The Straight Road

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

And then there's the question of How Does It Work? I always like to know how things work.

So, would a ship set sail and then suddenly hit a secret point known only to Elves/Ainur at which point it departs normal existence and enters another dimension/plane? Or is it that the ship would hit a point where it enters a kid of static world which is unchanging, almost like going through a wormhole? And does being able to find the Road depend upon knowing where it is? Upon being able to see it? Or upon having permission?

Your thoughts, please.

Well, there are plenty of instances in classical literature of heroes passing to the netherworld, the underworld, Faerie, heaven or hell. There is Hercules' and Aeneas' journeys to Hades (Persephone's passage to Hades on a yearly basis presages the coming of winter), Arthur's final journey to Avalon, Ossian's dialogue with St. Patrick after returning from Hy Brasil, Thomas the Rhymer, and a host of Changelings stolen from their families and brought to Faerie.

I would say it would be dimensional and the door/passage is only availaible to a hero with the proper attributes (as it happens in Tolkien with Earendil, Frodo or Bilbo, as well as in Mallory --Galahad, the perfect knight, allowed to find the Sangreal), or by chance (mystic lands appearing at certain times of year), or by kidnapping by a denizen of the Netherworld with access to the passage (Hades kidnapping Persephone is an archetype), or by stepping into a Faery Ring or washed ashore on Faery (which abounds in Irish folklore such as Ossian's tale, and also reiterated in Irving's Rip Van Winkle).