Questions about the host of Valinor

[Zigûr]

I can imagine that Ëonwë might at least have had a retinue or staff of Maiar with him to assist him in commanding the very large force the Valar sent to Beleriand.

There really isn't a great deal of evidence either way, however. It doesn't count for much, but when Maedhros and Maglor snuck into Ëonwë's camp after the destruction of Angband, they were able to slay the guards who were protecting the two Silmarils. These people, who had a very important role in the camp, thus seem to have been Elves. Perhaps Maiar were too important for guard duty (or perhaps this was when Ëonwë was busy with Sauron — that would be an interesting coincidence).

I hope they weren't the same ones guarding Morgoth!

(On a slightly off-topic note, it's frustrating to observe that there's very little fan art of Sauron supplicating himself before Ëonwë, and what does exist isn't very good — typical "everyone is waifish" stylings)

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Perhaps Maiar were too important for guard duty (or perhaps this was when Ëonwë was busy with Sauron — that would be an interesting coincidence).

Well, maybe it was thought that since Morgoth had been captured, and his forces routed, the threat to the Silmarils was minimal.

Originally Posted by Zigûr

I hope they weren't the same ones guarding Morgoth!

That was the obvious place for top-level guards. I doubt they would have let any but Maia anywhere near Morgoth, and even then none alone with him.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Well, maybe it was thought that since Morgoth had been captured, and his forces routed, the threat to the Silmarils was minimal.

That's a good point, although Maedhros and Maglor were still on the loose, and the Oath was fairly public knowledge — by that point they were perhaps more dangerous than the surviving servants of Morgoth.

In any event, the more I think about it the more I feel that there must have been other Maiar present, even if they were just lesser folk of Manwë who acted as Ëonwë's assistants. It would be odd if Ëonwë had been the only one present.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

That's a good point, although Maedhros and Maglor were still on the loose, and the Oath was fairly public knowledge — by that point they were perhaps more dangerous than the surviving servants of Morgoth.

I think Eonwe may have suffered a little from Manwe's complaint: an inability to see evil coming. Okay, he managed to keep hold of Morgoth - but it seems that he completely failed to prepare for either Sauron fleeing, or Maedhros and Maglor stealing the Silmarils.

Both events are incredibly predictable - there was no way Sauron would simply submit to being taken to Valinor like Melkor once was, and there was no way House Feanor would stay their hands when the Silmarils were right there - but Eonwe seems to have assumed that because he had issued instructions while bearing the authority of the Valar, those instructions would be obeyed.

hS