August 28, 2004

Re: Annatar Achiles ACL
Danny

If you are to credit the death of the witch King to Merry's blade, then I must still feel inclined to scoff. A blade to the back of the knees would not likely be fatal, and certainly not in such a quick manner. More likely, Merry's blade weakened the Nazgul through its spell and allowed a common blade to finish him off. It still required the courage and strength that Eowyn posessed. True that Merry could be described under the prophecy about the Witch King's demise but the more delicious play on words comes through it being Eowyn who brought about his demise. Either way, he died at the hands of a woman and or a halfling. Not the most flattering means of dying for one who was a mighty general at war. It is highly unlikely that the blade wound to his leg would have been enough to kill him alone. If it was, then I must really cry for the poor soldier who gets poked in the back of the knee and falls. His achiles ACL I guess. By any means, The Witch King fell at the hands of two mortals no matter how you look at it.

Your claim that Sauron has courage because he knows he can die, is inherently flawed. If Sauron is alive, but knows he can die, then you conveniently chose to omit the fact that he gained that knowledge by dying and returning. So how is Gandalf's courage any less diminished by his dying and returning? Sauron was vanquished when Valinor sunk, and it could be argued he was vanquished when he was first seperated from the ring. So "like a bad penny" Sauron always came up. Indeed Elrond and others knew that Sauron would resurface after having fallen. So from your perspective, neither Gandalf or Sauron have anything to lose becaue they are both like bad pennies that will just turn up again. Sorry, but that logic just doesn't fly for me. Am I to assume that one who has assumed the name of Annatar now has again demonstrated that ability to return? lol.

Let us evaluate Sauron's craven practices further. Sauron sent the Numenoreans to destroy Valinor, and chose to remain behind. He convinces the Numenoreans that they could overthrow Valinor, but lacks the courage to aid in the assault. In the battles of the Last Alliance, Sauron sent armies to die from the safe distance until the battle came to his door step through the courage of the Last Alliance. Only when his back was against the wall did he have the courage to leave his fortifications in a desperate attempt to survive. Sauron remained safely in Mordor for the siege of Minas Tirith sending lesser minions to risk dying for him. Gandalf on the other hand fought on the front lines at Helms Deep, and at Minas Tirith. Gandalf rode to the Black Gate and stood before the hosts of Mordor facing what appeared to be Certain Defeat. Sauron would have been at the Grey Havens by that point. Gandalf bravely stepped forward to face the Balrog, and stood firm to face the Nazgul at Minas Tirith. Hmm, seems like a stark contrast, something like comparing black and white to me. Seeing that they have both shown the capacity to return from death, that is a mute point in comparing their valor and courage. However Gandalf has a repeated track record of taking tremendous risks and enduring pain hunger and fatigue where Sauron only did so as a last gasp of desperation at Mt Doom thousands of years ago. Gandalf repeatedly sacrificed for the good of those he served where Sauron only elicited agony and sacrifice from minionsn who obeyed his commands that came from his safety. Gandalf lead by inspiration and courage, where Sauron lead by intimidation and fear.