Timeline Event
Dáin II of Erebor threatened by Sauron's messenger (estimated date)
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Date: October 1, 3017
Description:
An event in the early prelude to the Battle of Dale and Erebor; see that entry for an overview:
[Said Glóin,] 'Then about a year ago a messenger came to Dáin ... from Mordor.... The Lord Sauron the Great, so he said, wished for our friendship. Rings he would give for it, such as he gave of old. And he asked urgently concerning hobbits, of what kind they were, and where they dwelt. "For Sauron knows," said he, "that one of these was known to you on a time."
'At this we were greatly troubled, and we gave no answer. And then his fell voice was lowered.... "As a small token only of your friendship Sauron asks this," he said: "that you should find this thief," such was his word, "and get from him, willing or no, a little ring, the least of rings, that once he stole. It is but a trifle that Sauron fancies, and an earnest of your good will. Find it, and three rings that the Dwarf sires possessed of old shall be returned to you, and the realm of Moria shall be yours for ever. Find only news of the thief, whether he still lives and where, and you shall have great reward and lasting friendship from the Lord. Refuse, and things will not seem so well. Do you refuse?"....
'Dáin said: "I say neither yea nor nay. I must consider this message and what it means under its fair cloak."
'"Consider well, but not too long," said he.
'"The time of my thought is my own to spend," answered Dáin.
'"For the present," said he, and rode into the darkness....
'We needed not the fell voice of the messenger to warn us that his words held both menace and deceit; for we knew already that the power that has re-entered Mordor has not changed, and ever it betrayed us of old. Twice the messenger has returned, and has gone unanswered. The third and last time, so he says, is soon to come, before the ending of the year.'
The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 2, The Council of Elrond
Notes
The year is canon, but the month is an estimate, set approximately one year before the Council of Elrond.
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 8Oct05