[Inziladun]

Hmm. Many of these questions probably could have (and actually have) been individual topics of discussion.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- At the Hornburg Gimli says he had "hewed naught but wood since Moria" after killing 2 orcs. But surely he had killed orcs at Parth Galen?

When Gimli and Legolas find Aragron beside Boromir's body, Gimli does have his axe in his hand, and Legolas notes they 'have fought and hunted many' orcs. Legolas's arrows were gone, so he obviously saw some combat. Perhaps Gimli wasn't able to get close enough for melee action.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- Gandalf released Shadowfax in Eriador two months before the Company left Rivendell, but Eomer told Aragorn that the horse had returned to Rohan only 7 days before they met in the Wold.

The fact that Shadowfax had only recently been seen again wouldn't preclude his having been there for longer. Rohan was a fair size country.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- Denethor and Saruman both encountered Sauron using their respective Palantir. Yet Denethor was not dominated and Saruman was. Surely it should have been the other way round?

As the UT essay on the Palantíri indicates, the Anor-stone was easier and safer for Denethor to use because he had a right as the Ruling Steward of Gondor to do so. Saruman had no such advantage. Also, Saruman's mind had become similar to Sauron's anyway in the desire for domination and power, so that might have been a point against Saruman as well.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- What was the point of Eowyn dressing up as Dernhelm ? Surely the sight of a hobbit sitting on her horse with her would have given her away anyway ? Same goes for the scene in the film before the Riders charge at the Pelennor.

If Éowyn had not bothered to disguise herself, Théoden would have been very likely to have learned she had accompanied the host, and probably would have sent her back to Rohan under guard. The presence of Merry was noted by the soldiers in Dernhelm's company, but it wouldn't necessarily have been a big deal for them, as knowing the appointed Regent of Rohan was riding to war in Gondor would have.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- Why didn't the Ents intercept Mauhur and his "lads" skulking in Fangorn?

The Ents were very apathetic about the events going on around them. It took Merry and Pippin to rouse Treebeard and move him to mobilize the others. And Treebeard seems to have been the only Ent in that part of the Forest at that time anyway.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- If time was of the essence, why did the Company take so long before setting off from Rivendell and why did they hang about for so long in Lorien?

The task of destroying the Ring was supremely important, but there was no need to be reckless about it. Gandalf explained the delay at Rivendell: they didn't want to move until a thorough exploration of the surrounding lands had been done.
Lórien was a necessary rest stop.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- Why did Aragorn not tell the rest of the Company that Gollum was following them through Moria ? "You know about our little footpad" ?

Why alarm everyone? They couldn't do anything about him anyway, and they were generally keeping a watch at all times.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- If Gildor and his company could see off the Black Riders, wouldn't it have made more sense for Gildor to provide an escort for Frodo to get him safely to Rivendell ?

As Gildor himself said:

The Elves have their own labours, and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth.

By the Third Age, the Elves as a rule were occupied by their own affairs. They would still give refuge and counsel, but their time for punitive action was over.
Besides, Gildor wasn't going that way.

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- When Boromir's horse bolted at Tharbad and returned to Rohan, surely Edoras would have told Minas Tirith, who in turn would have organised some kind of search party ?

A search party? Even if the word could have been gotten to Denethor more quickly than many days, how on earth would they have known where to start looking?

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

- If Gwaihir could fly to Mount Doom in a matter of minutes, why not just give him the Ring and ask him to fly down there and drop it in the volcano ?

I'm not touching that one with a 10 meter troll-sword.