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Minas Anor in the west。 Then Osgiliath； which in the waning of the people had long been deserted； became a place of
ruins and a city of ghosts。 But Minas Anor endured； and it was named anew Minas Tirith； the Tower of Guard； for there
the kings caused to be built in the citadel a white tower； very tall and fair； and its eye was upon many lands。 Proud still
and strong was that city； and in it the White Tree still flowered for a while before the house of the Kings； and there the
remnant of the Númenóreans still defended the passage of the River against the terrors of Minas Morgul and against all
the enemies of the West； Orcs and monsters and evil Men； and thus the lands behind them； west of Anduin； were
protected from war and destruction。
Still Minas Tirith endured after the days of E？rnur； son of E？rnil； and the last King of Gondor。 He it was that rode
alone to the gates of Minas Morgul to meet the challenge of the Morgul…lord； and he met him in single bat； but he
was betrayed by the Nazg？l and taken alive into the city of torment； and no living man saw him ever again。 Now E？rnur
left no heir； but when the line of the Kings failed the Stewards of the house of Mardil the Faithful ruled the city and its
ever…shrinking realm； and the Rohirrim； the Horsemen of the North； came and dwelt in the green land of Rohan； which
before was named Calenardhon and was a part of the kingdom of Condor； and the Rohirrim aided the Lords of the City
in their wars。 And northward； beyond the Falls of Rauros and the Gates of Argonath； there were as yet other defences；
powers more ancient of which Men knew little； against whom the things of evil did not dare to move； until in the
ripening of time their dark lord； Sauron； should e forth again。 And until that time was e； never again after the
days of E？rnil did the Nazg？l dare to cross the River or to e forth from their city in shape visible to Men。
In all the days of the Third Age； after the fall of Gil…galad； Master Elrond abode in Imladris； and he gathered
there many Elves； and other folk of wisdom and power from among all the kindreds of Middle…earth； and he preserved
through many lives of Men the memory of all that had been fair； and the house of Elrond was a refuge for the weary and
the oppressed； and a treasury of good counsel and wise lore。 In that house were harboured the Heirs of Isildur； in
childhood and old age； because of the kinship of their blood with Elrond himself； and because he knew in his wisdom
that one should e of their line to whom a great part was appointed in the last deeds of that Age。 And until that time
came the shards of Elendil's sword were given into the keeping of Elrond； when the days of the Dúnedain darkened and
they became a wandering people。
In Eriador Imladris was the chief dwelling of the High Elves； but at the Grey Havens of Lindon there abode also
a remnant of the people of Gil…galad the Elvenking。 At times they would wander into the lands of Eriador； but for the
most part they dwelt near the shores of the sea； building and tending the elven…ships wherein those of the Firstborn who
grew weary of the world set sail into the uttermost West Círdan the Shipwright was lord of the Havens and mighty
among the Wise。
Of the Three Rings that the Elves had preserved unsullied no open word was ever spoken among the Wise； and
few even of the Eldar knew where they were bestowed。 Yet after the fall of Sauron their power was ever at work； and
where they abode there mirth also dwelt and all things were unstained by the griefs of time。 Therefore ere the Third Age
was ended the Elves perceived that the Ring of Sapphire was with Elrond； in the fair valley of Rivendell； upon whose
house the stars of heaven most brightly shone； whereas the Ring of Adamant was in the Land of Lórien where dwelt the
Lady Galadriel。 A queen she was of the woodland Elves； the wife of Celeborn of Doriath； yet she herself was of the
Noldor and remembered the Day before days in Valinor； and she was the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that
remained in Middle…earth。 But the Red Ring remained hidden until the end； and none save Elrond and Galadriel and
Círdan knew to whom it had been mitted。
Thus it was that in two domains the bliss and beauty of the Elves remained still undiminished while that Age
endured： in Imladris； and in Lothlórien； the hidden land between Celebrant and Anduin； where the trees bore flowers of
gold and no Orc or evil thing dared ever e。 Yet many voices were heard among the Elves foreboding that； if Sauron
should e again； then either he would find the Ruling Ring that was lost； or at the best his enemies would discover it
and destroy it； but in either chance the powers of the Three must then fail and all things maintained by them must fade；
and so the Elves should pass into the twilight and the Dominion of Men begin。
And so indeed it has since befallen： the One and the Seven and the Nine are destroyed； and the Three have passed
away； and with them the Third Age is ended； and the Tales of the Eldar in Middle…earth draw to then…close。 Those were
the Fading Years； and in them the last flowering of the Elves east of the Sea came to its winter。 In that time the Noldor
walked still in the Hither Lands； mightiest and fairest of the children of the world； and their tongues were still heard by
mortal ears。 Many things of beauty and wonder remained on earth in that time； and many things also of evil and dread：
Orcs there were and trolls and dragons and fell beasts； and strange creatures old and wise in the woods whose names are
forgotten； Dwarves still laboured in the hills and wrought with patient craft works of metal and stone that none now can
rival。 But the Dominion of Men was preparing and all things were changing； until at last the Dark Lord arose in
Mirkwood again。
Now of old the name of that forest was Greenwood the Great； and its wide halls and aisles were the haunt of
many beasts and of birds of bright song； and there was the realm of King Thranduil under the oak and the beech。 But
after many years； when well nigh a third of that age of the world had passed； a darkness crept slowly through the wood
from the southward； and fear walked there in shadowy glades； fell beasts came hunting； and cruel and evil creatures laid
there their snares。
Then the name of the forest was changed and Mirkwood it was called； for the nightshade lay deep there； and few
dared to pass through； save only in the north where Thranduil's people still held the evil at bay。 Whence it came few
could tell； and it was long ere even the Wise could discover it。 It was the Shadow of Sauron and the sign of his return。
For ing out of the wastes of the East he took up his abode in the south of the forest； and slowly he grew and took
shape there again； in a dark hill he made his dwelling and wrought there his sorcery； and all folk feared the Sorcerer of
Dol Guldur； and yet they knew not at first how great was their peril。
Even as the first shadows were felt in Mirkwood there appeared in the west of Middle…earth the Istari； whom Men
called the Wizards。 None knew at that time whence they were； save Círdan of the Havens； and only to Elrond and to
Galadriel did he reveal that they came over the Sea。 But afterwards it was said among the Elves that they were
messengers sent by the Lords of the West to contest the power of Sauron； if he should arise again； and to move Elves
and Men and all living things of good will to valiant deeds。 In the likeness of Men they appeared； old but vigorous； and
they changed little with the years； and aged but slowly； though great cares lay on them； great wisdom they had； and many
powers of mind and hand。 Long they journeyed far and wide among Elves and Men； and held converse also with beasts
and with birds； and the peoples of Middle…earth gave to them many names； for their true names they did not reveal。
Chief among them were those whom the Elves called Mithrandir and Curunír； but Men in the North named Gandalf and
Saruman。 Of these Curunír was the eldest and came first； and after him came Mithrandir and Radagast； and others of the
Istari who went into the east of Middle…earth； and do not e into these tales。 Radagast was the friend of all beasts and
birds； but Curunír went most among Men； and he was subtle in speech and skilled in all the devices of smith…craft。
Mithrandir was closest in counsel with Elrond and the Elves。 He wandered far in the North and West and made never in
any land any lasting abode； but Curunír journeyed into the East； and when he returned he dwelt at Orthanc in the Ring of
Isengard； which the Númenóreans made in the days of their power。
Ever most vigilant was Mithrandir； and he it was that most doubted the darkness in Mirkwood； for though many
deemed that it was wrought by the Ringwraiths； he feared that it was indeed the first shadow of Sauron returning； and he
went to Dol Guldur； and the Sorcerer fled from him； and there was a watchful peace for a long while。 But at length the
Shadow returned and its power increased； and in that time was fir