Look out! Long post.
Here's the deal on our plot...Taken from Tolkien's works, with a few notes by yours truly.
The Shadow of the Past, Fellowship of the Ring Page 57
After seeing Gollum in Mirkwood, Gandalf early on tries to find Gollum, but can’t, so he turns to other matters.
“’And then I made a great mistake. Yes, Frodo, and not the first; though I fear it may prove the worst. I let the matter be. I let him go; for I had much else to think of at that time, and I still trusted the lore of Saruman.
‘Well, that was years ago. I have paid for it since with many dark and dangerous days. The trail was long cold when I took it up again, after Bilbo left here (-the Shire-). And my search would have been in vain, but for the help that I had from a friend: Aragorn, the greatest traveler and huntsman of this age of the world. Together we sought for Gollum down the whole Wilderland, without hope, and without success. But at last, when I had given up the chase and turned to other parts, Gollum was found. My friend returned out of the great perils bringing the miserable creature with him.
‘What he had been doing he would not say. He only wept and called us cruel, with many a gollum in his throat; and when we pressed him he whined and cringed, and rubbed his long hands, licking his fingers as if they pained him, as if he remembered some old torture. But I am afraid there is no possible doubt: he had made his slow, sneaking way, step by step, mile by mile, down at last to the land of Mordor.’”
From Gollum, the Enemy learns that Baggins has the Ring.
The Council of Elrond, Fellowship of the Ring Page 245-247
Gandalf tells how he wondered about Bilbo’s ring, and where it came from. He suspects the truth, but does not tell anyone yet.
“’That was 17 years ago. Soon I became aware that spies of many sorts, even beasts and birds, were gathered around the Shire, and my fear grew. I called for the help of the Dunedain, and their watch was doubled; and I opened my heart to Aragorn, the heir of Isildur.’
’And I,’ said Aragorn, ‘counseled that we should hunt for Gollum, too late though it may seem. And since it seemed fit that Isildur’s heir should labor to repair Isildur’s fault, I went with Gandalf on the long and hopeless search.’
Then Gandalf told how they had explored the whole length of Wilderland, down even to the Mountains of Shadow and the fences of Mordor. ‘There we had rumor of him, and we guess that he dwelt there long in the dark hills; but we never found him, and at last I despaired. And then in my despair I thought again of a test that might make the finding of Gollum unneeded….’”
Gandalf leaves Aragorn and goes to Gondor, gaining permission from Denethor to search the city’s archives. He finds out about the Ring’s fiery inscription.
“’At once I took my leave of Denethor, but even as I went northwards, messages came to me out of Lorien that Aragorn had passed that way, and that he had found the creature called Gollum. Therefore I went first to meet him and hear his tale. Into what deadly perils he had gone alone I dared not guess.’
‘There is little to tell of them,’ said Aragorn. ‘If a man must needs walk in the sight of the Black Gate, or tread the deadly flowers of Morgul Vale, then perils he will have. I too, despaired at last, and I began my homeward journey. And then, by fortune, I came suddenly on what I sought: the marks of soft feet beside a muddy pool. But now the trail was fresh and swift, and it led not to Mordor but away. Along the skirts of the Dead Marshes I followed it, and then I had him. Lurking by a stagnant mere, peering in the water as the dark eve fell, I caught him, Gollum. He was covered with green slime. He will never love me, I fear; for he bit me, and I was not gentle. Nothing more did I ever get from his mouth than the marks of his teeth. I deemed it the worst part of all my journey, the road back, watching him day and night, making him walk before me with a halter on his neck, gagged, until he was tamed by lack of drink and food, driving him ever towards Mirkwood. I brought him there at last, and gave him to the Elves, for we had agreed that this should be done; and I was glad to be rid of his company, for he stank. For my part I hope never to look at him again; but Gandalf came and endured long speech with him.’
‘Yes, long and weary,’ said Gandalf, ‘but not without profit. For one thing, the tale he told of his loss agreed with that which Bilbo has now told openly for the first time, but that mattered little, since I had already guessed it. But I learned then first that Gollum’s ring came out of the Great River nigh to the Gladden Fields…’”
So there is what we know of the hunt for Gollum. I’m certain original characters could be added in if we wanted. There’s a good bit of Mirkwood at the end, so Legolas could easily show up there. Faramir and Boromir might show up when Gandalf is in Gondor. You could do any or all of those people, Wing, or Gollum, or even an original character that comes along. You’ve laid claim on Aragorn, right Qual?
Ideas? Thoughts?
(And see, Gandalf made yet another mistake…)
Oh dear, I've been corrupted.
