September 16, 2002

Response To Danny, Bob, and Medhros
Radagast da Foo'

In reply to Danny's post (9-26), it still is possible that Sauron was in the form of an eye (though I do believe otherwise). With the "nine fingers" that Gollum speaks of, it is possible that Gollum is referring to the Nazgul, who could also be called the nine fingers of Sauron. In the Return of the King, when one of them is killed, it states that one of Sauron's fingers had been removed, or something like that. Pippin was much more scared when he saw Sauron's form, but couldn't it be just because Pippin's more cowardice than Frodo (not that Pippin's a coward, but Frodo is braver).
In response to Bob the Builder (9-26), Gandalf didn't necessarily let go because he couldn't hold on any longer. He had to defeat the balrog, or it would have most likely returned to plague the fellowship in the future. Gandalf also knew that through this battle, he would return as Gandalf the White, a much more powerful wizard.
To Medhros (9-26), Boromir and Aragorn weren't braver than Legolas and Gimli, they were dummer. Gandalf said himself "swords are of no more use here." Yet, the two men seemed to have a lack of memory. Also, Legolas and Gimli were much more knowledgable about the power of balrogs, and knew that nothing they could do would help Gandalf. Legolas and Gimli didn't react in fear, they reacted out of despair. If Aragorn and Boromir had the elf and the dwarve's knowledge, they would have reacted the same.