Also known as: Iarwain Ben-Adar, Forn, Orald, Eldest
A deeply enigmatic being whose true nature Tolkien deliberately left mysterious. Tom Bombadil dwells in the Old Forest east of the Shire with his wife Goldberry, the River-daughter. He is called "Eldest" and claims to remember the first raindrop and the first acorn, predating even the arrival of Morgoth. The One Ring has absolutely no power over him; he can see Frodo when Frodo wears it, and when he himself puts it on, he does not become invisible. He rescued the hobbits from Old Man Willow and from the Barrow-wights during their journey to Bree. At the Council of Elrond, his nature was discussed, and it was decided that he could not be entrusted with the Ring, for he would not understand the need to guard it and would likely lose it. Whether he is a Vala, a Maia, or something else entirely remains one of Tolkien's deliberate mysteries.