: You make an interesting point about he Galdor referring to the three putative Elf-ring lands

: : In any case, I would say Galdor is correct about his supposition - that Bombadil does not have the power to resist Sauron. He can sing pretty well, and he can dance a mean jig; but he could not defeat the armies of the Dark Lord, if he came marching victoriously from battles against the armies of Gondor, Rohan, Lorien, Rivendell, Mithlond, Mirkwood, Dale, Erebor, and the Iron Hills. Bombadil could do nothing, except, as Gandalf says, be last. Indeed, I don't even think Sauron would need all his armies. He would come to defeat Bombadil, not because Bombadil's power was any threat to his domination, but rather because Tom and Goldberry were an affront to it, being free and happy and in love.

: : What do you think?

: I'm not so sure. Tom was *master* of his woods. I believe he could literally command the trees (many might have been very "treeish" ents or huorns), earth and beasts to fight off Sauron's armies. Sauron's armies could not very well have crossed the chasm Tom would tear around his realm. Tolkien words in Letters are instructive. Even were Sauron to take the geographical area of Tom's forest, that does not mean he defeats Tom. Tolkien does not say that Sauron could defeat Tom. Finrod was able to give Sauron a run for his money in a battle of Songs of Power. Tom would defeat Suron with ease in a contest of such Songs of Power. In the end Tolkien only said that there would be nothing left for Tom in a Sauron-dominated world, not that Sauron could directly defeat him.

I think your missing what Tolkien was saying. Many people are the masters of others, but very few are true masters of THEMSELVES. That's what made Tom SO SPECIAL. He did what he wanted when he wanted and hardly anyone can make a claim like that.

As for commanding the trees, I don't think Tom would. He doesn't desire domination, that's what makes him immune to the Ring.