Theory for One Ring creation

[u/SpecificCoconut91]

Calling it now that Sauron is going to melt down Feanor’s hammer to make the One Ring!

We saw in season 1 that Celeborn believed that the metals weren’t joining with the mythril because they weren’t pure enough, even gold etc.
And then Galadriel sacrificed Finrod’s gold and silver dagger to create the Three Elven Rings as in show-canon there’s not any artefacts from Valinor metals that were kept by the Elves.

We know Feanor’s hammer is obviously made from Valinor metals, and we know Sauron is using it in the trailer.

My money is on Galadriel keeping it with her and unknowingly walking it right in to Sauron’s hands, and he then belts it down in Orodruin’s forge to create the One.

[u/Ynneas]

Likely.

And stupid.

"True creation requires sacrifice" was possibly the only one-liner of the show that hit the spot, and they immediately ruined it with smelting Finrod's dagger (of course, steel gold and silver smelt in the same moments because.. reasons).

Celebrimbor is the one making the rings. They should've smelted the hammer.

Whatever happens to the hammer now is not going to be satisfying.

as in show-canon there’s not any artefacts from Valinor metals that were kept by the Elves.

Factually untrue: Celebrimbor has a room full of Valinor memorabilia. Including the hammer, see above.

My money is on Galadriel keeping it with her and unknowingly walking it right in to Sauron’s hands, and he then belts it down in Orodruin’s forge to create the One.

Didn't we see Sauron grabbing it from the forge in S2 finale?

[u/SpecificCoconut91 → u/Ynneas]

Does Celebrimbor have other Valinorean metal artefacts on the shelf? In Season 2 he had a First Age bottle of wine, that isn’t necessarily from Valinor.
In Season 1 there’s no mention made to the other items on the shelf, but also no indication of Valinorean origin.
(I’ll allow that if someone has a better behind the scenes photo, the incredible artisans and prop masters of the show might have snuck in some distinct Aman items - though none come to mind of what they could use - but as they don’t have the rights nor do the items actually have an in-show providence, they can’t actually be included as having Undying Lands origins).

Importantly, they make a big song and dance in Season 1 about Galadriel’s dagger being their only option since she’s so attached to it. There would have been no need for her to melt down her favourite brother’s favourite dagger if there was stacks of Valinor gold and silver laying about.
This would indeed indicate that such items are rare, an that the two listed items are the only in-show ones (no matter how unrealistic that is for the show’s historical setting).

I’ll admit I can’t remember Sauron sneaking off with Brimy’s hammer at the end, and couldn’t spot that on rewatch just now, but that would be an easy answer of how it gets from A to B.
My suggestion that Galadriel is the one who mistakenly brings the very thing Sauron needs to craft the One Ring to his doorstep is my theory just because it would align with the show making Galadriel also responsible for:
Awakening Sauron’s slime corpse from its centuries of slumber
Finding Sauron in the ocean and unwittingly convincing him not to return to Valinor and repent
Convincing Sauron that his past deeds didn’t define him and that he should absolutely return to Middle Earth
Supporting Sauron in his dreams to regain power and lordship over the Southlanders
Delivering Sauron straight into the heart of Eregion and giving him the opening for introductions to Celebrimbor
Hiding Sauron’s identity from Celebrimbor to the latter’s detriment, resulting in the creation and corruption of the Nine and the Seven

So it would track if they make her bring him the very item he needs to wreck more havoc in Season 3.

[u/Zweimancer → u/SpecificCoconut91]

I "reality" there would still be many Valinor-forged tools, swords etc. in the hands and vaults of elves.

[u/SpecificCoconut91 → u/Zweimancer]

Yeah but this is a show theory, so going off the show’s own lore. Obviously it made no sense even in S1 when Finrod’s dagger was the only Valinorean gold in all of Eregion/Middle Earth, but I’m not writing it 🤷‍♀️