SwallowedUpInVictory
Member
In the last episode Corey started discussing why all the scouting. Scouting the geopolitical situation of the journey ahead for two months is a bit strange for me. How much can that change since the other members of the council went through those lands, in a way that might be dangerous for a small company. And if so, then after two months the situation might have changed completely again. Of course resting and getting news from the Nazgul and Galadriel's state of mind is usefull but still doesn't convince me to wait for winter coming. I rather think that Elrond sent the scounts to the hunt for Gollum v2.0
Gollum is the only living being who has secretely entered Mordor. And that way is the only way as one does not simply walk into that land. Mordor is the only region in ME where there are no maps (or at least since numenorean times) and the heart of Mordor is precisely Frodos destination. Elrond surely has memory of it but the country might have changed a lot in the last 3.000 years (and as changes of ages tend to have). Having Gollum captured and taken to Rivendell they could get very valuable information for the last part of the journey. If he doesn't properly describe the way even with the fear of fire upon him, the fellowship could take him along as a prisoner to show them the way (as he eventually did). Gollum will prefer to be close to his precious than to be left behind. The council believed that Gollum would escape the orcs again or be released so there is good chance that they will capture him without fighting the enemy and revealing their plan to enter Mordor.
Those are other informations supporting my theory:
I would like to hear your opinion on this.
Gollum is the only living being who has secretely entered Mordor. And that way is the only way as one does not simply walk into that land. Mordor is the only region in ME where there are no maps (or at least since numenorean times) and the heart of Mordor is precisely Frodos destination. Elrond surely has memory of it but the country might have changed a lot in the last 3.000 years (and as changes of ages tend to have). Having Gollum captured and taken to Rivendell they could get very valuable information for the last part of the journey. If he doesn't properly describe the way even with the fear of fire upon him, the fellowship could take him along as a prisoner to show them the way (as he eventually did). Gollum will prefer to be close to his precious than to be left behind. The council believed that Gollum would escape the orcs again or be released so there is good chance that they will capture him without fighting the enemy and revealing their plan to enter Mordor.
Those are other informations supporting my theory:
- The scouts' report that "Nothing had been seen or heard of Gollum"
- Gandalf feels that Gollum has still an important part to play.
- Other scouts are sent over the misty mountains on different passes. Elrond is aware that Gollum knows that Bilbo's home is somewhere in the west so he has to cross the mountains at some point.
- Aragorn is sent to the hunt because he already caught him once and knows his foot prints exactly. Tharbad and Hollin are west of the mountains and Aragorn could cut Gollum off if he already went thus far. After no tracks have been found there Aragorn is sent again with Elladan and Elrohir to help him
- The scouts are searching along the Anduin, where Smeagol was at home once and where he found the Ring. He might go back there looking for another ring?
- The scouts search along the southern border of Mirkwood where he was last seen (taken by the orcs).
- The scouts went to Galadriel who might have power to see Gollums position in her mirror. Also there are good chances that Gollum is sneaking around the area of Lorien
I would like to hear your opinion on this.