War of the Elves against Sauron

Second age 1693

Galadriel did not go West at the downfall of Melkor at the end of the First age because of her love for Celeborn, who would not leave Middle-Earth. Together with many of the remaining Noldor, Green-Elves and Grey-Elves from the past Ossiriand, had crossed Ered Lindon into Eriador and had for long dwelt in the country about Lake Nenuial, where Galadriel and Celeborn were regarded as Lord and Lady of the Eldar in Eriador. Galadriel became aware that there was a controlling evil purpose abroad in the world, and it seemed to proceed from a source beyond Eriador and the Misty Mountain further to the East. Galadriel and Celeborn therefore went Eastwards at about the year 700 of the Second age and established the city "Ost-in-Edhil" in Eregion, in the year 750. This place might have been chosen because of the Dwarf-mines in Moria, even though Celeborn did not like the Dwarves, remembering the ruin of Doriath, where many of his kin had been slain by the Dwarves. Galadriel, however, was much more foresighted than Celeborn, and she sensed from the beginning that Middle-earth could not be saved from the Evil unless by a union of all the peoples to oppose it. Furthermore, she as a Noldo had a natural sympathy for the Dwarves, for they were the children of Aulë, and she as many others of the Noldor had been the pupils of Aulë the smith of the Gods in Valinor. A last thing to remember is that the Dwarves had found Mithril in Moria and most of the Elves in the trail of Galadriel and Celeborn were of Noldor origin and thus had no unfriendly feelings toward the Dwarves. These Elves, with their cunning skills in craftsmanship and smithying, very much desired the Mithril-silver. In the train of Galadriel and Celeborn was a descendent of Fëanor named Celebrimbor. He soon became the chief artificer in Eregion, entering into a close friendship with the Dwarves in Moria; and between the Eregion-Elves and the Dwarves there grew a great friendship - the closest ever been between Elves and Dwarves.

News of this came to the ears of Sauron, and it increased his fears for the coming of the Númenorian ships to Lindon. He had also heard of Aldarion, the great mariner and son of the King in Númenor, who had brought his ships far down to the South. Sauron chose the land of Mordor to build his stronghold and when he felt secure, he sent emissaries to Eriador to ingratiate and to spy on them. At last in 1200 he came himself. Sauron was still or could still assume a beautiful visible shape, and though Gil-Galad in Lindon and Galadriel warned most of the Elves in Eregion, they did not listen to them. Therefore, Sauron had better fortune there, especially with Celebrimbor, who wanted to learn the knowledge and skills Sauron had and to rival the skill and fame of Fëanor. Sauron quickly perceived that Galadriel would be his chief obstacle. Through his growing influence in the mighty brotherhood of Gwaith-i-Mirdain ( The smiths in Eregion ), he persuaded them to revolt against Galadriel and Celeborn. In 1350-1400 Galadriel left Eregion through the mansions of Khazad-Dûm into Loth-Lórien, but Celeborn would not enter the Dwarf-mines and remained in Eregion, disregarded by Celebrimbor.

The Eregion-Elves reached the heights of their skills in1500, when they began the forging of the Rings of Power. Sauron left Eregion about this time too so as to begin the making of the One Ring in the Fire chambers in Orodruin. Celebrimbor, who was never corrupted in heart or faith by Sauron, at length discovered the existence of the One Ring and revolted against Sauron. He went to Loth-Lórien to take counsel with Galadriel, who advised him to hide the Rings of Power outside Eregion and to never use them. She received the White Ring Nenya from Celebrimbor. Following her counsel Celebrimbor entrusted the Blue ring Vilya, and the Red ring, Narya, to Gil-Galad in Lindon

When Sauron learned of Celebrimbor`s revolt, his disguise fell and his wrath was revealed. He gathered a great host in the year 1693 and the war of Elves against Sauron began. This is when the dark years of Middle-Earth and the time of the dominion of Sauron began. Sauron moved over the plains of Calenardhon to invade Eriador in 1695, and when Gil-Galad heard news of this, he sent out a force under Elrond to try and stop Sauron. Sauron, however, turned North towards his first goal and approached Eregion. Celeborn with a small host succeeded in sortie and drove the vanguard back, thus he was able to join forces with Elrond. Sauron`s forces, however, were much too strong and blocked the Elven path back to Eregion, thus the attackers broke into Eregion in 1697. With ruin and devastation they captured their main objective, the House of the Mirdain. Celebrimbor desperately tried to withstand Sauron on the great doorstep himself, but alas, he was taken captive and the house was ransacked and all the rings were taken, save the three and the seven. Sauron now tormented Celebrimbor to learn where they were, and from Celebrimbor he learned of the seven. Celebrimbor, however, did not tell him of the three, as he valued them higher and as Sauron had never touched them as he had the others. Sauron then had Celebrimbor put to death.

In black anger Sauron turned back to battle bearing Celebrimbor`s battered and tormented body as a banner and turned his forces upon Elrond. Elrond would have been overrun if not for the Dwarves, who had come upon the rear of Sauron, for Durin had sent out a force of Dwarves from Moria and with them came Elves from Loth-Lórien under the command of Amroth. Elrond was, however, forced to retreat Northwards, making back to safety at the stronghold and refuge of Imladris, while Sauron turned against the Dwarves and Elves from Moria. He was able to drive them back to Moria but could not enter Moria, for the Gates were shut.

Sauron now attempted to gain the mastery of Eriador, overrunning it. He persuaded and killed all men and Elves he encountered. Many fled to Imladris during this time. Sauron`s main purpose was to take Lindon, where he believed he had the greatest chance to seize one or more of the Three Rings. He, therefore, gathered his forces, ravaging the lands as he went towards Lindon. Good fortune was on Gil-Galad`s side, for Sauron`s forces were reduced by the need of leaving a strong detachment behind to contain Elrond and to prevent him from coming down on his rear . Already in 1695 Gil-Galad feared that Sauron would come into Eriador with war and thus prepared for this. In the same year, Gil-Galad sent messages to Númenor for help. Tar-Minastir sent out a great navy under Admiral Ciryatur. However, this great fleet was delayed and did not reach the coast of Middle-Earth until 1700. At that time, Sauron had all of Eriador besieged, save Imladris; and in the West he had reached the line of the River Lhun, where Gil-Galad desperately defended the Grey Havens, hoping for and awaiting the reinforcement from Númenor.

In the very nick of time, the great armament of Númenor came in and the might of the Númenorians filled the servants of Sauron with fear. As a result, Sauron`s host was heavily defeated and driven away south-east. A battle was also fought at Sarn Ford, where Sauron was forced to retreat to Tharbad, and where he had forces standing. Admiral Ciryatur, however, had sent part of his ships further down to the south to the old haven of Númenor, Lond-Daer, Sauron was attacked again, while he was on the run and was utterly routed. He himself only just escaped with a small bodyguard to the Dagorlad, west of the Ash Mountains. The army that besieged Imladris was caught between Elrond and Gil-Galad and was thus destroyed. Eriador was hence cleared of the enemy in 1701, though it lay largely in ruins.