Círdan
Since Ithiloth voiced interest in this particular elf and his history I will try to put together what I know, and we can start discussing things.
Círdan is one of the oldest elves there are, and I think definitely the oldest who remains in Middle Earth at the time of the Ring. He either was among thouse who awoke at the Cuiviénen, or was born not long after. As one of the Teleri he was one of those who followed Elwë on their way West, but when after Elwë's disapperance Olwë lead the Teleri on, Ossë convinced some of them to stay in Middle Earth, and those were Círdan's people.
When many years later Celebrimbor made the three rings of power of the elves they were given to Galadriel, Círdan and Gil-Galad. Whereas Nenya remained with Galadriel until the end of the War of the Rings, Vilya passed on to Elrond after Gil-Galad's death during the War of the Last Alliance. Later, when the Istari entered the world Círdan handed his Ring to Gandalf, 'perceiving him as wise."
That's about the bones of the story. I know I am forgetting something, and leaving out a lot, but this is not supposed to be an essay - we want to start a discussion.
My thoughts about why Círdan handed over the Ring is that probably he thought that Gandalf might have more use of it than he did. It is interesting to note that it was Gandalf who was given the Ring and not Saruman, who was head of the order. So, these has to be more to play into it than the power and wisdom of the Istari in general.
Isn't it also true that Cirdan was the only Elf with a beard?
And is it not also true that at one point, Saruman felt he should be one of the ring-bearers, when they were working out who got the Rings of Power, but instead they went to the original three, and that Saruman never learned or suspected that Gandalf had Narya, Ring of Fire? (Which, if you think about it, is very interesting, given that Sauron's Eye was a lidless eye wreathed in flame----which makes me wonder if Narya may have helped Gandalf the Grey defeat that Balrog?) I believe I read that the original ring bearers were not specifically known, for they did not openly display their rings, but the power of Vilya (Gil-Galad's ring and then Elrond's) and Nenya (Galadriel's ring) had environmental and emotional effects so it could be guessed who wore them. But not who wore the ring Cirdan gave to Gandalf.
I always wondered a little bit if Cirdan never wanted to carry the ring because then there would be more attention paid to both him and the Gray Havens, and he just wanted to build boats in peace.
I also *feel* that Cirdan didn't like Saruman. What do you think? I do not have any lore to back this, just a gut feeling.
Quote:Isn't it also true that Cirdan was the only Elf with a beard?
Not necessarily. It is only said that he had a beard. It is as far as I know the only mentioning of a beard on an elf, but that doesn't mean he's the only one. One of the circulating theories is that at very high age, like a "third stage' in the life of an elf he would actually grow a beard - but since that takes many thousands of years it's very rarely seen in Middle Earth.
Quote:And is it not also true that at one point, Saruman felt he should be one of the ring-bearers
I am not sure. Right now I cannot recall anything like that in the books. Could you give me a hint of where to look?
Quote:which makes me wonder if Narya may have helped Gandalf the Grey defeat that Balrog?
Re: Cirdan
I will have to look in the appendices, but I am sure I read it somewhere that Saruman felt he should have been one of the original three bearers of a Ring of Power. Of course, if it was not in the appendix of any of the books, it may be completely unfounded. I could be way off base.
As for Cirdan's beard, I didn't say it right. I actually was under the impression he was the only bearded elf in LOTR, not that he was the only Elf ever to have a beard.
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