October 21, 2003

Valaraukar and Other Tales
Jarrickon Half-elven

Master Praz, you raise an interesting topic? Whither went the lost scenes of the Scourge of Slime and the Endless Stair? It appears they have vanished into the mist, but with all the art produced by Alan Lee and others of the extinguished Balrog and his battle with Mithrandir up to the Silvertine, you'd think they wouldn't just get rid of it like that. Perhaps in the Extended Edition of The Two Towers, they will grace us with a furthered battle between the two Maiar. About the signal light from Minas Morgul, I'll admit when I saw it in the trailer I was a bit dubious. I remembered that the city glowed with an eerie, pale, corpse light, but I had never envisioned it as a blue-green column of flame issuing up the uttermost citadel. So what did I do? I checked the books, and recounted when the earth shook. and the fires of Mordor glowed brilliant red, and Minas Morgul answered with forks of blue flame. Still a bit different in the trailer that how I'd imagined it, but nevertheless it looks wicked awesome!

Frodo_Lives, nothing happens if a mortal goes to the Grey Havens. The Grey Havens are just a place (Actual Sindarin name: Mithlond) in Middle-earth, just like Rivendell, Minas Tirith, or Meduseld. However, if a mortal were to depart on a ship from the Grey Havens in search of Valinor, more like than not they would never find it. Mortals are generally not permitted to access the 'Straight Road' to Aman, the Blessed Realm. If they travel, however, with Eldar, such as Frodo, Bilbo, Samwise, and Gimli, they may be allowed passage. They do not though, attain immortality, for as it says in the Akallebêth, Valinor is naturally blessed, but it is hallowed by the immortal folk who live there (the Ainur and Eldar). Mortals who go there would live out the rest of their natural, mortal lives in complete peace and bliss.


Namárië!