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***Mithadan*** · 01-19-2001, 08:33 AM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist
Posts: 527</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: Dragons, Balrogs and other nasties

I do not think that Sauron could order or exercise control upon the Dragons to act on his behalf. For this reason I find Gandalf's comment to be puzzling. Consider: during the Second Age, while Sauron had the Ring, Sauron fought a series of battles with the Elves and the Dunedain, including the Battle of Dagorlad and the Seige of Barad Dur. Despite losing on Dagorlad and being in a severe situation during the Seige, Sauron did not or could not call upon the aid of any of the Dragons.

In the Second Age, both Scatha and Smaug and others such as the cold drake referred to in the Appendices would have been available. The dragons could have wreaked havoc among the the armies of the Last Alliance and perhaps turned the tide of the battles. The fact that Sauron did not enlist their help suggests strongly that he was unable to even with the Ring. At the end of the Third Age, without the Ring, Sauron certainly could not do what he was unable to do with the Ring during the Last Alliance.

So Gandalf's comment is puzzling. Maybe Gandalf believed that Sauron and Smaug could have reached an agreement through which the dragon would have provided assistance. Alternatively, maybe Smaug, inspired by the chaos of war, would have acted on his own, seeking more treasure or just out of malice.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

01-19-2001, 08:33 AM	#7
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,393	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist Posts: 527</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Dragons, Balrogs and other nasties I do not think that Sauron could order or exercise control upon the Dragons to act on his behalf. For this reason I find Gandalf's comment to be puzzling. Consider: during the Second Age, while Sauron had the Ring, Sauron fought a series of battles with the Elves and the Dunedain, including the Battle of Dagorlad and the Seige of Barad Dur. Despite losing on Dagorlad and being in a severe situation during the Seige, Sauron did not or could not call upon the aid of any of the Dragons. In the Second Age, both Scatha and Smaug and others such as the cold drake referred to in the Appendices would have been available. The dragons could have wreaked havoc among the the armies of the Last Alliance and perhaps turned the tide of the battles. The fact that Sauron did not enlist their help suggests strongly that he was unable to even with the Ring. At the end of the Third Age, without the Ring, Sauron certainly could not do what he was unable to do with the Ring during the Last Alliance. So Gandalf's comment is puzzling. Maybe Gandalf believed that Sauron and Smaug could have reached an agreement through which the dragon would have provided assistance. Alternatively, maybe Smaug, inspired by the chaos of war, would have acted on his own, seeking more treasure or just out of malice. --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.