Quote:
Originally Posted by CSteefel
[I]At any time I think the Eagles could have made a surgical strike into Mordor with Frodo (or whatever Ringbearer) as their passenger, reaching Mount Doom before any intervention would be possible.[/I]
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It sort of depends on exactly when in the stroy you are talking about. At the very beginning of the story, one might be able to make the argument that the distance between The shire and Orodruin is just too far for any eagle to fly, at least in one go without resting (and I suspect that on the ground, and exausted the eagles are a lot more vulnerable, and there aren't enough forests and mountains for the eagles to always have a guaranteed safe place to rest when they had to).
Later in the story of course the distance becomesless of a problem. However by the middle to end of the story, Mordor has something along the lines of an air force of his own (in the form of the winged beasts). I have little doubt that Sauron, once he saw the eagles enter his land (and espcailly as they got closer and he sense the ring) would send out this force to deal with them, and frankly I dont know what would happen in a battle between an winged beast and and Eagle (Middle Earth dogfight anyone?)
I'm not trying to say it wouldn't be poissible, but it woulnt be nearly as easy as it sound on the surface.
On the other hand in the alternate version of the Quest as proposed by
Formendacil , i.e. the one where the trip to destroy the ring began right after the battle of the five armies, thats a different kettle of fish. In that case The Eagles really could have likey done such a strike. The distance to Orodruin from Erebor is a LOT less that it is from the Shire, so Eagles might have been able to make it in one go. Even if they did have to rest they could likey do it in fair safety (there are no mountains or forest between the two if you going absoultely staight, but the area is pretty sparsely populated so it would likey be safe for the eagles to rest on the ground (though amittedly since the area is so close to Dagorlad im not sure how good the water would be or whether there would be much food, it depend on how far east the devastation goes). Alternitey they could rest on the very southeasternmost edge of Mirkwood, though this puts them only Mirkwoods thickness away from Dol Guldur, which is probably a bit too close for comfort. In either case the Eagles would be a great asset in crossing the Ered Lithun since they could simple fly over them, possilby resting again on the highest peaks beyond the reach of any ground troops that might be in the area (the WK is still at Minas Morgul, and might have patrols in the mountains. From there its just a brief flight to Orodruin. Its a long journey and not without its risks but it might be doable and at that point the eagles would have no opposition at all as there would be no winged beasts yet and the only other flyers Sauron could have would be crows, which would pose little threat to Eagles.
Ultimely your point is right though, if the Eagles are sent divinely they can't do any of this without interfering.