Posted: December 22, 1999 at 12:13:04: by Tar-Amandil
Another point that I wondered about, is if TMOS had forgotten his name then how could he know what it was in the 4th Age? It is conceivable that during his service to Sauron his will was under His direct control, and his original name was never used in Mordor and thus forgotten. But, this doesn't mean it was not recorded or remembered by all. When Sauron fell, his own will may have returned, and since Sauron was gone he could no longer be 'the mouth of Sauron'; therefore, he may have sought the
truth to his past identity, or simply remembered it when his own will was restored. But, if my speculation is true, then I think it more a matter of Tolkien restructuring his stories, as he did
numerous times in the SIL. The New Shadow was one of the last projects he worked on, although it was originally written many years before, and he may have decided to make this new Evil connected to the old Evil of Sauron by changing his initial concepts of Herumor; and what better character to use than The Mouth of Sauron. But, he would have to rethink a few things to make this work. I find it intriguing that Borlas smelt (sensed) the old Evil and knew it for what it was.
And, another point of concern would be that it would seem unlikely that a man could prolong his life, as the Numenoreans attempted without success. But, didn't Sauron's innate power, concentrated in the Ring, prolong Bilbo's life, and the same with the Nazgul. It is possible, though unlikely, that Sauron used his innate powers, or gave such power to The Mouth of Sauron, in the same effect. We will never know.As for your response to my question; maybe, after the fall of Sauron his life was beginning decline from where it left off before his possible alterations from Sauron. Or, maybe the power given to him by Sauron was different than that of wraiths. Or, being a kind of wraith, it took him until 120 of the 4th Age to reform into the physical realm.
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