Ah. Still, Gandalf says:
Quote:
|
Then darkness took me; and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell.
|
He didn't return to Aman when he died, because Aman is within Time. Eru himself (who exists outside of creation and Time) 'enhanced' and re-embodied Gandalf, before returning him to Middle-earth. The whole situation was a unique one that only happened by Eru's personal intervention. The 'enhancement' I mentioned was evidently an allowance of more power on the physical plane -- or, and in my opinion more likely, a lifting of the limitations on the Istari. Though I used to deny it, this 'enhancement' probably also entailed an increase in spiritual stature. It occurs to me now that this would be necessary since Gandalf had died as an Incarnate. In my thread,
Ëalar and Incarnation, I address the precedents of
ëalar who died while incarnate. In short, they were reduced to impotence. If Gandalf still had a job to do, his
fëa would require restoration before it was re-embodied.
[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: obloquy ]