The Palantiri - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Thingol · 06-15-2002, 05:47 PM

I have two questions about these stones. First why was Pippin so drawn to the Orthanc Stone? The Palantiri had existed for thousands of years and had had numerous guardians. (The Unfinished Tales says that each stone had its own guardian, and that the King would only look into it when he needed to obtain information personally) These guardians obviously wouldn't have felt drawn to their palantir at all times. Denethor is not characterized as being drawn to his palantir either, he looks into it of his own accord, not because he feels that he has to. In The Silmarillion it talks about an 8th master stone residing in Tol-Erresea. My second question is, when Sauron captured the Ithil Stone and twisted it to his use, why didn't the keeper(s) of the master stone do anything? Even Gandalf was afraid to confront Sauron by looking into the stone, would Sauron have been strong enough to retch the master stone away from the control of its keeper(s)? Somehow I doubt it, Aragorn was able to bend the Orthanc Stone to his will because the stone was rightfully his. The keeper of the master stone would have also been the rightful air. So this raises the question of what was the keeper of the master stone (if the master stone even actually exists, I’ve never seen any mention of it outside of the Silmarillion) doing while Sauron was twisting the other stones to his evil purpose?

06-15-2002, 05:47 PM	#1
Thingol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 259	The Palantiri I have two questions about these stones. First why was Pippin so drawn to the Orthanc Stone? The Palantiri had existed for thousands of years and had had numerous guardians. (The Unfinished Tales says that each stone had its own guardian, and that the King would only look into it when he needed to obtain information personally) These guardians obviously wouldn't have felt drawn to their palantir at all times. Denethor is not characterized as being drawn to his palantir either, he looks into it of his own accord, not because he feels that he has to. In The Silmarillion it talks about an 8th master stone residing in Tol-Erresea. My second question is, when Sauron captured the Ithil Stone and twisted it to his use, why didn't the keeper(s) of the master stone do anything? Even Gandalf was afraid to confront Sauron by looking into the stone, would Sauron have been strong enough to retch the master stone away from the control of its keeper(s)? Somehow I doubt it, Aragorn was able to bend the Orthanc Stone to his will because the stone was rightfully his. The keeper of the master stone would have also been the rightful air. So this raises the question of what was the keeper of the master stone (if the master stone even actually exists, I’ve never seen any mention of it outside of the Silmarillion) doing while Sauron was twisting the other stones to his evil purpose? __________________ Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.