October 5, 2002

On Strider, Legolas, the Witch King and TTT
Richard P.

Firstly, hi there Rune, I can tell you a little bit more about the Witch King of Angmar. He has in fact already appeared in FotR, he is the Nazgul that stabs Frodo with the Morgul blade on Weathertop. (At least in the book).
It may be that he was not given a crown or ring in the FotR film because the Nazgul up until this point are supposed to be travelling in secret, they have not yet openly proclaimed themselves.

It is indeed interesting to learn that Aragorn was raised in the House of Elrond, and goes far to explain his knowledge of the Elven tongues and how indeed he met Arwen in the first place (though Elrond wasn't too pleased when Aragorn and Arwen fell in love, he knew his daughter would be taken away from him forever.)
However, in the book, it is the first time that Legolas has ever been to Rivendell, and he goes there mainly to tell the Council that Gollum has excaped from his 'prison' in Mirkwood with the Elves, as well as to report the stiring of evil. It may be that Aragorn has met Legolas on his many travells. Aragorn has also met Haldir before when he stayed in Lorien, this is how Galadriel already knows him as well.

Elrond is more than just Elvish and Human. His father was Earendil and his mother Elwing the fair, Earendil was also Half-elven, his father being Tuor (a man) and Idril the daughter of Turgon, a Noldor of Valinor. Elwing was the daughter of Dior, who was the son of Beren and Luthien (and Luthian was the daughter of Elu Thingol, an Elf of the first awakening and one of the three who went to Valinor as ambassadors; and Melian the Maia, one of the "angelic" order of Middle-earth.)
Earendil and Elwing had two sons, Elrond and Elros, and both were given a choice to either lead a mortal life, or to lead an elven life. Elros chose mortality, from him come the King of Numenor, Arnor and Gondor; right down to Aragorn. Elrond chose elven life, and the choice was extended to his children, to be decided when he left Middle-earth, they could go with him, or stay and become mortal.
So yes, you could say Elrond has quite a pedigree, as does Arwen his daughter, and indeed Aragorn, who comes from the same line of descent.

And lastly to the issue of which the Two Towers were, Tolkien was always deliberatly vauge. He has indeed stated in letters that it was Orthanc and Minas Morgul, but in others he has denied this is the case. I think that fact is, Tolkien was pressured into comming up with the names; he was opposed to three books, so he came up with a name quickly (after all, there are more than Two Towers in the book, so it can make sence whichever way you look at it!)