June 18, 2003

The One Ring
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One thing that seemed to be downplayed in the movies was the real option for a captain of the west to seize, master and use the Ring. In the Council of Elrond (film), Aragorn says the "ring answers to Sauron alone, we cannot wield it". this cannot be further from the truth. To wield the ring a user must train themselves in the domination of others as well as having great inner power. Gandalf, Saruman and Galadriel clearly had the strength to make the ring their own, and gain complete mastery of it. However, it would come at a price, the wielder inturn would become a Dark Lords in their own right. This is another threat that faced the wise all-knowing Sauron, one which initiated the Last battle at Morannon. I have said before, Gandalf's plan to destroy the ring failed, utterly. Sauron's judgment of the power of the ring versus an individuals will was correct. Sauron was defeated because of an accident, a slip, not because of a meticulously planned action. Gandalf trusted in luck and won. Sauron planned with intelligence and lost to an accident. Which was the more foolish? The Witch King was wise to call him an Old Fool. See you all later :) Ash Nazg...