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Aragorn

A human ranger who guides the first part of the Fellowship of the Ring, also known by his Human nickname, Strider. Later revealed to be the true heir to the throne of Gondor.

Arod

A horse of Rohan, given to Legolas by Eomer on their first meeting to aid them in their journey. Arod means swift in Old English.

Arwen Undomiel

Elf-maiden of Rivendell, betrothed to Aragorn and of ancient Maiarin descent. Arwen means noble maiden while Undomiel means Evenstar.

Balin

Dwarf treasure seeker from The Hobbit. His skeleton is discovered by The Fellowship in the Mines of Moria.

Banazir

The Hobbit name for Samwise Gamgee the hobbit, both meaning half-wise. (books)

Beregond

The first Captain of the White Company of Gondor and the guard of Faramir. (books)

Bergil

Son of Beregond. He and his father were guides of Pippin in Minas Tirith. (books)

Bilbo Baggins

Hobbit adventurer who discovers the One Ring on the ground of a passage through the Misty Mountains. Bilbo passes his ring on to Frodo and retires to Rivendell, beginning the adventures in The Lord of the Rings.

Boromir

Son of Denethor, brother of Faramir. Boromir was sent by his father to Rivendell to represent the Kingdom of Gondor at the Council of the Ring.

Bregalad

A rowan Ent whose name means Quickbeam. Bregalad was the first to declare war on Isengard. He was assigned by Treebeard to watch over Pippin and Merry and appears mainly in the book The Two Towers, although fans say they can spot him in the movies.

Barliman Butterbur

Owner and proprietor of the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree where the four hobbits, including Frodo, meet Strider for the first time.

Celeborn

Lord of the Galadhrim, husband of Galadriel and co-ruler of Lothlorien.

Denethor

Steward of Gondor and Father of Boromir and Faramir. (books, movies)
Kills himself in fit of insanity after seeing his apparently dead son, Faramir, by setting himself on fire and jumping from the top of Minas Tirith. (movies)

Duilin

Name of Gondolin's group of best archers. Duilin means Swallow. (books)

Elbereth Githoniel

One of the ancient arch-angels, also known as Varda, the creator of all light. She is revered by the Elves of Middle-Earth and the most feared enemy of Melkor. (books)

Elessar

Name given to Aragorn by the Elves meaning Elfstone.

Elladan

One of the sons of Elrond. (books)

Elrond Halfelven

Patriarch of the Rivendell Elves. Hundreds of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings Elrond, along with the man Isildur, led a united army of Elves and Men to defeat Sauron the first time at the end of the Second Age of Middle-Earth.

Elros

Legendary Half-elf of Middle-Earth who chose to become mortal. (books)

Eomer

Nephew of King Theoden and one of the Riders of Rohan. Brother of Eowyn.

Eowyn

Niece of King Theoden and sister to Eomer.

Estel

Code name for Aragorn used by the Elves while attempting to conceal his true identity as heir to the throne of Elendil. (books)

Fangorn

The deep wooded home of the Ents.

Faramir

Son of Denethor and brother to Boromir (books, movies). Faramir assists Frodo and Samwise in their journey to Mordor. (movies)

Fimbrethil

Lost Entwife of Treebeard who has not been seen in over 3000 years. (books)

Finglas

An Ent who liked to sleep a lot. Also known as Leaflock for his leafy hair. (books)

Fladrif

A reclusive Ent also known as Skinbark who refuses to come down off the mountainsides and fight. (books)

Frodo Baggins

Hobbit nephew of Bilbo Baggins. Bearer of the One Ring throughout The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Galadriel

Wife of Celeborn and co-ruler of Lothlorien.

Gandalf

AKA Gandalf the Gray, Gandalf Greyhame. Master Wizard and architect of the journey of the Ring. Dies and is reborn as Gandalf the White to finish his task on Middle Earth.

Gimli

Dwarf, son of Gloin. Travels with the Fellowship of the Ring and then with Legolas and Aragorn. Has friendly competition with the Elf, Legolas.

Gloin

Dwarf, father of Gimli. One of the original 12 dwarf adventurers from The Hobbit. (books)

Glorfindel

Elf of Rivendell who leads Elvish forces from Grey Havens, Rivendell and Lothlorien against Angmar in battle. (books) Also appears in Lothlorien as Captain of the Elvish Guard and later assists with his army in the Battle of Helm's Deep, where he is slain. (movies)

Gollum

Wretched creature who lives in the Misty Mountains and possesses the One Ring for nearly half a century. Pursues Bilbo to retrieve the Ring after it is lost. Was once a Hobbit named Smeagol. Gollum's name comes from the nasty sound he makes when coughing.

Gwaihir

The greatest of the Eagles. Rescued Gandalf from Saruman's prison atop Orthanc and led the Eagles with Gandalf to rescue Frodo and Samwise from the slopes of Mount Doom before it erupts.

Halbarad

A Dunedain ranger like Aragorn. Halbarad led a company of rangers to assist Aragorn in the battle of Pelennor and brought a message to him from Arwen. (books)

Hasufel

Horse of Rohan, given to Aragorn by Eomer upon their first meeting to assist in their travels.

Hirluin

A man of Gondor from Lebennin. He brought men to fight the final War of the Ring and died at the breaking of the door to the citadel of Gondor. (books)

Isildur

Legendary Dunedain man of the Second Age. Fled Numenor upon its destruction to the south with his brother to found the land of Gondor. Years later, during battle with Sauron, he cuts the One Ring from Sauron's hand destroying Sauron's physical form. He refuses to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom and is later killed by an Orc raiding party.

Legolas

Silvan Elf of Mirkwood originally of Sindarin descent, and part of the original Fellowship of the Ring. After parting ways with Frodo and Samwise, Legolas adventures with Aragorn and Gimli to rescue Merry and Pippin and finally onwards to the battle of Pelennor Fields at Gondor.

Luthien Tinuviel

Great grand-mother of Elrond. Had affair with the mortal Beren. Luthien means either enchantress or blossom. Tinuviel means daughter of the starry twilight. (books)

Meriadoc Brandybuck

Hobbit, AKA Merry who travels with the original Fellowship before being taken hostage along with Pippin by a roving band of orcs.

Nimrodel

An Elf-maiden of Lothlorien who was lost crossing the Ered Nimrais journeying to rejoin her lover Amroth and leave for Valinor. A river in Lothlorien was named after her passing. (books)

Orald

Nickname for Tom Bombadil given by Men. Tom lives in the Old Forest with his wife, a river-spirit named Goldberry. He and his wife assist the Hobbits during the early part of their journey after leaving the Shire. (books)

Peregrin

Hobbit, AKA Pippin, is a mischievous hobbit that often gets himself and companions into trouble. Travels with Merry into the forest of Fangorn.

Rohirrim

Ancestral name of the tribe of horsemen who live on the plains of Rohan, currently governed by King Theoden. (books)

Samwise Gamgee

Hobbit friend and guardian of Frodo Baggins. Assigned by Gandalf to accompany and watch over Frodo's safety while on the journey to destroy the One Ring.

Saruman

Traitorous Wizard of the White Tower and steward of Isengard. He is betrayed and killed by Wormtongue, ex-advisor to King Theoden.

Sauron

Once a most powerful member of an ancient divine race of beings called the Maiar, Sauron, meaning Abhorred, was enthralled by the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, betraying the Maiar and their masters, the Valar. After Morgoth was defeated in battle and banished to the Outer Void, Sauron rose in his place and using deception, fooled the Elves, Dwarves and Men into accepting gifts of magic rings wrought by him to be controlled by the One Ring of Power. Sauron is eventually defeated by Frodo when the One Ring is cast into the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor.

Shadowfax

Gandalf's steed through most of The Lord of the Rings, Shadowfax is considered to be the greatest of all horses of the Third Age. He is of the mearas breed who are descended from the first tamed wild horse, Felarof.

King Theoden

King of Rohan, the plains horsemen. Under thrall of Saruman via Wormtongue and is revived by Gandalf the White.

Tintalle

Another name for Elbereth Gilthoniel, meaning Star-kindler.

Treebeard

Master Ent of Fangorn. Discovers Merry and Pippin in his forest after they escape from the orcs. After hearing news of the calamity facing the outside world and much discussion, Treebeard and fellow Ents are encouraged to attack Isengard, bringing Saruman's reign of terror to an end.

Wormtongue

Corrupt advisor to King Theoden, conspiring with Saruman to take over the Kingdom of Rohan.