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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CrusadeDave" data-source="post: 3356476" data-attributes="member: 6716">Tolkien's Real Reason, and a possible reason that works in the movies.If you have read the Silmarillion, and all of the Books of Lost Tales, this may make some more sense.To Sum up: Eagles are the emissaries of Manwe. Manwe only sends the servants needed to get the job done. Manwe sent Gandalf to deal with Sauron. Hence no need for Eagles until after Gandalf completed his task.Manwe, of course, is the chief of all the Valar. God of the Sky and Eagles. If you remember at the end of the Silmarillion when war was finally loosed on Morgoth, Manwe himself didn't show up, he sent his herald in his place to put the smackdown on.When Sauron, a Maiar, declared himself the enemy of Men, The Valar sent 5 lesser Maiar to help rouse the people of MIddle Earth to a defense: Saruman, Gandalf, Radagast, and the two blue Wizards. Gandalf himself was Manwe's chosen Maiar to send.Hence, Gandalf is the chosen enemy of Sauron and needs no other help.The Eagles appear at the end AFTER Manwe's task has been completed as a sign of Grace. Not as divine intervention. The twice fallen Elves of Middle Earth, (Feanor's rebellion, refusal of return after Morgoth's fall), and the diminishing of the House of Elendil (Kinslaying, split kingdoms, fear of death) both made a choice to waver and fall. They needed to choose to resist and stand and fight.That's why Gandalf acts as a counselor. A Catalyst. The guy who gets things going, but doesn't actually make the political decisions or seek power for himself, like Saruman.  He acts as Manwe's agent, and acts accordingly. Give the forces of Men and Elves only what they need. Nothing more. Let them (Aragorn, Theoden, Eowyn, Frodo, Faramir), do the rest. That would be Tolkien's reason.Now if we're taking Movies, let's add another 2 reasons: First, we all agree to Eagles are beings of great power and wisdom. As beigns of Great power and Wisdom, maybe they are more susceptible to the Ring's lure, and thus can't be trusted with it. Upon taking Frodo, they'd be tempted to seize the ring themselves, and turn into something beyond imagination.Second, maybe racing to Mt. Doom isn't the wisest thing for a ringbearer. Frodo's will needs to be strengthened as he approaches the Volcano. Perhaps going there at a higher speed will make him fall to the ring's power. Maybe he'll put on the ring and alert Sauron. Maybe he'll get suspicious of the Eagle carrying him, and jump off to his death. Lots of possibilities here...</blockquote>

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