> Interesting, although it might require Gandalf as the secret father of Aragorn as well. It doesn't. Aragorn already descends from a Maia. The whole Numenor

> Interesting, although it might require Gandalf as the secret father of Aragorn as well. It doesn't. Aragorn already descends from a Maia. The whole Numenorian royal blood line descends from Thingol and Melian; Melian is a Maia. > I prefer to think that the path of the ring into the heart was via despair. I don't really think this plays out. Aragorn is definitely descended from Maia, Faramir might be, and Tom Bombadil is a powerful being though we don't know how powerful (although certainly at least in the realm of a Maia). I think the real story is Sam's devotion to his friend (or lover, if you subscribe to that theory). That in this clash between immortal, supernatural beings with incredible power, what changes the world isn't a mega-being appearing to vaporize all the evil. It's Sam's unwavering devotion to Frodo. Everyone else is tempted by the ring, but Sam alone is unphased, blinded by his desire to simply go home with his friend/lover and live a simple life. I like the poetic irony of it. What saves the world is one man's indifference to saving the world.