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The Wars of the Glorfindels - Page 8

© Michael Martinez

The restriction on travel from Aman to Middle-earth is attested in his letters, so Tolkien was not simply adding another element to the story to rationalize his choice. Rather, he was ensuring that the choice was consistent with what he had already told other people. The final issue, that of Glorfindel's apparent great power, is dealt with by suggesting that as a reconstituted Elf he would have become closer to a Maia in power than any normal living Elf. The enigma of Glorfindel's power in Middle-earth is therefore explained. Not just any Elf can send the Nazgul fleeing. One Nazgul, alone in the Shire, withdrew before the company of Gildor Inglorion (himself an Exile). But the Nine of them were willing to face Elrond and Glorfindel together if they must when it seemed certain Frodo would escape them after all. So Glorfindel's being sent out to find Frodo was a decision which reflected a great faith in his abilities. If we accept that Glorfindel returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age, probably at the time of the War of the Elves and Sauron (which Tolkien suggests is the most likely event to trigger his return), then Glorfindel must have been very active in defending Lindon and Eriador against Mordor. After the war he might have accompanied Galadriel and Celeborn on some of their travels, or perhaps would have been Gil-galad's emissary to other Elven realms (such as there still remained: Oropher's kingdom in Greenwood, Amdir's in Lothlorien, and the haven of Edhellond are all we know about for sure). And then Glorfindel would have marched with the army of Lindon and Imladris in the War of the Last Alliance. Elrond was Gil-galad's herald, a role which would have afforded him little time to command armies, as he would have been vital to Gil-galad's relations with the other alliance leaders, and also would have been delivering proclamations to Sauron's forces. Gil-galad would have had Celeborn, Cirdan, and Glorfindel to call upon to act as captains of his various forces. Of course, other Elven lords would have served as seconds-in-command, lesser captains, advisors, etc. There would have been a horde of Elven lords. Glorfindel's status in the War of the Last Alliance is by no means certain. Yet it was Glorfindel who led the armies of Rivendell and Lothlorien to the last combat with the Witch-king of Angmar. Should his status have been elevated so much in the Third Age? Why didn't Amroth lead his own army? Was he even present at the battle, or did he stay home in Lothlorien to tend to the kingdom? That Glorfindel led the combined armies seems to imply he was a person of great stature among the Elves, a very great and noble lord indeed.

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