2nd in command to sauron

[Telchar]

I do not want to take part in this discussion as I have no real interest in the answer - why dont I have interest? Simply because Tolkien never gave a direct answer to it.

I do however wonder at the fact that none of you have grasped at this quote from the last pages of The Black Gate Opens where Merry thinks to himself:

‘If only I could smite that foul Messenger with it, then almost I should draw level with old Merry. Well, I’ll smite some of this beastly brood before the end. I wish I could see cool sunlight and green grass again!’

The word almost being my point...

Cheers T