Nothing more was said of these two wizards in The Lord of the Rings as it was published. However, whilst preparing (in 1954) an Index for The Return of the King, Tolkien wrote what his son later referred to as the 'essay on the Istari'. There it is said that of the chief wizards who went to the North of Middle-earth there were five, and two of these were clad in sea-blue. Little was known about these two in the West of Middle-earth; even their individual names were unknown, but they were known collectively as Ithryn Luin, the Blue Wizards. It is said they travelled into the East with Curunír but they did not return into the West. Their fate was unknown, but some held that they fell into evil and became servants of Sauron. [1] Kriticos, Christian (3 September 2021). "Book review: "The Nature of Middle-earth" enhances Tolkien's world". winteriscoming.net . Retrieved 9 September 2021. The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, Part One, chapter II: " The Appendix on Languages", pg. 20

The War of the Jewels was prompted after Fëanor refused to forfeit his Silmarils to the Valar, for the rekindling of the Two Trees. He ended his and the Ñoldor's allegiance with the Valar, and bore a new conflict between the Elves and Melkor. [2] The Valar soon fortified their realm, and brought about the "Hiding of Valinor", preventing Melkor and Fëanor and his followers from entering. The conflict between Melkor and the Valar was not resolved until the war's climax, during which the Valar came physically into Beleriand, helped conquer Melkor's forces at Angband, and captured him. He was taken to Aman and cast behind the Door of Night. [3] A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus I really do not know anything clearly about the other two [wizards] – since they do not concern the history of the N[orth].W[est]. I think they went as emissaries to distant regions, East and South, far out of Númenórean range: missionaries to 'enemy-occupied' lands, as it were. What success they had I do not know; but I fear that they failed, as Saruman did, though doubtless in different ways; and I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron.J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XIII. Last Writings", pp. 384-85 Based on the above material, the history of the two "Blue Wizards" can be determined as the following:

Originally, Fallohides were often found as leaders among clans of the other Hobbits. In the year TA 1601, two Fallohide brothers, Marcho and Blanco, decided to journey across the River Brandywine and settle on the other side. Large groups of Hobbits followed them, and most of their former territory was depopulated. The Hobbits who had left called their new home the Shire. During the early Third Age and until the end of the Watchful Peace, they were tasked with finding where Sauron dwelt. They failed.The Nature of Middle-earth will comprise numerous late (c. 1959-73) and previously unpublished writings by J.R.R. Tolkien on the “nature” of Middle-earth, in both chief senses of that word: both metaphysical and natural/historical. Demonic creatures of fire and shadow, Balrogs were fallen Maiar, loyal to the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. They participated in the wars of the First Age of Middle-earth but were mostly destroyed during the War of Wrath which ended the Age. [T 5] [T 6] By the Third Age, the only remaining Balrog was "Durin's Bane," the Balrog of Moria, killed by Gandalf. [T 7] Free peoples [ edit ] Join Dr. Corey Olsen for a free online discussion of Carl F. Hostetter’s beautiful edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Nature of Middle-earth.” Tolkien’s later writings, previously unpublished notes, are presented for the first time as of publication just this past summer in the tradition of The History of Middle-earth.