I realise that it was Isildur's oath that kept the Dead Men back from death, swearing upon the Stone of Erech. The Erech stone-affair was what I was referring to. (Edit: I recognise that there was probably something to do with Illuvatar in this.)
As to Elrond's flood and the stone of the walls of Orthanc; how exactly they were contrived -- by an affinity with nature, by words of command, by mental-physcic force -- I do not know. 'Magic' is used for want of a better word. Magic-like forces, born out of all three of these inductions that I gave as examples (perhaps others, too) indeed existed in Middle-Earth.
(Edited addon [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] The Elves, who were utterly bound up in and were a part of the world in their essence, could perform 'magic' in some cases because of this connection; because they were a part of what they were magic-ing. The Ainur have much-varied and strong powers in Ea, and since the World thrives upon their work and their music, they also have this connection that the Elves do.
Men do not. Thus, Men do not have 'magical' powers to the extent of the Elves.)
Obviously, it was the thrust of Merry's arm that inflicted damage upon the Witch-King's knee like that. The sword did not do it on its own, own of its own power. 'Magical' connotations, however, were attached to it.
[ August 14, 2003: Message edited by: Gwaihir the Windlord ]
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