Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Tonight we finished up the Silmarillion by reading Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age…in which these tales come to their end. The kids enjoyed seeing the story connect back to what we’ve already read.

“…and they made Rings of Power.”

6YO: “Sauron helped.”

8YO: “Sauron helped with all except the three Elven rings. He made the One Ring all by himself. He was brave. I couldn’t have done it. It would be too risky and scary for me.”

“The Nazgûl were they, the Ringwraiths…”

6YO: “EEEEEE!!!!!”

8YO: “Daddy, I remember the owners of the Three, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond. Is the fire one Gandalf’s?”

Me: “Yes.”

“…even to the borders of Greenwood the Great...”

8YO: “I know that one. Um…Mirkwood! It became Mirkwood later.”

“…and they established a realm in those lands that was after called Gondor, whereas the Northern Kingdom was named Arnor.”

8YO: “we know about those. At least the South kingdom. Pippin was in the South kingdom.”

“Chief among them were those whom the Elves called Mithrandir and Curunír…”

6YO: “Gandalf is Mithrandir.”

8YO: “Is Saruman the other?”

Me: “Yep.”

“…and the hearts of Elrond and Mithrandir darkened.”

6YO: “Mithrandir didn’t darken. He’s Gandalf. He’s good!”

8YO: “It means became troubled.”

“…and by its finder it was brought beyond search into dark hiding under the roots of the mountains.”

8YO: “Not by its finder. By his killer.”