
Originally posted by ithrynluin
But there was a big chance of success, so it wasn't that unwise to make the ring. And it would really enhance his power.
Melkor is banished, but he is far from powerless. The world is his ring. He exerts his force on it, and his will moves all beings to thwart the will of the Valar. In a way he is more dangerous in the Third Age than in the First, because his plots cannot be pinned to a single empire or throne. Of course Sauron would try to convince himself he was working for himself, but he has to know he is just a tool. Consider these words of Gandalf:Is it possible that Sauron was still in Melkor's service during the War of the Ring, and up until his death?
"....for Sauron himself is but a servant or emissary...
From a footnote to this passage:Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to be this by his servants; if he had been victorious he would have demanded divine honour from all rational creatures and absolute temporal power over the whole world.
When he found how greatly his knowledge was admired by all other rational creatures and how easy it was to influence them, his pride became boundless. By the end of the Second Age he assumed the position of Morgoth's representative. By the end of the Third Age (though actually much weaker than before) he claimed to be Morgoth returned.