Did the Last Alliance of Men and Elves Believe They Had Defeated Sauron Forever?

The Last Alliance of Men and Elves, united under the leadership of Gil-galad and Elendil, believed they had defeated Sauron forever after their victory at the Battle of Dagorlad and the Siege of Barad-d?r. This alliance, which culminated in a direct confrontation with Sauron, led to the cutting of the One Ring from his hand by Isildur. However, the belief in a final victory turned out to be misguided. Although Sauron's physical form was destroyed, his spirit endured, and the One Ring played a crucial role in his eventual return to power.

Sauron's Destruction and the One Ring

During the Second Age, the alliance of Men and Elves faced Sauron in the climactic Battle of Dagorlad and ultimately succeeded in defeating him. The battle at the Black Gate was intense, with Sauron's forces suffering significant losses. The decisive moment came when Isildur, son of Elendil and heir to the High Throne of Gondor, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger, marking what many believed to be the final defeat of the Dark Lord.

Isildur was elated, proclaiming that Sauron would never rise again. But his hubris and pride led him to refuse to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom, a decision that would have the unforeseen consequences of ensuring Sauron's renewed strength in the following years. The belief in a final victory was based on a misguided assumption that merely destroying the One Ring would eliminate Sauron's threat to Middle-earth. Unfortunately, this proved to be an incorrect estimation.

The Enduring Threat of Sauron

After the Battle of Dagorlad, Sauron's spirit retreated back to Barad-d?r, his stronghold in Mordor. For a time, the alliance thought that they had eradicated the threat of the Dark Lord, but Sauron's seedling influence lingered, waiting for the right moment to bloom anew. The One Ring, which Isildur claimed for himself, did not realize its full potential until it fell into the hands of other ambitions.

The Towers of the Teeth: Vigilance Against Sauron's Return

Sam's journey through the barren lands of Mordor serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to prevent Sauron's return. In The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien describes the Towers of the Teeth, Narchost and Carchost, as structures built by the Men of Gondor to ward off any possibility of Sauron's return. These towers stood guard over the Black Gate, a strategic point in the battlefield, and were built as a symbol of Gondor's strength and resolve against the dark forces of Mordor.

However, the Towers of the Teeth and the other fortresses, including the Tower of Cirith Ungol, eventually fell into disrepair. Listed among other architectural marvels, the Tower of Cirith Ungol was constructed by the Men of Gondor, but like the others, it lost its purpose over time. The treachery that followed, particularly the fall of Minas Ithil to scriptors and Orophin, left the fortresses vulnerable and, ultimately, in disarray.

Conclusion

The Last Alliance of Men and Elves' belief in a final victory over Sauron was premature. Their initial success in the Battle of Dagorlad and the Siege of Barad-d?r marked a significant milestone, but it did not spell the end of the Dark Lord's presence in Middle-earth. The importance of vigilance and the necessary steps to ensure that Sauron's influence would not reemerge are lessons that the later inhabitants of Gondor and other realms needed to learn the hard way. The enduring threat of Sauron and the importance of the One Ring are themes that reappear throughout the history of Middle-earth, serving as a reminder of the complex and often exhausting struggle against darkness.