Quote:
Originally Posted by Inziladun
Fair Lórien certainly was. However, in the scheme of things in Middle-earth it was unnatural. A pocket of timelesseness had been created in a world in which time was not static. I don't believe that state could not have endured indefinitely, regardless of whether the One perished, or remained unfound. The Elves were ultimately doomed to fade if they did not return to the Undying Lands, and neither Nenya, nor the other two of the Elven Rings would have been able to stop that. I think Galadriel and Elrond knew that their actions with Nenya and Vilya were only temporary.
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Temporary because of the inevitable doom that must come in the aftermath of Frodo's quest. Yes, Mandos doomed the elves who stayed in Middle-earth, but the Three were specifically made to resist this weariness, so why would you suggest that they would be ineffective? Is it not their whole purpose? Did they not bring rejuvenation, halt decay, and warded off evil? Sure, their making and purpose wasn't aligned to Iluvatar's plans, but they were rings of
power. If it were not for Sauron's binding, the rings' demise would've been averted. Again, Galadriel herself stated that she wished the One had never been or remained forever lost (if this wish were of any avail in coming true). Someone as wise as she would know. This desire for the One to remain lost or non-existant indicates that Nenya (and we can safely assume Narya and Vilya as well) was doing its job just fine. To dwindle into a rustic folk of dell and cave... now why would she suggest this to Frodo only
after the Three are shorn of their power? That's just it! The Three prevented fading and weariness. That's the whole purpose for their creation and they held the greatest powers in that area compared to the sixteen.