December 18, 2002

Re: Why Wait?
Mithril Miner

I noticed this while watching the movie, too, and one of the things I think it might have been is:

Orcs are more dangerous at night, but the Fellowship would probably be able to sneak around better at night, under the cover of darkness. It is harder to see people in dark cloaks, half of them not wearing shoes, and one an elf, and the other a ranger. Really, all you would have to worry about was Merry and Pippin doing something, and Gimli . In the day, you would have to worry about swords glinting, and little cover shadow-wise.

(Plus, Frodo is better at seeing in the night than the rest of them, and that could really help!)

Also, the orcs probably don't suspect that anybody would attempt the night, because of their advantage. Reverse psychology.

Like I said, I have often pondered your exact question. That is what I have come up with.