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Shhh! It's a Secret Ring! - Page 6

© Michael Martinez

So, until the Rings were made, the Gwaith-i-Mirdain may have had good reason not to reveal what was going on to anyone outside their brotherhood. The Rings, as they were produced, would have seemed just like "normal" rings to other Elves, if they could be perceived at all. The veil of secrecy would have been burdened with shame and guilt once the Elves realized Sauron had betrayed them. Imagine how Celebrimbor must have felt, knowing he had forged the Rings in secret, upon learning that Sauron was Melkor's old servant, now arrayed with his own Master Ring. Whether Tolkien would have retained Celebrimbor's rebellion (which is recorded in the discarded history of Galadriel and Celeborn) or would have changed the story, Celebrimbor would have had to confront Galadriel with the truth. Something terrible had happened, but something much worse was about to befall the Elves. So, once Galadriel knew about the Rings, she counselled Celebrimbor to hide them. The Elves couldn't find it in their hearts to destroy their own works. Two Rings were given to Gil-galad, who must have been told everything. Whatever his feelings might have been about Celebrimbor's foolishness, he, too, elected not to destroy the Rings. The fear of fading must have been pervasive in Noldorin society. So one must ask if Elrond was told at first, or Cirdan? On the one hand, Celebrimbor, Galadriel, and Gil-galad must have known there would be a war. Sauron had just attempted to enslave the greatest and most powerful of the Noldor. He had failed, his cover was blown, and the Elves knew that Middle-earth had a Dark Lord once again. It wasn't the sort of situation which required Sauron to lie low until the storm blew over. For his part, Gil-galad asked Numenoreans for help. But he didn't tell them about the Rings. Tolkien mentions this omission in Elf-Dunadan relations in Letter 211: "I do not think Ar-Pharazon knew anything about the One Ring. The Elves kept the matter of the Rings very secret, as long as they could...." So Gil-galad's plea to Numenor must have been very carefully worded. He had previously called upon Numenor for help while Sauron was fumbling around Middle-earth, stirring up evil creatures. Before Sauron decided to settle in Mordor, Gil-galad was only aware that some evil power was organizing men and Morgoth's old servants. But he couldn't find a source for his concerns. Sauron's revelation as the maker of the One Ring confirmed Gil-galad's worst fears. At the very least, he had justification for starting a war with Sauron.

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