[Thingol]

My theory as to why Sauron did not employ Dragons during the Second Age is that the dragons were all asleep. It is probable that the first of the dragons had Maia spirits inhabiting them, but I doubt that their brood would. Most of the dragons would have been like the vast majority of orcs; chained to the mind of their master, and powerless without his will to guide them. The shock of losing the will of Melkor would have put the dragons out of commission for the Second Age. Sauron might not have been able to, or even thought to wake the dragons before the Last Alliance formed, and by then it would have been too late. By the time of the Third Age the dragons would have recoverd from the shock of losing Melkor's will. Becaue they were such powrful creatures, perhaps they would have learned to operate on their own. However, during the Third Age Sauron did not have the Ring and would not have been able to compel the Balrog or dragons to obey him. He and the Balrog at least had an understanding, considering his orcs and the Balrog had been cohabiting for several hundred years. I believe that Gandalf’s statement was made with the unsaid, but understood, stipulation that Sauron would need the Ring to use Smaug to wreak havoc in the Northern Lands. With the Ring (which was designed to enhance Sauron's power to dominate others) I believe that Sauron would have been able to force the Balrog or the dragons to at least acknowledge his leadership role.

[ May 09, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]