The Three Elven Rings

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Then why not keep the One there indefinitely?

For the same reason Gandalf refused the ring whne Frodo offered it to him, he feared what would happen if it corrupted him. Wearing the ring, or keeping it near you, may accelerate it's ability to corrupt the person, but as long as you have "title" to it, it is not neccecary. If it was, Gandalf really could have simply hid the ring in "the deepest pits of Mendeluin" without Denethors knowledge (or for that matter simply buried it somewhere deep enough it would never be dug up again.) Actually putting the one ring in the pocket dimesion might have been extra risky, from Gandalfs point of view. As long as the ring was in the hands of someone who wore it or kept it close, it was theoretically possible to take it away physically, before the individual got too powerful. If Gandalf stuck in in the pocket dimension however, it would be somewhere where few if any people could get at it..........EXCEPT GANDALF. it would be like having it in an impregable box to which you had the one and only key. While the Ring wroght it's corruption on Gandalf, it would be in a place where no-one else could get near it. And by the time Gandalf took the ring out again to put it on, the ring would have likey made him so corrupt and so powerful as to be unopposable.



QUOTE=Inziladun;655631]I favour the idea of him being returned to his old body, since that's where he was when Gwaihir found him. All the items he had carried on his person would have been still there, undisturbed.[/QUOTE]

This, I agree is the most likey answer, though it does bring up again the "why naked?" question (My best answer is that we are supposed to assume Gandalfs nudity acually occured before he died on the peak, his clothes having been burned off (either by the Balrog's flames or by his own power pouring forth as he "uncloaks" to fight the Balrog)

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

For the same reason Gandalf refused the ring whne Frodo offered it to him, he feared what would happen if it corrupted him. Wearing the ring, or keeping it near you, may accelerate it's ability to corrupt the person, but as long as you have "title" to it, it is not neccecary.

This makes sense to me. It would be like what happened to Bilbo, who tried to lock the Ring, but couldn't keep it out of his mind.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

For the same reason Gandalf refused the ring whne Frodo offered it to him, he feared what would happen if it corrupted him. Wearing the ring, or keeping it near you, may accelerate it's ability to corrupt the person, but as long as you have "title" to it, it is not neccecary. If it was, Gandalf really could have simply hid the ring in "the deepest pits of Mendeluin" without Denethors knowledge (or for that matter simply buried it somewhere deep enough it would never be dug up again.) Actually putting the one ring in the pocket dimesion might have been extra risky, from Gandalfs point of view. As long as the ring was in the hands of someone who wore it or kept it close, it was theoretically possible to take it away physically, before the individual got too powerful. If Gandalf stuck in in the pocket dimension however, it would be somewhere where few if any people could get at it..........EXCEPT GANDALF. it would be like having it in an impregable box to which you had the one and only key. While the Ring wroght it's corruption on Gandalf, it would be in a place where no-one else could get near it. And by the time Gandalf took the ring out again to put it on, the ring would have likey made him so corrupt and so powerful as to be unopposable.

The "pocket dimension' theory may technically be possible, I guess. With the lack of any textual evidence, though, I rather think Narya was simply hidden on Gandalf's person somewhere when not worn.

Originally Posted by Alfirin

This, I agree is the most likey answer, though it does bring up again the "why naked?" question (My best answer is that we are supposed to assume Gandalfs nudity acually occured before he died on the peak, his clothes having been burned off (either by the Balrog's flames or by his own power pouring forth as he "uncloaks" to fight the Balrog)

Though his clothing apparently did perish in the fight, I think the inner meaning of "naked" was that Gandalf's fleshly form in which he had arrived at Middle-earth was destroyed, and his spirit was "unclothed".

'Naked I was sent back--for a brief time, until my task is done. And naked I lay upon the mountain-top.'

TTT The White Rider

There I think Gandalf referred to both states of "nudity", physical and spiritual. His "naked" spirit had returned to finish his task, but before that he was taken by Gwaihir to Lórien and given his white clothing.

[Alfirin]

[QUOTE=Inziladun;655658]

Though his clothing apparently did perish in the fight, I think the inner meaning of "naked" was that Gandalf's fleshly form in which he had arrived at Middle-earth was destroyed, and his spirit was "unclothed".
QUOTE]

This seems to contradict your theory that Gandalf ressurected into his orginal body? Either his old body was not destroyed, or her got a new body, it has to be one or the other.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

This seems to contradict your theory that Gandalf ressurected into his orginal body? Either his old body was not destroyed, or her got a new body, it has to be one or the other.

I should have been more specific. His spirit was returned to the location where his old body had been "killed".

[popo]

Enjoy reading all the experts insights on this site, hopefully some can help my simpleton understanding as it relates to this topic.

In the Second Age the Elves remove their rings when they learn of Sauron's treachory. Problem solved right - they thus avoid being bound to Sauron, and instead go to war with him, and defeat him.
By the Third Age we have multiple accounts of the "ring bearers" wearing their rings and using them to defend Lothlorien, Rivendell, and inspire those around them. Basically combating the one.
1) At what point do the ring bearers start to wear the rings again? After Sauron is defeated? After Isildur loses the one?
2) Isn't it awfully dangerous to go on wearing the rings once they know that the One is discovered. Especially when they know it is about to be precariously marched into Mordor? At that point shouldn't they remove the rings to avoid the potential of the loss of the One, and themselves being bound to him?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by popo

Enjoy reading all the experts insights on this site, hopefully some can help my simpleton understanding as it relates to this topic.

Welcome to the Downs! I am not an expert, but I'll give your questions a shot.

Originally Posted by popo

1) At what point do the ring bearers start to wear the rings again? After Sauron is defeated? After Isildur loses the one?

I would say after Sauron's apparent defeat, the keepers of the Three would have thought it safe to wield their rings.

Originally Posted by popo

2) Isn't it awfully dangerous to go on wearing the rings once they know that the One is discovered. Especially when they know it is about to be precariously marched into Mordor? At that point shouldn't they remove the rings to avoid the potential of the loss of the One, and themselves being bound to him?

They didn't know the One had been found for certain, until Gandalf confirmed it by the Ring's inscription. At that point they knew it was not in the hands of the Enemy or his servants. Therefore, it was still safe to use the Three. If Sauron regained the One, it would all be over for them, whether they removed the rings and tried to hide them, or not.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by popo

2) Isn't it awfully dangerous to go on wearing the rings once they know that the One is discovered. Especially when they know it is about to be precariously marched into Mordor? At that point shouldn't they remove the rings to avoid the potential of the loss of the One, and themselves being bound to him?

The thing is, the Rings were hidden. They were hidden from all eyes, and only the Ringbearers knew about them. With the Ring Sauron would have known for sure where they are, regardless of where and how you hide them - even Frodo saw a glimmer of Nenya on Galadriel's finger due to the Ring's influence. But the Rings could not have been hidden better; with the Ringbearers, it was still possible to use their power to withstand evil, but if they were "burried" like some untouchable treasure, they would have still been found but brought no good all that time.

[Findegil]

My oppinion is that the bearers of the Three did not realy take any great risc. Celebrimbor and his companions had have time enough to remove the rings when Sauron made the One. I think that dominating a strong charachter like Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf through the rings was not a matter of one moment. For the Nazgûl it had taken long years and they had been of the realtively week mankind. For the dwarves Sauron failed completly due to their very special nature. In the case of Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain Sauron failled beacuse they used the time they had to remove their rings and were strong enough to resist the urge to use them again.
That means in the moment that Sauron would gain the one Ring, the bearers could take their Rings of and be save for the moment personaly. But As was explained Sauron would see all that they had done with the Rings in the long time in which they used it. It would also made clear to him who the bearers were and where the rings were. I do not think that Sauron could undue all the works done with the lesser rings but he could turn the use of the rings on a moral plain against the bearers to weaken their position and he would make the bearer the formost target of his miltary strategy with much more success since the protection from the Rings would be removed.

Respectfully
Findegil