In Fellowship chapter 2, “Shadow of the Past”, Gandalf says "Seven the Dwarf-kings possessed, but three [Sauron] has recovered, and the others the dragons have consumed."
The Ring of Thror was sorta uncertain at so late time, IIRC.
Sauron got that Ring very late. It was the third Dwarven Ring he recovered.
If you recall, Gandalf braved the dungeons of Dol Guldur and found the now mad Thráin. From Thráin, Gandalf recovered the map and key to Erebor (The Lonely Mountain) but the Ring had already been taken from Thráin.
Sadly the Dwarves never found out the Ring was lost to Sauron until the Council of Elrond. It is believed that was one of many reasons Balin tried to reclaim Moria.
I thought only the three Elven Great rings were made by Celebrimbor without Sauron’s help? I seem to recall Gandalf saying that Sauron had never touched them so they were free of his taint.
I have always imagined the ring wraiths were wearing their rings, even if their bodies were no longer of flesh and blood.
You’re correct and that is what I was posting about the 9 & the 7. The 3 were indeed free of his touch.
Could it be both - the spirit of the mountain was directly responsible for dumping all that snow on Fellowship, but only after Sauron reached out and stirred it up?
Actually, the chanting that Saruman is doing at the top of Orthanc in the film is imploring Caradhras in Elvish (not sure what flavor of Elvish) to smite those pesky beings crawling on him. Yes, an invention of the film, but consistent with the the “Caradhras did it” interpretation. I thought that was kind of clever of Jackson.
I agree. Hardy canon, but nicely done.
I guess I should learn Elvish. A nice Easter egg - thanks for telling me.