LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 02 - The Passing of the Grey Company

[Celuien]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I'm not too sure about that. Doesn't Tolkien say that Eru only directly intervened in the breaking of Numenor and the return of Gandalf? Keeping the spirits of the dead in Middle earth was not something the Valar were empowered of themselves to do (although they apparently could.)

As I said, it is a very problematic part of the story.

Well, like I said, it's just a wild thought. Quite a problematic part of the story.

Maybe stepping in isn't quite the right term. Something more along the lines of triggering a consequence pathway related to swearing their oath would be more accurate. And there is the issue of who does have the authority to keep the dead in Middle earth, since neither the Valar or descendants of Isildur can be responsible.

I'll have to look around for the statements on direct intervention - no time to check just now...