[Thenamir]

The first rule -- kill all the witnesses.

However, (he said while dusting off his copy of the Tale of Elder Days [five weeks on the New York Times best-seller list]) note what the Numenoreans are told by the Valar -- if they came to Valinor, they would only "weary and burn out quicker" (nice euphemism, that). How very kind of them to let Frodo and Bilbo partake of such "healing". Frodo was a goner as soon as he set foot on that boat, and the ungifted, er, un_dying_ didn't even have to lay a lily-white hand on him.

Much more for poor old decrepit Bilbo -- and buddy, did they pull a number on _him_.... Beating the old Took? Phshaaw -- he had a ring that would've kept him going indefinitely! But Gandalf saw early on that Frodo was the right dupe for the job, and talked Bilbo into trading eternal youth for some magic beans.

Of course, Gandalf's true character comes to the surface when it comes time to deal with Saruman, one of his own kind. In true Ainur fashion, he sits on his Maia rump and lets the hobbits fend for themselves. Sort of a microcosm of the entire First Age (suitable for framing). Scratch that earlier "20%" -- looks like a clean sweep insofar as the wizards are concerned. I notice _he_ didn't waste any time before snarfing up one of the elvish rings at his arrival.

Of course, then there were the representatives of the Eldar (motto: "it's not our problem") -- Elrond and Galadriel, being ever-so-helpful to usher Frodo along on his trip. And what sort of help do they give? Elrond gives him "advice" (the sort that sends you alone into the heart of the Enemy's realm carrying a veritable homing beacon around your neck) and Galadriel gives him some Honey Grahams ($1.29 on sale at Kroger's). Sort of casts a whole new light on the happy-go-lucky "Fa la la lally down here in the valley, fa la!" elves, doesn't it?

And sending Aragorn along.... seems to me that Elrond was trying to tie up some loose ends and rid himself of an unpleasant suitor for his daughter. Didn't work for Thingol and didn't work for Elrond either. The goober. Notice how the "gift" to men is so wonderful that the eldar are ever so enthusiastic to let their daughters partake of it.... Or (as is more likely) they're just snobs.