Shelob is definitely probably the most horrifying creatures to be present in The Lord of the Rings, but there was a time when the enormous spiders of Center-earth had been way more current and damaging. The one residing within the caves of Mordor was left alone and cowering for years, to the purpose the place Sauron overtly mocked Shelob and turned her into his favourite pet.
That is to not say Shelob deserves any sympathy, as the enormous spiders had been created by the unique Darkish Lord (Morgoth) to help in his destruction of Center-earth. And whereas Shelob was probably born lengthy after this, she nonetheless holds the identical malicious intent as her previous kin. Not solely did she sting Frodo and assault Sam in The Lord of the Rings, however she was additionally liable for a whole bunch of deaths over time one thing Sauron beloved to look at.
It is unknown when Shelob moved into Mordor, however it definitely wasn’t a alternative by Sauron. Whereas her presence took the Darkish Lord without warning, he was greater than happy to have the enormous spider close by particularly since she lived within the caves of Cirith Ungol. This cross was one of many few pathways main into Mordor that had little protection, and so Sauron noticed Shelob as an ideal guard to maintain it protected.
As seen in The Lord of the Rings, Shelob definitely protected the cross, though possibly a little bit too effectively, as she would not discriminate between any kinds of meals. It is stated that Orcs manning the close by tower of Cirth Ungol would fall sufferer to her webs, finally assembly a ugly finish. But Sauron noticed Shelob as too helpful to kill, and so he ignored the feasting on his disposable military. Although, the Orcs themselves did attempt to barricade the spider’s dwelling, which Sauron additionally selected to disregard.
Not solely did Sauron deal with Shelob as his pet, however he additionally overtly known as her his cat a reputation that was little question extremely humiliating. He would throw prisoners and unneeded slaves into her cave and had Orcs report again how she performed together with her meals earlier than devouring them. And with Sauron being nothing greater than a damaged spirit hell-bent on struggle, this supplied him some welcome leisure on the aspect.
Nonetheless, trusting Shelob was a grave mistake for the Darkish Lord. Years earlier than The Lord of the Rings, Gollum had escaped the grasp of Sauron and made his method by the Cirith Ungol cross; Shelob willingly let him by. It wasn’t out of spite for Sauron however as a result of Gollum was nothing greater than pores and skin and bone, and so she solely considered her abdomen and had no want to eat him.
Ultimately, Shelob reflected all the issues of Sauron, displaying how he believed everybody was beneath him and that he might management issues that weren’t loyal to him. And as for what occurred to Shelob after The Lord of the Rings, it is fully unknown, because the final point out of her is when she hides away from Sam after struggling a lethal stab. Thus, it is totally doable she died together with Sauron and the remainder of Mordor.
(Rivendell Was Created Lengthy Earlier than The Lord of the Rings)
Whereas the rolling hills of the Shire create one of many coziest locations in Center-earth, Rivendell could have it beat with its waterfalls and Elven structure. This city is the primary main cease in each The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, providing a refuge to loosen up and take within the fantasy really feel of Center-earth. However, regardless of Rivendell’s tranquil setting, this Elven settlement was born out of struggle and struggling.
The Battle of the Elves and Sauron was an excellent battle lengthy earlier than the occasions of The Lord of the Rings, and even a whole bunch of years earlier than Sauron first misplaced his One Ring. This struggle was one in every of Sauron’s first massive assaults on Center-earth, and because the identify suggests, noticed the Elves face the Darkish Lord head-on. Whereas the struggle led to victory, years of combating left a lot of Center-earth destroyed and quite a few Elves with no dwelling.
Hundreds of years earlier than The Lord of the Rings, an Elven realm referred to as Eregion sat close to the Dwarven mines of Moria. All through the struggle, this land was fully laid to waste by Sauron and his forces, leaving a number of Elves with no dwelling and nowhere left to flee. Elrond, who was dwelling within the western land of Lindon on the time, was despatched together with his forces to supply support for the Elven folks however arrived too late with their properties already destroyed.
In a determined try to save lots of as many as doable, Elrond guided quite a few refugees alongside a slim valley to arrange camp. With mountains and hills towering on both aspect of the valley’s lake, it made for the right place to carry up and regain power in secret. And it’s this camp that may later turn out to be Rivendell, a protected place for Elves and watched over by Lord Elrond.