[Formendacil]

Twas rather unfortunate, Formendacil thought, as he came in late to the Bombadil-debate. However, following his Morning Prayers, he had gone towards the food rather than the people, and had come in only as a fellow Canadian was debating whether Canadian wings were metaphorical or not.

Of course they are, he thought, at least on our planes. Whether or not the people have real wings is a whole other matter.

"If the debate concerning Tom Bombadil's winged-ness has more or less ended, then I have a crackpot question that is actually somewhat related," he announced. A few people looked over politely, but no one said anything.

"Okay, my question is this, how many Bombadils are there? After all, why have a last name if you are the only one? Either he should be Bombadil, without an adjective like "Tom", or else he should just be the enigmatic spirit named "Tom" by the Hobbits. Why the need for two names?

"My crackpot theory is that there are several Bombadils, all enigmas in their own way. And if it is true that the Witchking and Tom Bombadil are one, perhaps that could explain a few discrepancies in that matter. What do you think of my crackpot theory?"

"It's a crackpot theory, all right," said somebody.