Scariest Thing In All Of Tolkien's Creation...Ever

[Mithalwen]

for she is one of my favourites but maybe Galadriel - think of the effect on that toughest of all tough nuts Gimli:

The travellers now turned their faces to the journey; the sun was before them, and their eyes were dazzled, for all were filled with tears. Gimli wept openly.

"I have looked the last upon that which was fairest," he said to Legolas his companion. "Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift." He put his hand to his breast.

"Tell me, Legolas, why did I come on this Quest? Little did I know where the chief peril lay! Truly Elrond spoke, saying that we could not foresee what we might meet upon our road. Torment in the dark was the danger that I feared, and it did not hold me back. But I would not have come, had I known the danger of light and joy. Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting, even if I were to go this night straight to the Dark Lord. Alas for Gimli son of Gloin!" .

The power to make a dwarf cry - now THAT is scary.

[A Little Green]

Now that I came to think about it, the only things that really creep me out in Tolkien's books are hints - hints such as the given examples about things in the Sea, or rumours of darkness gathering in the East in the very beginning (that is one thing I forgot to mention in my last post, though it is probably one of the most disquieting things in the whole LotR), or dark things that creep in the northern wilderness.

The proud, ambitious people who fall into madness are a different thing entirely, they are, as has been said, scary in a different way. But scary nonetheless, I insist.

[Mithalwen]

Thats a good point Greenie. I remember Mirkwood seeming scary when I first discovered the Hobbit and I still puzzle why Gandalf, Beorn and Bilbo went the long way around to get home even after they had the blessing of The Elvenking to pass through.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

for she is one of my favourites but maybe Galadriel - think of the effect on that toughest of all tough nuts Gimli:

The travellers now turned their faces to the journey; the sun was before them, and their eyes were dazzled, for all were filled with tears. Gimli wept openly.

"I have looked the last upon that which was fairest," he said to Legolas his companion. "Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift." He put his hand to his breast.

"Tell me, Legolas, why did I come on this Quest? Little did I know where the chief peril lay! Truly Elrond spoke, saying that we could not foresee what we might meet upon our road. Torment in the dark was the danger that I feared, and it did not hold me back. But I would not have come, had I known the danger of light and joy. Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting, even if I were to go this night straight to the Dark Lord. Alas for Gimli son of Gloin!" .

The power to make a dwarf cry - now THAT is scary.

She always makes me think of Margaret Thatcher (with a better haircut, nicer clothes and less of a liking for South American dictators) with her aura of frightening determination. Like that alleged story about her having a meal with her Cabinet where she was asked what she wanted:
Mrs T: "I'll have the steak."
Waiter: "And what about the vegetables, madam?"
Mrs T: "They'll have what I'm having."

Or was that just Spitting Image?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

She always makes me think of Margaret Thatcher (with a better haircut, nicer clothes and less of a liking for South American dictators) with her aura of frightening determination. Like that alleged story about her having a meal with her Cabinet where she was asked what she wanted:
Mrs T: "I'll have the steak."
Waiter: "And what about the vegetables, madam?"
Mrs T: "They'll have what I'm having."

Or was that just Spitting Image?

I think that was just spitting image.... but I did meet someone who had hosted Sir Denis as a guest speaker for a dinner and he proffered his empty gin glass "any chance of another one of these?- it's true what they say about me you know!"

Yeah I could think of him as Celeborn.... wonder if the wise one kept hitting the miruvor ...

[Eönwë]

The old forest- trees that can hate, and go against you, and do things when your back is turned.

[Diane C]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say Tom Bombadil!

Obviously Tom is by no means evil, and neither is he terrifying to look at. But its just the fact little is known about "him" that scares me most, surprisingly.

It is unknown whether Tom has greater power over Sauron, or whether Tom can stand an attack from Mordor on his land. Tom is indeed very powerful but it is also said that he is not a mere mortal and would therefore not concern himself with the threat & subsequent consequences should Sauron possess the Ring once more and reign terror on Middle Earth!

Tolkien hinted that Tom was more or less "created" shortly after the beginning of time in Middle Earth - is he of flesh & blood or a spritual entity, we don't really know, even though he is one of the oldest life-forms on the planet, older than any the elves & wizards, as far as we know.

Putting all these factors together, plus a number of unknown factors, and we end up with one very scarey individual in my eyes