Gandalf’s scout on Dol Guldur
Gandalf became aware that the ring wraiths the nazguls had assembled, the dark creatures were lurking all over Middle Earth including the conflicts of the wainriders and the dark kingdom Angmar.
The wizards and Gandalf became suspicious of the return of Sauron. Gandalf would travel to Middle Earth and scout on Dol Guldur as he was suspicious of the darkness that spread throughout Greenwood the Great that made it the Mirkwoods.
Initially the Istari including Gandalf heard of rumors of a necromancer but they’ve believed this necromancer was one of the nazguls. Sauron who was still hiding in Dol Guldur would temporarily flee to the east before Gandalf arrived.
During Sauron’s absence, the dark creatures of Mirkwood and the nazguls of Mordor stopped activities and a few hundred years of peace continued.
Return of Sauron at Dol Guldur
Sauron returned to Dol Guldur after a few hundred years where he would secretly order his forces to slowly garrison in major strategic points of Middle-Earth.
Orcs, trolls and goblins of the Misty Mountains would take over the lands of old Khazad-dum that was destroyed by the balrog Durin’s Bane and would name it Moria.
The orcs of Moria would cut off Eriador at the west of the Misty Mountains and Rhovanion and Mirkwood that were on the east of the Misty Mountains.
The nazguls would also start their activities and commenced an attack on Gondor. The nazguls and the orcs of Mordor would invade Osgiliath and although Gondor was able to push back the forces of Mordor, Osgiliath was destroyed by the war.
Assembly of the White Council
The first White Council where Saruman and Gandalf from the Istari joined was assembled. During the 2nd Age, the elf lords after Sauron’s attack on Eregion assembled the White Council but the White Council with the Maiar wizards was first held after the increasing activities of the dark.
Galadriel assembled the White Council while Saruman was appointed the leader of the White Council.
Saruman, Gandalf, Cirdan, Elrond and Galadriel along with other elf lords took seat and discussed the increasing threats of the dark creatures on Middle-Earth.
Still the White Council didn’t know that the necromancer dwelling at Dol Guldur was truly Sauron and Sauron was behind the increasing hostility of the dark creatures.
Discovery of the One Ring by Smeagol and Deagol
A hobbit named Deagol and his cousin Smeagol that lived in the Vales of the Anduin went fishing in the Gladden Fields on Smeagol’s birthday.
Deagol caught a large fish, however the large fish was strong enough to drag him into the water. While Deagol splashed into the water, he discovered a gold ring that was the One Ring that Isildur had lost while he drowned in the Anduin River after the Disaster of the Gladden Field.
Smeagol and Deagol were both tempted by the powerful magic of the One Ring and Smeagol demanded the One Ring as a birthday present while Deagol refused.
Smeagol eventually strangled his cousin Deagol and murdered him. Semagol would hide the One Ring from the other hobbits.
Exile of Smeagol, the ringbearer of the One Ring
Smeagol was haunted by the guilt of murdering his cousin Deagol while the One Ring would also whisper malicious curses and temptations to Smeagol. Smeagol knew that the One Ring could make him invisible and started to cause trouble in the hobbit village.
Smeagol started to become possessed by the One Ring and cursed where he would often cough out Gollum.
Smeagol gradually started to harass people harsher and cursed them as he was possessed by the One ring and the villagers would call him Gollum after his weird gurgle and coughs.
Eventually even Smeagol’s family denounced him and the hobbit village would exile Smeagol for his evil and terrible acts in the village.
Corruption of Smeagol, Precious One Ring and the alter ego Gollum
Smeagol suffered mentally as he was hurt by his banishment from his village and the death of his cousin Deagol. Smeagol eventually developed an alternative ego Gollum as his obsession of the One Ring between his common senses collided.
Because of the corruption and influence of the One Ring, Smeagol couldn’t consume regular hobbit and elf food and even the sun started to burn him.
Smeagol would hide deep inside the Misty Mountains to avoid the sun and he would develop a diet on raw fish and meat where he would even cannibalize on goblins as well.
Smeagol or Gollum eventually lost his physical appearance as he lived much longer because of the One Ring where his mentality and appearance were worn out.
Smeagol and Gollum would dwell deep in the Misty Mountains with the One Ring until he met Bilbo Baggins.
Assault on Celebrian, elf-lady of Rivendell
While Celebrian was traveling to Lothlorien to visit her mother Galadriel and father Celebron, the orcs of the Misty Mountains attacked her party at the Redhorn Pass.
The orcs captured Celebrian alive and tortured here severely and even poisoned her with dark power where her mind was severely tormented. Her sons Elladan and Elrohir came to the rescue and Celebrian’s husband Elrond was able to physically heal her.
However, Celebrian couldn’t recover from the aftermath mentally and couldn’t stand the fear and dismay she felt while she was on Middle Earth.
Eventually Celebrian, the wife of the elf-lord of Rivendell Elrond and the mother of Elladan, Elorhir and Arwen, the daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn would set sail to Valinor for recovery.
Celebrian headed to the Grey Havens where Cirdan would grant her a boat for her voyage to Valinor. Celebrian’s elfstone the Elessar which was once the jewel held by Idril, the princess of Gondolin was passed to Arwen and later it returned to Arwen’s grandmother Galadriel.
When the Fellowship of the Ring was formed, Galadriel gifted the Elessar, elfstone to Aragorn as permission for Aragorn’s marriage with Arwen as Arwen’s grandmother on behalf of Arwen’s mother Celebrian who left for Valinor.
