August 26, 2004

Re: Annatar
Danny

That is a very interesting interpetation of the Nazgul's nature, and one that is very much within the realms of Tolkien's descriptions, but it is still a personal interpetation. My greatest rebuttle to that idea is that the Lord of the Nazgul was killed by two mortals, a halfling and a warior. I don't demean their valor or strength in any way, but that is an important indication of the Strength of the Lord of the Nazgul. The Witch King is said to have been made vulnerable by Merry's blade, true enough. However recall when Gandalf returns, he quickly silences Gimli's Aragorn's and Legolas's apologies by stating that none of their weapons could harm him. Even Anduril was not a threat to Gandalf the White. The Witch King was a powerful sorcerer, but even Gandalf the Grey fell at the hands of a fellow Maiar spirit where the Witch King died by the hands of mortals. I also vaguely recall that the Witch King was a powerful MORTAL sorcerer before taking the ring. If the Witch King would channel Sauron's power, then two mortals shouldn't have been capable of killing him short of posessing a blade as remarkable and storied as Anduril. Merry's blade was special but certainly not anywhere near as storied or deadly as Anduril.

Also recall that when Gandalf finds Theoden dead and Eowyn on the brink, he mourns Denethor's folley becasue it prevented him from stopping their deaths. Had Pippin not come to him, he had no doubt he would have prevented the Witch King from taking those lives. For my money he was saying that he would have pursued the Witch King in his retreat and would have defeated him. Gandalf had the moment when their swords met and he knew that he would prevail if the conflict continued. Of course Tolkien leaves the reader to decide what would have happened in an uninterrupted conflict, but there is plenty left in indication that Gandalf would have come out the victor.

So for my money, Gandalf first falls at the hands of a fellow Maiar in a stale-mate that is more of a victory for Gandalf. The Witch King falls at the hands of two mortals in an utter defeat. Gandalf returns and handily defeats his previous superior in Saruman. Even after Saruman's stave was split, Gandalf beleived he had strength to put up substantial resistance to the Wraiths. Gandalf sent the Mouth of Sauron retreating like a coward. Sure the Mouth of Sauron is not neccesarily as strong as the Witch King lacking a ring of power etc, but it is still an indicator of Olorin's strength. So maybe the Witch King had tactical reasons for retreating, but in my book he was inadvertently choosing his form of death. It was foretold that no mortal man would slay him. So to me the Witch King would have fallen either at the hands of Gandalf or Eowyn. Granted, Eowyn is a more intriguing loop hole in the prophecy. He left for tactical reasons and postponed his fate but a moment.