What power is Elrond referring to?

[A_Brandybuck]

Maybe it is far-fetched, but Gandalf (or rather his former person Olórin) is a specialist for giving visions to the Elves. The passage in the Sil tells us that, but it doesn't really fit the dream of Boromir and Faramir. Or the dream (vision) of Frodo in the House of Bombadil, which showed Frodo his possibly fate, that he will come to the Undying Lands.
This dreams are telling the future or the possibly future and Olórins visions are fair and giving hope.

The Silmarillion, Of the Maiar:
[i]But of Olórin that tale does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts. In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and took pity on their sorrows; and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of darkness.[/i ]

But there was in eveery case a power of foresight in Middle-Earth. We know it from Galadriel and her mirror, which are very similar to the vision, which Frodo had. The seen things are not really the future, but they could it be.

[Ainaserkewen]

A_Brandybuck, that is a very good suggestion. I'd like to add on to it...

Perhaps it was Gandalf who spread those dreams to the brothers of Gondor, a little far-fetched though because of his present state of being (human). But what about another "God" or mayber even Eru himself? Someone is hinting towards the hobbits that is clear.

[Amrod the Hunter]

Maybe it was even some of Valar or some of their messengers,like Eonwe.I think it wasn't Gandalf because he had to save his strength and I also think that,while in human form,his power was reduced.

[Gurthang]

Didn't Elrond also have foresight. Maybe he saw that the Shire would be important somehow, and so took an interest into its well-being.

Another far-fetched idea. Maybe beings who could use Osanwe(correct?) could induce visions on beings who could not 'hear' Osanwe. That would make sense with Frodo's vision and might partially explain Faramir/Boromir's dream.

[Ainaserkewen]

Didn't Elrond also have foresight.

I never got that in the movie. What does "foresight" really mean anyway? I mean, I know it means you can see the future and what not, but why? And how? Elrond in particular. As far as I remember, I think a thread here came to the conclution that he was just really smart and could put together the puzzle pieces better because of his age and wisdom. There was obviously some magic involved here, but I doubt it was Elrond's...but I may be wrong because of whatever "powers" being a keeper of one of the Elvish rings brings you. Perhaps that's to be considered.

You know, I love these speculation threads...in a way, they're like thought experiments with no real evidence from the text, only ideas from the readers.

[Felagund]

Perhaps the whole thing isn't meant to have an explanantion? I doubt there is a conspiracy, or plan, involved in the "dispensing" of dreams and visions and foresight amongst various characters. What if, rather, the great tide of events took on a life of their own? Like the rumblings in the Earth that precede an Earthquake, for example? People all across the North-West of Middle-Earth just heard a piece of the tremors, before it hit. Or perhaps, according to the song, or theme, and the design of Eru, that these things were meant to happen (part of a Doom), and thus fulfil Eru's plan. It seems to me, throughout all the pieces written by Tolkien that the things that are meant to happen, invariably do. Frodo's Quest was meant to happen, and thus it did, because of the coming together of many, often fractious, forces at work in Middle-Earth.


-Felagund

[cookieman]

The Shire is very close to the White Towers and the Grey Havens. Cirdan and other elves might be considered a "power" of some sort. Similar, perhaps, to Lorien and Rivendell. Other Elf Lords still lived in Middle Earth, remember Glorifendel. It would would be reasonable to believe that other powerful elves, even if they aren't specifically mentioned, lived near and guarded the Shire. Also, don't forget Bombadill to the east.