What would have happened?
 

If the fellowship made it to Mordor unscathed, meaning to Gandalf falling in Mordor, no Boromir death, and no Pippin and Merry being captured, what would they have done once they got there? Of course this would of changed the story completely, but wondering what the nine of them would have done at the black gates.

Hmm.... good question, except that they wouldn't make it even if everyone didn't die, etc. The whole point was that humans are totally corrupt and cannot handle to be so close to that kind of power and not try and take it. The entire fellowship would be tempted beyond belief and one of them would have taken the ring for sure. However if they weren't tempted anymore and remained together, then i doubt any force could stop them. With their fighting prowess and Gandalf's incredible power (Wizard, the most powerful of the istari, and Narya). But, Gandalf never fall at Moria then he'd never be the "White".

There's an interesting thread that goes into this sort of thing here. Personally I think the other characters would have just gotten in the way, I always regarded Frodo's quest as more of a personal battle.

Hmm good thought. I think that theanswer is a matter of fate. Gandalf tells Frodo that in the history of the ring there is more than one power at work. Behind the scenes Illuvatar had already been workiing for good. It seems that in every bad event in LOTR that good came from it. If Gandalf had not fallen he would not have become the White, and if the fellowship had not been broken then it may have been more difficult to get into Mordor. If Gandalf had gone to Mordor then the events of the War of the Ring migt have gone much worse.

"What if..." topics usually belong on the Novices and Newcomers forum, since they ask for opinions instead of actually discussing the books. This one has been moved - please continue there.

you could make the question in even a more basical one: what would have happend if Saurons master-teacher wouldn't have been defeated by the Valar? it is always a matter of what would have happened, but don't forget that Sauron only got his enormous powers because Morgoth had left Middle-Earth. or am I taking this to far?

navaer.

The book might not have been as interesting and the role of the ring would have weakened because nobody would have seen the dramatic affect its power had on other people.It was probably a better idea to have them split up. If the fellowship didn't split up the Isengard problem wouldn't have been resolved and Grima would still be poisonning the Mind of Theoden.

The book certainly wouldn´t have been as good as it is now. And such a large company would easily been noticed by Nasgûls on the flying things(can´t remember the name).

Lutfiska: they wore elven cloaks that made them almost invisble, I think Gandalf would have had one too or some magic of his own.

Boromir would have certainly fallen, and Aragorn would have had to kill him... or Frodo would have run away... with the ring in his finger INSIDE Mordor - very dangerous.

I think Aragorn would have remained faithful. They might still have needed Gollum, and he would have been easier to control. They could not have entered through the Black Gate, so they would have met Faramir... and Shelob! Parhaps the spider wouldn't have got Frodo (so many protectors...) but for instance Pippin... then they would all have saved him, for of course the orcs wouldn't kill him either. But there would have been no mithril coat for the orcs to start a fight about.

Legolas would have suffered somehow for the ugliness and pollution of Mordor, I think. Perhaps become sick at drinking the water.

Gimli would endure.. or not... perhaps been tempted more by the ring.

I don´t think they would have passed through unnoticed cause it would have been a big company so they would have been noticed even thought the cloaks.. and I don´t think they would have met gollum cause he would have gotten too frightened of Legolas and gandalf for example... and even if he would have joined them he wouldn´t have shown them the way to Ungoliant cause they were too strong...