Authorities

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"The Authorities, it is true, differ whether this last question was a mere ‘question’ and not a ‘riddle’ according to the strict rules of the Game."
[1]

The Authorities are a group mentioned fleetingly in The Lord of the Rings Prologue, regarding the Riddle-game between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum.

Considering that the rules of the Game were sacred, it's possible that the Authorities was another name for the Valar.[2][3]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Of the Finding of the Ring"
  2. Michael Martinez, "Are There Any Christian Themes in The Hobbit?", Middle-earth and J.R.R. Tolkien News & Articles (accessed 20 April 2024); note that the reference is wrong, as the Authorities aren't mentioned in Riddles in the Dark.
  3. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Authorities", according to information from Dick Plotz.