Now, compare this with the story in Lothlórien:How does Gawain find the castle? In answer to prayer. He has been journeying since All Hallows. It is now Christmas Eve, and he is lost in a wild country of tangled forest; but his chief concern is that he should not miss Mass on Christmas morning. He was
troubled lest a truant at that time he should prove
from the service of the sweet Lord, who on the selfsame night
of a maid became man our mourning to conquer,
And therefore sighing he said: 'I beseech then, O Lord
and Mary who is the mildest mother most dear,
for some harbour where with honour I might hear the Mass
and thy Matins tomorrow. This meekly I ask,
and thereto promptly I pray with Pater and Ave and Creed.'
It is when he has so prayed, and made an act of contrition, and blessed himself thrice with the sign of the cross, that he suddenly catches sight through the trees of the beautiful white castle, and rides on to a courteous welcome, and the answer to his prayer.
So first, is this not the same thing? A prayer/wish is granted. If so, my real question is how to distinguish a prayer from a wish?'I’d dearly love to see some Elf-magic, Mr. Frodo!’ ....
[Frodo says:] 'I hope very much that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again.’
Even as he spoke, they saw, as if she came in answer to their words, the Lady Galadriel approaching.
Nb. This question was asked by me recently on another forum and is posted here now for everyone, but most especially for @Ephtariat. My motivations are two: (1) I would like some illumination on the question; (2) if you don't get stuck into another thread then your replies on the Lust thread are going to carry on coming so rapidily that I cannot keep up. (And I'll keep on adding threads until you slow down on the first one!)