May 30, 2003

Every Race in the Battle of the Last Alliance
Niphredil

G, I thought the same as you when I first read the passage. I also find it hard to believe that orcs would fight with Gil-Galad and Elendil. I don’t have the book with me at the moment, but from memory Tolkien says something like races of every kind fought on both sides, except for Elves who were united against Sauron. I think he also says something about beasts and birds being involved in the battle as well. Maybe when he says “every kind” he means more all kinds, to show that it wasn’t just Elves and Men v Orcs.