When Sauron is seen fondling Fëanor’s hammer at the end of The Rings of Power season 2, the scene reveals a hidden depth to the villain’s characterization. Celebrimbor was always unlikely to reach The Rings of Power season 2’s ending alive, and so it proves, as Sauron riddles the elf’s body with arrows in pursuit of the Nine Rings for Men they made together. Sauron then pushes forward with his plan, besting Adar and Galadriel, assuming command of the orc army, and positioning himself as The Rings of Power season 3’s undisputed primary antagonist.

Among the chaos, Sauron finds time to claim Fëanor’s hammer, and spends a few moments reflecting with the tool in his hands. On the surface, one might suggest that Fëanor’s hammer is far too precious for even Sauron to abandon in the ruins of Eregion. The tool will also prove incredibly useful if Sauron plans on crafting another Ring of Power, which he absolutely does, according to The Lord of the Rings. There is, however, a more personal reason Sauron seems to be so entranced while holding Fëanor’s hammer at the end of The Rings of Power season 2.

Fëanor’s Hammer Proves Sauron Really Did Consider Celebrimbor A Friend On Some Level

Sauron Isn’t Completely Heartless, It Seems

As he stands upon the cliff from which Galadriel had just tumbled, Sauron holds Fëanor’s hammer with a sense of melancholy. The Dark Lord does not look like someone delighted to acquire a useful new weapon that will further his goal of controlling Middle-earth, nor is he entranced by the hammer’s beauty like it’s a Silmaril or another blonde elf to crush on. Sauron looks contemplative, still, and perhaps even a little morose, which suggests he might actually be grieving the death of Celebrimbor in this scene.

It seems Sauron came to feel something toward Celebrimbor during their days crafting together, whether that be kinship, professional respect, or even friendship.

While the hammer originally belonged to Fëanor, it serves to symbolize the will of Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power. Celebrimbor was the hammer’s custodian, and it acted as a constant reminder of his motivation – to create something that surpasses the Silmarils. More than anything else, the hammer is the embodiment of Celebrimbor, as far as The Rings of Power is concerned, so it’s very curious that Sauron not only keeps it but handles it with a certain reverence too. The suggestion is that Sauron, despite repeatedly shooting Celebrimbor with arrows, truly connected to the elf during their time together.

Just as he developed a genuine connection to Galadriel in The Rings of Power season 1, it seems that Sauron came to feel something toward Celebrimbor during their days crafting together, whether that be kinship, professional respect, or even friendship. Keeping the hammer feels like Sauron’s way of remembering that connection, and ruing how Celebrimbor refused to cooperate with his plan to “heal” Middle-earth. After all, Sauron would never let anyone, even someone he respected, get in the way of his plan.

Keeping Fëanor’s Hammer Continues The Rings Of Power’s Pattern Of Humanizing Sauron

Sauron Is A Troubled Soul In The Rings Of Power’s Canon

Sauron feeling some iota of positive emotion for Celebrimbor continues an arc The Rings of Power has been building since the very beginning. During season 2’s flashbacks, set shortly after he recovered from a coronation ceremony gone very wrong, Sauron appeared to be questioning his path, and even acknowledged that he had committed evil deeds in years gone by.

Sauron’s affection for Galadriel is, according to all available evidence, completely genuine, and he repeatedly insists his masterplan is for the benefit of all Middle-earth. Speaking with Celebrimbor, Sauron once even attempted to blame his wicked tendencies on excruciating torture sessions at the hands of The Lord of the Rings villain Morgoth. While Sauron believes Morgoth forced him to become evil, even Celebrimbor recognizes Sauron is lying to himself. Still, even just trying to shift the blame suggests that Sauron feels some degree of guilt over his evil actions.

Sauron was among several maia who fell under Morgoth’s influence, but many of the others became Balrogs.

This sympathetic dimension to Sauron is an original addition from The Rings of Power. J.R.R. Tolkien’s character wished to dominate and control Middle-earth, and never overtly pretended this was for the realm’s greater good. Sauron’s time spent as Annatar never yielded any sort of Celebrimbor camaraderie, and no flirty eyes were being thrown Galadriel’s way. All of the above are examples of where The Rings of Power has attempted to make Sauron a multi-faceted, more complex villain who isn’t consistently evil through every fiber of his soul.

Fëanor’s Hammer Sets Up Sauron’s One Ring In The Rings Of Power

The One Ring Could Be Crafted In The Rings Of Power Season 3

Fëanor’s hammer isn’t just a decorative piece. Famed for its role in the creation of the Silmarils in The Lord of the Rings history, the tool is capable of crafting magical items of the utmost potency. With the relic now in his possession, it’s possible that The Rings of Power‘s Sauron could use Fëanor’s hammer to ultimately craft the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom.

As he considers the hammer, Sauron might be attempting to decipher Celebrimbor’s last words.

Ordinary tools would surely not withstand such heat or, indeed, such power, meaning the hammer could hold a practical purpose for Sauron rather than just a symbolic one. It’s likely that Sauron conceptualized the One Ring long before The Rings of Power season 2’s finale – the plan most probably formed before The Rings of Power even began – but acquiring Fëanor’s hammer is significant because it brings that dream a step closer to reality.

Sauron may actually be meditating upon both Celebrimbor and the One Ring when holding the hammer in The Rings of Power season 2’s ending – more specifically, Celebrimbor’s dying words. As he bled profusely, the fallen Lord of Eregion proclaimed that the Rings of Power would become Sauron’s downfall, and one in particular would prove his undoing. As he considers the hammer, Sauron might be attempting to decipher Celebrimbor’s last words, weighing up whether he should heed them, or forge ahead with his dastardly scheme.