[Overtaxed]

How is how the hobbits got the knives (swords) of the Westernesse important to the story later? or where does it matter that they are knives of the Westernesse? - I never saw these as outwardly magical weapons... Fine weapons certainly, but not magical like Sting and the Elven blades...

Merry needs his Westernesse blade to stab the Witch King.

So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dunedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angamar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.

[HairOfTheDog]

You think that is a real effect, or an emotional one? I always took that as somewhat figurative, like the emotional slap of a new foe bearing the weapon of someone you long despised...

Is there really magic to the knives? Were the weapons of the Westernesse blessed by something other than skill? I just never thought of them that way.

[ksen]

Merry needs his Westernesse blade to stab the Witch King.

I have faith that PJ will fill the gap somehow. With the care he has taken so far I can't see him botching a critical element of the story like that.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I should read further before posting...you had it covered...oh, well, one closer to 20,000.