In Tolkien’s tale, this moment takes place deep beneath the Misty Mountains. Separated from his companions after a harrowing escape from goblins, Bilbo finds himself alone in the dark, feeling his way through damp stone tunnels. By sheer chance—or perhaps fate—his hand brushes against a small, cold metal ring lying on the floor. He pockets it, not yet realizing its immense significance. Soon afterward, he encounters Gollum, a strange and unsettling creature who lives in the b
