Why didnt Frodo.....

[Earniel]

A guard at Mt. Doom would have been rather useless IMO. It has no strategical importance to station troops about it, in fact no importance whatsoever unless you wanted to destroy a certain high-quality Ring (garanteed to be unbreakable by Sauron Enterprises) and that was completely unthought of. Because who could ever think of destroying such a pretty, perfect, 'harmless' little trinket? Besides Mt. Doom lay nearly in the middle of the plain of Gorgoroth. So who in their right mind would even think about going there?

[Twista]

If that were true then Sauron woudnt expect the person flying on the eagle to destroy it would he? Most likely he'd try and capture it rather than shoot it down..

[Elf Girl]

Except that Eagles are more spottable than two little hobbits in Elven-Cloaks. It wasn't that Sauron was unable to consider them destroying it, it just didn't occur to him until he felt Frodo claim the Ring and Mt. Doom. The eagles would have 'prompted' him towards that realization had he seen them winging their way across Mordor towards Orudruin.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

And with the Eye of Sauron and the Palantir he might well have seen them far earlier, or even when preparing to leave. Plus passengers on top of giant eagles would have been a rather suspicious occurence,.

[Twista]

Yet the fact still remains the eagles could have helped in some manner, just to the dge of Gonder or something... as someone else has already mentioned.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Fyi, a comment by Tolkien in "Letters" on overuse of the Eagles in a proposed LOTR film, which may be somewhat apropos to this discussion:
"Here we meet the first intrusion of the Eagles. I think they are a major mistake of Z (American producer Morton Grady Zimmerman), and without warrant.
The Eagles are a dangerous 'machine'. I have used them sparingly, and that is the absolute limit of their credibility
or usefulness. The alighting of a Great Eagle of the Misty Mountains in the Shire is absurd; it also makes the later capture of G. by Saruman incredible, and spoils the account of his escape.....
At the bottom of the page, the Eagles are again introduced.I feel this to be a wholly unacceptable tampering with the tale.
(Tolkien's use of italics). 'Nine Walkers' and they immediately go to the air!"

[Nurvingiel]

Originally posted by Twista
Yet the fact still remains the eagles could have helped in some manner, just to the dge of Gonder or something... as someone else has already mentioned.

They did help. The Eagles seem to help the people of Middle-earth when things are very, very bleak, and they would not succeed without their intervention.
In the Hobbit, the Eagles join the Battle of Five Armies when things are going badly, and turn the tide of battle. They also rescue Gandalf, Bilbo and the Dwarves from certain doom when they were trapped by the Wargs and Orcs.
In Lord of the Rings, they arrive (again, later in the battle) at the battle at the Morannon, then save Frodo and Sam's lives when they would have died otherwise.
I think this supports what Tuor said. The Eagles get involved rarely, and only when absolutely necessary.

[Twista]

yes i guess your rite... i think this thread is exhausted now lol... things just seem to be getting repeated.

[Attalus]

Yep, that's what all of these arguments end up being. Don't even mention Balrogs.

[Twista]

What happens in the Balrog arguments? What does someoneask ' Why didnt Sauron summon on the remaining Balrogs within Middle Earth ' Or something like that?

[Attalus]

Hmm, post a thread saying something like, "Did Balrogs have wings?", and see what'll happen. Something not nice. As for me, I have my opinion, and I don't participate any more. Other topics to avoid: Was Gollum a Stoor? What is the origin of Orcs (or Dragons)? Did Elves have pointed ears? Did Urûk-hai exist outside of Saruman's army? You'll be surprised what stong opinions mild-mannered Tolkienophiles have. At least we settled Who tore up the bolsters?

[azalea]

Originally posted by Attalus
Hmm, post a thread saying something like, "Did Balrogs have wings?", and see what'll happen.

No, please don't do that ! (Besides, there was one opened just recently ).

[Twista]

What if i posted 'Was there any such thing as a Slime Balrog because there are concept pictures on the TT Dvd lol'

would that stir up controvasy? lol

[Attalus]

Not if I understand your premise correctly, but I might be wrong. There seems to be something about Balrogs that brings out the worst in Tolkien fans.

[Nurvingiel]

Aren't Balrogs servants of Morgoth? They might not listen to Sauron if he commanded them, but they do have similar goals.

[Attalus]

I think that the Balrogs probably did have to obey Sauron during Morgoth's time, since he was the big boss' chief lieutenant; but wouldn't after his banishment. They were all, after all, Maiar.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Originally posted by Attalus
I think that the Balrogs probably did have to obey Sauron during Morgoth's time, since he was the big boss' chief lieutenant; but wouldn't after his banishment. They were all, after all, Maiar.
______________________________

And one of the nice touches in the books, which PJ missed in the movies, is the concept of evil forces (and good guys) acting independently, not only Balrogs, but also dragons (Smaug), Old Man Willow, Caradhras, etc.).

[Twista]

Yeh it a is a cool concept. But it wouldnt have been cool to read of other creatures obaying Sauron in Lotr.

[luinilwen]

i'd just like to put in my two cents re: twista's original comment.

if you're pursuing a "why didnt they ... instead?" question, how about why did iluvatar ever create melkor if he knew how much horror would result from his existence? wouldn't that make life so much easier for the ainur and all of eru's kiddies? why would he knowingly subject them to that?

and i think the answer is more then just "it makes a better story". this is just my opinion, but i think the idea is that bliss/peace/freedom/prosperity are earned through hardship and suffering (such as the hardship of the valar, or war in general), and therefore there are no shortcuts to "righteousness".

i think also that a lot of the arguments presented in terms of the story are extremely pertinent, such as the ultimate destiny of the ring, and the fate of gollum.

i really don't know how pertinent or coherent my comment was - my thoughts tends to run into each other sometimes!

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by luinilwen
and i think the answer is more then just "it makes a better story". this is just my opinion, but i think the idea is that bliss/peace/freedom/prosperity are earned through hardship and suffering (such as the hardship of the valar, or war in general), and therefore there are no shortcuts to "righteousness".

You forgot the most important thing, Hope...