Openings at The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R. Tolkien's groundbreaking, genre-defining fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings is a saga about a great many things: the push and pull between tremendous good and unthinkable evil, the tantalizing yet insidious nature of ambition and pride, and the call of fate and destiny. Yet despite its grand, fully realized settings, sweeping descriptions of generational wars, and wholly imaginative depictions of otherworldly beings, the most compelling thing about Lord of the Rings has nothing to do with the looming Eye of Sauron. At its core, the trilogy is a story of the bonds forged between vastly different peoples, the unity born from fellowship, and individual capacity for courage, loyalty, and perseverance.

Why was the Fellowship formed?

The Fellowship of the Ring was formed by Elrond shortly after a meeting of the secret Council in Rivendell that aimed to forge a plan regarding the One Ring. Together, the Fellowship was tasked with carrying the One Ring to Mordor so it could be cast into the fires of Mount Doom and permanently destroyed.

There were nine members in the Fellowship of the Ring; this matched the number of Black Riders, also known as the Nazgûl, Nine Riders, or Ringwraiths, a group of nine dark servants who pledged themselves to Sauron.  

Who are the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring?

The Fellowship of the Ring consisted of nine heroes who represented a range of different races in the Free Peoples of Middle-earth: one wizard (Gandalf), one Elf (Legolas), one Dwarf (Gimli), two men (Aragorn and Boromir), and four Hobbits (Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin). As a brotherhood, they are also commonly referred to collectively as the Company, the Company of the Ring, or the Nine Walkers.