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Old 10-14-2008, 05:01 PM   #15
Morthoron
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
 
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Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
The intriguing thing about Valaric intervention, for me anyway, is the subtle implication that Manwë acted in the War of the Ring. Although it is never stated, I do find it interesting that the coming of the Eagles (and the Eagles of the North were the folk of Thorondor, who was the messenger of Manwë) happened to arrive at the critical moment of the battle before the Black Gates. Did they just decide to attack on their own accord? It doesn't seem plausible, given that their eyries were so far north (unlike in The Hobbit, where they could see Orkish troop movements from their mountain strongholds). After all, Olórin was chosen for the Istari at the behest of Manwë, and it would explain Gandalf's extraordinary relationship with the Eagles better than the mention that he saved Gwaihir from an arrow wound in The Hobbit.

Also, there is the passage in 'The Field of Cormallen' which speaks of Sauron's final fall:

Quote:
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
...black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent; for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell.
Yes, a 'great wind' (out of nowhere seemingly) took the shadow of Sauron away. Manwë, as we all know is Súlimo, Lord of the winds. Of course, their is also Ghân-buri-Ghân's mention of the wind changing as well. And then there is the death of Saruman:

Quote:
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
...about the body of Saruman a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shoruded figure it loomed over the Hill. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a sigh dissolved into nothing.
So, Saruman's spirit looks in supplication to the West, but a cold wind, as if in final judgment, blows the lingering shadow away. It seems to me, at least by inferrence, that Manwë had more direct interaction at that time than Ulmo.
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