The Ringwraiths -- What were they?

[burrahobbit]

"Can Sauron keep the fea of a mortal Man from its fate?"

Definitely not.

Definitely so. When a man dies his spirit does not go directly to God, nor directly to Mandos. If it so chooses, and it may choose, it may tarry for a while at any point on its journey.

For the spirit of Beren [a man] at her [Luthien's] bidding tarried in the halls of Mandos, unwilling to leave the world, until Luthien came to say her last farewell upon the dim shores of the Outer Sea, whence Men that die set out never to return.

Of Beren and Luthien, Silmarillion

There is more in HoME about fear moving about of their own volition, but I do not have that and thus can not quote.

[ June 06, 2002: Message edited by: burrahobbit ]