The Powers of the Istari

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by denethorthefirst

Because of that, i never fully understood why those five Maiar undertook the mission at all. Why would an immortal, naturally discarnate being do such a thing? Become imprisoned in a relatively frail body with an expiration date and, essentially, go on a suicide mission that, if it fails, would spell certain "death"?

Why did Frodo volunteer to take the One Ring to Mordor, when that meant almost certain death? Why did Finrod Felagund give up rule of the greatest known city of the Noldor to help out a mortal who, let's be honest, probably didn't have more than a few decades left in him under any circumstances? Why did Aragorn take an army to the Black Gates, expecting to die there, rather than yielding to Sauron's terms and becoming a client state of Mordor? Why, in fact, did some Ainur leave the Timeless Halls and descend into a world marred by the discord of Melkor, rather than staying with the One and the rest of their kindred?

In all cases, the answer is the same: because some things are more important than your own life, however long or short that might be.

hS