Elrond Almost Ruined LOTR’s Fellowship By Replacing 2 Vital Members (Gandalf Stopped Him)

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Though the Fellowship didn’t last long, its creation was essential for Frodo’s quest to destroy the Ring in The Lord of the Rings. Frodo and Sam were responsible for carrying the Ring, while Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli worked to unite Rohan and Gondor against Sauron. At the same time, Merry and Pippin bravely helped bring about Saruman’s defeat by persuading the Ents to attack Isengard. The Fellowship’s eventual split was unexpected, but its overall impact was undeniably positive.

The Fellowship of the Ring was formed at Rivendell, following a council led by Elrond, so it’s natural he played a key role in choosing its members. However, Elrond nearly made a serious mistake during the selection process – one that could have drastically changed the outcome of the quest and the fate of Middle-earth. Thankfully, Gandalf intervened and prevented a potentially disastrous error.

Merry And Pippin Weren’t Elrond’s First Choices As The Final Two Fellowship Members

During the selection of companions for Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Sam had already offered to help at the Council meeting, and Gandalf was already dedicated to the mission. Aragorn was chosen as the representative of men, Legolas of the Elves, and Gimli of the Dwarves. Since Boromir was traveling to Minas Tirith regardless, he naturally became the seventh member of the group.

Despite this, Elrond thought the Fellowship needed nine members, mirroring the nine Ringwraiths who were hunting the One Ring for Sauron. With seven already chosen, Elrond announced he would find two more, possibly from his own people, to complete the group.

Essentially, Elrond intended to send two elves from Rivendell with the Fellowship in addition to Legolas, likely to make sure both major elven groups – the Ñoldor and the Sindar – were included.

It’s probable that Elrond intended for his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, to become members of the Fellowship. They already assisted the group as scouts and later fought alongside Aragorn with the Army of the Dead. Considering their skills as warriors, their connection to Elrond, and their existing support of the Fellowship’s journey, they would have been natural additions to the company.

Merry and Pippin strongly argued that they should join Frodo on his journey, and they pleaded with Elrond to let them come along. When Elrond remained hesitant, Gandalf intervened, persuading him to rely on the strong bond between the four hobbits rather than what seemed logically sensible. This was the true purpose of the wizards’ presence in Middle-earth – to offer a unique kind of insight, one that went beyond reason. Gandalf believed, and convinced Elrond, that Merry and Pippin would ultimately be more valuable companions than even the wisest elves of Rivendell.

Merry And Pippin Played Crucial Roles In The Lord Of The Rings

If Merry and Pippin hadn’t joined the Fellowship, the War of the Ring might have been lost. Their ability to connect with the people of the forest was crucial; without it, Isengard would likely have remained under Saruman’s control. This would have forced the good people of Middle-earth to fight battles on two sides – against Sauron and Saruman – as depicted in The Return of the King. With Sauron facing a divided opposition, he might have focused more attention on stopping Merry and Pippin as they journeyed through Mordor.

Even if Frodo had managed to destroy the Ring, Sauron’s defeat wouldn’t have guaranteed safety. Saruman would have quickly taken advantage of Gondor’s weakened state to try and conquer Middle-earth.

The contributions of Merry and Pippin go far beyond Saruman, however.

Éowyn’s powerful strike with a cursed blade enabled her to defeat the Witch-king of Angmar, turning the tide of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and securing a crucial victory for Gondor. This victory saved many lives and allowed the forces of good to continue pressuring Mordor, creating the best possible chance for Frodo to succeed in his dangerous mission to destroy the One Ring.

Although it wasn’t a major event in the War of the Ring, Pippin saved Faramir from being burned at the stake. This act allowed Faramir to marry Éowyn and start a family line that continued to serve as Stewards of Gondor – a lineage that would have been lost if Pippin hadn’t intervened.

Needless to say then, Gandalf’s advice to Elrond paid off.

The Other Benefit To Merry And Pippin Joining The Fellowship

What made the Fellowship special was that it brought together different races, and this is especially clear in the relationship between Legolas and Gimli. They started out not trusting each other, but they eventually became close friends. However, their friendship might not have grown so strong if Legolas hadn’t been the only elf in the group.

If two more elves from Rivendell had traveled with Frodo, Legolas might not have become as friendly with Gimli. While Legolas would still have gained respect for dwarves, he probably wouldn’t have formed the incredibly close bond with Gimli that’s shown in The Lord of the Rings, as he would have likely spent more time with other elves.

To ensure the Fellowship succeeded, it was important to have roughly equal representation from Middle-earth’s three main races. Including three elves would have upset that balance and weakened the unity that was so crucial to the group in The Lord of the Rings.

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2025-11-05 19:42