The Lord of the Rings No. 3 — cryptic crossword

A themed (The Lord of the Rings) cryptic puzzle: 35 clues on a 13×13 grid. Solve it online — check your answers as you go, ask for a hint, and read how each clue works once it is solved.

Across

1. Party free of charge for a big name (5)
4. Steward's heir born with gold, love and peace in Moscow (7)
8. Son hiding in cupboard is nearest (7)
11. Balls of yarn, reportedly, give leads (5)
12. Leading man holding note is straight (6)
13. Kid losing time? Relax (4)
15. Extremist in cult rally (5)
16. Try this place, by the sound of it (4)
18. Simon's strains arranged for broadcasts (13)
21. American chopper stored in the loft (4)
22. Sailor and love heading off upstairs (5)
23. One leading prayers: "I'm early!" (4)
25. Piece worn by person at Ascot (6)
28. Commandos grab French and English strongboxes (5)
29. Norse god buried in work, wearing down (7)
31. Time to remix Exodus for DJs (7)
32. Royal switching right to left is true (5)

Down

1. Ride Wagner's Ring, for one (5)
2. Throne room? (3)
3. Beer spilled where hobbits met Strider (4)
4. Take the bait for a snack (4)
5. Resort for engineers on the links (8)
6. Horse's mood rearing where the Ring was forged (5,4)
7. Scamps crashed Sal's car (7)
9. Polish spotted round hospital (5)
10. At first, sky turns ominous, rain mounts! (5)
14. Gandalf's steed saw fox had run wild (9)
17. Mark and Ed judged (8)
18. Passage of Tristan at sea (7)
19. Steep, they say, to fleece (5)
20. I laid out an epic (5)
24. Carry award up for big shot (5)
26. Word from all four quarters? (4)
27. Pawn returning swag (4)
30. Four-year climber (3)

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