September 20, 2003

Response to Annatar and Jarrickson Half-elven
Tomas

Mr Giver of Gifts, I stick to my version.

You wrote that Manwë has no interest in the troubles of men and that may be true. But it was he who sent the Istari to inspire the firstborn and the followers to fight Sauron. You might notice that in LOTR the eagles are never attacking anyone, nor comes unbidden to help anyone but Gandalf in the gravest of needs.

The example that you referred to (the battle outside the black gates), here is my take on it.
Frodo puts on the ring and claims it for himself. Sauron notices this, but I would bet that Gandalf would notice it as well for two reasons. 1. He is a maia and would surely notice something like that. 2. He wears one of the elven rings and would probably notice if someone suddenly claimed to rule over that ring.
Another important thing is that the book describes most events from the eyes of the hobbits and in the sequence where the eagles are first spotted the story is seen through the eyes of Pippin. Gandalf knew that the ring was at mount doom and that Sauron knew that as well. His reasons for calling them (the eagles) may be debated. Maybe he didn't know what use he had for them at the time of "the calling", but he knew that this was the moment everything was going to be decided. As to how effective they would have been in a confrontation with the Nazgûl we'll never know since they were called home by you at the time. Gandalf knew the second the ring was destroyed for the same reason as given earlier.

The eagles are the emergency button that the Istari has been entrusted with, having the warning label brake the glass in case of an emergency.

I don't claim to be right but this is my take on the eagles and it answers all questions earlier posted about them by various people.



Mr Half-elven my native tongue is swedish.