Wk7 Bk5 Ch9: Daring vs Prudence

[Stormrider]

From: Stormridr (Original Message) Sent: 4/27/2003 9:42 PM

Detail from "The Pelennor Fields" by Alan Lee

"Copyright Alan Lee. All Rights Reserved"

Gandalf quotes the last words of Denethor "You may triumph on the fields of the Pelennor for a day, but against the power that has now arisen there is no victory." He asks everyone to ponder the truth in these words. Their only hope is the destruction of the Ring.

They speak of Aragorn having shown himself to Sauron with the Stone of Orthanc. Aragorn has the strength to wield the Ring against Sauron. By doing that, Aragorn has given Sauron much to think about--Sauron is uncertain and watching!

The decision is to set out with only seven thousand to approach the Dark Gate and challenge Sauron. I would love to have been a fly on the walls of Barad-dûr at this moment.

What do you think was going through Sauron's mind?
What do you think of the game plan recommended by Gandalf?
Was this good strategy or follie?

[Stormrider]

From: Merlin the mad Sent: 4/28/2003 2:57 PM
Anyone but Gandalf suggesting this desperate strategy would not inspire confidence: but considering that he had returned from the dead to "complete" his mission, it is very reasonable to assume that he knows something of the timing involved here (even though he doesn't "see" how Frodo and Sam are progressing, he must feel that the timing is going to be close). It doesn't matter how many men they take, because they cannot hope to win the actual battle: whether or not the Ring is destroyed is the only consideration: if it is not, then losing the battle at the Black gate is going to bring most of them a swifter death, and that is a good thing.

MtM

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From: Desi-Baggins Sent: 4/29/2003 9:49 AM
I think this was good strategy. I think this type of plan is used often especially in sports. The hard part of planning it is convincing the men to go to a battle that they know they can not win. As MtM says if they do not succeed in distracting from the real task and the Ring is not destoryed at least they will have a swifter death. I'm not so sure that would comfort me though!

Desi