Third Age Politics
and Second Age Memories: Thranduil and the White Council
[Dedicated to Jasta, Thranduil’s champion]
§ 0. Introduction
The invasion of Sauron into Greenwood
the Great circa 1000 TA heralded the downfall of the forest and set
into motion
a chain of events of unprecedented importance, leading eventually to
the
destruction of the One Ring. Thranduil and his
people
“retreated before it [the Shadow] as it spread ever northward, until at
last
Thranduil established his realm in the northeast of the forest and
delved there
a fortress and great halls underground.” [Princes: 271-2] Despite the
constant
threat posed by Dol Guldur in the south (and the poisonous influence it
spread
throughout the forest – now called Mirkwood), Thranduil’s kingdom
continued to
thrive. The late essay on the Sindarin Princes [Princes: 271] describes
his
lands as extending “into the woods surrounding the Lonely Mountain and
growing
along the west shores of the Long Lake, before the coming of the
Dwarves exiled
from Moria and the invasion of the Dragon.”
Using these bits of canon we can begin to
narrow down the creation of Thranduil’s subterranean stronghold. If
Sauron
entered the forest c. 1000 TA and dwarves arrived at Erebor in 1999 TA,
Thranduil’s fortress had to have been created between these dates. The
quote
saying Thranduil “retreated before” the spread of the evil tends to
direct our
attention to another date. According to “The Tale of Years,” [App B:
1060] “c.
1300 Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains
and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgul reappear.” This would suggest that
Thranduil’s push northeastward through the forest would have probably
intensified
at this time. The only other significant date in canon is the arrival
of the
Witch King in Angmar in 1409 TA. Therefore we can conclude with
reasonable
certainty that Thranduil’s stronghold was probably build around
1400-1500 TA,
in direct response to events both within the forest and in the wider
world
directly outside the forest’s boundaries (of which he would have been
keenly
aware.) Thus by the middle of the Third Age, Thranduil had an
established base
from which to direct sorties against orcs and establish relationships
with his
neighbors (namely the Men of Dale).
The date of Dale’s creation is not
established in canon, however the tradition among its inhabitants was
that it
had been founded by the descendents of the great houses of the Edain
(namely in
the late First Age or early Second Age).It is therefore not possible to
set a
definitive date for the first overtures between Mirkwood and Dale, but
it would
have probably been not long after Thranduil established his stronghold
along
the river. As was demonstrated in a previous essay [Diaspora],
Thranduil’s policies for most of the Third Age were driven by the
philosophies
of his father – namely isolationism and suspicion. Thranduil’s gradual
break
from his father’s out-dated political lessons began with this
establishment of
economic alliances with the Men of Dale and eventually led to his
joining of
the Alliance of the Five
Armies as
a full and willing partner, under the able leadership of Gandalf the
Grey. This
was a far cry from Oropher’s reluctant and somewhat rebellious role in
the Last
Alliance in the Second Age (a role ruled by the blindness of pride and
bitterness which directly led to his death).
One of the unanswered questions in Third Age Tolkien canon
is whether or not Thranduil was a member of the famed White Council.
The thesis
set forth in this essay is as follows:
1)
That
Thranduil was not a member of the Council at the time of the decision
to attack
Dol Guldur (i.e. at the time of the Battle
of the Five Armies);
2)
That
Thranduil had been asked to be a member of the Council either at the
time of or
shortly after its formation; and
3)
Thranduil
was not a member at the time in question because he either rejected the
Council’s overtures immediately or, more likely, quit after the second
meeting
due to a perceived impotence of the Council.
Each point will be considered in turn, and evidence provided
to bolster its case. It is admitted by the author at the outside that
while
point one is well established in canon, point two is speculative
(though
supportable by canon) and point three is highly speculative (based on
the acceptance
of point two as well as an interpretation of Thranduil’s motives and
politics).
§ 1. On Thranduil’s
Possible Membership at the Time of the Battle of the Five
Armies
This point is relatively easy to argue, as it based on two
important pieces of evidence:
1)
Thranduil
was not at the meeting of the White Council which took place at this
time and;
2)
Was
not even apparently aware that such a meeting was taking place.
An important point to establish at the onset is that the
White Council had only four meetings recorded in canon: a formative
meeting in
2463 TA, the meeting of 2851 at which Gandalf reported that it was
indeed
Sauron who was the “Shadow” in Dol Guldur, the meeting of 2941 which
ended in
the attack on Dol Guldur, and the final meeting in 2953 at which
Saruman tried
to convince the other members that the One Ring had vanished into the
Sea. Note
that only the third of the four meetings actually led to any direct
action.
The citation of the third meeting in Appendix B of LOTR
reads (in part): “2941 The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an
attack on
Dol Guldur…. Sauron having made his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle
of the Five Armies in Dale.” The exact timing of these events is
unequivocally
laid out in several sources in canon, and undeniably affirms that
Thranduil was
not present at either the meeting or the attack on Dol Guldur.
The Hobbit makes
it clear that the meeting of the White Council had been scheduled
before the
arrival of Thorin’s party at the western edge of Mirkwood:
Then they knew that Gandalf was
going to leave them at the very edge of Mirkwood, and they were in
despair. But
nothing they could say would change his mind.
“Now we had this all out before,
when we landed on the Carrock,” he said. “It is no use arguing. I have,
as I
told you, some pressing business away south; and I am already late
through
bothering with you people.” [136-7]
Gandalf’s mysterious comments were elaborated on later in
the novel, when the party returned to Rivendell after the defeat of the
goblin
army. Bilbo finally “learned where Gandalf had been to; for he
overheard the
words of the wizard to Elrond. It appeared that Gandalf had been to a
great
council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that
they had
at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of
Mirkwood.”
[280] As Elrond was a member of the White Council it would be sensible
for the
two allies to discuss the events, especially as Gandalf would have had
to leave
the assault on Dol Guldur abruptly in order to arrive at Erebor in time
for the
Battle of the Five Armies.
A slightly different (but corroboratory) version from
Gandalf’s point of view appears in “The Quest for Erebor” [337]: “Time
was
getting short. I had to be with the White Council in August at the
latest, or
Saruman would have his way and nothing would be done. And quite apart
from
greater matters, that might prove fatal to the quest: the power in Dol
Guldur
would not leave any attempt on Erebor unhindered unless he had
something else
to deal with.” Note Gandalf’s seeming desperation at the possibility
(or rather
probability) of the Council’s inaction unless he directly interceded.
Therefore, the meeting of the Council probably took place at
either Lothlorien or Isengard, [clearly not Rivendell because of the
“business
away south” comment] and both it and the assault on Dol Guldur took
place while
the Dwarves and Bilbo were traveling through Mirkwood, Laketown and
Erebor, and
hence Thranduil could not possibly have been present at either event.
A careful reading of The
Hobbit shows nothing in Thranduil’s speech or actions during this
time to
suggest that he was aware of the meeting of the White Council, and
certainly
nothing to suggest that he was aware of the assault on Dol Guldur (a
momentous
event which could have had a disastrous outcome). He seemed clearly
focused on
the events at hand (the “invasion” of Thorin’s party and the death of
Smaug).
Certainly he would never have even considered traveling to Erebor in
search of
the dragon’s legendary treasure (as was openly asserted in the novel as
his
original impetus) if he had had any inkling of the events happening
simultaneously in the southwest of his forest. Thranduil had proven
himself far
too wary and conservative of a ruler (with a keen memory for the
follies of the
past) to risk his realm’s security on a mere treasure hunt.
Having easily established that Thranduil was not aware of
nor attended the meeting of the White Council in 2941 TA, the next
question was
whether or not Thranduil had been asked to be a member of the Council
at an
earlier date. That point is the subject of the next section.
§ 2. On Whether or
Not Thranduil Had Been Asked to Join the White Council
This point relies on several points of canon, which once
connected can be used to argue the point that he had, indeed, been
invited to
join the Council during its early days:
1)
Circumstantial
evidence suggests that Gandalf appears to have not been unknown to
Thranduil at
the time of the Battle of
the Five
Armies;
2)
Thranduil
had a recognized position of power in Middle-earth in the Third Age and;
3)
Mirkwood,
its allies and neighbors were recognized as tactically important in the
politics of the Third Age
Canon is silent as to whether Gandalf and Thranduil
definitely knew each other before the events of The Hobbit,
but circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that they
did. As one of the Istari, Gandalf “came out of the Far West”
and like the other Wizards “were messengers sent to contest the power
of
Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him….” [App
B: 1059]
“The Istari” [405] also puts the arrival of the Istari as around 1000
TA (when
Sauron first stirred in Middle-earth in that age). The essay explains
that “as
the Shadow of Sauron began to grow and take shape again, they became
more
active and sought ever to contest the growth of the Shadow, and to move
Elves
and Men to beware of their peril.” It is further explained that the
Istari were
“to advise and persuade Men and Elves to good, and to seek to unite in
love and
understanding all those whom Sauron, should be come again, endeavor to
dominate
and corrupt.” [Istari: 406]
Of the Istari, Gandalf was the closest to the Eldar, and his
alliance and friendship with them “was well-known.” [Istari: 417] “The
Tale of
Years” [App B: 1059] concurs, noting that “Mithrandir was closest in
friendship
with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West and never made for
himself any
lasting abode.” This wandering brought him into contact with all manner
of free
peoples of Middle-earth, in “the Westlands from Gondor to Angmar, and
from
Lindon to Lorien, befriending all folk in times of need.” [Istari: 408]
Faramir
explains to Frodo that Gandalf himself listed his many geographically
related
names, “Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkin to the Dwarves, Olorin I
was in my
youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus,
in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.”
[LOTR: 655]
The definition of “North” in canon is of vital importance to
the current argument. Tolkien wrote a long note about the passage just
cited,
explaining that
‘The North’ must refer to the
North-western regions of Middle-earth, in which most of the inhabitants
or
speaking-people were and remained uncorrupted by Morgoth or Sauron. In
those
regions resistance would be strongest to the evils left behind by the
Enemy, or
to Sauron his servant, if he should reappear. The bounds of this region
were
naturally vague; its eastern frontier was roughly the River Carnen to
its
junction with Celdun (the River Running), and so to Nurnen and there
south to
the ancient confines of Southern Gondor…. The
‘North’ thus
includes all this great area: roughly West to East from the Gulf
of Lune to Nurnen, and
North and
South from Carn Durn to the Southern bounds of ancient Gondor between
it and
Near Harad. [Istari: 415]
Nurnen is the sea in Mordor. Gandalf is said to never go
into Mordor itself but was known in all lands around it. As Mirkwood is
contained within this geographical region, Gandalf would have
considered it part
of his “mission,” and would have been familiar with its dealings and
ruler. The Hobbit only says that the lands
around Erebor and Laketown “had changed much since the days when
dwarves dwelt
in the mountain, days which most people now remembered only as a very
shadowy
tradition. They had changed even in recent years, and since the last
news that
Gandalf had had of them.” Clearly Gandalf was familiar with Thranduil’s
part of
the world, even if he did not spend as much time there as he might in
other areas
(such as Gondor, Imladris, or Lothlorien).
Gandalf certainly understood the threat of the growing
shadow in southern Mirkwood – namely the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur – and
along
with Elrond believed it might be Sauron himself returned. Thus it was
in 2063 TA
that he went to Dol Guldur and “the Sorcerer fled from him, and there
was a
watchful peace for a long while.” [Rings: 360] Thranduil would have
been aware
of the retreat of the “shadow” from his forest and would have been
keenly
interested in the cause of that retreat. This would have been a natural
overture for him and Gandalf to meet, if they had not already (which
seems
unlikely given Gandalf’s travels and Mirkwood’s geographical and
political
importance.) Thranduil would have known of the Istari in general, as
Radagast
was his neighbor. The reclusive wizard “forsook Elves and Men and spent
his
days among the wild creatures.” [Istari: 407] The seemingly impotent
wizard
resided in Rhosgobel, near the southern border of Mirkwood, and would
have been
an innocuous, if not forgettable, neighbor. But the presence of the
“Brown
Wizard” in his backyard as well as Gandalf’s wide-flung reputation
makes it
clear that Thranduil would have been at least aware of Gandalf’s
general comings
and goings and might have been motivated to make the wizard’s
acquaintance (if
Gandalf had not already made an overture).
Perhaps the strongest evidence revolves around the actions
of Thranduil at the time of the Battle
of the Five Armies. Thranduil and the men of Laketown had marched north
to
Erebor, seeking the dragon’s treasure. Once there, they found that the
dwarves,
remarkably, still lived, and Bard, descendent of Girion, appealed to
Thorin to
deliver a share of the treasure since in Smaug’s hoard was “mingled
much of the
wealth of [Girion’s] halls and town, which of old Smaug stole.”
[Hobbit: 250]
Thorin agreed to make financial amends to Bard, but not under threat of
force,
and “nor at all with the people of the Elven-king, whom I remember with
small
kindness. In this debate they have no place…. If you would speak to me
again,
first dismiss the elvish host to the woods where it belongs….” [Hobbit:
251]
After further consideration, Bard asked Thorin to deliver
“one twelfth portion of the treasure unto Bard, as the dragon-slayer,
and as
the heir of Girion. From that portion Bard will himself contribute to
the aid
of Esgaroth; but if Thorin would have the friendship and honour of the
lands
about, as his sires had of old, then he will give also somewhat of his
own for
the comfort of the men of the Lake.” [Hobbit: 252] No mention is made
of the
Elves, who apparently had withdrawn any pretense of claim to the
treasure. Why
did Thranduil have this apparently sudden change of heart? The arrival
of
Gandalf around this time points to his active hand. Gandalf was clearly
literally in Thranduil’s camp at the time of Bilbo’s invisible mission
of
reconciliation with the Arkenstone, openly congratulating the hobbit on
his
good sense as Bilbo left the camp.
What were Gandalf’s reasons for manipulating the actions of
all involved (as was clearly seen in the battle plans of the Five
Armies)?
Quite simply, he wished for “the establishment of a strong realm in the
north
to oppose an attack by the Easterlings allied with Sauron.” [Foster:
205] An alliance
between Mirkwood, Laketown and Erebor would certainly fulfill this
goal. Gandalf
was therefore manipulating behind the scenes, as was his talent,
aligning
former enemies and lukewarm allies in the face of a gathering common
enemy,
namely the impending attack from orcs (which he kept to himself until
the
proper time). Thus it was that Gandalf was, though manipulation and
luck, able
to achieve his goal of ridding the North lands of the dragon and much
of its
orc population at the same time that Sauron was driven south, and
aligning the
free peoples toward the common goal of keeping their lands free of the
taint of
evil (including an attack from Easterlings) for as long as possible.
If Thranduil resented being so “used” by the wizard, he
certainly did not hold on to the anger for long. His farewell to
Gandalf urged
him to “ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! The
oftener
you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!” [Hobbit: 276]
Thranduil
was not one to trust blindly, nor swiftly, and it is hard to believe
that he
would have embraced Gandalf’s leadership so rapidly and completely if
he had
never met the wizard before. Likewise, we find that Gandalf immediately
puts
his trust in Thranduil and his people in a way that seems strange for
new
acquaintances.
As Gandalf explains to Frodo in LOTR, after the loss of his
“precious,” Gollum “set out and came back westward, as far as the Great
River…. The Wood-elves
tracked him
first, an easy task for them, for his trail was still fresh then.
Through
Mirkwood and back again it led them, though they never caught him…. But
at the
western edge of Mirkwood the trail turned away. It wandered off
southwards and
passed out of the Wood-elves’ ken, and was lost.” [LOTR: 56-7]
Thranduil appears by name in canon in the appendices to
LOTR, noting that in 3017 TA Gollum was “taken by Aragorn in the Dead
Marshes,
and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood.” [App B: 1065] In the “Council of
Elrond”
scene in FOTR, Aragorn responds to the news of Gollum’s escape from
Mirkwood
with surprise, asking “How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their
trust?”
[LOTR: 248] Indeed it was a great trust indeed, not merely Aragorn’s
trust, but
Gandalf’s as well, as Legolas explains in his defense that “We guarded
this creature
day and night, at Gandalf’s bidding, much though we wearied of the
task. But
Gandalf bade us hope still for his cure, and we had not the heart to
keep him
even in dungeons under the earth, where he would fall back into his old
black
thoughts.” [LOTR: 249] Therefore Thranduil was in charge of not only
Gollum’s
safe keeping, but his rehabilitation, if such a thing were possible.
Was Gollum
brought to Mirkwood merely for convenience? The more detailed
description of
Gollum’s capture in “The Hunt for the Ring” [358-9] clearly dispels
this
possibility:
According to Aragorn Gollum was
taken at nightfall on February 1st. Hoping to escape detection by any
of
Sauron’s spies he drove Gollum through the north end of the Emyn Muil,
and
crossed Anduin just above Sarn Gebir. Driftwood was often cast up there
on the
shoals by the east shore, and binding Gollum to a log he swam across
with him,
and continued his journey north by tracks as westerly as he could find,
through
the skirts of Fangorn, and so over Limlight, then over Nimrodel and
Silverlode
through the eaves of Lorien, and then on, avoiding Moria and Dimrill
Dale, over
Gladden until he came near the Carrock. There he crossed Anduin again,
with the
help of the Beornings, and passed into the Forest.
The
whole journey, on foot, was not much short of nine hundred miles, and
this
Aragorn accomplished with weariness in fifty days, reaching Thranduil
on the
twenty-first of March…. But evidently later (since the lands of
Thranduil would
now be closely watched), possibly a month later, Sauron heard the
disquieting
news that the Wise were aware of Gollum, and that Gandalf had passed
into
Thranduil’s realm.
It is clear that at the time of the Ring War Thranduil was
counted among the greatest allies of the enemies of Sauron, and his
kingdom
played a pivotal role, although largely behind the scenes. In testament
to the
importance of Thranduil’s realm and reign, Sauron’s forces attacked
Mirkwood,
“and there was long battle under the trees and great ruin of fire; but
in the end
Thranduil had the victory.” [App B: 1069]
What was Thranduil’s status earlier in the Third Age, at the
time of the formation of the White Council? “The Tale of Years of the
Third
Age” notes that in the year 2463 “The White Council is formed to unite
and
direct the forces of the West, in resistance to the shadow.” [Tale:
235] “Of
the Rings of Power and the Third Age” [Rings: 360-1] has a more
detailed
account:
But at length the Shadow returned
and its power increased; and in that time was first made the Council of
the
Wise that is called the White Council, and therein were Elrond and
Galadriel
and Cirdan, and other lords of the Eldar, and with them were Mithrandir
and
Curunir. And Curunir (that was Saruman the White) was chosen to be
their
chief…. Galadriel indeed had wished that Mithrandir should be the head
of the
Council… but Mithrandir refused the office, since he would have no ties
or
allegiance, save to those who sent him….
The latter citation cites Elrond, Galadriel, and Cirdan by
name, clearly because they held Rings of Power (although technically
Cirdan had
given his to Gandalf at some point). Who would be numbered among the
“other
lords of the Eldar”? Obviously Celeborn, as Galadriel’s spouse and lord
of
Lothlorien, and perhaps some of the higher counselors of Imladris, such
as
Glorfindel or Erestor. But Mirkwood could not be left off this list.
During the
Third Age there were only four Elvish kingdoms left in Middle-earth –
Imladris,
Lothlorien, Mirkwood, and the Grey Havens. All four realms had
willingly taken
part in the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age and survived
into the
Third Age as Elvish strongholds against the return of the Shadow. There
is
absolutely no logical reason for Mirkwood to have been left out of the
White
Council, at least in terms of its formation. Whether or not Thranduil
chose to
accept the invitation is the subject of the final section.
§ 3. On Whether
Thranduil Declined Membership in the White Council
The Watchful Peace was a most welcome albeit temporary
respite from the Shadow’s dark influence. In 2460, less than four
centuries
after it had begun, the Watchful Peace ended, as the “Sorcerer”
returned to Dol
Guldur with even greater powers than before. Thranduil would obviously
be
concerned with this unfortunate (but not unexpected) turn of events,
and would
have held his allies (few as they were) closer. Thranduil had
established an
isolated subterranean stronghold in the northeastern edge of his
forest,
putting as much distance between his realm and Dol Guldur as possible.
But the
Elf King knew it was not nearly enough, if the shadow turned out to be
Sauron
himself and not one of the Nazgul (as it was widely rumored). Thranduil
had
survived the Last Alliance and was forever changed by his experiences.
There
“was in Thranduil’s heart a still deeper shadow. He had seen the horror
of
Mordor and could not forget it. If ever he looked south its memory
dimmed the light
of the sun and though he knew that it was now broken and deserted and
under the
vigilance of the kings of men, fear spoke in his heart that it was not
conquered for ever: it would arise again.” [Princes: 271]
The White Council formed three years later, bringing
together the Wise (the Lords of the Eldar and the Istari) in order to
direct
their opposition to the shadow of Mirkwood and the greater problem of
evil in
the world. Thranduil would have been caught between the isolationist
policies
of his family line, and his own deep-rooted fears for Sauron’s return.
It was
“desire of the Silvan Elves to meddle as little as might be in the
affairs of
the Noldor and the Sindar, or any other people, Dwarves, Men or Orcs,”
[Princes: 271], but Thranduil would have initially put aside his
bitterness of
the outcome of the Last Alliance (namely the slaughter of most of his
troops as
well as the death of his father) in the hopes that this new Council
might lead
somehow to the greater security of his own realm. If nothing else, he
would be
“in the loop” as far as military intelligence and strategic planning
were
concerned.
Thranduil’s tolerance would have been sorely tested at the
very first meeting of the White Council. The meeting had been called by
Galadriel, the Noldorin princess, the same “interloper” whose undue
influence
over the Silvan Elves of Lothlorien had spurred his father’s northward
exodus
through the forest north from their original home, ironically at the
site of
Dol Guldur. Perhaps in his heart Thranduil harbored some (even
unconscious)
blame toward Galadriel for the Shadow’s existence in his forest. After
all, if
Oropher had not deserted Amon Lanc and traveled deep into the forest,
it would
have been more difficult for the Sorcerer to move into the forest and
build his
fortress of Dol Guldur unchallenged. Thranduil would have at the very
least been
wary of Galadriel’s role and motives, perhaps with some good reason.
Galadriel
explained to the Fellowship that “It was I who first summoned the White
Council.
And if my designs had not gone amiss, it would have been governed by
Gandalf
the Grey, and then mayhap things would have gone otherwise.” [LOTR:
348] Thus
we see that Galadriel willingly admits that there were undercurrents
from the
very beginning. One can only speculate how much of this Thranduil
sensed or
suspected.
Assuming that Thranduil did not quit on the spot, there is
good reason to assume that he did not remain a member for long. Recall
that it
was the history of his house in Mirkwood to remain largely independent
and
isolated. Thranduil would only remain a member of an alliance which
made him
uncomfortable from the beginning if he saw a great benefit for his
realm. However
the increasing impotence of the White Council (under Saruman’s
manipulative
hand) would have given Thranduil little reason to remain a member.
A vital point to recall is that the White Council only had
four meetings in canon, and that the third was timed with the Battle
of the Five Armies. It has already been demonstrated that Thranduil was
not an
active member of the White Council at the time of this third meeting.
The only
point left to argue was whether Thranduil was still a member of the
Council at
the time of the second meeting (in 2851).
Between 2480 and 2740 orcs increased their attacks in the Misty
Mountains and nearby areas
but the
White Council apparently did nothing in response. This lack of action
certainly
would do nothing to improve Thranduil’s already dubious opinion
concerning the
Council. “Now the Shadow grew even greater, and the hearts of Elrond
and
Mithrandir darkened,” leading to Gandalf’s risky sortie to Dol Guldur
itself.
[Rings: 361] He discovered it was indeed Sauron himself who ruled
there, and in
response a second meeting of the White Council was finally called.
This meeting was held in 2851 TA in Imladris, perhaps as
“neutral territory” in deference to Thranduil’s deep-seated suspicion
of
Galadriel. Gandalf divulged all he had learned during his secret
mission and
urged the Council to attack Sauron at once. Saruman “spoke against him,
and
urged that contrary to Gandalf’s advice Dol Guldur should not yet be
molested.”
[Hunt: 366] Gandalf recounted his frustration to Frodo and others in
Minas
Tirith [Quest: 336], bemoaning the fact that “Saruman was hindering all
my
plans. I knew that Sauron had arisen again and would soon declare
himself, and
I knew that he was preparing for a great war…. I thought then, and I
argue now,
that to attack Lorien and Rivendell, as soon as he was strong enough,
was his
original plan.” Thranduil would have also understood the threat that
Sauron
posed, and with the obvious lack of action by the Council, might have
understandably quit at that time, deeming the Council not worth his
time.
Instead, he holed up in his stronghold as “the Shadow in Mirkwood grew
deeper,
and to Dol Guldur evil things repaired out of all the dark places of
the world;
and they were united again under one will, and their malice was
directed
against the Elves and the survivors of Numenor….” [Rings: 362]
Therefore by the
time of the third meeting of the Council he was no longer counted among
its
members, and hence he was unaware of the Council’s plans at the time
that
Thorin and company passed through his forest.
§ 4. Conclusion
Canonical details are admittedly scarce concerning the White
Council, and are nonexistent where Thranduil is concerned. However,
circumstantial
evidence points to the conclusions set forth in the introduction – that
Thranduil was initially at least asked to be a member of the White
Council,
that he most probably quit due to the perceived impotence of the
Council
(probably after its second meeting), and he was not a member at the
time of the
Battle of the Five Armies. Regardless of the fleeting nature of
Thranduil’s
relationship with the White Council, the primacy of Mirkwood’s
importance in
the Third Age cannot be denied, and Thranduil’s role as a key player
should not
be downplayed.
Appendix: Timeline of
relevant events in the Third Age. All are taken verbatim from
“Appendix B,
The Tale of Years” (LOTR: 1060-65) except those appearing in brackets.
[c. 1000 A “Shadow” (Sauron) enters Mirkwood and builds Dol
Guldur. The Istari arrive in Middle-earth.]
c. 1110 The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover
that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought
to be one
of the Nazgul.
c. 1300 Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase
in the Misty Mountains
and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgul reappear. The chief of these come
north to
Angmar.
1409 The Witch-king of Angar invades Arnor.
[Thranduil founds cavern stronghold in the northeast of
Mirkwood]
[Mirkwood and Dale become trade partners]
1974 End of the North-kingdom. The Witch-king overruns
Arthedain and takes Fornost.
1975 The Witch-king defeated at the Battle of Fornost, and
pursued to the Ettenmoors. He vanishes from the North.
1980 The Witch-king comes to Mordor and there gathers the
Nazgul. A Balrog appears in Moria, and slays Durin VI.
1981 Nain I slain. The Dwarves flee from Moria. Many of the
Silvan Elves of Lorien flee south. Amroth and Nimrodel are lost.
1999 Thrain I comes to Erebor and founds a dwarf-kingdom
‘under the Mountain’.
2060 The power of Dol Guldur grows. The Wise fear that it
may be Sauron taking shape again.
2063 Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur. Sauron retreats and hides
in the East. The Watchful Peace begins.
2460 The Watchful Peace ends. Sauron returns with increased
strength to Dol Guldur.
2463 The White
Council is formed.
c. 2480 Orcs begin to make secret strongholds in the Misty
Mountains so as to bar all
passes
into Eriador. Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures.
2740 Orcs renew their invasions of Eriador.
2770 Smaug the Dragon descends on Erebor. Dale is destroyed.
2850 Gandalf again enters Dol Guldur, and discovers that its
master is indeed Sauron….
2851 The White
Council meets. Gandalf urges an attack on Dol Guldur. Saruman overrules
him.
2941 The White
Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur…. Sauron
having made
his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle of the Five Armies in Dale.
2951 Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in
Mordor. He begins the rebuilding of Barad-dur. Gollum turns toward
Mordor.
Sauron sends three of the Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur.
2953 The last meeting
of the White Council…. Saruman withdraws to Isengard, which he takes as
his
own, and fortifies it.
3009 Gandalf and Aragorn renew their hunt for Gollum… At
some point during these years Gollum himself ventured into Mordor, and
was
captured by Sauron.
3017 Gollum is released from Mordor. He is taken by Aragorn
in the Dead Marshes, and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood.
Sources:
The abbreviations used for each source when citing above is
given after the complete citation in brackets.
“Appendix B: The Tale of Years,” The Lord of the Rings
(single vol. ed.), J.R.R.T. (1987) (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co.) [App B]
The Lord of the Rings
(single vol. ed.) J.R.R.T. (1987) (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co.) [LOTR]
“Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves,” Unfinished
Tales, J.R.R.T. (1980) (NY: Ballantine
Books)
[Princes]
“The Hunt for the Ring,” Unfinished
Tales, J.R.R.T. (1980) (NY:
Ballantine Books) [Hunt]
“The Quest for Erebor,” Unfinished
Tales, J.R.R.T. (1980) (NY:
Ballantine Books) [Quest]
“Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age,” The Silmarillion
(2nd ed.), J.R.R.T.
(1977) (NY: Ballantine Books) [Rings]
The Hobbit,
J.R.R.T. (1966) (NY: Ballantine Books) [Hobbit]
“The Tale of Years of the Third Age,” The Peoples of
Middle-earth, J.R.R.T. (1996) (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co.) [Tale]
“The Istari,” Unfinished
Tales, J.R.R.T. (1980) (NY: Ballantine Books) [Istari]
The Complete Guide to
Middle-earth, Robert Foster (1979) (NY: Ballantine Books) [Foster]
“The
Elvish Diaspora(s), Sindarin Lords, and Greenwood the
Great: Utopian Visions and Isolationist Politics” http://www.ithilas.com/fos/diaspora.html
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