Fast, Tom sagt es selbst - aber die Antwort selbst ist korrekt, du bist.
Der Abschnitt, auf den ich bezogen hatte, lautet vollständig: "Eldest, that's what I am. [...] Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remebers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights.when the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside." (Seite 172 in der englischen Ausgabe, "In the House of Tom Bombadil")