[Morgul Queen]

Gandalf is one of the messabgers of the Valar, they have forbidden him to directly oppose Sauron. This means that he can't face Sauron one on one as that was the task of the free peoples of Middle-earth, he can, however, advise, manipulate and wheedle the others into doing the job.

Gandalf was send as an advisor, not as a warrior.

Second, the eagles are the birds of Manwe, hence they would not interfere if he asked them not to.

Third, none of Tolkien's characters are flat. To use Denethor, son of Ecthelion as an example, he was the last ruling steward of Gondor, driven mad by the knowledge of what Sauron intended for Gondor and the lies he was fed via the Palantir.

To go back to when Denethor was younger, as the heir of the reigning steward he was supposed to be Captain of Gondor, by Thorongil, Aragorn who had come to the city of Minas Tirith in disguise to serve under Ecthelion, was given this post instead.

If this wasn't enough, not only did the people of Gondor like Thorongil more than Denethor, his own father did as well. Poor, bitter Denethor was basically given the impression that he couldn't be trusted to defend his city.

When Ecthelion died and Denethor became steward, he began to use the Palantir to keep an eye on his neighbour to the East and his doings. While he was eventually driven mad by the visions he was given, he did manage to keep Minas Tirith whole and well while being the closest realm to Mordor and the most hated as well. He would have face multiple, repeated attacks upon the city and surrounding lands. To have kept his people alive for so long is no mean feat.

Denethor married the daughter of the Prince of Dol Amroth, Finduilas, Imrahil's sister. They had two sons, Boromir and Faramir, before she died.

Not only burdened with the lossof his wife and the grief of his family, he would have had to keep a lookout for Gondor as well. That would take an enormous amount of energy, leaving him wide open to Sauron's mental attacks.

I will pause for a moment in my fangirly defense of my most beloved character to say this - even Galadriel was corrupted to some degree by mental attacks by Sauron, for him to have lasted this long with no spouse to support him and no Ring to protect his land is nothing short of amazing.

Finally succoming to madness, at the moment of the last attack was noting short of a tragedy, but it is understandable. he had just lost both of his sons, while we learn later that Faramir isn't dead, Denethor doesn't know this.

In short, Denethor is a marvellously layered character, with weaknesses, strengths and a good spoonful of humanity thrown in as well.

in Tolkien, what is not said can convey more than is said, but I'm leaving the Celeborn defense to Marnie, she's better suited to it.

Morgy, gone completely OT but doesn't care.