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<blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 3353309" data-attributes="member: 1757">Not quite true. The reason that the Captains of the West marched on the Black Gate was precisely to distract Sauron's attention from the Ring moving toward Mount Doom. There is a clear implication that as the Ring draws closer, Sauron (and the Nazgul) can sense its presence. Sauron is distracted by the battle of wills through the Palantir, and his attention focused on Gondor. A straight flight to Mordor wouldn't have allowed all that to evolve.I highly doubt that even Gwaihir would be able to pass the Black Gate and fly into Mordor without facing hordes of Winged Beasts, siege weapons, and archers. The Eagles are clearly pretty good in a fight with orcs and the like, but I doubt they could withstand a massed defense. I also think that Sauron would have all sorts of ability to mount a response if he sensed the eagle moving toward his beloved Orodruin. He certainly doesn't seem stupid. Finally, while this is never tested in the books, I have the feeling that Gandalf's presence itself would draw Sauron's attention, so Frodo would probably have to go alone.There's also an interesting theory that appears in some of the commentary around the LotR books: Namely, that Gandalf willingly takes the road to Moria because he knows that someone will have to deal with the Balrog sooner or later. It is quite possible that if the Fellowship had not braved Moria, the Balrog would be able to be summoned by Sauron to defend Mount Doom.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ruleslawyer, post: 3353309, member: 1757"] Not quite true. The reason that the Captains of the West marched on the Black Gate was precisely to distract Sauron's attention from the Ring moving toward Mount Doom. There is a clear implication that as the Ring draws closer, Sauron (and the Nazgul) can sense its presence. Sauron is distracted by the battle of wills through the Palantir, and his attention focused on Gondor. A straight flight to Mordor wouldn't have allowed all that to evolve. I highly doubt that even Gwaihir would be able to pass the Black Gate and fly into Mordor without facing hordes of Winged Beasts, siege weapons, and archers. The Eagles are clearly pretty good in a fight with orcs and the like, but I doubt they could withstand a massed defense. I also think that Sauron would have all sorts of ability to mount a response if he sensed the eagle moving toward his beloved Orodruin. He certainly doesn't seem stupid. Finally, while this is never tested in the books, I have the feeling that Gandalf's presence itself would draw Sauron's attention, so Frodo would probably have to go alone. There's also an interesting theory that appears in some of the commentary around the LotR books: Namely, that Gandalf willingly takes the road to Moria because he knows that someone will have to deal with the Balrog sooner or later. It is quite possible that if the Fellowship had not braved Moria, the Balrog would be able to be summoned by Sauron to defend Mount Doom. [/QUOTE]

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