Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin
It is possible to hypothesize the stream was enchanted by
a few of the nazgul, on orders and directions from Sauron,
as part of a plan to isolate the elves (and collaterally the men
of Laketown) as part of a plan to prevent northwestern M-E collaboration
in defense. The stream to the west, giant spiders et. al. to the south,
Smaug to the east, and orcs in the mountains north of Mirkwood
would isolate the strongest single force in Rhovannion (the wood
elves of Thranduil). The stream's purpose could be seen not as an
absolute barrier but rather as akind of speed bump, together with
harassing evil creatures lurking around it. (All them eyes at night!  ) |
The stream emanating from the Mountains of Mirkwood, the Necromancer
might have been behind it, but what of the pleasant dreams of Bombur, as noted by the earlier posters? Would 'magic' which had its source in Sauron have been able to foster any good feeling in its victims? Maybe earlier on Sauron's incarnations, but by the Third Age I would doubt it.
Maybe the stream had something to do with the spiders? Being the (probable) offspring of Shelob, herself the child of Ungoliant, a likely Maia, they might have had the power to enact something like that. It
would make for an easy meal, and maybe the boat was placed by the Necromancer's servants to enable them to cross when necessary. Maybe Orcs from Mt. Gundabad? That still wouldn't explain Bombur's nice dreams though.
x/d with
Gwath, who may well be right. But then again, it
is fun to conjecture about things like this.
