Sixty years passed since Bilbo Baggins accompanied dwarves on a quest and returned to the Shire and his home, Bag End. He left all his possesions to his young cousin, Frodo on their shared birthday. In these possesions was the Ring of Power. Gandalf the Wizard suspected it was the One Ring, and his suspicions were confirmed when the Ring was thrown into fire, and Black Speech appeared. Gandalf told Frodo about the Ring, and how it came to be. He explained the Making of the Rings of Power, and the Dark Lord, Sauron, who created the One Ring. Centuries ago, Sauron was defeated by Elves and Men. Isildur, son of Elendil, took the One Ring, until he was ambushed and the ring was lost for many, many years. The creature Gollum came across the Ring and held it in his possesion for 500 years, until he lost it, some say stole, to Bilbo Baggins. Gandalf tells Frodo to leave the Shire with his gardener, Samwise Gamgee(Sam). Frodo and Sam set out for Crickhollow, a place east of the Shire. On their way, the encounter a Dark Rider, also called Nazgul or Ringwraith, and are almost discovered, saved by Elves. Frodo and Sam reach Crickhollow, hoping to leave the Shire in secret, but, his kinsman Meriadoc Brandybuck(Merry) and Peregrin Took(Pippin) insist on going with them. The four head off to the city of Bree. On their way, Frodo decides to go through the Old Forest to avoid the Dark Riders. They find themselves lost in the forest and are captured by an evil tree. A strange man, Tom Bambadil, comes and rescues the hobbits. Tom claims to be the Master of Things and is the oldest living creature on Arda. They continue their journey and go through Barrow-Downs, where they find swords that were forged in the Westernesse. Finally, they reach Bree, and find the inn of the Prancing Pony, where they are to meet Gandalf, who is nowhere to be found. Frodo, going by the name Mr. Underhill, was singing a song when he slipped on the Ring by accident and disappears. Frodo is approached by a man whom the folks of Bree call Strider. He asks Frodo to take him along on his journey. The inn-keeper remembers he has a letter for Frodo from Gandalf saying that Frodo is being hunted and Strider ad the inn-keeper are to be trusted. That night, the hobbits hide in Strider's room, and the hobbit's room is attacked by the Dark Riders. The next day the five leave Bree and head for Rivendell, home of the Elves. They reach Weathertop and are attacked by the Nazgul. The leader of the Nazgul stabs Frodo with his Morgul sword, but Frodo is saved by Strider, although badly wounded. They continue to travel to Rivendell to find a cure for Frodo and are met by the Elven Lord Glorfindel who puts Frodo on his horse and reaches Rivendell. When Frodo awakens, he is in the House of Elrond and is met by Gandalf. The hobbits learn Strider's real identity is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor, and he is a Ranger of the North. Frodo meets Bilbo once more, and is given a sword and a chainmail made of mithril from Bilbo. Elrond holds a secret council meeting and decide the fate of the Ring. The only option is to cast it into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was made. A fellowship of nine is formed to destroy the Ring, as Frodo the Ringbearer. The fellowship consists of Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin(hobbits), Aragorn, Boromir(men), Gandalf(wizard), Legolas(elf), and Gimli(dwarf). The fellowship leaves Rivendell. On their journey, Gandalf wants to travel the pass over of the mountain Cradhras, but Saruman conjures an evil snowstorm. So, Gandalf decides to go through the Mines of Moria. After troubling with opening the doors and the Watcher in the Water, they finally enter Moria. Gandalf leads the way, and after a few days in the dark, they reach a room which contains the tomb of Balin, one of Gimli's relatives. Suddenly the Fellowship is surrounded by Orcs. Finally they fight a way out together. At the bridge of Khazad-Dum they meet a Balrog which is a demon of Flames. Gandalf fights the Balrog and falls into the depths under the bridge. His last words were "Fly, you fools". With Aragorn now leading the Fellowship, they travel to the woods of Lothlorien. They are captured by Elves, blindfolded and led to Galadriel and Celeborn, who rule Lothlorien as King and Queen. They rest for some days as honored guests in Lothlorien. Frodo looks into Galadriel's mirror and realizes he is the only one who can bear the Ring. He offers Galadriel the Ring, but she refuses and passes the test. Galadriel gives them all gifts the day of their parting. They travel in boats over the Anduin, a river. They reach the Argonath, and at an island Boromir is tempted by the power of the Ring and tries to take it from Frodo. Frodo flees and realizes that he must go to Mordor alone, but Sam realizes what he is doing and catches up with him.