Long ago, in the early years of the Second Age, the great Elven-smiths forged rings of power. Nine for mortal men, seven for the Dwarf lords, three for the tall Elf Kings. But then, the dark lord learned the craft of ring making and made the Master Ring, the one ring to rule them all. With the One Ring, Middle-Earth is his, and he cannot not be overcome. As the last alliance of men and Elves fell beneath his power, he did not notice the heroic shadow who slipped in. It was Prince Isildur, of the mighty Kings from across the sea, who took the ring. But because he did not destroy it, the spirit of the dark lord lived on, and began to take shape and grow again. But the ring had a will of its own, and a way of slipping from one hand to be found by another, so that it might at last get back to its master. And there, the ring lay at the bottom of the great river Anduin for thousands of years. During those years, the dark lord captured the nine rings that were made for men and turned their owners into the Ringwraiths. Terrible shadows, under his great Shadow, who roamed the world...searching for the One Ring. In time, the Ring was found. Two friends were fishing in the great river one day.
Give us that, Déagol, my love.
Why, Sméagol?
Because it's my birthday, my love. And I wants it!
I have already given you more than I could afford. I found this, and I'm going to keep it!
Oh?! Are you, indeed...MY LOVE?!?!
He used the Ring for thieving, and to find out secrets. His own people began to despise the wretched creature and to call him Gollum. Tortured and driven by the ring, he hid in dark caves...under deep mountains, where he remained for centuries. But the ring slipped off Gollum's finger, too. And so it was that Bilbo found it during his travels with the Dwarves.
Thief! Baggins! Thief! It stole our precious, our precious!! Our birthday present! Thief! Baggins! We hates it forever! WE HATES IT FOREVER!!!!
It was Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, who took the ring back to the Shire, his home. Years later, Gandalf the wizard visited Bilbo on his going away birthday party.
