Inconsistencies in the book

Some ideas taken from the book which I have never quite understood, just to name a few:-

- Why did the High Elves have so little concern for ME during the LOTR, when ME was most at peril probably in it's entire history? Why didn't they help out more?

- The 9 Nazgul when together at night were close to Gandalf the Grey's power in the first volume, yet if Sauron had the Ring reclaimed then their power would become much greater. If this is so, doesn't that mean Gandalf would not have a chance against the Witch-King alone, or even against the lesser Nazgul, if Sauron had the Ring again? Is the legendary Gandalf then of no match when compared in power to the likes of Isildur & Elendil, who were considered to be mighty, & capable of holding off the Nazgul easily even with their Ring enhanced power?

- What happened to the Nazgul during the battle against the Last Alliance? Why were they apparantly so useless in battle against the enemy?

- If Sauron increased the power of the Witch-King in the third volume, how was this possible without the Ring? Surely the Witch-King can't be as powerful as he was when Sauron had the Ring?

- What was so special about the Sword of Elendil besides it's huge inspiration to the wielder? Was it magical, & if so could it pierce the Witch-King?

[Rhod the Red]

I think the Elves in ME barely had the numbers to form an army to fight the Dark Forces except Lothlorien, to liberate Mirkwood. West of the Misty Mountains Rivendell was hardly a fortress of thousands, unless Tolkien neglected to tell us.

They were all busy elsewhere. I don't think it was a lack of concern, but as said a lack of means. They did help where they could. Also remember they had already fought the prequel to this war in the Last Alliance, and it may very well be that they all knew why he was back. And remember Sauron was but a servant of a greater evil, so not persay the greates threat. Still the most pressing issue at the time. Remember it was said a number of times that Sauron's power was growing and so they needed to get rid of the ring before it was too late. It's not too much of a jump to say he granted more power to his general to take Minas Tirith.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Mansun

-- The 9 Nazgul when together at night were close to Gandalf the Grey's power in the first volume, yet if Sauron had the Ring reclaimed then their power would become much greater. If this is so, doesn't that mean Gandalf would not have a chance against the Witch-King alone, or even against the lesser Nazgul, if Sauron had the Ring again? Is the legendary Gandalf then of no match when compared in power to the likes of Isildur & Elendil, who were considered to be mighty, & capable of holding off the Nazgul easily even with their Ring enhanced power?

- What was so special about the Sword of Elendil besides it's huge inspiration to the wielder? Was it magical, & if so could it pierce the Witch-King?

These two I can take a stab at...to the first, I've never seen it that way. Since Sauron never claimed the Ring again, we can't really say how Gandalf would fare against the Witch-King if Sauron again had the Ring. I'm sure Gandalf would have had just a good of a chance at defeating the enemy as Isildur and Elendil.

To the second, I believe the sword was not only meant to signify the wielder's authority, but to act as a mental attack on Sauron. When Aragorn showed it to the Dark Lord through the Stone of Orthanc, Sauron sees the blade that took his power away. Sauron fears it, and thus he pushes and rushes his armies to Minas Tirith, seeing the blade reforged in the hands of Isildur's heir. Not even Sauron is void of worry. I can't answer if the sword would have pierced the Witch-King, but my guess would be no, as it was told that no living man could kill the Witch-King, and that Merry's blade of the Westernesse was the only blade that could have affected such damage on the Witch-King, being from the place it was.

Originally Posted by MatthewM

I can't answer if the sword would have pierced the Witch-King, but my guess would be no, as it was told that no living man could kill the Witch-King, and that Merry's blade of the Westernesse was the only blade that could have affected such damage on the Witch-King, being from the place it was.

The prophecy I think is just a bluff & a sign of overconfidence by the Witch King. Even Sauron, at the peak of his power, was nearly destroyed by the sword.

Sauron had immeasurable power with the Ring, so what does this say about Elendil & Gil-Galad who defeated him in combat? Did they have more power in terms of strength, skill, or sorcery?

[Raynor]

as it was told that no living man could kill the Witch-King

No it wasn't. Glorfindel's prophecy was:

Originally Posted by Gondor and the heirs of Anarion, Appendices, LotR

Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.

This does not state his invulnerability; it is a prophecy. Theoretically he can be killed by anyone; practically, he will fall, but not by the hand of a man. Even Melkor, the mightiest foe ever, feared for his body; if he couldn't make himself invicincible, how could a mere ringwraith, a mortal after all? And, according to Myths Transformed, Melkor's fear was founded, since he was finnally executed before being thrust out into the void.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Raynor

No it wasn't. Glorfindel's prophecy was:
Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall

What you stated is right from the book, but it means the same thing. No living man could have killed the Witch-King. Gandalf himself it seems believed in the prophecy as he mentioned it in Minas Tirith.

[Raynor]

What you stated is right from the book, but it means the same thing.

False dilemma; a woman will kill him, but it doesn't mean a man can't kill him. Glorfindel wasn't enumerating the ways the witch-king can be killed, only the one which will actually kill him; there is no exclusive qualifier regarding possiblities.

[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by Mansun

The prophecy I think is just a bluff & a sign of overconfidence by the Witch King. Even Sauron, at the peak of his power, was nearly destroyed by the sword.

Sauron had immeasurable power with the Ring, so what does this say about Elendil & Gil-Galad who defeated him in combat? Did they have more power in terms of strength, skill, or sorcery?

Well, I've always seen the Nazgul as being in a state between physical and spiritual, so specific weaponry could play a part in ending them. They certainly weren't easier to kill.

Sauron, on the other hand, just seemed to, bluntly put, suck at all forms of combat. He first sent an army one by one to their deaths and wasted an opportunity to slay an enemy in favor of killing a defenseless woman, which got him owned (Silmarillion.) Then, in a large, powerful body and empowered by Arda's might and (possibly) Morgoth's Ring, two old men (who were likely tired from previous combat) killed him. Morgoth was beaten by Tulkas, nearly killed by Fingolfin, and was defeated by Eonwe. Dark Lords seem to suck at combat.

Originally Posted by The 1,000 Reader

Dark Lords seem to suck at combat.

Rather I think they underestimate their opponent, being as they are not involved in battle all that often.

[Meneltarmacil]

If one of several blades used by the princes of Cardolan was capable of hurting the Witch-King, the wouldn't it stand to reason that the Sword of Elendil, which also struck down the Dark Lord himself, would be capable of doing so?

[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Rather I think they underestimate their opponent, being as they are not involved in battle all that often.

I think the sheer fact that the enemy has forced them to fight should cause them to fight with seriousness. Even with that...well come on, the "Dark Lord of Middle-Earth" was owned by a dog. He wasted his entire army when sending it out in numbers would have worked, and if I recall correctly, the top of the tower had a window which saw over the entire island, meaning he could have just looked out of it instead of sending scouts. Finrod must have sang a song to shut down Sauron's brain, because ever since he had made large mistakes and failures.

As for the Battle of the Last Alliance, I don't mean to rag on the Professor, but PJ's version did a better job of making Sauron look powerful. In the Professor's works, Sauron, with the might of the Ring, was defeated by two characters who have little impact or reference in the book. In the film trilogy, however, Sauron takes out multiple men with each swing, and it is only by chance and the luck of Isildur that he is defeated, giving off more of a "If he gets it back, we die" feeling.