Although Boromir wants to use the Ring as a weapon, Gandalf and Elrond know that the Ring will corrupt anyone who uses it. Even if Sauron were destroyed, the new wielder of the Ring would become as evil, if not more so, and the threat would remain. The only choice is to send a small group secretly into Mordor, to cast the Ring back into the fires of Mount Doom where it was forged. They hope Sauron will not expect this, nor will he notice a handful of people when whole armies are moving. Although terribly afraid, Frodo volunteers to take the Ring. A company of nine people, to match the Nine Ringwraiths, is selected for the task: Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf, along with Sam, Merry, and Pippin, become the Fellowship of the Ring.
Before they depart, Bilbo gives Frodo his elven sword, Sting, and a mailshirt made of mithril, the lightest and strongest metal in Middle-earth. The elves also reforge Narsil, so that Aragorn can carry the blade against the Enemy. The Fellowship begins the journey southward, but before they reach the mountain, flocks of birds appear scouting the landscape, spies of either Sauron or Saruman. A blizzard that strikes while they are on a mountain path forces them to turn back before the snow buries them or they freeze to death. As they descend, an attack by vicious wargs convinces them that they need to find a more sheltered path. They resolve to traverse the Mines of Moria, which once housed the greatest dwarven civilization but are now overrun by orcs and foul creatures.
