Passing of the Grey Company + Muster of Rohan

[Butterbeer]

I agree. The whole chapter would be impossible without the curse.

What power had the Kings to create such a curse? Gordis and Crazy Squirrel debated i think somewhere about the sorcerous side to the line of Numenor ... but is it more as the Gaffer hints above, that we see in this chapter, JRR's creating a mythology for the middle earth where indeed no oath should be taken lightly and that thus the power of an oath has a power in itself - is it thus that as they broke their oath not to aid Elendil / Isuldur, thus this was the power or invocation that allowed the Heirs of Numenor to curse a whole people?

What of the oath they also broke to Sauron? For they, affraid of the wrath of Elendil / Ilsudir broke that too, being too affraid to aid him! Was this also a factor in the power of the curse laid on them?


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any thoughts on the symbolism on the coming of Arargorn in the dark and grey out of the north being labelled 'the King of the dead'?

'the king of the dead is coming ...' ... do you think, perhaps this brought a wry smile to Tolkien's lips and a twinkle to his eye?