Nine Companions

At the Council of Elrond, where the history and identity of the One Ring was revealed and discussed, it was decided that a Ring-bearer should travel to Mount Doom in the Dark Land of Mordor. There they were to destroy the Ring and undo much of the Dark Lord Sauron's power. That Ring-bearer was Frodo Baggins of the Shire, and eight companions were selected from all of the free peoples of Middle-earth to set out with him on the long and dangerous journey.

Thus formed the Company of the Ring, comprised of Nine Companions including Frodo the Ring-bearer and his faithful servant Samwise Gamgee. The Company was led by Gandalf the Wizard, and also included two Men (Aragorn and Boromir), an Elf (Legolas) and a Dwarf (Gimli). The final two places within the Company were given to the two other Hobbits who had journeyed with Frodo to Rivendell: Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. The number of the Company, nine, was selected to mirror the Nine Servants, the Nazgûl who served Sauron.

The Company set out from Rivendell on 25 December III 3018, and travelled through the empty lands westward of the Misty Mountains until they came to the Mountains of Moria. Forced to pass through the ruins of Moria, on 15 January the Company lost its leader as Gandalf, battling a Balrog, fell into the depths beneath the ancient Dwarf-city.

From this point onward, the eight surviving companions were led by the Ranger Aragorn, who brought them to the land of Lórien. After a period of rest, the Elves of that land gave them boats so that they could continue more swiftly along the Great River Anduin. For nine days they followed the river, passing the Argonath and camping at Parth Galen above the Falls of Rauros.

It was here that the Company of the Ring was broken. Frodo resolved to make the final part of the journey to Mount Doom alone, but was joined by Sam Gamgee. Meanwhile a raiding band of Orcs carried off Merry and Pippin, slaying Boromir as he attempted to defend them. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli then became the Three Hunters, setting out to pursue the Orcs and rescue the captured Hobbits.

So the journey of the Nine Companions came to an end, broken into smaller companies that were each pursuing their own destinies across Middle-earth. At this time, indeed, their number had fallen to seven, with the loss of Gandalf and Boromir, though Gandalf would later return. Even after the breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring, its members would occasionally refer to themselves as part of the Nine Companions who had set out with the Ring-bearer. The surviving Companions would eventually be reunited, gathering in Minas Tirith after Frodo had reached Mount Doom and brought the Ring to the Fire.

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For a detailed list of the Nine Companions and a map of their journey, see the entry for the Company of the Ring.