The effects and powers of Vilya

[the phantom]

In RotK, The Grey Havens, JRRT wrote:
"Elrond wore a mantle of grey and had a star upon his forehead, and a silver harp was in his hand, and upon his finger was a ring of gold with a great blue stone, Vilya, mightiest of the Three."

In FotR, Many Meetings:
Frodo asks:
"What about Rivendell and the Elves? Is Rivendell safe?"
Gandalf replies:
"Yes, at present, until all else is conquered."

'All else' according to Gandalf.

I was about to post those, Tar Elenion! You beat me to it! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

"they enhanced the natural powers of a possessor" Letter 131

Yes, Elrond was already kick-butt powerful without the ring. People underestimate him. Also, Galadriel didn't go out there and defeat the bad guys herself, she had the bonus of several thousand elves who were crackshots with a bow and arrow. Elrond, on the other hand, might have been able to do it alone by just wiping the enemy out when they tried to cross the river.

And also, if I'm remembering correctly, when those orcs went into Lothlorien on the trail of the fellowship, why didn't they find them? Galadriel? No, it was because the elves guarding that area led the orcs ahead until an army came up and killed them all. I don't think we can use Lorien turing back assaults as a measure for Nenya's power nor Galadriel's power. Most of it can be explained by the fact that there were a bunch of elves living in Lothlorien.

[ April 11, 2003: Message edited by: the phantom ]