[greyhavener]

I think Tom may be a character that Tolkien created separate from ME but couldn't resist including. I love him, but his lack of involvement outside his realm is sort of disturbing. In LOTR the ring has no power over him, yet he feels no responsibility to take a role in its destruction. He is either a sort of benevolent god who is privvy to what this quest will cause each member of the fellowship to become...one who directs, or at least is knows of their fates. Or he is rather like the selfish gods of Olympus who simply enjoy watching mortals (and elves) twist in the wind. I tend to think the former because there is too much comfort and joy in the Hobbits' experience in his home for me to conclude the latter. Whatever he is, I think his limits are self-imposed. Perhaps he had some bad experience with power that we don't know about.