Gandalf on Tom Bombadil

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by blantyr

Another thing of note, however strong Tom is, however often he says he is his own master, he seems to be subject to 'chance meetings'. In Middle Earth, the plans of the Valar or Ilúvatar are sometimes moved along by semi-random coincidence. Gandalf just happening to meet Thorin Oakenshield in Bree might be the classic example, triggering the events of The Hobbit. Certain people just happened to show up at Rivendell for Elrond's council. Very convenient, this subtle aspect of Middle Earth Magic, as one can do deus ex machina plot advances, implausible stuff happening, and blame it on the gods. But, anyway, just by coincidence, Tom wandered by just as Frodo needed him.

Well, Bombadil himself said of his meeting with the hobbits (quoting from memory), that "just chance brought me then, if chance you call it. It was no plan of mine, though I was waiting for you".

That the encounter was "no plan of his", strongly suggests that there was indeed a deliberate intention for Bombadil to be at that place at that time, and he recognized the fact. That leads back to the idea that Tom, Ungoliant, and every being in Arda (or without!) did serve a Purpose, unclear though it might be for a very long time.