Part 3/8:
Powers Beyond Elements
At first glance, the names of the rings might suggest elemental powers related to fire, water, and air, but this is misleading. According to Tolkien's "Silmarillion," the three rings were the last created and held the greatest power. Their true abilities involved preservation and the staving off of decay in their realms.
The Elves—immortal beings—were meant to inhabit the Undying Lands rather than Middle-earth, which was meant for men. The aging process and the sorrow associated with fading away were unnatural for the Elves. The Elvish Rings helped alleviate this issue by warding off the devastating effects of time upon their owners and their lands.