The Barrow-Wight: Servant of Melkor?
 

Now is it just me or does this sound awfully like the Dagor Dagorath? Melkor will return and destroy the Sun and Moon and the Barrow-wight, being evil, would probably have supported the idea of Melkor winning and 'lifting his hand over dead sea and withered land'. Does this mean that the spirit of the Barrow-wight once was a servant of Melkor? But then, how would the Witchking have enough power to control him and trap him in the body of a dead Dúnadan? Sauron himself could not have done it for he had not yet even returned to Dol Guldur and was very weak during the time the Witchking ruled in Angmar.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:59 AM January 03, 2004: Message edited by: nobody ]

I remember reading somewhere that the Barrow Wights were sent to the Downs by the Witch King of Angmar. Whether they answer to anyone but their master i have no idea.

Yes I know that he was sent by the Witchking but what I'm asking is did he serve Melkor once and is he still loyal to him, with the Dagor Dagorath similiarities in his incantation? And, if so, how was the witchking able to control him and trap him in the body of a dead Dúnadan?

The [edit] barrow-wights [end edit] served the Witchking, the Witchking served Sauron, and Sauron served morgoth. So the chain of command led up to Morgoth, but the [edit] Barrow-wights [end edit] did not serve him directly.

Plurality added [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:03 PM January 03, 2004: Message edited by: Tuor Turambar,Cursed by the Valar ]

There is not only one Barrow-wight. They are spirits and wraiths of Angmar. I do not think the quote has to do with Melkor and the Dagor Dagorath, but rather with Sauron if he should gain dominion over Middle-earth. The "dark lord" it refers to is almost definitely Sauron, although I am sure that if Morgoth returned the Barrow-wights would happily follow his command.

It sounds remarkably like a description of the Dagor Dagorath, but most probably, the Dark Lord being described is Sauron. Unless, of course, this is another famous case of foreshadowing. (I HATE it when Tolkien does that! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img])

There were no barrow-wights until the Witch-King became what he was - he sent those wights (some of his men) to the Barrow-downs.

Ah, but since Morgoth's return was foretold, It could very well be reffering to Morgoth, eating the stars, moon, sun, etc, until everything is destoryed.

I think it is basically implied that it is talking about Sauron as the Dark Lord, since the Witch King of Angmar is solely the servant of the aforementioned, and in all of his wars after he became possessed by one of the Nine, his primary goal was to advance the causes of Sauron. The barrow-wights, then, would seem to have the same focus in mind, and since it was during the time of Sauron's growing power that Tom Bombadil recited this passage about the barrow-wights to the four hobbits (who were on a quest to stop the Dark Lord Sauron), it is only logical to assume that Bombadil was referring to Sauron Gorthaur.