The Aftermath of The Lord of the Rings: A Complete Guide to Characters and Events

The grand epic of The Lord of the Rings concludes with the defeat of Sauron and the destruction of the One Ring. But what then? Do characters continue on in another trilogy, or do we see the future of Middle-earth laid out in detail? Let's explore the fates of key characters and the broader setting of Middle-earth as it transitions from the Third Age to the Age of Men.

The Fate of Characters

Protagonists

Frodo Baggins sails to the West after a couple of years, fulfilling his quest but leaving behind a part of his heart in Middle-earth. Samwise Gamgee follows Frodo about 50 years later, deeply committed to their friendship and quest for the Shire. Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry) becomes the Master of Buckland, a position of considerable responsibility, eventually passing away in Gondor. Peregrin Took (Pippin) inherits the title of Took of the Shire, with his life mirroring that of Merry. Legolas lives a long life with Aragorn, eventually building a boat and sailing to the West. Gimli develops the glittering caves at Helm's Deep, and later joins Legolas on his voyage to the West. Aragorn becomes the King of Gondor, living another 120 years before passing away, thus concluding the line of kings who succeeded Isildur. Gandalf sails to the West on the same boat as Frodo and the surviving members of the fellowship. Elrond and Galadriel also join Frodo and Gandalf, signifying the end of the Third Age and the beginning of the Age of Men. Arwen marries Aragorn, and after his death, she retires to Lothlórien, where she dies, symbolizing the union of the races. Faramir marries Eowyn and becomes the Lord of Ithilien, settling into a peaceful life. Eomer becomes King of the Mark, ever loyal and supporting his king in times of need. Treebeard and Tom Bombadil remain in their own ways, Treebeard caring for the forests, and Tom Bombadil continuing his pastoral existence in the Old Forest.

Antagonists

Sauron and his Ring are defeated, leading to the collapse of his power and the destruction of his body, turning into a powerless shade. Saruman meets his demise at the hands of Grima Wormtongue. Grima Wormtongue meets his end by hobbit archers. The Nazg?l, once fatal to mortals, fall after their connection to the Ring is severed, leaving the lands of the living shaken but safe. The slaves of Sauron are given lands around Lake Nirn and Southern Mordor to live, marking the end of Sauron's influence over them.

With the departure of the Elves to the Undying Lands, the Third Age comes to a close, and the Age of Men begins. Tolkien's narrative reaches its climax, emphasizing the symbolic transition in Middle-earth.

Events and Details

There are several significant events that the film adaptation, The Return of the King, leaves out, which are well-documented in the Appendices:

Aragorn's coronation and marriage to Arwen are followed by an elaborate funeral feast for Theoden and the announcement of Eomer's inheriting the throne of Rohan. Arwen and Elrond say their final goodbyes, marking the end of their relationship and the separation of Men and Elves. Aragorn and the remaining members of the fellowship go to Orthanc to reclaim the keys of Orthanc and see off Legolas and Gimli, who fulfill their promise to each other to meet at the Glittering Caves and explore Fangorn, respectively. After the feast, the remaining members of the fellowship travel to Rivendell, receiving a farewell from Galadriel. An encounter with Bilbo and Frodo at Rivendell leads to Elrond asking Frodo to take his unfinished notes and bring them back, completing Bilbo's unfinished work. The journey to the Shire with Gandalf, Merry, and Pippin involves numerous adventures and challenges, leading to the reconstruction of the Shire. Sam's final journey with Gandalf to the Grey Havens concludes his adventure and leaves a lasting legacy as the last Ring-bearer.

The credits sequence in the film is actually a fascinating way of filling in the gaps between events, highlighting the transition from the heroic age of the trilogy to the role of historians and chroniclers in Middle-earth.

The transition from the Third Age to the Age of Men is a complex and emotional one, filled with partings and new beginnings. It is a time when the legacies of the heroes and the rise of a new era are celebrated and remembered.