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The Battle of Dol Guldur took place in the "Hill of Sorcery" between the White Council and Sauron and his Nazgûl. Galadriel would successfully drive Sauron and the ringwraiths out of Dol Guldur and they would take refuge in Mordor.
Prelude[]
Gandalf's initial investigation into the fortress consisted of spending several hours casting spells to remove the shroud.[1] He discovered Thráin, who had been in the fortress for years. Gandalf and Thráin were finally attacked by Azog and the Orcs but he repelled them and escaped.[2]
However, before they could get clear of the fortress, Gandalf found the way barred by the Necromancer. After killing Thráin, the Necromancer attacked Gandalf, who raised his staff to conjure a bright shield of white flames against the barrage of dark mist.[2] An intense battle of light and dark ensued. After repeatedly repelling the dark energery, eventually Gandalf grew weary and dropped the shield. The Necromancer revealed himself as Sauron, using his power over fire to destroy Gandalf's staff. After this, he subsequently imprisoned the wizard.[1]
Prior to this battle, Gandalf had sent Radagast to Galadriel with the news of the Nazgûl's return.[1] Knowing that Nazgûl could only be summoned by Sauron himself, Galadriel realised that Gandalf was in great peril. She immediately sent word out for the White Council to prepare for an assault on the fortress of Dol Guldur.[3]
The Battle[]
Clash of Immortals[]
In the fortress, Gandalf was chanting spells to escape his cage.[3] He was interrupted by an Orc; the Torturer of Dol Guldur, who scorned the wizard for using spells in his master's domain. He roughly tossed Gandalf out of his cage and demanded to know the whereabouts of the Ring of Fire. Gandalf lashed the Orc in the mouth with a chain. Unfazed, the Orc examined Gandalf's hand and found his prize - Narya, Gandalf's ring of power. The Orc prepared to cut off Gandalf's ring-finger, but he suddenly froze. Galadriel emerged and commanded the Orc to stand down. When he roared in defiance, Galadriel unleashed a deadly light that blasted the Orc into pieces and rented the sky for miles.[4] She bore Gandalf away in her arms, and Sauron called out to her in black speech from the deep. He specifically chanted the verse referring to the rings of power, which Galadriel finished in the Westron "Nine for mortal men doomed to die". The pair were surrounded by the spectral forms of the Nazgûl.[3]
Seemingly startled, Galadriel retreated to a dais. Sauron warned her that she couldn't fight the darkness, especially if she was alone. Galadriel answered that she was in fact not alone. Elrond and Saruman revealed themselves on the scene and battled the spectres of darkness. The pair attempted to dismember the Nazgûl and knock them off the fortress walls, although the wraiths kept reviving. Amidst the fighting, Galadriel managed to awaken Gandalf, although doing so seemed to take a toll on her. Radagast arrived on his rabbit sled and hastily escorted Gandalf out of the fortress. Gandalf begged her to join him, but after hesitating she willfully commanded Radagast to take Gandalf away. Elrond and Saruman inflicted enough damage against the wraiths that they were forced to retreat. Galadriel lay prone on the floor.[3]
The Sorceress of the Golden Wood vs the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur[]
At last, Sauron himself emerged as his silhouette erupted in the form of a flaming eye. He bore down on the Council and the "nine" were summoned again. The Dark Lord declared that their time was up and sent the Nazgûl forth to finish them off. Using her last ounce of strength, Galadriel rose and entered her spiritual/ethereal form. She held aloft the Phial of Eärendil, which instantly blazed with light and the Nazgûl dissipated immediately.[3]
Galadriel and Sauron engaged in a short but heated battle, trying to dominate each others mind. Sauron attempted to sway her, but she defied him with scornful words. Sauron's silhouette began to fluctuate, constantly revolving and reshaping as Galadriel assaulted his spirit. The outcome was that Galadriel was able to penetrate Sauron's mind and issues a single command "Go back to the void from whence you came!" Unable to resist her any longer, Sauron screamed and fled, but Galadriel was rendered weak after their strife and fell back, Elrond rushing in to support her. The Elf Lord urged an immediate pursuit of Sauron, but Saruman played down his fear as he believed Sauron was nothing without the One Ring. Saruman instructed Elrond to escort Galadriel to safety while he vowed to deal with Sauron himself.[3]
Aftermath[]
Sauron fled to Mordor, taking the Nazgûl with him. With Sauron removed from the "Hill of Sorcery", the darkness from Mirkwood was lifted for a while.[3] At some point Saruman would confront Sauron and would realise his true power, deciding to join forces with the dark lord.[5] Dol Guldur would rise again during the War of the Ring and Mirkwood would once again fall into darkness.[6][7]
Appearances[]
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: The Movie Storybook (mentioned)
Reference List[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Extended Edition
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- ↑ The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: Extended Edition
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: War in the North