The Grey Havens

Bilbo Baggins of Bag End was the respectable Hobbit whom Gandalf sent as burglar with Thorin Oakenshield's company to the Lonely Mountain, and who came home with a golden ring from beneath the Misty Mountains. His finding of the One Ring, his mercy to Gollum and his book set the whole War of the Ring in motion.

Elrond Half-elven, son of Eärendil and Elwing, chose the fate of the Elves and lived through three Ages of the world: fostered by Maglor, herald to Gil-galad at the Last Alliance, founder and master of Rivendell, keeper of the Ring Vilya, foster-father of Aragorn and father of Arwen. His house was the great refuge and library of the North, and at its Council the fate of the One Ring was decided.

Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's heir, was the Ring-bearer who carried the One Ring from the Shire to the fire of Mount Doom. Wounded in body and spirit by the journey, he saved the Shire but could not enjoy it, and sailed into the West with the last of the Elves.

Galadriel, only daughter of Finarfin and the greatest of the Noldor after Fëanor, left Valinor in the rebellion, learned wisdom from Melian in Doriath, and outlived every other leader of the Exiles by three Ages. Bearer of Nenya, founder with Celeborn of the realm of Lórien, and a member of the White Council, she refused the One Ring when Frodo offered it, threw down Dol Guldur, and at last sailed West with the Ring-bearers.

Gandalf, called Olórin in Valinor and Mithrandir by the Elves, was the wisest of the Istari, a Maia sent by the Valar to rouse the free peoples against Sauron. Bearer of Narya, the Ring of Fire, he uncovered the Necromancer, set the quest of Erebor in motion, unmasked the One Ring, led the Fellowship, died against the Balrog of Moria and returned as Gandalf the White to guide the West to victory in the War of the Ring, after which he sailed into the West.

Samwise Gamgee, Frodo's gardener, was the companion who carried the Ring-bearer to Mount Doom and briefly bore the Ring himself. He restored the Shire after the Scouring, was seven times Mayor, and at the last, as the final Ring-bearer, sailed into the West.

Saruman the White, Curunír to the Elves, was the chief of the Istari and head of the White Council, a Maia of Aulë whose great knowledge of craft and Ring-lore turned to pride. He seized Isengard, fell under Sauron's sway through the palantír, bred the Uruk-hai and made war on Rohan, was overthrown by the Ents and cast out of the order by Gandalf, and died a beggar's death in the Shire at the hand of his own servant.

Eärnur, son of Eärnil II, was the thirty-third and last King of Gondor. As a young captain he led the fleet that destroyed Angmar at the Battle of Fornost in 1975; as king he accepted the Witch-king's challenge to single combat in 2050, rode to Minas Morgul, and was never seen again.

Tar-Aldarion, born Anardil, was the sixth King of Númenor and the first of its great mariners. He founded the Guild of Venturers, built the haven of Vinyalondë in Middle-earth, and befriended Gil-galad, but his voyages destroyed his marriage to Erendis. He changed the law of succession so that his daughter Ancalimë could reign after him.

Celebrían, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn, married Elrond of Rivendell and bore him Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen. In T.A. 2509 she was captured and tormented by Orcs in the Redhorn Pass; though rescued by her sons and healed in body by Elrond, she could find no joy in Middle-earth and sailed into the West the following year.

Alatar and Pallando, the Ithryn Luin or Blue Wizards, were the two Istari chosen by Oromë who passed into the East of Middle-earth with Saruman and never returned to the West. Nothing certain is known of their work, and it was feared that they failed in their mission.

Gildor Inglorion, a Noldo of the House of Finrod, led the company of wandering Elves who met Frodo, Sam and Pippin in the Woody End on the first night of their journey, drove off a Black Rider by their coming, and sent word of the Ring-bearer's peril across Eriador. He passed West with the last riding of the Elves in T.A. 3021.

Ereinion Gil-galad was the last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. Sent to the Havens as a child, he took up the kingship after the fall of Gondolin, ruled Lindon through the whole of the Second Age, refused Sauron the gates of his realm, received two of the Three Rings, and led the Last Alliance of Elves and Men with Elendil. He died with Elendil on the slopes of Mount Doom overthrowing Sauron.

Círdan the Shipwright, a Telerin kinsman of Thingol who stayed on the shores of Middle-earth when the ships sailed West, was lord of the Falas in the First Age and of the Grey Havens through the Second and Third. He built the ships of the Elves for three Ages, bore the Ring of Fire until he gave it to Gandalf, and remained at the Havens until the last ship should sail.

Círdan the Shipwright, a Telerin kinsman of Thingol who stayed on the shores of Middle-earth when the ships sailed West, was lord of the Falas in the First Age and of the Grey Havens through the Second and Third. He built the ships of the Elves for three Ages, bore the Ring of Fire until he gave it to Gandalf, and remained at the Havens until the last ship should sail.