The Tolkien Encyclopedia - the Great Years

*3018*
April	12 Gandalf reaches Hobbiton
June	20 Sauron attacks Osgiliath. About the same time Thranduil is attacked, and Gollum escapes
July	4. Boromir sets out from Minas Tirith 10. Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc
August	All trace of Gollum is lost. It is thought that about this time, being hunted both by the Elves and Sauron’s servants, he took refuge in Moria; but when he had at last discovered the way to the West-gate he could not get out.
September	18 Gandalf escapes from Orthanc in the early hours. The Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen 19 Gandalf comes to Edoras as a beggar, and is refused admittance 20 Gandalf gains entrance to Edoras. Theoden commands him to go: ‘take any horse, only be gone ere tomorrow is old!’ 21 Gandalf meets Shadowfax, but the horse will not allow him to come near. He follows Shadowfax far over the fields 22 The Black Riders reach Sarnford at evening; they drive off the guard of Rangers. Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax 23 Four Riders enter the Shire before dawn. The others pursue the Rangers eastward, and then return to watch the Greenway. A Black Rider comes to Hobbiton at nightfall. Frodo leaves Bag End. Gandalf having tamed Shadowfax rides from Rohan. 24 Gandalf crosses the Isen 26 The Old Forest. Frodo comes to Bombadil 27 Gandalf crosses Greyflood. Second night with Bombadil. 28 The hobbits captured by a Barrow-wight. Gandalf reaches Sarn Ford 29 Frodo reaches Bree at night. Gandalf visits the Gaffer. 30 Crickfollow and the Inn at Bree are raided in the early hours. Frodo leaves Bree. Gandalf comes to Crickhollow, and reaches Bree at night.
October	1 Gandalf leaves Bree 3 He is attacked at night on Weathertop 6 The camp at Weathertop attacked at night. Frodo wounded 9 Glorfindel leaves Rivendell 11 He drives the Riders off the Bridge of Mitheithel 13 Frodo crosses the Bridge 18 Glorfindel finds Frodo at dusk. Gandalf reaches Rivendell 20 Escape across the Ford of Bruinen 24 Frodo recovers and wakes. Boromir arrives in Rivendell at night 25 Council of Elrond
December	25 The Company of the Ring leaves Rivendell at dusk
*3019*
January	8 The Company reaches Hollin 11, 12 Snow on Caradhras 13 Attack by Wolves in the early hours. The company reaches West-gate of Moria at nightfall. Gollum begins to trail the Ringbearer 14 Night in Hall 21 15 The Bridge of Khazad-Dum, and fall of Gandalf. The company reaches Nimrodel late at night 17 The company comes to Caras Galadhon at evening 23 Gandalf pursues the Balrog to the top of Zirakzigil 25 He casts down the Balrog, and passes away. His body lies on the peak
February	14 The Mirror of Galadriel. Gandalf returns to life, and lies in a trance 16 Farewell to Lorien. Gollum in hiding on the west bank observes the departure 17 Gwaihir bears Gandalf to Lorien 23 The boats are attacked at night near Sarn Gebir 25 The Company pass the Argonath and camp at Parth Galen. First battle of the Fords of Isen; Theodred son of Theoden slain. 26 Breaking of the Fellowship. Death of Boromir; his horn in heard in Minas Tirith. Meriadoc and Peregrin captured. Frodo and Sam enter the eastern Emyn Muil. Aragorn sets out in pursuit of the Orcs at evening. Eomer hears the descent of the Orc-band from Emyn Muil 27 Aragorn reaches the west cliff at sunrise. Eomer against Theoden’s orders sets out from Eastfold about midnight to pursue the Orcs 28 Eomer overtakes the Orcs just outside Fangorn Forest 29 Meriadoc and Pippin escape and meet Treebeard. The Rohirrim attack at sunrise and destroy the Orcs. Frodo descrnds from the Emyn Muil and meets Gollum. Faramir sees the funeral boat of Boromir 30 Entmoot begins. Eomer returning to Edoras meets Aragorn
March	1 Frodo begins the passage of the Dead Marshes at dawn. Entmoot continues. Aragorn meets Gandalf the White. They set out for Edoras. Faramir leaves Minas Tirith for an errand to Ithilien 2 Frodo comes to the end of the Marshes. Gandalf comes to Edoras and heals Theoden. The Rohirrim ride west against Saruman. Second Battle of Fords of Isen. Erkenbrand defeated. Entmoot ends in afternoon. The Ents march to Isengard and reach it at night. 3 Theoden reatreats to Helm’s Deep. Battle of the Hornburg begins. Ents complete the destruction of Isengard. 4 Theoden and Gandalf set out from Helm’s Deep to Isengard. Frodo reaches the slag-mounds on the edge of the desolation of the Morannon 5 Theoden reaches Isengard at noon. Parley with Saruman at Orthanc. Winged Nazgul passes over the camp at Dol Baran. Gandalf sets out with Peregrin for Minas Tirith. Frodo hides in the sight of the Morannon, and leaves at dusk. 6 Aragorn overtaken by the Dunedain in the early hours. Theoden sets out from the Hornburg for Harrowdale. Aragorn sets out later. 7 Frodo taken by Faramir to Henneth Annun. Aragorn comes to Dunharrow at nightfall. 8 Aragorn takes The Paths of the Dead at daybreak; he reaches Erech at midnight. Frodo leaves Henneth Annun. 9 Gandalf reaches Minas Tirith. Faramir leaves Henneth Annun. Aragorn sets out from Erech and comes to Calembel. At dusk Frodo reaches the Morgul-road. Theoden comes to Dunharrow. Darkness begins to flow out of Mordor. 10 The Dawnless Day. The Muster of Rohan: the Rohirrim ride from Harrowdale. Faramir rescued by Gandalf outside the gates of the City. Aragorn crosses Ringlo. An army from the Morannon takes Cair Andros and passes into Anorien. Frodo passes the Cross Roads, and sees the Morgul-host set forth. 11 Gollum visits Shelob, but seeing Frodo asleep nearly repents. Denethor sends Faramir to Osgiliath. Aragorn reaches the Linhir and crosses into Lebennin. Eastern Rohan is invaded from the north. First assault on Lorien. 12 Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob’s lair. Faramir retreats to the Causeway Forts. Theoden camps under Minrimmon. Aragorn drives the enemy towards Pelargir. The Ents defeat the invaders of Rohan. 13 Frodo captured by the Orcs of Cirith Ungol. The Pelennor is overrun. Faramir is wounded. Aragorn reaches Pelargir and captures the fleet. Theoden in Druadan forest. 14 Samwise finds Frodo in the Tower. Minas Tirith is besieged. The Rohirrim led by the Wild Men come to the Grey Wood. 15 In the early hours the Witch-king breaks the Gates of the City. Denethor burns himself on a pyre. The horns of the Rohirrim are heard at cockcrow. Battle of the Pelennor. Theoden is slain. Aragorn raises the standard of Arwen. Frodo and Samwise escape and begin their journey north along the Morgai. Battle under the trees in Mirkwood; Thranduil repels the forces of Dol Guldur. Second assault on Lorien. 16 debate of the commanders. Frodo from the Morgai looks out over the camp to Mount Doom. 17 Battle of Dale. King Brand and King Dain Ironfoot fall. Many Dwarves and Men take refuge in Erebor and are besieged. Shagrat brings Frodo’s cloak, mail-shirt and sword to Barad-dur. 18 The Host of the West marches from Minas Tirith. Frodo comes in sight of the Isenmouthe; he is overtaken by Orcs on the road from Durthang to Udun. 19 The Host comes to Morgul-vale. Frodo and Samwise escape and begin their journey along the road to Barad-dur. 22 The dreadful nightfall. Frodo and Samwise leave the road and turn south to Mount Doom. Third assault on Lorien. 23 The Host passes out of Ithilien. Aragorn dismisses the faint-hearted. Frodo and Samwise cast away their arms and gear. 24 Frodo and Samwise make their last journey to the feet of Mount Doom. The Host camps in the Desolation of the Morannon. 25 The Host is surrounded on the Slag-hills. Frodo and Samwise reach the Sammath Naur. Gollum seizes the Ring and fall in the Cracks of Doom. Downfall of Barad-Dur and passing of Sauron.

After the fall of the Dark Tower and the passing of Sauron the Shadow was lifted from the hearth of all those who opposed him; but fear and despair fell upon his servants and allies. Three times Lorien had been assailed from Dol Guldur, but besides the valor of the Elven people of that land, the power that dwelt there was too great for any to overcome, unless Sauron had come there himself. Though grievous harm was done to the fair woods on the borders, the assaults were driven back; and when the Shadow passed, Celeborn came forth and led the host of Lorien over Anduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and lais bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed.

In the North also there had been war and evil. The realm of Thranduil was invaded, and there was long battle under the trees and great ruin of fire; but in the end Thranduil had the victory. And on the day of the New Year of the Elves, Celeborn and Thranduil met in the midst of the forest; and they renamed Mirkwood Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves. Thranduil took all the northern region as far as the mountains that rise in the forest for his realm; and Celeborn took all the southern wood below the Narrows, and named it East Lorien; all the wide forest between was given to the Beornings and the Woodmen. But after the passing of Galadriel in a few years Celeborn grew weary of his realm and went to Imladris to dwell with the sons of Elrond. In the Greenwood the Silvan Elves remained untroubled, but in Lorien there lingered sadly only a few of its former people, and there was no longer light or song in the Caras Galadhon.

At the same time as the great armies besieged Minas Tirith a host of the allies of Sauron that had long threatened the borders of King Brand crossed the River Carnen, and Brand was driven back to Dale. There he had the aid of the Dwarves of Erebor; and there was a great battle at the Mountain’s feet. It lasted three days, but in the end King Brand and King Dain Ironfoot were slain, and the Eaterlings had the victory. But they could not take the Gate, and many, both Dwarves and Men, took refuge in Erebor, and there withstood a siege.

When news came of the great victories in the South, then Sauron’s northern army was filled with dismay; and the besieged came forth and routed them, and the remnant fled into the East and troubled Dale no more. Then Bard II, Brand’s son, became King in Dale, and Thorin III Stonehelm, Dain’s son, became King under the Mountain. They sent their ambassadors to the crowning of King Elessar; and their realms remained ever after, as long as they lasted, in friendship with Gondor; and they were under the crown and protection of the King of the West.