Question

[Dominika]

Hello!
I am confused and in need of explanation about the details of the Valar and Maiar taking forms of the Children of Iluvatar, especially if they can be killed or not, etc.
What happened to Sauron after the destruction of the Ring? Did he linger in Arda powerless? Or did his spirit go out of the Confines of The World to be a nuisance to Iluvatar and the Ainur that stayed behind? Why can't he change back into a physical form?
I read in The Silmarillion that the Ainur can take on a physical form, but also change out of it whenever they like. How does this explain Saruman's and Sauron's 'death'?
Please explain!!! Thank you.

[Keri]

Sauron put so much of his power into the ring that once the ring was lost he was reduced to nothing more than a weak spirit. He would have had no choice but to linger in Middle-earth as he wouldn't have had the strength nor would he have been allowed back in Valinor which was hidden after the downfall of Numenor. I imagine much the same type of fate for Saruman as his deeds would have prevented him returning as well though who knows where his spirit ended up. So no, they wouldn't die in the way man or even elves did but wouldn't have the power to take form again and would be reduced to wandering spirits. Perhaps this quote will help where Sauron is concerned: "If [the Ring] it is destroyed, then he will fall, and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of the strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that was made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed." —The Return of the King, "The Last Debate"

[Annamarie]

Bravo Keri! Thank you! And that link is very helpful.

[Dominika]

Hi, I have another one! Are orcs mortal or immortal?

[Stefan]

I have seen it written in one of the histories that orcs had a short lifespan in comparison to the Numenoreans so they weren't immortal, but they were definitely long lived as evidence in the writings shows that Bolg was well over 100 years old.

[Dominika]

Thanks!

[Dea]

Hi! Does anyone know how to pronounce Arda correctly?

[Michael]

AOK wrote: "Hi! Does anyone know how to pronounce Arda correctly?"

To rhyme with "Larder" (depending on how you pronounce that word 🙂).

[Rafael]

The two A's as the A in father, the R as the spanish r, the D like the D in dark.

[Dea]

@ Michael & Rafael

Thank you! You've both answered my question