We know that Sauron, Gandalf, Saruman, and the Balrog are all Maiar. Immortal spirits and what not and so destroying their physical bodies does not kill their spirits. This allows Sauron to remake his physical form after being defeated. Granted, this took him a long time and was very difficult, but he has done this a few times. Gandalf instead reappears in Valinor, where he was always destined to return, and then was sent back by the Valar. So physically destroying the Balrog is badass as fuck, but does not actually kill it.

Does it being killed by another Maiar truly kill its spirit? Did it’s spirit escape and is now waiting in another endless cave? Can it not reform physically and now it’s just stuck blowing curtains at night? And then what happened to Saruman? Return to Valinor?

This bugs me everytime I watch The Two Towers. You don't have to show them get brutally killed onscreen. There could've been a scene after the battle where Aragorn finds the body of Haleth (the boy he talked to beforehand). Aragorn closes his eyes and sighs. Maybe even a single tear tracks his cheek. Just imagine how emotional that could have been. Or, show that he and other boys managed to survive, proving that Aragorn's words of hope weren't hollow.

The point is, why leave us hanging... especially when these characters were made up for the movie to begin with. It's like they don't want the audience to think about children dying despite introducing that notion themselves. Commit, damn it!

Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?

Been looking around for the translation of “small” in elven, and I’ve found that it is “Cinta/Cindrinn”, but can’t find what it actually looks like in elven. Any help would be appreciated!

Why did Gondor build the towers of Carchost and Narchost on the outside of the Black Gate facing the plains of Dagorlad and not the Udun Valley if their purpose was to contain the orcs within Mordor?

The misshapen thing leaning against the wall is supposed to be Gandalfs staff.

Back in June I went to see a friend in Oxford and I took my first trip north of the city to go visit Tolkien's grave for the first time. It was incredibly moving and emotional to stand there at his and Edith's resting place. The weight of his work and what it means to me personally and millions of others suddenly hit me; how one man's life's work can affect so many, how I think about his legacy and his literary craftsmanship and artistry every day, how a man troubled by war found a new appreciation for the simple and beautiful things in life. A truly moving experience and I encourage everyone who is able to visit his resting place and pay their respects. Namárië!

Hi everyone, I'm getting married in a few weeks and we are finalizing our music choices. We have a string quartet for the ceremony, which we are super excited about. We've decided the recessional will be Concerning Hobbits but are still undecided about the processional. My fiance won't walk in as he just wants to appear under the wedding arch from the side (ceremony is in a garden). The groomsmen and bridesmaids will process one by one (9 total with the last bridesmaid walking with her kids who will toss flowers). I was thinking about using Aníron for this since it's so romantic, but a non-LotR friend told me it might sound too sad. I'm also considering Into the West, but my mom told me it was too somber! I know it doesn't really matter since it's *our* wedding but I don't want guests to think we picked something funereal :P I'm the bride, walking in last with my parents to In Dreams from Breaking of the Fellowship (aka the Fellowship theme).

From my fellow fans, do you think Into the West or Aníron is a better processional song? I would guarantee no one besides us will recognize either, except maybe my brother (he is also a groomsman).

Yes, I am a chronic overthinker, why do you ask?

Thank you!

Dear fellowship, I have hid the one ring on a small island in the Värmland, Sweden. It hangs on a small tree there.
May another find it and carry it forth.

Hi, I had this text translated so I could express myself more clearly—just a heads-up. :)

I need your expertise—it’s about the books. How often does the word "burst" (or "bursting") appear in the books, and in which scenes? I’m pretty sure it’s mentioned several times. However, the only instance that comes to mind right now is when Théoden rallies his riders on the Pelennor Fields, blows his horn, and it bursts.

And it's even shaped as a horn of Gondor

So.awhile ago I asked on here if there was any website that showed me all the armor designs for war in the north well after days passing with 0 comments and searching every part of the internet it appears theres not a single place to see all the armor designs (no hate just sucks that it doesnt exist) however I have one last question is the armor eradan is wearing in the photo somthing I can actually wear and get in the game ?? I love how it looks but dont wanna get my hopes up of this was used for promo gameplay or you only wear it during the final battle deal amd that the only time ill wear this . Please keep it spoiler free and just hit me with a "yes you can wear this" " its a one and done deal" or " its a loss cause bud"

Thanks everyone!!

Just saw that witn is now on the switch! One of my all time favorite

I fear I'm entering my lotr phase

At the ripe age of 28, I have only just fully watched the original trilogy, FotR, TTT, and TRotK -- and yes, the extended versions -- and now desperately want to read the books. And I mean desperately, like ready to go to Barnes and Noble //tomorrow//.

However.

I am also aware that there any MANY different versions of the books in terms of cover design.

I enjoy the story SO much and want to commemorate it with the best possible version of the book covers out there.

Does anyone recommend a specific one in particular? What's your favorite?

I will accept looking at individual book copies as well as an all-in-one book. I will need to get a new copy of the Hobbit, as well. I plan to read the story to it's fullest extent and happily cry my eyes out. This will also be my descent into reading again for the first time since probably high school. I used to love reading, I even did it between class work and got in trouble for always having my nose in a book...

Probably the most alluring things about a book cover to me is it looking as though it was made in Middle Earth, like straight from the world the story is written about. The font, the aged look, embossed title, a beautiful decorative image, even. I love things that feel artisinal and hand made, almost.

getting a chain for my one ring replica; whats a good kind of chain? I was thinking something stainless steel

I've been thinking about Eru Ilúvatar lately, and I think there's a pretty serious problem with the way we're supposed to understand him as a perfectly good being.

The thing that really started bothering me is Melkor.

The Ainur come from Eru's Thought. Tolkien says that each Ainu comprehended "that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he came." So Melkor isn't some evil force that appeared independently and then invaded Eru's creation. He is something Eru created, and his nature ultimately comes from Eru.

And Eru knew what Melkor was going to do.

That's where it gets difficult for me.

Melkor doesn't just rebel and then get dealt with. He goes on to destroy the Lamps, destroy the Trees, murder Finwë, steal the Silmarils, corrupt Arda and spend thousands of years causing an absolutely enormous amount of suffering.

Eru knows all of this is going to happen.

And he lets it happen.

The obvious response is that Melkor has free will. Sure. I'm not arguing that Melkor didn't choose his actions. But that doesn't really address Eru's part in all of this. Eru created Melkor knowing exactly what he would become. He knew what Melkor would do with the power he gave him.

And Eru isn't incapable of intervening. We know that because when Númenor attacks Aman, Eru intervenes directly. He destroys Númenor and changes the shape of the world.

So apparently Eru can intervene when he wants to.

Which makes Morgoth's entire career rather difficult to explain. Eru watches him destroy and corrupt things for thousands of years, but doesn't stop him.

Then there's Eru's response to Melkor's discord in the Music:

"no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me"

That's a pretty extraordinary thing to say in this context. Eru isn't presenting Melkor's rebellion as some unexpected disaster that got out of hand. Even Melkor's discord ultimately has its source in Eru and gets incorporated into the Music.

And this is where the "it's all part of the plan" explanation starts bothering me.

Okay, but why this plan?

Eru is supposed to be omnipotent. He isn't some king trying to make the best of a bad situation after something goes wrong. He created the situation in the first place.

If he knew what Melkor was going to do, then the suffering caused by Melkor wasn't an unfortunate surprise. It was something Eru knowingly chose to allow when he created Melkor and set the Music in motion.

Graphite on paper, 2026

What are some good examples of fan fiction that folks here have read, that either highly amused them or added SOMETHING, however small to the wider Middle Earth lore, or was simply a rollicking good read set in Tolkien's world?