[Tar-Palantir]

Melkor would not have escaped without injury himself I'd guess. Consequently, the slithery and oh so dastardly Sauron would have stabbed Melkor in the back at an opportune moment. Quite rightly he would then flee East and South to the mountains of Mordor, "fleeing the scene" as it were.

Then Mandos of course releases the Valar and Maiar that perished (if indeed they were in the halls of Mandos). All of the perished kings of the Eldar would be returned as well by decree of Eru for the good of the entire race of Firstborn, so they could lead their people and bring tidings from Aman of the rebirth of the Kings and Queens of the Valar. And the Eldar would sing in joy and wonder at their returned Kings "We praise you! We praise you with great praise!"

The Edain would not be so lucky, many lords would be lost, thankfully men are like a virus (impossible to kill) and the surviving Edain would find new leaders, and as is the way with men they would breed like rabbits.

So you see? Everything would have turned out just the same. The Edain would still get Númenor. The Eldar would still be free of Morgoth. The Valar would still be praised with great praise. And Sauron would still end up in Mordor. Everyone East of the Ered Luin would be unaffected by the whole mess and be none the wiser.

The only difference I can see is that Sauron might have two Silmarils on his crown. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ March 22, 2003: Message edited by: Tar-Palantir ]