Warning! Spoilers for Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 ahead!
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 mentions the Secret Fire—the oldest and most mysterious piece ofLord of the Ringslore. J.R.R. Tolkien expanded his fantasy universe far beyond Frodo’s story, establishing a foundation that allowed for a more complex tale than what readers saw on the surface. Since Prime Video’sRings of Powerseries is set thousands of years before the War of the Ring, about halfway through the Second Age, it makes sense that it would contain some deep-cut references to the more elusive aspects of Middle-earth history—especially now that Tom Bombadil is involved.
The Stranger, anIstar sent to Middle-earthto aid in the fight against Sauron, has run intoTom Bombadil inThe Rings of Powerseason 2.This strangeLord of the Ringscharacter will assist the Stranger in understanding his destiny by helping him learn to wield a staff and, therefore, command magic.As the pair work toward this goal in episode 6,Bombadil frequently references the Secret Fire, indicating that it would whisper to the Stranger if he learned to listen. In classic Tom Bombadil fashion, he doesn’t explain what this means. Thankfully, Tolkien’s works provide more answers.
The Secret Fire Is Literally The Power Of Creation In Lord Of The Rings
All Life In Middle-earth & Beyond Comes From The Secret Fire
The Secret Fire, also called the Flame Imperishable, is the essence and power of creation inLord of the Rings. It’s the force that gives living, sentient beings the ability of free will, andtrue life cannot be created without it.Thegod ofLord of the Rings, Eru Ilúvatar, was the only being capable of wielding the Secret Flame since it is said to be a part of him—he is the Flame Imperishable, and the Secret Flame is him.Ilúvatar sent this flame to the earth’s core as well. So, not only did it burn as part of the fëar (soul) of every living being, but it served as the burning soul of the world itself.
Fëa and Hröa are Quenya words for soul and body. Fëa comes from the Secret Fire, while Hröa comes from the earth.
The power of actual creation was a highly coveted thing inLord of the Rings, and Tolkien indicated inThe Silmarillionprecisely what would happen if a supreme being attempted to create life without the Secret Fire. One of Ilúvatar’s Vala, Aulë, was desperate to create beings he could watch over and love since the Children of Ilúavatar, Elves and Men, had not yet woken up in Middle-earth. So, he used earth and stone to create Dwarves. Because he didn’t possess the Secret Fire, his creations were lifeless and could only move, talk, and think when Aulë consciously puppetted them.
When Ilúvatar saw what Aulë had done, he chastised him. However, he saw that the Vala’s intentions were good, and as a gift, hegranted the Dwarves true lifewith the Flame Imperishable. This demonstrated howthere could be no conscious life in Middle-earth without Ilúvatar’s direct involvement. This was a fact that Melkor, another of Ilúvatar’s Vala, could not wrap his mind around, and it was for precisely this reason that he became the villain Morgoth—Middle-earth’s first Dark Lord.
The Secret Fire Was A Major Reason Morgoth Became A Villain
Melkor Coveted The Power Of Creation
Ilúvatar himself was the only being capable of creating true life, and he created the Ainur (the Valar and the Maiar) to assist in the execution. This made them all naturally passionate about creation. They were musicians and artists, but the songs and sculptures they crafted were the earth and its features. Still, this wasn’t enough for Melkor, who desired thetruepower of creation.He spent endless centuries searching for Ilúvatar’s Secret Fire, never understanding that it was within the god ofLord of the Ringshimself. The more he searched and failed to create life, the angrier Melkor became.
Eventually, Melkor resorted to the closest he could get to creating life. When the Children of Ilúvatar woke up in Middle-earth, he found and captured some and began distorting them into creatures of his own. They werestill technically Ilúvatar’s creations—their souls were part of the Secret Fire. However, their bodies and minds had become something new. InRings of Power, Adar is one of the Elves that Melkor had captured and tormented to be a mockery of Ilúvatar’s children. This is one of Tolkien’s possibleorigins for the Orcs ofThe Lord of the Rings.
The Rings Of Power Hints The Secret Fire Is The Wizards' Source Of Magic
Tom Bombadil Implies The Stranger’s Power Comes From The Secret Fire
It’s always been clear that the Secret Fire is innately connected to the concept of the soul inThe Lord of the Rings, but a great deal about this force is still a mystery. This naturally allowsRings of Powerroom for creative liberty.Tom Bombadil implies in season 2, episode 6 that the Secret Fire is something like the voice of a god, which can be heard from within by those ready to hear it (like the Holy Spirit of Christianity). Additionally, Old Tom implies that this flame is what gives the wizards ofThe Lord of the Ringstheir magic. While this is never confirmed by Tolkien, it makes some sense.
Since all things come from Ilúvatar inThe Lord of the Rings, and the Secret Fire is of Eru, it’s fairly reasonable to say that this is where the Stranger and other wizards' power comes from.
Since all things come from Ilúvatar inThe Lord of the Rings, and the Secret Fire is of Eru, it’s fairly reasonable to say that this is where the Stranger and other wizards' power comes from. InRings of Powerseason 2, episode 6, the Stranger asked Tom Bombadil how he could “master” his powers, to which old Tom answered, “What does the Secret Fireneed with you as a Master?” The implication is thatevil Istari, like the Dark Wizard (and later Saruman), gained the belief thattheycommanded their powers. Since evil inMiddle-earth began with Melkor’s desire to command the Secret Fire, this all ties together nicely.
Why Gandalf Called Himself A Servant Of The Secret Fire In Fellowship Of The Ring
Gandalf Understood His Place In Iluvatar’s Plan
The idea that the Secret Fire is the source of an Istar’s power connects well to Gandalf’s bigLord of the Ringsdeath as well.Tom Bombadil implies inRings of Powerthat the Stranger will only have fluid access to magic once he understands that he is not the master of the Secret Firebut that the Flame is the master of him. This is precisely what Gandalf said when facing the Balrog inFellowship of the Ring. He commanded the beast—who would have once been a Maia like himself and other wizards—to back down, calling himself the “servant of the Secret Fire”:
“‘You cannot pass,’ he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.”
Gandalf acknowledges that he serves the Secret Fire inLord of the Rings, and while this doesn’t necessarily mean that this is the source of power, it allowsRings of Power’s narrative to fit in smoothly. The wizards' statement also foreshadows his resurrection sinceit was Ilúvatar whosent him back as Gandalf the White—something only possible because of the Secret Fire and Gandalf’s understanding of his place in the Greater Plan. It’s what made the wizard the perfect enemy to Sauron inThe Lord of the Rings. If the Stranger learns the same lesson inRings of Power, he will soon be a powerful force against evil.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
