-stone. He becomes a traitor to the Council. His spies report that the Shire is being closely guarded by the Rangers.

3001 Bilbo’s farewell feast. Gandalf suspects his ring to be the One Ring. The guard on the Shire is doubled. Gandalf seeks for news of Gollum and calls on the help of Aragorn.

3002 Bilbo becomes a guest of Elrond, and settles in Rivendell.

3004 Gandalf visits Frodo in the Shire, and does so at intervals during the next four years.

3007 Brand son of Bain becomes King in Dale. Death of Gilraen.

3008 In the autumn Gandalf pays his last visit to Frodo.

3009 Gandalf and Aragorn renew their hunt for Gollum at intervals during the next eight years, searching in the vales of Anduin, Mirkwood, and Rhovanion to the confines of Mordor. At some time during these years Gollum himself ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron. Elrond sends for Arwen, and she returns to Imladris; the Mountains and all lands eastward are becoming dangerous.

3017 Gollum is released from Mordor. He is taken by Aragorn in the Dead Marshes, and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood. Gandalf visits Minas Tirith and reads the scroll of Isildur.

THE GREAT YEARS

3018

April

12 Gandalf reaches Hobbiton.

June

20 Sauron attacks Osgiliath. About the same time Thranduil is attacked, and Gollum escapes.

Mid-year's Day Gandalf meets Radagast.

July

4 Boromir sets out from Minas Tirith.

10 Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc.

August

All trace of Gollum is lost.It is thought that at about this time, being hunted both by the Elvesand Sauron's servants, he took refuge in Moria; but when he had at last discovered the way to the West-gate he could not get out.

September

18 Gandalf escapes from Orthanc in the early hours. The Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.

19 Gandalf comes to Edoras as a beggar, and is refused admittance.

20 Gandalf gains entrance to Edoras. Théoden commands him to go: ‘ Take any horse, only be gone ere tomorrow is old!’

21 Gandalf meets Shadowfax, but the horse will not allow him to come near. He follows Shadowfax far over the fields.

22 The Black Riders reach Sarn Ford at evening; they drive off the guard of Rangers. Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax.

23 Four Riders enter the Shire before dawn. The others pursue the Rangers eastward, and then return to watch the Greenway. A Black Rider comes to Hobbiton at nightfall. Frodo leaves Bag End. Gandalf having tamed Shadowfax rides from Rohan.

24 Gandalf crosses the Isen.

26 The Old Forest. Frodo comes to Bombadil.

27 Gandalf crosses Greyflood. Second night with Bombadil.

28 The Hobbits captured by a Barrow-wight. Gandalf reaches Sarn Ford.

29 Frodo reaches Bree at night. Gandalf visits the Gaffer.

30 Crickhollow and the Inn at Bree are raided in the early hours. Frodo leaves Bree. Gandalf comes to Crickhollow, and reaches Bree at night.

October

1 Gandalf leaves Bree.

3 He is attacked at night on Weathertop.

6 The camp under Weathertop attacked at night. Frodo wounded.

9 Glorfindel leaves Rivendell.

11 He drives the Riders off the Bridge of Mitheithel.

13 Frodo crosses the Bridge.

18 Glorfindel finds Frodo at dusk. Gandalf reaches Rivendell.

20 Escape across the Ford of Bruinen.

24 Frodo recovers and wakes. Boromir arrives in Rivendell at night.

25 Council of Elrond.

December

25 The Company of the Ring leaves Rivendell at dusk.

3019

January

8 The Company reach Hollin.

11,12 Snow on Caradhras.

13 Attack by Wolves in the early hours. The Company reaches West-gate of Moria at nightfall. Gollum