Arguably, mankind and Middle Earth were in more danger in the Second Age (from themselves and Sauron) than the Third, and it took Ar-Pharazon attempting an amphibious assault of Valinor for them to act.
I don't see the Valar as lifting a finger, really. - Sauron was but a Maiar and could only become just-so powerful
- Most of the elves had already relocated to Valinor
- The Third Age was an age of Men, and I can't think of any time in the Silmarillion when the Valar exercised naked power on mankind's behalf (collectively, not individually, and not in the way they did for elvenkind & opposing the Vala, Morgoth). Men had the gift of death and the gift of self-determination, and I've always had the impression that they were much more left to their own fates.
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Even as fog continues to lie in the valleys, so does ancient sin cling to the low places, the depression in the world consciousness.
Last edited by Andsigil; 11-14-2018 at 05:05 AM.
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