The three Elven Rings have finally found their rightful owners. In the Season 2 premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” titled “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” the rings are given to Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Círdan the Shipwright (Ben Daniels), and the High King of the Noldor, Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker).
These rings are the most powerful and important of all the Rings of Power created by Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards).
The future of Middle-earth during the Second Age is closely connected to these rings and those who hold them. There are some notable differences between the story of the Elven Rings in the Prime Video series and J.R.R. Tolkien’s original writings, which adds more depth to the tale.
Why Are the Elven Rings Forged?
In “The Rings of Power,” the Elves in Middle-earth face a difficult situation. As Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and Adar (Sam Hazeldine) gain strength, the Elves’ powers weaken. This is symbolized by the dying tree of Lindon.
The Elves must decide whether to use the rings they have just received or return to the Undying Lands of Valinor. When Galadriel, Círdan, and Gil-galad put on their rings for the first time, the tree is saved, allowing the Elves to remain in Middle-earth.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, the Elves face a similar problem. The creation of the Three Rings is closely tied to the fading of the Light of the Eldar in Middle-earth. As immortal beings, the Elves experience time differently, witnessing the world around them die and fade while they remain.
The rings were created to preserve and enhance the beauty and longevity of the things they cherish in Middle-earth, as well as to maintain their physical light and cultural and spiritual influence. “The Silmarillion” explains that the Elves wished to stop the effects of time and keep their lands and works from fading.
Though three rings may seem like a small number for such a significant task, there is a reason behind it. In “The Rings of Power,” Galadriel and Elrond are present when Celebrimbor forges the rings. They conclude that making three rings is a way to prevent power from being concentrated in one person’s hands.
“One will always corrupt. Two will divide,” Galadriel says, to which Celebrimbor adds, “With three, there is balance.” In the books, the reasons are different but complement the series. The Elves understood the danger of creating more powerful artifacts. Sauron had already influenced the creation of the Seven and the Nine Rings, and making more could lead to further corruption.
When Are the Three Elven Rings Created?
The purpose of the Three Elven Rings is to heal and preserve. In the series, Sauron, disguised as Halbrand, suggests to Celebrimbor to create a mithril alloy to enhance the properties of the Dwarven ore.
However, Sauron does not participate in the actual forging of the three rings, which occurs after Galadriel discovers his true identity as Sauron. This is consistent with Tolkien’s lore. The main difference is that in the books, the three rings were forged after the other Rings of Power, not before.
When Celebrimbor agrees to work with Annatar (another of Sauron’s disguises), they first create a batch of lesser rings to perfect their craft. Then, they forge the Seven Dwarven Rings and the Nine Rings for Men. Finally, after Annatar has left Eregion, Celebrimbor forges the Three.
This means that the three Elven Rings were not tainted by Sauron’s influence, making them the most powerful of the Rings of Power and the most sought after by the Dark Lord.
They are still connected to the One Ring, however, and when it is destroyed in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” the Elven Rings lose their power. This marks the end of the Light of the Eldar in Middle-earth, forcing the Elves to return to the Undying Lands of Valinor.
When Sauron learns about the creation of the Three, he returns to Eregion with his army. He destroys the Elven realm, searching for the rings. When he fails to find them, he tortures Celebrimbor but learns nothing about their location. Celebrimbor dies without revealing that the rings were in Lindon, protected by Gil-galad.
In the series, however, the Sacking of Eregion may differ due to Adar’s presence and Sauron’s continued disguise as Annatar. Celebrimbor’s story has always been tragic, and the show adds a new layer by highlighting his desire to create something as beautiful and powerful as the Silmarils, the masterpieces forged by his grandfather, Feänor.
Nenya, the Ring of Water
In “The Rings of Power,” Galadriel receives Nenya, the Ring of Water, after it falls and bounces toward her in Lindon.
The ring features an adamant gemstone and is the only one confirmed by Tolkien to be made from mithril. The Elves of Eregion and the Dwarves of Khazad-Dûm had a good relationship at the time, which allowed Celebrimbor to use the special ore. Although the ring has a silver appearance, its element is water.
In the books, however, Nenya is given directly to Galadriel by Celebrimbor, who is rumored to have secretly loved her despite her being married to Celeborn.
The ring’s properties give it the power of preservation, protection, and possibly concealment from evil, making Lothlórien, Galadriel’s realm, difficult (but not impossible) for Sauron’s dark forces to access. As it represents the element of water, Nenya also strengthens Galadriel’s longing for the sea and her return to Valinor, although she can resist this pull.
In “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) shows Nenya to Frodo (Elijah Wood) in a deleted scene and then says the now-iconic line, “To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone,” as no one can fully understand the effects a Ring of Power has on its bearer. In the book, however, Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) also notices the ring, saying he “saw a star through her fingers.”
Narya, the Ring of Fire
The names and properties of each of the Elven Rings directly refer to the natural element they represent. Narya, the Ring of Fire, is set with a ruby.
According to Tolkien’s lore, the metal used in its forging is unknown. However, in the show, Celebrimbor mentions the need for silver, leading to the use of Finrod’s (Will Fletcher) dagger, so it could be silver. Also, in the series, Celebrimbor uses mithril, but in the books, the ring is free of the Dwarven mineral.
Narya’s properties give its bearer resistance to the weariness of time and the power to inspire others to resist tyranny, domination, and despair.
In “The Rings of Power,” Círdan receives the ring after failing to throw it into the sea. In the books, however, Gil-galad gives it to him. Círdan is considered one of the wisest Elves in Middle-earth, justifying the High King’s decision.
Círdan’s wisdom eventually leads him to pass Narya on to someone else. In the books, the Istari arrive in Middle-earth only in the early Third Age, and it is then that the Elven shipwright meets Gandalf (Ian McKellen – or Daniel Weyman, too?).
Círdan recognizes that the Grey Wizard is the wisest of the Istari and that his mission will benefit from possessing Narya. A Ring of Power could not be in better hands, as Gandalf is both wise and powerful, and his task is to inspire resistance against Sauron’s threat among the peoples of Middle-earth.
Vilya, the Ring of Air
Vilya, the third of the Three Elven Rings, is known as the Ring of Air. Despite its blue color, the ring carries a gem of sapphire and is made of gold. In The Rings of Power, it’s suggested that there might be some mithril alloy in its composition. This ring is considered the most powerful among the three, although its exact powers are not clearly defined. It does have effects linked to healing and preservation.
In the books, Vilya was given by Celebrimbor to Gil-galad after it was forged. The High King of the Noldor initially wore the ring. After the Sacking of Eregion, the battle continued as Sauron and his forces ravaged the lands of Eriador.
Following the fall of Eregion, Elrond established Rivendell, where he would stay until the end of The Return of the King. Once Sauron’s forces were defeated and driven back to Mordor, a council was held at Rivendell. At that point, Gil-galad passed the ring to Elrond. Elrond kept it secret and safe and never used it while the One Ring was still intact.
Though Elrond was cautious with Vilya, the ring remained powerful. It was associated with healing, protection, and preservation. Elrond was known as a skilled healer, and Vilya greatly enhanced these abilities.
He played a vital role in the fight against Sauron, offering counsel and refuge to those who opposed the Dark Lord. His leadership and the power of Vilya ensured that Rivendell stayed a stronghold of hope and wisdom throughout the ages.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
