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as a rival rather than hated his works。 And he deemed that the Ring； which was Sauron's； would seek for its master as he
became manifest once more； but if he were driven out again； then it would lie hid。 Therefore he was willing to play with
peril and let Sauron be for a time； hoping by his craft to forestall both his friends and the Enemy； when the Ring should
appear。
He set a watch upon the Gladden Fields； but soon he discovered that the servants of Dol Guldur were searching
all the ways of the River in that region。 Then he perceived that Sauron also had learned of the manner of Isildur's end；
and he grew afraid and withdrew to Isengard and fortified it； and ever he probed deeper into the lore of the Rings of
Power and the art of their forging。 But he spoke of none of this to the Council； hoping still that he might be the first to
hear news of the Ring。 He gathered a great host of spies； and many of these were birds； for Radagast lent him his aid；
divining naught of his treachery； and deeming that this was but part of the watch upon the Enemy。
But ever 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 Númenor。 Therefore at last the Council was again summoned and the lore of the Rings was much debated；
but Mithrandir spoke to the Council； saying：
'It is not needed that the Ring should be found； for while it abides on earth and is not unmade； still the power that
it holds will live； and Sauron will grow and have hope。 The might of the Elves and the Elf…friends is less now than of
old。 Soon he will be too strong for you； even without the Great Ring； for he rules the Nine； and of the Seven he has
recovered three。 We must strike。'
To this Curunír now assented； desiring that Sauron should be thrust from Dol Guldur； which was nigh to the
River； and should have leisure to search there no longer。 Therefore； for the last time； he aided the Council； and they put
forth their strength； and they assailed Dol Guldur； and drove Sauron from his hold； and Mirkwood for a brief while was
made wholesome again。
But their stroke was too late。 For the Dark Lord had foreseen it； and he had long prepared all his movements； and
the úlairi； his Nine Servants； had gone before him to make ready for his ing。 Therefore his flight was but a feint； and
he soon returned； and ere the Wise could prevent him he re…entered his kingdom in Mordor and reared once again the
dark towers of Barad…d？r。 And in that year the White Council met for the last time； and Curunír withdrew to Isengard；
and took counsel with none save himself。
Orcs were mustering； and far to the east and the south the wild peoples were arming。 Then in the midst of
gathering fear and the rumour of war the foreboding of Elrond was proved true； and the One Ring was indeed found
again； by a chance more strange than even Mithrandir had foreseen； and it was hidden from Curunír and from Sauron。
For it had been taken from Anduin long ere they sought for it； being found by one of the small fisher…folk that dwelt by
the River； ere the Kings failed in Condor； and by its finder it was brought beyond search into dark hiding under the roots
of the mountains。 There it dwelt； until even in the year of the assault upon Dol Guldur it was found again； by a wayfarer；
fleeing into the depths of the earth from the pursuit of the Orcs； and passed into a far distant country； even to the land of
the Periannath； the Little People； the Halflings； who dwelt in the west of Eriador。 And ere that day they had been held of
small account by Elves and by Men； and neither Sauron nor any of the Wise save Mithrandir had in all their counsels
given thought to them。
Now by fortune and his vigilance Mithrandir first learned of the Ring； ere Sauron had news of it； yet he was
dismayed and in doubt。 For too great was the evil power of this thing for any of the Wise to wield； unless like Curunír he
wished himself to bee a tyrant and a dark lord in his turn； but neither could it be concealed from Sauron for ever； nor
could it be unmade by the craft of the Elves。 Therefore with the help of the Dúnedain of the North Mithrandir set a
watch upon the land of the Periannath and bided his time。 But Sauron had many ears； and soon he heard rumour of the
One Ring； which above all things he desired； and he sent forth the Nazg？l to take it。 Then war was kindled； and in battle
with Sauron the Third Age ended even as it had begun。
But those who saw the things that were done in that time； deeds of valour and wonder； have elsewhere told the
tale of the War of the Ring； and how it ended both in victory unlocked for and in sorrow long foreseen。 Here let it be
said that in those days the Heir of Isildur arose in the North； and he took the shards of the sword of Elendil； and in
Imladris they were reforged； and he went then to war； a great captain of Men。 He was Aragorn son of Arathorn； the nine
and thirtieth heir in the right line from Isildur； and yet more like to Elendil than any before him。 Battle there was in
Rohan； and Curunír the traitor was thrown down and Isengard broken； and before the City of Gondor a great field was
fought； and the Lord of Morgul； Captain of Sauron； there passed into darkness； and the Heir of Isildur led the host of the
West to the Black Gates of Mordor。
In that last battle were Mithrandir； and the sons of Elrond； and the King of Rohan； and lords of Gondor； and the
Heir of Isildur with the Dúnedain of the North。 There at the last they looked upon death and defeat； and all their valour
was in vain； for Sauron was too strong。 Yet in that hour was put to the proof that which Mithrandir had spoken； and help
came from the hands of the weak when the Wise faltered。 For； as many songs have since sung； it was the Periannath； the
Little People； dwellers in hillsides and meadows； that brought them deliverance。
For Frodo the Halfling； it is said； at the bidding of Mithrandir took on himself the burden； and alone with his
servant he passed through peril and darkness and came at last in Sauron's despite even to Mount Doom； and there into
the Fire where it was wrought he cast the Great Ring of Power； and so at last it was unmade and its evil consumed。
Then Sauron failed； and he was utterly vanquished and passed away like a shadow of malice； and the towers of
Barad…d？r crumbled in ruin； and at the rumour of their fall many lands trembled。 Thus peace came again； and a new
Spring opened on earth； and the Heir of Isildur was crowned King of Gondor and Arnor； and the might of the Dúnedain
was lifted up and their glory renewed。 In the courts of Minas Anor the White Tree flowered again； for a seedling was
found by Mithrandir in the snows of Mindolluin that rose tall and white above the City of Gondor； and while it still grew
there the Elder Days were not wholly forgotten in the hearts of the Kings。
Now all these things were achieved for the most part by the counsel and vigilance of Mithrandir； and in the last
few days he was revealed as a lord of great reverence； and clad in white he rode into battle； but not until the time came
for him to depart was it known that he had long guarded the Red Ring of Fire。 At the first that Ring had been entrusted to
Círdan； Lord of the Havens； but he had surrendered it to Mithrandir； for he knew whence he came and whither at last he
would return。
'Take now this Ring；' he said； 'for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy； but in all it will support thee and
defend thee from weariness。 For this is the Ring of Fire； and herewith； maybe； thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of
old in a world that grows chill。 But as for me； my heart is with the Sea； and I will dwell by the grey shores； guarding the
Havens until the last ship sails。 Then I shall await thee。'
White was that ship and long was it a…building； and long it awaited the end of which Círdan had spoken。 But
when all these things were done； and the Heir of Isildur had tak