'The Rings of Power' Episode 6 Reveals Theo's Sword's Ultimate Purpose

Early episodes of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" set up some really big mysteries for the show, like the identity of the Stranger who fell from a meteor. Another big puzzle fans must have wondered: what exactly is going on with that sword Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) found. In episode six, the secrets of the sword are finally revealed, with devastating consequences. Let's break it down.

At the start of the series, Theo and his mother, Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), live in what appears to be a quiet village in the Southlands. But it wasn't always so, since the people there and in nearby towns were enveloped in the war of Morgoth's wrath, and many of them fought alongside Morgoth. Perhaps the greatest remnants of the war are the legion of elf fighters who are still stationed near the city, including Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova). Arondir and Bronwyn are in love, despite the mistrust between Elves and Men.

In the first episode, Arondir and Bronwyn travel to a nearby town to investigate a cow whose milk is black and oily. While they're away, Theo and a friend go to a barn, and under the floorboards, Theo reveals a prize he hid in a box: a mysterious broken sword. He does not explain how he ended up with the weapon. It's pretty clear, however, that the sword is bad news. It bears the symbol of Sauron, which is also seen on the corpse of Galadriel's brother and in a secret cave where she leads her men. Sauron was Morgoth's lieutenant and is also the main villain of "The Rings of Power" (and, of course, the original Lord of the Rings series).

Things go awry for Theo and Bronwyn in episode two when they are attacked by an orc. Bronwyn ends up beheading the orc, but when Theo checks his broken sword, it continues to glow and grow.

In episode four, viewers see Theo, Bronwyn, and most of their nearby villages hiding from the orcs in a fortress. Theo and his friend sneak into town trying to get more food, but Theo is chased by orcs, who are definitely after his sword. Arondir eventually rescues Theo and brings him back to the fortress.

Once he is safe, an old man, Waldreg, confronts Theo about the sword. He tells her, "It is not a sword" and explains that it is "a power fashioned for our ancestors by the hand of its master". He speaks of "the fair servant, she who was lost but will return" and points to the mysterious meteor as a sign that he is on his way. The servant is Sauron and, according to the old man, the sword was made by Morgoth himself.

In the sixth episode, the orcs attack the humans (and Arondir). The orcs gain the upper hand and their leader, Adar (Joseph Mawle), threatens Arondir, Theo and Bronwyn until they turn the sword around. Theo gives it to them, but the story doesn't end there, as eventually Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and the Númenóreans arrive to help in the fight. They win and Adar nearly gets away with the sword, but he's stopped by Galadriel and Halbrand (Charlie Vickers). Arondir gives Theo the sword (wrapped in cloth), and Theo reveals that she is still calling him. Arondir tells him to give it to the Númenóreans so they can throw it into the sea where it...