Subject: I think so.
Author:
Posted on: 2015-02-11 07:47:00 UTC

Frodo perceived Glorfindel as a great light, and my reading has always been that this a) was because he lived under Treeslight, and b) is what drove the Black Riders into the river, even though they were terrified of water.

To be honest, the Nazgul aren't that hard to scare off. Fire, running water, Caliquendi - you can pretty much send them running at a moment's notice. The trouble comes in three ways:

1/ Unlike wild animals, they don't just blindly run in fear. Sure, the Witch-King will back away from a torch - but when you turn to do the same to Khamul, you get a Morgul blade in the back.

2/ It only works if you can reach them. ^_^ Their winged steeds carry them nicely over water, and keep them out of range of fire, too - and the distance doesn't do anything to stop the effects of their cries.

3/ The Nazgul aren't front-line troops anyway - they're spies, assassins, and saboteurs. Think of Merry in Bree - he didn't know what hit him, but the Black Breath still knocked him right out. When we see the Ringwraiths, it's in exceptional circumstances, with everything on the line; their normal MO is closer to that tense, subtle pursuit of Frodo across the Shire.

Add in the fact that, while running water is a universal barrier (particularly for Khamul, as I recall), fire is apparently more of a panic reaction - certainly the Witch-King had no problems navigating the fire-filled trenches of the Pelennor, and actually held a magically-flaming sword when he encountered Gandalf - and you're left with a bunch of short-term solutions for a very long-term problem.

But for startling them long enough to get away, a Valinorian Elda revealing her innate power would probably work, yes.

(Which leaves me to wonder - what exactly were they scared of?)

hS

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