The Fellowship consists of nine companions, chosen by the Council of Elrond. These eight companions are to accompany Frodo (the 9th) to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring of power created by Sauron to enslave the free peoples of Middle Earth.

Frodo Baggins: Frodo Baggins was born Sept. 22nd to Drogo and Primula Baggins. When his parents drowned while boating on the Brandywine River, Frodo's older cousin Bilbo took him in. Bilbo left Frodo the One Ring, and Frodo with Gandalf's prompting took the Ring to the Elvish city of Rivendell, where it's fate would be decided. At the Council of Elrond, Frodo bravely volunteered to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The creature Gollum stalked Frodo, but Frodo was able to tame him so that Gollum would lead them into Mordor. Gollum led the hobbits faithfully until they came to Cirith Ungol, the Pass of the Spider. There he betrayed them to the giant spider Shelob, who temporarily paralyzed Frodo. After being rescued by Sam, they finally arrived at Mt. Doom. Instead of throwing the Ring into the fire though, the Ring had finally consumed Frodo and he claimed the ring for himself. Gollum, who had followed them, bit off Frodo's finger that had the Ring on it and then accidentally fell into the fires while celebrating the return of the "precious" to himself. After returning to the Shire, Frodo led the hobbits in the Battle of Bywater in Hobbiton, freeing it from Saruman's control. After the War of the Ring, Frodo, wearied from the poison of the nazgul and the burden of carrying the Ring, passed over the sea to the Grey Havens with Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel, and other elves.

Samwise Gamgee: Sam was the youngest of 6 children, and followed in his father's footsteps as gardener to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Sam was caught eavesdropping on Gandalf and Frodo's conversation about the Ring, and was chosen to be Frodo's companion during the quest to destroy the Ring. Later, at the Council of Elrond, Elrond chose Sam to be a member of the Fellowship. Sam found the Ring and Sting after Frodo lost them after being captured by Shelob. Sam then rescued Frodo from Shelob and the orcs of Cirith Ungol, and supported Frodo all the way to Mount Doom, though Frodo would have given up if he had been by himself. Sam fought in the Battle of Bywater and married Rosie Cotton, his childhood sweetheart. Before Frodo passed over the sea, he gave Bag End to Sam. Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire seven times and had 13 kids. After Rosie died, Sam, the last of the Ring-bearers, went over the sea to join Frodo.

Meriadoc Brandybuck: Merry was Frodo's first cousin once removed and Pippin's first cousin. Merry arranged for Frodo's move to Crickhollow, and was among the conspirators who eavesdropped to learn about the Ring. (See the entry on Pippin) Merry, along with Pippin, was captured by the Uruk-hai, but he managed to escape, thanks to Pippin cutting his bonds with the knife of a dead orc. After Pippin left with Gandalf, Merry offered his sword to King Theoden and became the king's esquire. Merry disobeyed Theoden's command to stay in Rohan, and rode along with the king's company to Minas Tirith, hitching a ride with the rider "Dernhelm", who was really �owyn in disguise. Merry fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where he assisted �owyn in destroying the Witch-king. There he fell under the deadly Black Breath of the Witch-king, and was healed by Aragorn. After the War of the Ring, he returned to the Shire and fought as one of the commanders in the Battle of Bywater. He married Estella Bolger, sister of Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger.

Peregrin Took: Pippin was Frodo's second cousin once removed. In the book FotR, Pippin accompanied Frodo to the house at Crickhollow, and there Frodo discovered that Pippin, Merry, and Sam, had known about the Ring all along, and planned to travel with him to Rivendell and beyond. In the movie FotR, Pippin and Merry were stealing cabbages and carrots from Farmer Maggot, and ran into Frodo and Sam. Pippin was appointed a member of the Fellowship at Rivendell, after insisting that he would follow the Fellowship. Pippin was captured by the Uruk-hai to be taken to Saruman. He managed to free himself and Merry while the uruks were distracted and slaughtered by the sudden arrival of the Riders of Rohan. Pippin and Merry fled into Fangorn Forest, where they met Treebeard and roused the Ents into storming Saruman's fortress of Isengard. Pippin rejoined Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf at Isengard, where he and Merry were acting as door-wardens. Gandalf rode with Pip to Minas Tirith, where Pippin gave his sword to Denethor and became a knight of Gondor. He helped save Faramir's life and fought in the Last Battle before the gates of Mordor, where he slew a great troll. After the War of the Ring, he returned to the Shire, where he and Merry led the hobbits in the Battle of Bywater. He married Diamond of Long Cleeve, and had one son, Faramir Took. He was also known for always being hungry.

Gandalf: In origin a Maia of Manw� and Varda, Gandalf came to the northwest of Middle-earth after a thousand years of the Third Age had passed, with four others of his order. At the Grey Havens, C�rdan entrusted him with the Red Ring, Narya, to aid him in contesting the will of Sauron. Gandalf wandered widely in Middle-earth, and learned much of its races and peoples. Unlike his fellow Wizards Saruman and Radagast, he never settled in a single place. He was instrumental in the victory of the War of the Ring, but during that conflict he battled with a Balrog, and though he was ultimately victorious, his spirit left his body, but was sent back to Middle-earth to complete his task. Gandalf finally left Middle-earth in 3021 (Third Age), when he departed over the sea with the Ring-bearers.

Aragorn: Aragorn, son of Arathorn, was born on March 1st. Aragorn is the heir to the throne of Gondor, one of the lands of Men. When Aragorn's father died while Aragorn was young, his mother took him to Rivendell, where he was raised by Elrond. There, at the age of 20, Aragorn fell in love with Elrond's daughter Arwen. Elrond told Aragorn that he would not let his daughter marry any man less than the king of both Gondor and Arnor so Aragorn went into the wild. He met Gandalf and assisted him through many perils. He met Frodo at the Prancing Pony Inn in the village of Bree. Aragorn, called Strider, led the hobbits from Bree to Rivendell. At the Council of Elrond, Aragorn offered his sword to Frodo and became a member of the Fellowship. After Gandalf fell, he led the Fellowship through the rest of Moria and into the woods of Lothlorien. Aragorn fought and won many battles during the War of the Ring, including Helm's Deep, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Last Battle before the Gates of Mordor. After the War, he married Arwen Undomiel and ruled as king for many years. He had one son, Eldarion, and a number of daughters. Aragorn was called "Elessar" when he took the throne. The name means Elf-stone, in reference to the green stone that Galadriel gave him.

Boromir: Boromir was the son of Denethor and brother of Faramir. Boromir and Faramir, both had a dream about the fate of Minas Tirith. In the dream they were told to seek for Rivendell. Denethor chose Boromir to go, and when Boromir arrived there after a long journey, he volunteered to join the Fellowship. Boromir never truly understood that the Ring could only be used for evil purposes, nor did he acknowledge Aragorn as heir to the throne of Gondor until the very end of his life. Boromir pleaded with Frodo to lend him the Ring, and when Frodo would not, Boromir tried to take it by force. Frodo put on the Ring and disappeared, leaving Boromir to realize what he had said and done. Boromir redeemed himself by trying to defend the hobbits Merry and Pippin from an attacking army of Uruk-hai. The Uruk-hai eventually overwhelmed him and Boromir was pierced by many arrows. Merry and Pippin were captured, and Boromir died after telling Aragorn that he had tried to take the Ring from Frodo, and that the uruks had taken the little ones. Just before Boromir died, Aragorn assured him that he had kept his honor intact and that he would save their people, Gondor, from falling.

Legolas: Legolas is the son of Thranduil, king of the Elves of Mirkwood Forest. Thranduil is the Elven-king who imprisons the dwarves Bilbo was traveling with in The Hobbit. King Thranduil sent Legolas to Rivendell to tell the Council that the creature Gollum, whom the Elves had kept in captivity for long years, had escaped. Legolas was chosen to represent the Elves in the Fellowship, and disliked Gimli the Dwarf from the very beginning. After Gandalf fell in Moria, and the Fellowship stayed in Lothlorien for a time, Legolas' attitude toward Gimli changed remarkably, and they became the best of friends. Legolas chose to follow Aragorn in his quest to rescue Merry and Pippin. He fought at Helm's Deep, and was one of the Grey Company that traveled through the Paths of the Dead. He also fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Last Battle before the Gates of Mordor. After the War of the Ring, Legolas passed over the sea to the Undying Lands and took Gimli with him. Legolas had great skill with a bow and arrow, and with the taming of horses. His name means "Greenleaf". He was 2931 years old when Frodo left the Shire.

Gimli: Gimli is the son of Gloin, one of the dwarves Bilbo traveled with. Gimli traveled to Rivendell with his father to seek council as to what should be done about the servants of the Enemy who asked the Dwarves for news of "Shire" and "Baggins". At the council, Gimli already seemed to dislike Legolas. Elrond appointed him to the Fellowship to represent the Dwarves. In Moria, Gimli's joy at seeing the home of his forefathers quickly turned to grief when he learned that Balin, his first cousin once removed, was dead, and with him all of the Dwarves who had been establishing a colony there. After Gandalf fell, Gimli formed an unlikely friendship with Legolas that lasted all his life. While in Lothlorien, Gimli became quite enamored of Galadriel, queen of the Elves. Gimli also accompanied Aragorn in the quest to rescue the captured hobbits. He fought at the same battles that Aragorn and Legolas fought at, and killed 42 orcs at Helm's Deep. After the War of the Ring, Gimli and his fellow dwarves reforged the gates of Minas Tirith that the Witch-king had broken. Gimli sailed over the sea with Legolas to the Undying Lands. Gimli was 131 years old when Frodo left the Shire.