- Tolkien thought again about who Trotter is. One idea was to let him be a diguised elf, a friend of Bilbo and one of the Rivendell scouts.

- But very soon Tolkien gave Trotter his final name and race : Aragorn, of the race of Men. The wooden shoes of Trotter were cut off at that time.

- Tolkien also cut off the idea that Gandalf couldn't help the Hobbits at the Weathertop because he had been imprisoned by the giant Treebeard and replaced it by the idea that Gandalf was imprisoned in the Western Tower by the Black Riders. At that time also the idea arose that the leader of the Black Riders is a wizard.

- The chapter "A long-expected party" reached almost it's final form.

- Frodo's companions changed into Faramond Took, Peregrin Boffin, Hamilcar Bolger and Merry Brandybuck.

- Gollum's original name was changed from Dígol into Sméagol, the story with Sméagol and Déagol was invented.

- The Gatekeeper in Bree was called Harry Goatleaf, the final chapter "Strider" was still divided into two chapters at that time, both called "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" but with subtitles. One of the subtitles was : "The Cow jumped over the Moon"

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At that time Tolkien had reached almost the final form of the first part of The Fellowship of the Ring. Then he turned his mind to Saruman.

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Saruman was first called Saramond the White and then Saramund the Grey. Isengard was first called Angroble and Irongarth.

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At that time the idea arose that Gandalf was captured by Saruman. To rescue him, Glorfindel was sent out as well as messages were sent out to the Eagles, by which Gandalf was finally saved.

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The Land of Ond, where Boromir was first mean to come from, was now changed into Minas-Tirith.

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The chapter "The Council of Elrond" was written in five different versions, each version getting step by step closer to the final form.

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Gwaihir was first called Gwaewar.

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Tolkien first invented two western gates of Moria, one Dwarven-door and one Elven-door.

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Tolkien now returned to the point of the story where the Fellowship entered the Mines of Moria. Gimli's song was invented, as well as Mithril appeared for the fist time.

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Although the Balrog in Moria existed since the first drafts of the story, the first idea was that it hadn't been dwarves who had awoken the Balrog but that it had been sent to Moria by Sauron.

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In earlier drafts Gandalf did not fight against a Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm but against a Black Rider.

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In one of the first drafts Gandalf blasts the Chamber of Mazarbul with his staff and says afterwards that he will need ages to recover his strength and wizardry.

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The Balrog was first described like this : "A figure strode to the fissure, no more than man-high yet terror seemed to go before it. They could see the furnace-fire of ist yellow eyes from afar, its arms were very long, it had a red tongue. Through the air it sprang over the fiery fissure. The flames leaped up to greet it and wreathed about it. Ist streaming hair seemed to catch fire and the sword it held turned to flame. In its other hand it held a whip of many thongs."

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First the Bridge of Khazad-dûm was broken by a cave troll and not by a Balrog.

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After the Fellowship of the Ring had left Moria Tolkiens first idea was that Trotter wished to go to Minas Tirith right from the beginning and that Boromir planned already at this point of the story to use the ring. However already at this early stage of the story Tolkien made a sketch of the rest of the story which is really very close to the final story, although Shelob is not yet mentioned and although Tolkien had the idea that after the fall of Mordor Boromir could be slain by Aragorn which shows that at this point Boromir was not meant to die at Parth Galen. Another difference is that Frodo was not meant to leave Middle-Earth to Valinor.

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The river Nimrodel was first called Taiglin, later the name changed into Linglor.

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Haldir was first called Hathaldir, his brothers first names were Orfin and Rhimbron. Lórien was called Nelennas.

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Although the story had already reached Lórien Tolkien thought again about the Balrog and had the idea that the Balrog should be Saruman and that there should be a battle between Saruman and Gandalf on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. This battle should be win by Gandalf who would turn afterwards into Gandalf the White.

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Galadriel was first meant to be Elronds wife.

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The first drafts of the Farewell to Lórien were written like this : Celeborn asks the Fellowship to decide on which side of the Anduin they want to travel. As the Fellowship is not sure yet, he gives them boats and some Elves that should join their journey until Parth Galen.

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The idea of the gifts that Galadriel gives to the Fellowship existed from the beginning, only some changes were made. Galadriels gift to Aragorn first was a sheath for his sword, called Branding. Her gift to Gimli first was a brooch made of a green stone, set in gold.

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Aragorn's name was changed again into Ingold, Elfstone was first meant to be the name given to Gimli by Galadriel

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After finishing the chapters about Lórien Tolkien made the following sketch of how the story should end :

"The Three Rings are to be freed, not destroyed by the destruction of the one. Sauron cannot arise again in person, only work through men. But Lórien is saved, and Rivendell and the Havens – until they grow weary and until men eat up the world. Then Galadriel and Elrond will sail away. But Frodo saves the Ring. Frodo saves the Shire; and Merry and Pippin become important. Sackville-Bagginses are chucked out (become pot-boys at Bree). Sam's casket restores Trees. When old, Sam and Frodo set sail to the island of the West. Bilbo finished the story. Out of gratitude the Elves adopt them and give them an island. Saruman becomes a wandering conjuror and trickster."

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After Frodo has left the company at Parth Galen Sam was first meant to follow him but to loose his track. Instead of finding Frodo Sam was himself found by Gollum who finally leads him to Frodo. In this draft Legolas and Gimli leave the group after the departure of Frodo and Sam, while Aragorn and Boromir go to Minas Tirith. Merry and Pippin are lost.

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Tolkien's first idea of what should happen to Sam and Frodo in Mordor was that Frodo is brought to Minas Morgul by some Orcs. There Sam find hims and they escape to Mordor. Gollum picks up their trail. Then Sam was meant to leave Frodo, probably because of a broken leg, however Tolkien first wanted Frodo to reach the Fiery Mountain alone.

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Gandalf was meant to be met by Legolas and Gimli when they were just on their way home. Later Tolkien changed his mind about that and let Gimli, Legolas and Trotter meet Gandalf before they enter Rohan.

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The Rohirrim were first called Rohiroth, Éowyn was first meant to be the daughter of Théoden.

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First the three hunters were meant to meet Eomer and his Men before these had reached the Orcs.

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On the brooch that the hunters find was first scratched "M&P".

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Tolkien's idea of where the Ents come from was that they had been made by a Lord of the Elves to understand the trees better.

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The first idea was that only three Ents were left. Treebeard and two others of which one was captured by Saruman and one went tree-ish.

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A possible return of Gandalf was as an old beggar coming to the gates of Minas-Tirith. Another idea was that Gandalf should be met by Sam.

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One idea for the end of the story was that Aragorn should marry Éowyn. But later Tolkien wrote : "Cut out love-story of Aragorn and Éowyn. Aragorn is too old and lordly and grim."