September 20, 2002

Re: Nazgul and Balrogs and Bears
Elbereth

I thought this might help. As we all know(I hope), in the inscription on the ring where it says "one ring to rule them all", When Sauron said that it meant that he controled the rings and the bearers.

When you said that they were slaves of the ring which had long ago corrupted them "which Sauron held", does not oppose Gandlaf's statement. It is talking about the One that ruled the Nine.

Also not that in the FOTR, Gandalf says that the bearers of the rings of power "do not obtain more life but merely continue. The nazgul were mortals, and without the rings, they would have just died. But because of the their rings, and the power of their master that made the One which controled them, they became the ringwraiths, his most terrible servants. When Gandalf said in the FOTR that the three they know of, the Seven are taken or destroyed, and the nine the nazgul keep.

Well, it's in the book so there's your answer. I hope that is of some help.