Part 2/7:
Tom Bombadil presents himself as a figure who has existed in Middle-earth far before many other beings. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo Baggins seeks to understand Bombadil's age and power. Bombadil asserts, “I am old, older than the hills,” illustrating his longevity. He claims to have existed before rivers, trees, and indeed, has witnessed the arrival of the "little folk" before any great kingdoms were established.
The character's timelessness is accentuated when he expresses a direct relationship with nature, from the first drop of rain to the first tree sprouting. Indeed, Tom has been documented to have existed prior to the Elder Days and is witnessed as a guardian of a world that predates numerous conflicts, even before the arrival of Melkor, the first Dark Lord.