The Middle-Earth Prophecies - Page 5
© Michael Martinez
Elrond, on the other hand, predicts some things concerning Frodo's journey: "I can foresee very little of your road; and how your task is to be achieved I do not know. The Shadow has crept now to the foot of the Mountains, and draws nigh even to the borders of the Greyflood; and under the Shadow all is dark to me. You will meet many foes, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it."
Who can doubt that Boromir must be a disguised foe, or that Faramir is a friend unlooked-for? But Elrond's prediction is hampered by the Shadow, almost as if he is literally seeing Frodo's journey as it unfolds. Why should the Shadow (presumably the influence or wills of Sauron and Saruman) so impede Elrond's vision? Note 6 to Osanwe-kenta offers a suggestion:
Pengolodh here elaborates (though it is not necessary for his argument) this matter of 'foresight'. No mind, he asserts, knows what is not in it. All that it has experienced is in it, though in the case of the Incarnate, dependent upon the instruments of the hroa, some things may be 'forgotten', not immediately available for recollection. But no part of the 'future' is there, for the mind cannot see it or have seen it: that is, a mind placed in time. Such a mind can learn of the future only from another mind which has seen it. But that means only from Eru ultimately, or mediately from some mind that has seen in Eru some part of His purpose (such as the Ainur who are now the Valar in Ea). An Incarnate can thus only know anything of the future, by instruction derived from the Valar, or by a revelation coming direct from Eru. But any mind, whether of the Valar or of the Incarnate, may deduce by reason what will or may come to pass. This is not foresight, not though it may be clearer in terms and indeed even more accurate than glimpses of foresight. Not even if it is formed into visions seen in a dream, which is a means whereby 'foresight' also is frequently presented to the mind.Elrond's foresight cannot be a deduction based upon his knowledge. He didn't know who might or would betray Frodo, nor who might or would lie in Frodo's path. Elrond didn't even know by what path Frodo would approach Mordor. Although it could be argued that Elrond and Gandalf had spent plenty of time talking about where the Company of the Ring might go, and who lived along that road, the removal of Gandalf in Moria provides a limit to Gandalf's influence upon Elrond's thought.
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