current community

your communities

more stack exchange communities

company blog
Stack Exchange Inbox Reputation and Badges
tour help
Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. Join them; it only takes a minute:

Sign up
Here's how it works:
  1. Anybody can ask a question
  2. Anybody can answer
  3. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top
up vote 11 down vote favorite
1

Elrond said during the council that if Sauron gets the One Ring back, he will have full control of those who have the three rings. But why did Sauron not already have control of them before the Great War?

share|improve this question
    
I'd have to think this has been asked before....perhaps you might check.. – Paulie_D 11 hours ago
1  
Probably has an answer here. Basically, elven rings were made by the elf Celebrimbor, using Sauron's knowledge but free of his malice. Actually, the game "Shadow of Mordor" revolves around Celebrimbor and his work with Sauron. – Gallifreian 11 hours ago
    
In-game cutscenes with Celebrimbor and Annatar (spoilers!) – Gallifreian 11 hours ago
up vote 15 down vote accepted

Because the Elves who possessed them took them off

From The Silmarillion:

But the Elves were not so lightly to be caught. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and perceived that he would be master of them, and of all that they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings.

The Silmarillion V Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Since they weren't actually wearing their rings anymore, Sauron had no ability to control them. Once he lost the One, his ability to command any of the Rings of Power was lost1; in fact, there's evidence to suggest that he was only able to control the Nazgûl because he had the Nine in his physical possession.

1 Hence why the Elves considered it safe to put them back on and start using them

share|improve this answer
2  
They took them off while Sauron had the One, but they were wearing them again by the War of the Ring. – Blackwood 11 hours ago
    
Why were they able to take off the 3 rings back then, but they would not be able to now? Or why would he have control over them now if he obtained the One Ring, but before the 3 were able to avoid that control? – trysis 4 hours ago
3  
@trysis To vastly oversimplify, the Elves won their saving throw against Sauron's attack. Perhaps they could do the same now, but that isn't really what they're worried about; the implication of Elrond's statements (supported by some old drafts) is that the Elves are mainly worried about Sauron being able to control what they've done with the Three since his defeat: "all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing" – Jason Baker 4 hours ago
up vote 9 down vote

The Three Elven Rings were not made by Sauron and were not under his control.

As Gandalf tells Frodo in Bag End:

The Enemy still lacks one thing to give him strength and knowledge to beat down all resistance, break the last defences, and cover all the lands in a second darkness. He lacks the One Ring.

The Three, fairest of all, the Elf-lords hid from him, and his hand never touched them or sullied them. Seven the Dwarf-kings possessed, but three he has recovered, and the others the dragons have consumed. Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great Shadow, his most terrible servants.

The Followship of the Ring: The Shadow of the Past

Later in the same conversation, Galdalf makes clear that Sauron needs the One Ring in order to control the Three even though he already controls the Ringwraiths.

So it is now: the Nine he has gathered to himself; the Seven also, or else they are destroyed. The Three are hidden still. But that no longer troubles him. He only needs the One; for he made that Ring himself, it is his, and he let a great part of his own former power pass into it, so that he could rule all the others. If he recovers it, then he will command them all again, wherever they be, even the Three, and all that has been wrought with them will be laid bare, and he will be stronger than ever.

The Followship of the Ring: The Shadow of the Past

share|improve this answer
2  
This is incorrect. Sauron was not involved in creating the Three, but they were still under command of the One because they were made using his formula – Jason Baker 11 hours ago
4  
They were under the control of the One, but not the control of Sauron (without the One). – Blackwood 11 hours ago
    
Hm, I see what you mean now; it's not a well-phrased question – Jason Baker 11 hours ago

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.