Warning! Spoilers for Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 ahead!
Elendil has officially taken ownership of his sword, Narsil, inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. This is a highly significant weapon since it is destined to be key in several great events inThe Lord of the Rings. Elendil will only be one of those in Tolkien’s legendarium who will wield the sword since it will be passed on to his son, Isildur, before it becomes an heirloom of the Dúnedain. For now, however, Narsil seems to be a sword like any other inThe Rings of Power, though it has an intriguing history and an even more exceptional future.
Narsil was first seen among theNúmenormean king’s possessions inThe Rings of Powerseason 1, though no attention was brought to the sword. Then, in thefinalRings of Powerepisode of season 2, QueenMiriel officially bestowed the weapon on Elendil, telling him it was called Narsil. She tells him nothing of the sword’s history, but Elendil acknowledges that Narsil’s name means “white flame” in Elvish. This is meaningful since the name Narsil implies that the blade is inherently good—an oppositional force against darkness. Of course, this turns out to be prophetic.
When Narsil Was Forged & Who Made It
Narsil Is An Ancient Sword From The First Age
NeitherThe Lord of the RingsmoviesnorThe Rings of Powerdive into Narsil’s history, but Tolkien (of course) took this sword’s story a little further. The blade was originallyforged early in the First Age by the Dwarf Telchar of Nogrod, regarded as one of the greatest smiths in Middle-earth history. His work ranks alongside the Elves like Fëanor (who made the three Silmarils) and Celebrimbor (who forged the Rings of Power). Telchar forged Narsil with a companion dagger, Angrist, which Beren used to pry a Silmaril out of Morgoth’s crown.
Every The Lord Of The Rings Character Who Carried Narsil
Narsil Was Passed Down For Centuries
There is no record of who used Narsil during the First Age. At some point, it must have been brought to Númenor, where it came into possession of the royal family. It was eventually claimed by Elendil in the Second Age. ThoughRings of Powersees Queen Miriel gift Narsil to Elendil, there’s nothing written in Tolkien’s works to suggest how the future king of Gondor obtained it. Regardless, it is known thatElendil brought Narsil to Middle-earth, which saved it from the fate faced by Númenor after Pharazôn led the kingdom to war against the Valar in Valinor.
After Elendil died in the War of the Last Alliance, Narsil—which was broken—was taken up by Isildur. Even after Sauron’s defeat, it seems that Isildur continued to carry the shards of Narsil since he had it on him during the Disaster of the Gladden Fields (when he was killed by the Orcs and lost the One Ring in the River Anduin). Before his death, Isildur gave Narsil to his squire, who escaped to Rivendell with the shattered blade.Elrond took responsibility for passing Isildur’s sword down his family line, first to the Man’s son, Valandil, and then onward for centuries untilit eventually fell toThe Lord of the Rings’Aragorn.
Aragorn was never resistant to his destiny of reclaiming Gondor’s throne in Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsbooks, so he carried the broken pieces of Narsil with him.
Narsil’s Role In Sauron’s Defeat (& How It Broke)
Elendil’s New Sword Is Important In Sauron’s Next Downfall
As ofRings of Powerseason 2, Miriel and Elendil have no idea how important Narsil will be. It’s the blade destined to destroy Sauron, but only after it is broken and its owner is killed. During the Last Alliance of Elves and Men (an event likely to occur in the fifth and final season ofRings of Power), Elendil andHigh King Gil-galadwill face off with Sauron, and they put up quite a fight. Sauron is heavily wounded by their joint effort, but the Elf and Man both ultimately lose their lived.Elendil falls on his sword, snapping it in two.
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies show Isildur taking up Narsil in a panicked effort to defend himself against Sauron, but this wasn’t quite how it went down in canon.
Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies show Isildur taking up Narsil in a panicked effort to defend himself against Sauron, but this wasn’t quite how it went down in canon. Elendil and Gil-galad had all but defeated the Dark Lord before they themselves fell, and his body lay on the battlefield, greatly wounded.Isildur then used the broken Narsil to cut Sauron’s One Ring from his hand, thus ensuring that the villain’s body would die and that he wouldn’t be able to return any time soon. From there, Narsil became an important symbol.
Narsil Possesses No Magical Properties, Despite Cutting Sauron
Narsil Was Just A Tool & Symbol In The End
Narsil is among the most iconic blades ofLord of the Rings, but it wasn’t really anything all that special on its own.It was said to shine with the light of the sun and moon and, therefore, represented the goodness of Valinor (making it a natural enemy against evil). However, this doesn’t mean that it possessed any specific powers. It was theunion of Elves and Menon the battlefield that allowed Sauron to be destroyed (just as a similar union inspired the Valar to help in the fight against Morgoth). Then, because Elendil and Gil-galad had done Sauron so much damage,it was easy enough for Isildur to cut through the villain’s finger.
Narsil Later Becomes Andúril In The Lord Of The Rings
Aragorn Has Narsil Reforged In The Lord Of The Rings
Though Narsil was technically nothing special, the sword went on to represent something spectacular. After Isildur’s squire brought the broken blade to Rivendell,Elrond foretold that it wouldn’t be reforged until Sauron returned and the One Ring resurfaced. It was, therefore, passed on through Isildur’s line under Elrond’s guardianship until the Elf gave it to Aragorn when he was 20 years old. Aragorn carried the broken blade with him for several decades until he met Frodo and guided the Ring-bearer to Rivendell. With the One Ring again accounted for,Aragorn had Narsil reforged.
After Narsil was reforged, Aragorn named it Andúril, which means “Flame of the West.”
After Narsil was reforged, Aragorn named it Andúril, which means “Flame of the West.” Doing so was a symbol of the king of Gondor reclaiming his line. Aragorn knew it was his destiny to sit on the throne, but only after completing the work that his ancestors had started. Elendil used his blade to fight Sauron, Isildur used it to cut the One Ring from his hand, andAragorn swore the reforged Andúril to Frodo, vowing to protect him in his journey to end the Dark Lord once and for all. Of course, this is all a long way off from the events ofRings of Power. For now, Narsil is simply Elendil’s new blade.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
