Still, you must admit that so-called "chance" plays a huge part in LotR. Take Boromir's death for example. In a way you could say that if Boromir hadn't died, the Ents would not have have attacked (and decimated) Isengard.
I know I'm playing with fire when I refer to the book without a sure quote, but I believe Elrond made some ambiguous reference to the "spiritual" (for lack of a more appropriate word) battle that the protagonistic spirits would be fighting while the Fellowship was going forward in the body. Would that have something to do with the council of Elrond not sending Glorfindel along with the Fellowship?
Perhaps the really powerful elves could exert a force that nudged things in the right direction, like when Frodo was battling against Sauron on the seat of seeing and Gandalf's voice (or spirit?) aided him when he was falling under Sauron's control.
Whoa, I got way off topic there. Sorry, but it seemed an interesting line of thought. My apologies for not using the correct terms for everything. I'm just starting the Sil and am quite ignorant as Tolkienists go. (Tolkienists hehe...) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
[ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: The Silver-shod Muse ]
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"'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis
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