The Mysterious 10th Bearer.

[Boromir88]

We know flat out 9 bearers of the ring, Sauron, Isildur, Deagol, Smeagol, Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Tom Bombadil, and Sam. But who is the mysterious 10th bearer, who changed the chain, the ring was on, in Rivendell? When Frodo wakes he notices a new chain on the ring. So who changed this? Whoever did could have been the 10th bearer, or maybe there is no 10th bearer, maybe a previous bearer (Bilbo or Gandalf), or soon to be bearer (Sam) did it.

The Shadow of the past quotes "The ring was in Frodo's pocket, connected by a chain, hanging from his belt." Then in Rivendell there is a new chain around it.

Here is my take on things.

First off, it would have to be somebody who knew Frodo had the ring (Gandalf, Elrond, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo). 2nd I doubt Gandalf or Elrond would bear the ring themselves, or allow anyone else to touch or even look at the ring. So in my opinion they are not a possibility. Then could it have been Bilbo? Would make sense, Bilbo knew Frodo had the ring, and he was one of the 4 people to actually visit Frodo (Gandalf, Elrond, Sam, and Bilbo). I would think however if Bilbo saw the ring, he would take it, and to give it up, it would take some prodding from Gandalf. In a situation like that I would think would have been recorded and documented so I don't think Bilbo. Leaves us Sam here, Sam is definately a high possibility since possibly if Gandalf and Elrond couldn't watch all the time, Sam was there watching Frodo he very well could have changed the chain. Two other possibilities were Merry and Pippin, them curious little hobbits, knew Frodo had the ring, but was never said whether they visited him or not. Or maybe a random elf over heard about the Ring and gave Frodo a new chain. Maybe an Elven-smith crafted Frodo a new chain and changed it, but being from Aule, and being craftspeople they would have probably been deeply seduced by the ring. There are an endless amount of possibilities so have it.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Another interesting question is Why would this person change the chain?

(Unless I'm just forgetting that the text explicitly tells us that the chain needed repair. I certainly hope not!)

[Boromir88]

I've dug up the exact quote from "Many Meetings." The page won't do any good since there are many different editions. It is right around the part when Bilbo asks Frodo if he could see the ring.

LOTR: Many Meetings
When he had dressed, Frodo found that while he slept the Ring had been hung about his neck on a new chain.

[Morsul the Dark]

I believe it was Bilbo Sam or Gandalf Probably one of the latter seeing how much Bilbo craved it it would be difficult for him to return it to Frodo the reason I believe it is one of these three is because of a certain pattern

9 nazgul
9 fellowship members
and
9 bearers

[Voralphion]

We know flat out 9 bearers of the ring, Sauron, Isildur, Deagol, Smeagol, Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Tom Bombadil, and Sam

When exactly was Gandalf a bearer of the ring.? Unless I'm forgetting something, he made sure he never touched the ring as he was so afraid of it corrupting him. Also, I don't think Tom Bombadil could be considered a ring bearer as he only was in possession of it for such a short time, simply holding the ring does not make you a ring bearer. This would be the same for whoever put the ring on the new chain in Rivendell as they only would have needed to hold the ring momentarily.
As to why the chain was changed, perhaps it was done so it would be more secure and so he would be more mindful of it than when it was on the previous chain in his pocket.

[Encaitare]

Interesting point, the 9, 9, 9!

I think that it would probably have been Sam who switched the chain, but he was instructed to do so by Gandalf.

[luthien-elvenprincess]

I don't think that Bilbo placed the Ring on the chain because the text in the chapter entitled Many Meetings states:

'Have you got it here?' (Bilbo) asked in a whisper. "I can't help feeling curious, you know, after all I've heard. I should very much like just to peep at it again.'

If Bilbo had handled the Ring in placing it on a chain and hanging it around Frodo's neck...why would he have asked this?

The ring was probably placed around Frodo's neck because he wasn't wearing his clothes while in bed...therefore no pocket to keep the ring in! Maybe the old chain wasn't long enough to go over his head.
I think that either Gandalf or Elrond switched it.

By the way...when did Gandalf bear the ring...I simply cannot remember a time that he did!!!

[Firefoot]

I think Boromir88 is refering to this incident:

Frodo took it from his breeches-pocket, where it was clasped to a chain that hung from his belt. He unfastened it and handed it slowly to the wizard. It felt suddenly very heavy, as if either it or Frodo himself was in some way reluctant for Gandalf to touch it.
Gandalf held it up. It looked to be made of pure and solid gold. "Can you see any markings on it?" he asked.
"No," said Frodo. "There are none. Iti is quite plain, and it never shows a scratch or sign of wear."
"Well then, look!" To Frodo's astonishment and distress the wizard threw it suddenly into the middle of a glowing corner of the fire.

Personally I don't think that some of these people can really count as "bearing" the Ring. Handling it, yes, but bearing it, no. Those who actually bore the Ring I would count as Sauron, Isildur, Gollum, Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam. I even hesitate to put Deagol on that list because he had it for such a short time.

But anyway, I would say that probably Elrond or Gandalf put the Ring on the chain; my opinion is that is was Elrond.

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

I believe it was Bilbo Sam or Gandalf Probably one of the latter seeing how much Bilbo craved it it would be difficult for him to return it to Frodo the reason I believe it is one of these three is because of a certain pattern

9 nazgul
9 fellowship members
and
9 bearers

to quote myself and saucepanman i modify my theory

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Well, since Tolkien never gave us a definitive answer (absent any undiscovered manuscripts), I would say that Gothmog could be any of the three. It's down to the reader.

On that basis, my vote is for Nazgul since, in an old War of the Ring game that I have, he is depicted as one. And so, I have considered him to be a Nazgul for some 25 years and I am not about to change my mind now.

But even applying logic to the situation, my answer holds. I would expect the second-in-command at Minas Morgul and in the assault on Gondor to be of similar power to the commander (ie the Witch-King). Khamul, as the Lieutenant of Dol Goldur, was almost certainly directing the assaults on Lorien, the second of which occured on the same day as the Battle of the Pelennor. I would therefore conclude that the Witch-King's second-in-command was one of the other Nazgul.

Thinking about it on the way home from work

if gothmog was a nazgul then perhaps we can count bill as the tenth fellowship member considering the fact sam basicly considered him human(at least in spirit) to counted in with the rest

then the pattern becomes 10,10,10

a tenth bearer...Elrond would be most logical from what ive read

While reading this thread I got many different suggestions for the tenth "bearer".

My finger points at Elrond too.
Or perhaps some of his elves, but then again Elrond would have been too afraid of his servants falling for the lure of the ring, so he did it by himself or with a little help of Gandalf. (They propably discussed about it, Gandalf was near when Elrond did it, but didn't really take part at the process itself.)
In Rivendell there were many talented elves, and I'm more than sure that there was atleast one who knew how to make a new chain or repair the old one. (Propably a new one, where would have the ring been held while repairing the old chain? In Eldond's kitchen drawer with the forks and spoons? Yeah, didn't think so.)

And that point of Morsul The Dark, of the tenth Nazgul and Fellowship member really just makes my opinnion stronger.

JRRT did deffinitely love the idea of making the numbers of the good & bad & fallen equal.

[Dûrbelethwen]

On the subject on how many were actual ring bearers, maybe the nine come in as the six bearers of the ring of power (Sauron, Isildur, Gollum, Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam) plus the three bearers of the Elven rings(Galadriel, Elrond, and Gandalf)

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Dûrbelethwen, with that theory, are we not forgetting Cirdan?

[Encaitare]

And Gil-Galad as well.

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

I don't know if it's been covered already, but I honestly think it was Elrond who changed the chain.

While he was healing Frodo, personally, he would have been undressing Frodo, and I doubt he would leave such an heirloom and menace in the pocket of Frodo's overcoat where it could actually if it felt like it, fall out haphazardly, roll down the floor and by some chance of luck, off a cliff into the Bruinen, to be washed down to the Ringwraiths as they collected themselves on the banks miles down, without clothes.

My point being, it couldn't be trusted to just be left in the pocket, and I doubt he would burden / trust (use these terms lightly, we all know the formalities and tricks that the ring requires people to take into account) any other elf with moving it, or touching it, or handling it in any way. He knew the best place for it was around Frodo's neck, where it couldn't make an exit, tricky thing.

While it's possible as he switched it, he had a Galadriel like test of whether he should take it or not, I doubt it.

For starters, Elrond wanted the thing destroyed, he had for thousands of years, ever since Isildur got a hold of it.

Second, Gandalf would likely have been there with him. There's strength in numbers, and reasoning too. Especially since they both had Elven rings. Anyway, it would have been impossible.

No, I imagine he handled the thing, just like Gandalf had done when he threw it into Bag End's fireplace, many weeks before. He probably quickly and gingerly grabbed it, looped the chain in, and had as short a contact with the thing as possible.

So I'm assuming it was Elrond.

It's definitely true that handling it and bearing it are completely different.

[Nimrodel_9]

In my view all that you have listed were bearers except Gandalf. All of them had it for some time, if you count Sam, having had the ring after Shelob`s attack, and carrying Frodo up Mount Doom. But Gandalf only held the ring for a few seconds time. As for switching the chains, I believe it would have been Sam. Gandalf and Elrond avoided touching the ring, whereas Sam was not being bothered by its power, and did not wanting to take it away from Frodo. But who gave him the chain? Maybe Elrond. Hmmm... interesting thread.