It's not just about having the power...

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

If you want a perfect example of how, in Tolkien's world, merely exercising your rights or your power is not the best choice, you only have to look to Aragorn.

Or Tom Bombadil. He could have easily enslaved everything within his land land to be his to own and control. He could have forced everthing to be his slave. And just by singing. And since he choosses his borders, what's to stop him taking over the whole of middle earth. Yet he doesn't. He is content with a simple life and doing things himself. He could have had a huge suply of slaves, but still, he doesn't use them.
I just wonder why he doesn't get rid of the Barrow-Wights. He only gets rid of them after they misbehave ("you naughty boy!"). But maybe he has pity on them, or maybe they just don't concern him. He doesn't do things just because he can.

And since they talked together, who knows what ideas spread...



Anyway, Gandalf learnt much during his imprisonment. Surely that is a gain.