Wk10 Bk6 Ch4: The Eagles are Coming

[Stormrider]

From: Annie2 (Original Message) Sent: 5/30/2003 6:44 PM

This picture was lost: The Eagles are coming (animated ROTK)

Bk6, Ch4, DISCUSSION; The Eagles are Coming

The eagles arrive and interrupt the final battle of the Captains of Gondor and Sauron’s forces. I have often wondered why they arrived in that moment. Any thoughts? Were they summoned, by Gandalf?

I also wonder if the Eagles could have defeated the Nazgul had they not been called back by Sauron.

Who are the Great Eagles? Did they fight the forces of evil in another age? Who is Thorondor? We are told that he built his eyries in the inaccessible peaks of the Encircling Mountains when Middle-earth was young and that he is the ancestor of Gwaihir and Landroval. What became of Thorondor?

Gandalf asks that Gwaihir carry him a third time. What are the other two times that Gandalf is rescued by Gwaihir? How will Gandalf repay him?

[Stormrider]

From: Desi-Baggins Sent: 6/3/2003 8:52 AM
The easy answer first: What were the other times Gandalf hitched a ride via Eagle? First When he was with Bilbo and the dwarves they were up in trees and wargs had them surrounded, secondly when Gandalf was trapped by Saruman in Orthanc.

In Unfinished Tales is says that Manwë sent forth the race of the Eagles. The Eagles were comanded to keep watch upon Morgoth. I think Gandalfs repayment is getting rid of Morgoth's evil once and for all by destorying the Ring and Sauron which will leave the Eagles free of command (living freely).

Desi

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From: Ruscosenda Sent: 6/3/2003 9:32 AM
It is true that the Eagles carried Gandalf and Thorin & Co. in The Hobbit, but I believe Gandalf's reference to being carried two previous times were limited to LOTR. As Desi mentioned, Gwaihir rescued Gandalf from Orthanc. However, he also carried Gandalf from Zirak-Zigal to Lothlorien after his battle with the Balrog. Gandalf specifically makes reference to this by saying that he weighs about the same as he did the last time Gwaihir carried him from Zirak-Zigal, after his life was burned away.

-- Rusco