[Tuor of Gondolin]

In such an instance it would seem there was a precedent
for Gandalf. As a maia he could have echoed the action of
the Valar when confronted withTar-Minastir and appealed
directly to Iluvatar for his intervention. The central
roblem would seem to be interfering with free will, but
in exceptional cases such as Earendil's appeal and
Numenor such a direct intervention into beings in Middle-earth
would seem an alternative.