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[beyonddarkness]

Signs and Portents

There is a fairly famous concept from the Bible that says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Here, I apply that notion to two events from season 1, and say that we can know the source of an idea or belief by the results it yields.

(Brief Preview)

It starts by testing the event of Galadriel leaping from the ship (which is basically my whole personality at this point).

(2x01):

GALADRIEL: "Because in my heart, I know the Three Rings are free of his influence." ELROND: "But are you? The light of Valinor shone upon your very face, Galadriel, and you turned your back on it. Was it truly to fight the darkness, or was the darkness calling to you? Can you not see? All this may be by his design!"

I wrote most of this before s2 released, so in the last section, I added some important things that we have seen from the first 4 episodes of s2.

"I know you think this ring is deceiving me, but I believe it is guiding me."

(Galadriel, 2x04)

Then, it's on to testing the event of Míriel taking Galadriel back on account of the petals of the White Tree falling.

Elendil: "In my experience, it is unwise to spend one's life guessing after signs and portents."

In both Galadriel's and Míriel's situations, Sauron became an instrument in his own downfall.

‘And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.’

(Eru Ilúvatar, Ainulindalë)

But if "by their fruits ye shall know them," look at the fruits.

1) What happened as a result of the Faithful believing that the petals were the very tears of the Valar?

2) What happened as a result of some Elves believing that mithril contained the very light of the Valar?

3) Who claims to be an emissary of the Valar?