The "if's" of the three Elven-Rings

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

Ok I agree. So they were meant to fade for the doom of Mandos was inevitable.
But the weird thing is, Galadriel's ring intensified her longing for the sea. This was an unforseen side-effect (can somebody explain this side-effect?).
Some questions come to mind:

1.) Sauron being cunning, why didn't he do this (shared the lore of ring-making) in the 1st Age? He could've increased his power (perhaps to the level of Morgoth, since Morgoth was declining due to his excessive distribution) with this scheme.

2.) When Melian fenced Doriath with an enchanted girdle, did that girdle also protect Doriath from decays of time like that of Lorien (dual effects: preservering & protection against enemies)?

3.) When Sauron made the Great Ring, he put forth a major portion of his native power into it for it was said that the power of the elven-rings was very great & that which should govern them should be a thing of surpassing potency. So, I was wondering if the eleves did the same procedure, putting forth their native power as well. But if the Three were so mighty, I doubt that Celebrimbor's strength alone adequately supplied the Three's potency. Surely there must be more elves who poured out their essence. Anyone have an idea who these elves were?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel

Ok I agree. So they were meant to fade for the doom of Mandos was inevitable.
But the weird thing is, Galadriel's ring intensified her longing for the sea. This was an unforseen side-effect (can somebody explain this side-effect?).

Well, the Rings were created to keep things as close to the elven ideal of perfect as possible.

It was not possible for it do to that completely.

However, after centuries of trying, Galadriel finds herself wanting that elusive perfect more and more.

Hence, the yearning for Valinor, which actually IS the elven ideal of perfect, except that they didn't realize that until about three ages too late.

That's my take on the situation, anyway. It would seem to make sense though, considering the facts.

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Well, the Rings were created to keep things as close to the elven ideal of perfect as possible.

It was not possible for it do to that completely.

However, after centuries of trying, Galadriel finds herself wanting that elusive perfect more and more.

Hence, the yearning for Valinor, which actually IS the elven ideal of perfect, except that they didn't realize that until about three ages too late.

That's my take on the situation, anyway. It would seem to make sense though, considering the facts.

But if what you say is true, why would she desire the Great Ring... seeking to supplant the Dark Lord (before she passed the test). Why would she be so troubled with the idea that her realm could possibly fade if her longing was towards the sea?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel

But if what you say is true, why would she desire the Great Ring... seeking to supplant the Dark Lord (before she passed the test).

Galadriel is trying to re-create "perfect" in middle-earth. That does not mean that she herself is perfect. Prior the very creation of the Rings, Galadriel's desire is a kingdom in middle-earth, and widespread power. This desire is still present in the back of her mind at the end of the Third Age. In addition, remember that the temptation of the One Ring for Gandalf would be "to do good". Perhaps for Galadriel the temptation it offers would be supreme power in middle-earth (well, duh!), in which she COULD re-create "perfect". She couldn't, of course, but temptations don't necessarily have to truths.

Fortunately, Galadriel has had an Age of trying to create "perfect" with Nenya. She realizes that to do so is impossible, and so is able to resist the temptation of the Ring, and pass the test.

Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel

Why would she be troubled with the idea that her realm could possibly fade if her longing was towards the sea?

The Elves are very uniquely tied to lands that they live in. This bond would only be intensified by having had a measure of success in re-creating that land in the image you wanted.

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

1.) Sauron being cunning, why didn't he do this (shared the lore of ring-making) in the 1st Age? He could've increased his power (perhaps to the level of Morgoth, since Morgoth was declining due to his excessive distribution) with this scheme.

2.) When Melian fenced Doriath with an enchanted girdle, did that girdle also protect Doriath from decays of time like that of Lorien (dual effects: preservering & protection against enemies)?

3.) When Sauron made the Great Ring, he put forth a major portion of his native power into it for it was said that the power of the elven-rings was very great & that which should govern them should be a thing of surpassing potency. So, I was wondering if the eleves did the same procedure, putting forth their native power as well. But if the Three were so mighty, I doubt that Celebrimbor's strength alone adequately supplied the Three's potency. Surely there must be more elves who poured out their essence. Anyone have an idea who these elves were?

Anyone has the answer to these 3 Q's?

Galadriel is trying to re-create "perfect" in middle-earth. That does not mean that she herself is perfect. Prior the very creation of the Rings, Galadriel's desire is a kingdom in middle-earth, and widespread power. This desire is still present in the back of her mind at the end of the Third Age. In addition, remember that the temptation of the One Ring for Gandalf would be "to do good". Perhaps for Galadriel the temptation it offers would be supreme power in middle-earth (well, duh!), in which she COULD re-create "perfect". She couldn't, of course, but temptations don't necessarily have to truths.

Fortunately, Galadriel has had an Age of trying to create "perfect" with Nenya. She realizes that to do so is impossible, and so is able to resist the temptation of the Ring, and pass the test.

Although I partly agree with your reasoning... I have some input of my own. I think that Galadriel was aware that she cannot replicate in full measure what the Valar had done & so I don't think she strove for perfection in that manner (just my opinion). I've finally come to a conclusion in regards to her lament in Lorien. Perhaps she saw her 2 fates in her mirror, the good & the bad. The good, being admitted to Valinor again but diminished. The bad, being the next tyrant of ME with the One Ring. It was said that Nenya, the Three, though not made as weapons of war, still enhanced the natural powers of its wearers & Galadriel had a gift f great foresight from the beginning, so perhaps this is what enhanced her foresight to see things more clearly & thus her heart grieves for the lose-lose situation. And what life would be there without the Mallorns as Haldir had said... were there any of these beautiful trees in Tol Eressea or Valinor?

[drigel]

My 2 cents for what its worth:

I think the only part elves contributed to in ringmaking was craftmanship. Even Feanor and the silmarils. I dont think any essense oozed out of them into their works.

Sauron in the 1st age was a part of Morgoths machinery. A high officer granted, but in this age his own natural abitlities were sufficient for his mission. By the second age, Sauron had seen an awsome defeat that (among other things) resulted in incredible destruction of ME, and his first taste of personal defeat by the jaws of Huan. The 2nd age we see Sauron as the Dark Lord - numero UNO. He needed more than what he could personally do to control the minds of men and elves, hence the need to craft the rings.

The girdle im not so sure. I need to research that, but I think it was for protection only. Galadriels ring caused no protection powers - only the slowing or abating of the effects of time.

It is an interesting notion that you have brought up. It definately brings up the elvish delima in ME. I think if your hypothesis played out, it would only temporarily (maybe 100-300 yrs..?../) delay the inevitable. The Long Defeat existed long before the 2nd age and the rings. It would eventually catch up with the elves, and probably wouldnt be pretty. I would see it as an culminating in a power struggle with mankind - who would of course eventually be supremely jealous and fearfull.

oh yea and mallorns came to ME from Numenor, which i would think ulitmately originated somewhere west of there