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Timeline Event

Frodo puts on the One Ring at Weathertop

Event Type: Military/Strategic

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: October 6, 3018

Description:

An event in the Attack on the Camp at Weathertop; see that entry for an overview.
Frodo thought that he heard a faint hiss as of venomous breath and felt a thin piercing chill....

Terror overcame Pippin and Merry.... Frodo was hardly less terrified than his companions; he was quaking as if he was bitter cold, but his terror was swallowed up in a sudden temptation to put on the Ring. The desire to do this laid hold of him, and he could think of nothing else. He did not forget the Barrow, nor the message of Gandalf; but something seemed to be compelling him to disregard all warnings,1 and he longed to yield. Not with the hope of escape, or of doing anything, either good or bad: he simply felt that he must take the Ring and put it on his finger. He could not speak. He felt Sam looking at him, as if he knew that his master was in some great trouble, but he could not turn towards him. He shut his eyes and struggled for a while; but resistance became unbearable, and at last he slowly drew out the chain, and slipped the Ring on the forefinger of his left hand.

Immediately, though everything else remained as before, dim and dark, the shapes became terribly clear. He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures.... In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes; under their mantles were long grey robes; upon their grey hairs were helms of silver; in their haggard hands were swords of steel. Their eyes fell on him and pierced him,2 as they rushed towards him.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 11, A Knife in the Dark


Notes
1   [Said] the wizard[,]... '[If] you take my advice you will use it very seldom, or not at all. At least I beg you not to use it in any way that will cause talk or rouse suspicion. I say again: keep it safe, and keep it secret!'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 1, A Long-expected Party

PS. Do NOT use It again, not for any reason whatever!

From Gandalf's letter to Frodo
The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 10, Strider

'Hey! Come Frodo, there! Where be you a-going? Old Tom Bombadil's not as blind as that yet. Take off your golden ring! Your hand's more fair without it.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 7, In the House of Tom Bombadil

2   'You were in gravest peril while you wore the Ring, for then you were half in the wraith-world yourself, and they might have seized you. You could see them, and they could see you.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 1, Many Meetings

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 18Jul06

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