As a longtime fan of Tolkien’s works, I’ve spent countless hours delving into the lore and history of Middle-earth, and the question of what happened to the dragons is one that has always intrigued me. After a thorough investigation, it seems that these fire-breathing beasts have been around since the early days of Middle-earth and have left their mark on its history, particularly during the First Age.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Lord of the Rings,” a diverse array of beings inhabit the world. There are Ents, Eagles, Mûmakil (Oliphaunts), Wargs, and even the mysterious Watcher in the Water. However, one popular fantasy creature seems to be missing: dragons. Let’s explore their presence within Tolkien’s lore and their role post-destruction of the One Ring.
Tolkien doesn’t provide a clear answer about dragons in his works. However, two significant fire-breathing dragons, often referred to as “Urulókë” in Elvish, appear at the start and finish of his stories, suggesting that they have longevity, although they are usually kept out of sight. This could imply that they play important roles throughout the narrative.
Let’s explore what is known about dragon history, particularly in relation to “The Lord of the Rings,” and see if we can find a plausible explanation for their fate.
A brief history of dragons
As I delve into the lore of Middle-earth, I find myself tracing back to the First Age, a millennium and a half into its history. It was during this era that I encountered Glaurung, infamously known as “The Father of Dragons” and “The Silmarillion” describes him as “still young and not yet fully grown.” Emerging from the stronghold of the then-Dark Lord Morgoth, this dragon was a formidable force in his youth.
In the First Age, dragons such as Glaurung initially lacked wings and were considered earth-bound creatures. It wasn’t until the climactic battle known as the War of Wrath that winged dragons made their debut. Ancalagon the Black, the largest winged dragon serving Morgoth, was said to be the most powerful among them. Despite his immense size, Ancalagon met his end in this battle at the hands of Eärendil, the father of Elrond. Unfortunately, many other dragons also perished during the conflict, and those that survived fled.
Dwarves, Men, and Dragons
“Following the War of Wrath, I find myself stepping into a new era of Middle-earth’s history as detailed in ‘The Silmarillion’. At the onset, it seems, Men lived in darkness and were plagued by numerous malevolent creations born from Morgoth’s mind during his reign – demons, dragons, misshapen beasts, and the grotesque Orcs, twisted reflections of Ilúvatar’s children. Life for Men was indeed filled with hardship.”
In my gaming world, it seems that during the tale’s unfolding, many dragons found a home in the harsh, frozen landscapes of Middle-earth’s north. This is where their presence is most noticeable, as the narrative becomes less dense here. However, there are hints scattered throughout. For instance, Gandalf suggests in “The Fellowship of the Ring” that Sauron had managed to amass all the Dwarven rings untouched by dragon fire – one of the few things potent enough to melt most Rings of Power. By working backward from this point, we can infer that dragons must have been responsible for the destruction of some of these rings. Since they were created halfway through the 3,500-year-long age, it’s safe to assume that dragons began attacking Dwarves at that time. Yet, despite these subtle indications, dragons largely kept a low profile during most of the Second Age and beyond.
As we approach the final stages of the third millennium-long Third Age, dragons start resurfacing. The appendices in “The Return of the King” mention that around two thousand years into this era, an ancient Rohirric king named Fram successfully battles a formidable dragon called Scatha. Furthermore, they note that roughly 2,570 years into the age, dragons are spotted in the far north and begin to trouble the Dwarves. Twenty years later, the Dwarven King Dáin I meets his demise at the hands of a dragon. Two centuries after their return, Smaug descends from the north and lays siege to the Lonely Mountain, marking a significant point in history.
There is no sign dragons are done by the end of the story
Indeed, prior to “The Lord of the Rings,” there were numerous indications of dragons in existence. However, when Bard struck down Smaug with his renowned black arrow, it may appear as though dragon tales came to an end. But, to clarify, they did not cease and Smaug was not their last.
In “The Hobbit” novel, Thorin explains to Bilbo that during those times, many dragons inhabited the Northern regions. With dwarves either fleeing south or perishing, gold likely becoming scarce in the North due to the rampage and devastation caused by these dragons, things were only getting worse. He further elaborates that there was a particularly ravenous, powerful, and evil dragon named Smaug who resided there. Thus, it can be inferred that while there were several dragons present, Smaug stood out as one of the most formidable and malicious among them.
50 years on, Gandalf once more speaks of dragons – in the present context. In “The Fellowship of the Ring” novel, the wizard remarks, “It is said that dragon-fire could melt and annihilate the Rings of Power, but currently, there exists no dragon alive whose fire burns with sufficient intensity.” This sentence structure suggests that dragons do indeed exist, although they are not ready to disintegrate the rings.
In summary, Dragons were present since ancient times in Middle-earth and played significant roles during the First Age. Towards midway through the Second Age, they became less active and hid for many millennia. They resurfaced 2,500 years into the Third Age, causing trouble for the Dwarves. Throughout the remaining history of the Third Age (about another 500 years), they continued to be a part of the northern Middle-earth storyline. As such, if someone asks about the dragons in “The Lord of the Rings,” it’s reasonable to say that they likely still dwell in their northern territories at the end of the story.
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2024-08-25 18:00