Celebrimbor

Celebrimbors name means "silver fist" or "Hand of silver" in Sindarin.

He was born in Valinor, the son of Curufin, fifth son of Fëanor (son of Finwë and his first wife Miriel) and Nerdanel. His unnamed mother remained in Valinor. He followed his grandfather into exile, though little is said of his deeds during the First Age. He probably fled to Nargothrond after the Dagor Bragollach. However, he took no part in the deeds of Curufin and Celegorm regarding Lúthien, Beren, and Finrod. He even repudiated his father's deeds and did not follow him when the two brothers were expelled from Nargothrond. Celebrimbor survived the First Age, but probably was forced, due to the Doom of Mandos, or perhaps freely elected to remain in Middle-earth rather than return to Valinor.

In Tolkien's stories, Celebrimbor plays an important role as the maker of the Rings of Power. During the Second Age, he lived in the Elvish realm of Eregion. Under the guidance and instruction of the Dark Lord Sauron &mdash; who feigned good intentions, calling himself Annatar, the "Lord of Gifts" &mdash; Celebrimbor made sixteen rings: seven for the Dwarves, and nine for Men. But secretly, without Annatar's knowledge, Celebrimbor created the three Rings of the Elves, the greatest and fairest of the Rings of Power. These rings were thus free of Annatar's corrupting influence. Celebrimbor named the rings Vilya, Narya and Nenya after the principal Middle-earth elements of air, fire and water, respectively.

At this time, Annatar was secretly forging the One Ring which would enable him to rule Middle-earth. Annatar reassumed his role as the Dark Lord and placed the One Ring on his finger, claiming dominance over all the Rings of Power and their bearers. Celebrimbor and the Elves of Eregion defied Sauron by withholding the other rings from him. Sauron retaliated by attacking Eregion, laying waste to the realm. Celebrimbor was captured in the sack, and was forced under torture to disclose where the Nine and the Seven were held, but he would not reveal the whereabouts of the three Elvish rings. He had already sent the three rings away for safekeeping: Vilya and Narya to Gil-galad in Lindon, and Nenya to Galadriel in Lothlórien. Sauron captured the lesser rings and used them as instruments of evil in later years, particularly against Men. Celebrimbor died from his torment, the last direct descendant of the line of Fëanor.