Powers above Rauros???
 

In "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", it is stated that the Nazgul had come back to Mordor and all that, but they wouldn't extend their power North or Rauros because of some powerful forces there...(I don't have my book with me to quote)
To what was Tolkien referring?
This is NOT a quiz, it's driving me nuts to figure this out.

First and foremost: welcome to the 'Downs, Pringolfin, enjoy being dead! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
I have to go to check that part from my book (that's from the Sil, isn't that?) 'cause I don't remember it. All I can think now is that nazguls were afraid of water in general so the falls of Rauros could have been quite a scary place.

I remember reading that, and I think at first I thought it refered to Fangorn and Lothlorien, neither of which would be a safe place for a Nazgul. It may, however, refer to Amon Lhaw and Amon Hen, the hills of Hearing and Seeing. There seems to be some kind of power in these places, aside from their vantage point overlooking Gondor's northern border on that side of the Misty Mountains. Frodo certainly sees visions while sitting on the Seat of Amon Hen, visions that may or may not be attributed to the fact he is wearing the Ring at the time. It had certainly never reacted like that any other time he put it on. What effect the power of this place may have had on the Nazgul is anybody's guess, if such power even existed there. It's possible Tolkien may have mentioned it somewhere, but I posess neither the letters nor any of the Histories of Middle Earth, so I cannot check on it. Perhaps, someone better-read in Tolkien can do so for you? I'm curious as well.

Thanks. I think any of those might be correct. I'm starting to lean towards the Lorien thing, but maybe there is some kind of power in those places as well?

North of Rauros... well, it might reffer, as previously stated, to Fangorn, Lothlorien and the Mirkwood elves... All of them posing a great threat to the Nazgul...

But other than that, Im awaiting for the Wise to answer your question... [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

The Seat of Seeing conferred a great sight to the seated...in fact, (and note how Sauron draws Frodo's view) it seems very similar to the Palantíri.

The Seat of Hearing would be the same, but for sound.

Powerful stuff indeed, but that wouldn't scare a Nazgul. No, I think Lórien is what they fear. Everyone fears it practically, even the good guys.

I seem to remember something about the Argonath being mentioned, but I'd have to look that up.

Considering how the blades of Arnor repelled the Nazgul and other creatures of darkness, I see no reason why the Argonath should somewhat do the same. They are said to guard the realm of Gondor in a way, and perhaps, they did that.

Quite possibly. I'd thought of that but then concluded it was too hard to call either way...though the Nazgul over Anduin, ahd ot been nearer to Rauros, could have helped this matter. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]