Dates

Formed 25 October III 3018; broken 26 February III 3019

Locations

Formed at Rivendell; one member was lost in Moria, and the surviving eight travelled southward as far as Parth Galen on shores of Nen Hithoel before the Company was broken

Races

One Ainu, one Dwarf, one Elf, four Hobbits and two Men

Meaning

The Company was established to aid the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins, on his journey to Mount Doom

Other names

The Fellowship of the Ring, the Nine Companions, The Nine Walkers

Indexes:

About this entry:

Updated 6 August 2012
Updates planned: 1

Company of the Ring

The Nine Walkers

Years of the TreesFirst AgeISecond AgeIIThird AgeIIIFourth AgeIV

Map of the journey of the Company of the Ring

The long southward journey of the Company of the Ring, from Rivendell in the north to Parth Galen, where the company was broken. White lines indicate overland travel, while the pale blue line shows the Company's route by boat down the Great River Anduin.

The nine companions who set out from Rivendell on the Quest of Mount Doom. They were:

Aragorn	Aged 87¹ when the Company set out Chieftain of the Dúnedain of the north, Heir of Isildur, and thus by right King of Gondor and Arnor, Aragorn nonetheless lived the early part of his life in the shadows, becoming known in the Northlands by the nickname 'Strider'. He became involved in the Fellowship when he encountered Frodo and his companions on the Great Road. After following them secretly to Bree, he became their guide, and accompanied them on their adventures until the breaking of the Fellowship at Parth Galen. Ultimately his fate led him through many dangers to Minas Tirith, and after the War of the Ring he came into his birthright and was crowned High King of the Reunited Kingdom.
Boromir	Aged 40 when the Company set out The heir to Steward Denethor II of Gondor. Following a mysterious dream shared with his brother Faramir, Boromir set out to seek Imladris in the north. After an arduous journey he reached the House of Elrond, and was present at the Council that formed the Fellowship. He travelled with the Company as far as Parth Galen, where he was overcome with desire for the Ring, though he redeemed himself in battle against attacking Orcs before he fell to their arrows.
Frodo Baggins	Aged 50 when the Company set out The Ring-bearer, who was left the One Ring by its finder, Bilbo, and carried it to Rivendell. At the Council of Elrond held there he volunteered to take the Ring to Mordor. At Parth Galen Boromir attempted to take the Ring for himself, and thus Frodo chose to abandon the Company and contine to Mordor alone (though in the event he was accompanied by his faithful friend Sam Gamgee).
Gandalf	In Middle-earth c. 2,000 years when the Company set out One of the Five Wizards who came to Middle-earth long before the War of the Ring to stand against the rising power of Sauron. He was the guide and leader of the Fellowship until the time that they passed through Moria, where his battle with Durin's Bane caused him to fall into the abyss beneath Khazad-dûm. He later returned as Gandalf the White, but not until after the Fellowship had been broken.
Gimli	Aged 139 when the Company set out A Dwarf of Erebor, and a distant descendant of Durin's royal line, who travelled to the Council of Elrond with his father Glóin, and was chosen to represent the Dwarves on the Quest of the Ring-bearer. A brave and doughty fighter, he formed a fast friendship with the Elf Legolas, and thus became known to history as 'Gimli Elf-friend'. After the breaking of the Fellowship, he joined Legolas and Aragorn in their hunt across Rohan for the captured Merry and Pippin.
Legolas	Age unknown The son of the Elvenking Thranduil of the Woodland Realm, who was sent to the Council of Elrond to report the escape of Gollum. He was chosen by the Council to represent the Elves among the Company. During their adventures, he formed a great friendship with Gimli the Dwarf (to the extent that it was said the two eventually sailed into the West together). After the breaking of the Fellowship at Parth Galen, he joined Gimli and Aragorn in their hunt across the plains of Rohan.
Meriadoc Brandybuck	Aged 37 when the Company set out The future Master of Buckland had barely come of age when he was chosen (against the wisdom of Elrond) to accompany the Fellowship. He achieved little during the time the Company was together (though he would later contribute greatly to the War of the Ring). At Parth Galen he was captured by Orcs, along with Peregrin Took, and carried away towards Isengard.
Peregrin Took	Aged 29 when the Company set out The youngest of the Nine Walkers, at the age of 29 he was not yet considered to have come of age, at least in Hobbit terms. A close friend and companion of Meriadoc Brandybuck, with whom he was captured by Saruman's Orcs at Parth Galen and carried away across the wilds of northern Rohan.
Samwise Gamgee	Aged 35 when the Company set out Frodo Baggins' faithful gardener and servant, who was chosen by Elrond to accompany his master within the Company. At the time of the breaking of the Fellowship, he realized that Frodo had elected to leave the others to set out for Mordor, and was able to join him in that fateful journey.

Notes

1	As one of the Dúnedain and a direct Heir of Isildur, Aragorn had an unusually long lifespan; at eighty-seven he was still relatively youthful for one of his descent. He eventually lived to the age of two hundred and ten.

Company of the Ring

The Nine Walkers

Notes

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