The White Council

Re: Finrod instead of Glorfindel?

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: I think you're kind of underestimating just what kind of influence Finrod Felegund had during the First Age of the Sun.

: Please note that he strongely befriended the dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost (he wasn't named "Felegund"--a corruption of the Dwarvish phrase "felek-gundu" (cave hewer)--for nothing). He befriended the three Houses of the Edain and provided much assistance to them. And Finrod's masterful diplomacy and leadership between the houses of Fingolfin, Finarfin, and Fëanor, not to mention cordial relations with Elu Thingol--kept alliance against Morgoth from falling apart.

It was Maedhros and Fingolfin who were responsible for the formation of the League of the Noldor. Finrod had nothing to do with maintaining the defense of the north. Neither did Thingol (in fact, Thingol refused to have anything to do with the lands outside of Doriath).

Also, most of the Noldorin princes befriended and allied themselves with the Edain. Finrod simply had the good fortune to be the first to discover them.

His friendship with the dwarves does not seem to have contributed in any significant way to the outcome of events in Beleriand. More important was the alliance of Caranthir with the dwarves of Belegost.

: That is why I said if it WAS Finrod and not Glorfindel that returned to Middle-earth, his masterful leadership skills--far better than his sister, Galadriel--would have seriously thwarted Sauron's plans. Finrod would have immediately discovered what "Annatar" is, and may have successfully discouraged Celebrimbor from following Annatar.

If Galadriel could not pierce Annatar's disguise, how would Finrod have been able to do so? If anything, Galadriel's tutelage under Melian should have made her even more adept at seeing through Sauron's designs, yet she was still unable to stop him.

I also fail to see how Finrod would have had more influence with Celebrimbor than Galadriel. After all, it was Galadriel that Celebrimbor loved.

: In fact, I think that Celebrimbor was seduced by "Annatar" to form the Smiths of Eregion, which served to advance Sauron's plans.

The Gwaith-i-Mirdain already existed when Sauron arrived in Eregion.

: Also, because Finrod would have very likely been friendly with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, he would have been able to get the House of Durin to provide much-needed assistance against Sauron.

Galadriel was on excellent terms with the dwarves of Khazad-dum. Her messengers passed through Moria regularly, on their way to and from the woodland realm of Lorinand. Following the seizure of power by the Mirdain in Eregion, Galadriel herself travelled to Lorinand via Moria, and later commanded a combined force of elves and dwarves which attacked the army of Sauron, allowing the troops of Elrond time to escape northward.

: Finrod would not have to directly confront Sauron one-on-one, because he would have forged an alliance of Men, Elves and Dwarves that would have posed a formidable obstable to Sauron.

That's a matter of opinion.