Gollum

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**Gollum**, also known as **Sméagol**, was a creature (originally a Stoorish Hobbit) who bore the One Ring. He lived in the Misty Mountains for most of his life. In T.A. 2941 he lost the Ring to Bilbo Baggins. For the rest of his life he sought to recover his "precious" "birthday present". In T.A. 3019 he followed the Fellowship of the Ring and met Frodo Baggins. After leading Frodo into Mordor and betraying him to Shelob he finally seized the Ring in Sammath Naur. In his euphoria he died and destroyed the Ring after falling into the fires of Mount Doom.

## Early Life

Sméagol was a Hobbit of riverland Stoor-kind who lived on the banks of the Anduin in the later Third Age. Sméagol belonged to the reputable family of the stern and wise Matriarch. He spent the early years of his life living with his extended family during the Watchful Peace, when Sauron was in the East.

He had some amount of education in lore, as during his youth he had learned of the events concerning the War of the Last Alliance against Sauron. He also knew the riddle-game, and riddles that were known to their cousins in the Shire. Around the year T.A. 2463, on his birthday, his friend (and close relative) Déagol offered him a cheap present. Later that day they went boating in the Gladden Fields, and as Sméagol was nosing at the banks, Déagol was pulled into the water by a large fish, and found a gold ring. Sméagol demanded the ring as a birthday present and strangled Deágol when he refused, and hid his body. Sméagol became the fourth Ring-bearer after Sauron, Isildur, and Déagol.

After this event, he returned home and understood he was invisible. He kept his treasure a secret and used it in malicious ways, to see and hear secrets and hurtful things. and was corrupted further by the ring. Soon he became unpopular and his peers avoided him; they often cursed and kicked him, and he bit their feet. Becoming a loner, he muttered to himself and gurgled in his throat, for which they called him *gollum*, and he survived by stealing. Eventually even his grandmother, desiring peace, banished him from their family and hobbit-hole.

## Exile

Sad for the hard world, he wandered in loneliness up the River, and followed a stream. He spent time by some deep pools, aided by the invisibility of the Ring, he caught fish which he ate raw. Some time later eventually forgotten by him, the Sun started to scorch his skin and eyes, and as he looked up he noticed the Misty Mountains from which the stream ran down. He decided to go there, in the desirable darkness, safe from the scorching sun, with more "roots" and secrets to discover there. Indeed, by night he climbed up the highlands, and wormed into the little cave out of which the stream flowed.

The Ring's malignant influence twisted his Hobbit body and mind and prolonged his life far beyond its natural limits. The murder of Déagol haunted him, and as a psychological defence he repeated to it (as he talked to it) that it turned up to him so as to be his "Birthday Present" and his "precious".

Gollum lived longer than any other Hobbit could, and for over four hundred years he managed to live on a small island surrounded by a subterranean lake. He preyed upon any raw fish that he caught from his small raft, though sometimes he manages to catch Goblins from the nearby Goblin-town. In later years he found Hobbit and Elven food repulsive. The Ring's corrupting influence as well as centuries of isolation in the Misty Mountains took a deep toll on him both physically and mentally. He became disfigured and grotesque in appearance, and by the time he met the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins he was afflicted with almost complete madness.

## Departure of the Ring

In July T.A. 2941, during the Quest of Erebor, Bilbo stumbled upon Gollum's lake and found the Ring. Gollum had lost the Ring in the network of caves leading to the lake, though in fact it is more proper to say that the Ring abandoned Gollum, for it was known to have a will of its own. As Gandalf said later, the Necromancer was becoming more powerful, and it was a good time for the Ring to change hands and get back to Sauron.

hile he was unaware of his loss, he met Bilbo Baggins who was lost, and it's possible that Gollum's own part of his mind was pleased to hear again a kindly voice that reminded him of the outside world, but this also made his evil part angrier.

After the famous Riddle-game, Gollum refused to show Bilbo the promised way out and plotted to murder him. When he went to get his "*birthday present*", however, he found that it was gone. He suddenly realised the answer to Bilbo's last riddle - "*What have I got in my pocket?*" - and became furious. Bilbo inadvertently stumbled across the Ring's power of invisibility as he ran, allowing him to follow Gollum to the entrance of the cave. There, Bilbo at first thought to kill Gollum, but was overcome with pity, so he jumped over him to escape. As Bilbo ran, Gollum cried out, "*Thief! Thief, Baggins! We hates it forever!*"

## Into the wild

He stayed two more years in the Mountains although he was disgusted by the empty night, nasty furtive eating and resentful remembering. He hated darkness, light and the Ring most of all, but his addiction to it was so great that he overcame his hatred and fear of the light and the Orcs. He left and pursued Bilbo, but the trail was cold.

Hiding from the Sun and Moon, quickly and silently he moved by night, hunting small creatures. As the Ring was no longer devouring him, he was a bit revived, and new food and air made him stronger. He followed Bilbo's trail through Mirkwood and even reached Esgaroth and Dale. Spying on the Men of Dale he learned more about the thief and where he was from. Then apparently he decided to turn back and go West to find the thief, again through Mirkwood. The Elves of Mirkwood, apparently cooperating with Gandalf, tracked him. His presence terrified the beasts and birds, as he ate eggs and the young animals from nests and holes, even broke into houses and approached cradles of the babies of the Woodmen, who spoke about a blood-drinking ghost, until he reached again the Great River; then for some reason, as the Wood-elves say, he turned southwards and his traces were lost. And then Gandalf neglected the matter because he had much else to think at that time, which was a great mistake because it was the year when Sauron declared himself openly, and Gollum turned towards Mordor.

Thirty years later he reached the confines of Mordor, and met Shelob, who would help him take his revenge. As he ventured into Mordor he was captured by Sauron and for the next years he was forced to reveal what he knew about the Ring. Thus Sauron's spies learned from him that the One Ring was found, and the names "Shire" and "hobbits". Meanwhile (3001) Gandalf suspected that Bilbo's Ring was one of the Rings of Power and changed his plans to resume his search for Gollum, but that was in vain as his tracks had been too old now, and Gollum was in Mordor. By T.A. 3017 Gollum was set free, only to be caught at last by Aragorn at the skirts of the Dead Marshes. After many perils Aragorn led and turned him over to Gandalf. Gollum whined and cringed and licked his wounded hands and fingers.

The Wizard attempted to interrogate him and among Gollum's growling, snorting, curses and lies (he talked about his "birthday present", which his grandmother gave him among her magic rings) Gandalf endured many weary days. He had to threaten him with fire, and managed to learn of the story he didn't know bit by bit, but Gollum didn't say much after the departure of Bilbo as he feared Mordor more. Gollum felt misunderstood and ill-treated, exiled into a hole and then "robbed"; and spoke about revenge, thanks to his new friends. Gandalf placed him in the care of the Silvan Elves living in Thranduil's Woodland Realm of Mirkwood.

## War of the Ring

In June of T.A. 3018, Orcs raided the Elves of Mirkwood (in an obviously coordinated attack) allowing Gollum to escape. He resumed his search of the Ring and presumably, he decided to hide into Moria in August, in order to lose his pursuers, the Elves and the servants of Sauron. However he could not open the Doors of Durin from the inside so didn't exit into Eriador to reach the Shire.

Presumably he stayed there for months, until the Fellowship of the Ring entered Moria from the Door on 13 January of the next year, and Gollum picked up the trail of the new Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins, as they travelled through Moria. Two days later Gandalf was lost while fighting a Balrog and breaking the Bridge of Khazad-dûm; it is unknown how he crossed the chasm or the Bridge, but he came with them to Lothlórien without their knowing. Hiding somewhere around the shores of Anduin, Gollum spied their departure, and floating on a log, followed their boats down Anduin to Rauros.

He pursued Frodo and Sam across the Emyn Muil when they struck out on their own towards Mordor. Gollum followed them, but after a confrontation in which he bit and nearly strangled Sam, Frodo subdued him. Frodo tied an Elvish rope around Gollum's ankle for a leash, but the mere touch of the rope pained him. Taking pity on the wretched creature, Frodo made Gollum swear to help them. Agreeing to the oath, Gollum swore by the "Precious" itself, and Frodo released him. The unlikely company, guided by Gollum, made their way to the Black Gate, the entrance to Mordor.

Frodo's kindness brought out the "Sméagol" personality, and he made at least some effort to keep his promise. The two had a strange sort of bond from both having been Ringbearers; in Gollum, Frodo saw his possible future, and so wanted to save him so he could save himself. Gollum also feared Frodo, and also thought that helping him would deprive Sauron of the Ring.

When the Black Gate was reached and found to be well guarded, Gollum convinced them not to go that way, saying that they would be caught and Sauron would regain the Ring. Gollum said he would lead them south, where he knew of another entrance into Mordor.

Frodo and Sam were caught by Faramir, and Gollum followed them, getting caught in the Forbidden Pool beneath Henneth Annûn. When Frodo allowed Faramir to briefly take Sméagol prisoner, however, he felt betrayed, allowing the "Gollum" personality to take control. Faramir found out that the place Gollum was taking them was called Cirith Ungol. He then warned Frodo and Sam of the evil of that place.

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum left Faramir and began crossing the pass of Cirith Ungol in the border-mountains of the Ephel Dúath. On 11 March Gollum visited the great spider Shelob, because he was planning to betray the Hobbits to her and then get the Ring for himself. When he returned the Hobbits were asleep. The sight of Frodo sleeping nearly moved Gollum to repent. However, Sam woke up and spoke harshly to Gollum, and all hope of redemption was lost. Gollum followed through with his plan and led Frodo and Sam into Shelob's Lair. For this service to Shelob, the Orcs of Cirith Ungol knew Gollum as "Her Sneak".

Just as Frodo warned him, Gollum's betrayal of his oath ultimately led to his undoing, for Frodo and Sam escaped from Shelob's lair and came against all odds to the volcano Mount Doom. Gollum followed them all the way, seeking a chance to surprise them and take the Ring. When Frodo and Sam had almost reached their destination, he attacked, but failed to get the Ring. Sam, who had hated Gollum on sight, tried to bring himself to kill him, but relented out of sheer pity and disgust, turning his back on the beaten creature.

Moments later, Frodo was standing on the edge of the Cracks of Doom, but, unwilling to destroy the Ring, claimed it for himself and put it on. Then Gollum attacked again. The two fought whilst Frodo was invisible and finally Gollum bit off Frodo's finger.

Here Frodo's kindness in sparing Gollum's life was rewarded, for Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him with a last cry of "Preciouss!". Had Gollum not lived to play this final part, there would have been a good chance that Sauron would have regained the Ring, as he knew where Frodo was as soon as he put the Ring on.