Flammifer
Well-Known Member
We were asked to speculate from little evidence on what might be the most plausible answer to how and why was Gollum’s escape from the Elves of Mirkwood orchestrated. Here is an attempt.
I don’t think the Nazgul have departed on the quest for the Shire quite yet when Gollum escapes. He escapes on the 20th of June 3018, which is the same date as the Enemy’s assault on Osgiliath and the bridges over the Anduin. We know from Boromir’s testimony at the Council that it was in June, in this attack on Osgiliath, that a great black horseman caused ‘a madness in our foes, but fear fell on our boldest’. Then it was, that Boromir and Faramir had to hold the bridge while it was destroyed behind them, and then swim the river to escape. So, at least one of the Nazgul was at the battle, and not on the way to find the Shire on the 20th of June. Probably one or more of the other Nazgul were still in Dol Guldur. Perhaps it was they who received the report of the spies, and orchestrated the attack of the orcs? Legolas reports that the Orcs "came from over the mountains, and were unused to the woods" 'The Mountains', here, probably mean the Mountains of Mirkwood, not the Misty Mountains. So the Orcs came from Dol Guldur, and were unused to the north Mirkwood woods, not any woods. That is certainly the direction in which they retreated.
The Nazgul must have gathered and left on their search for the Shire some time after the attack on Osgiliath. (Though the timing is tight, as Gandalf meets Radagast on the 29th of June, and Radagast reports that ‘the Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward.’ Now Radagast may have spies of his own, likely birds and beasts, who possibly communicated rapidly and from afar on the movements of the Nine. Though Radagast said that he got his news from Saruman, not from birds nor beasts. Saruman, might have been able to detect the movements of the Nine instantaneously, through his Palantir, but unless Radagast had fast messengers from Saruman, he would still have needed time to get up to the Southern borders of the Shire to meet Gandalf.) I think the time-line might have been: Gollum is rescued and the battle of Osgiliath is fought on June 20. On June 21 the Nazgul cross the Anduin, searching for the Shire (they probably don’t link up on the West side of the Anduin for several days), and are detected by Saruman via Palantir. Saruman communicates to Radagast sometime shortly after June 21. Radagast arrives near the Shire to communicate with Gandalf on June 29.)
I think it was Sauron (or more likely his agents in the form of Nazgul) who mustered the orcs, planned the rescue, and initiated Gollum’s escape. They managed to get a message to Gollum that rescue was coming on a given date, and that he should contrive to remain in his tree after dark, and wait.
In any event, the plan worked. Gollum was free. He was indeed drawn towards the Ring. He probably would have picked up its trail sooner if his route to Eriador through Moria was not blocked at the West Gate. However, he found the Fellowship in Moria, and successfully trailed them thereafter.
I think we must assume that Mordor’s spies lost track of Gollum (possibly when he entered Moria, though Gollum is cunning and might have detected and evaded the spies earlier) and Mordor had no idea where he was before and after he picked up on the trail of the Ring.
- What are Sauron’s intentions in letting Gollum go?
- How does Sauron find out where Gollum is?
- Did Gollum initiate the escape, or did Sauron’s agents?
I don’t think the Nazgul have departed on the quest for the Shire quite yet when Gollum escapes. He escapes on the 20th of June 3018, which is the same date as the Enemy’s assault on Osgiliath and the bridges over the Anduin. We know from Boromir’s testimony at the Council that it was in June, in this attack on Osgiliath, that a great black horseman caused ‘a madness in our foes, but fear fell on our boldest’. Then it was, that Boromir and Faramir had to hold the bridge while it was destroyed behind them, and then swim the river to escape. So, at least one of the Nazgul was at the battle, and not on the way to find the Shire on the 20th of June. Probably one or more of the other Nazgul were still in Dol Guldur. Perhaps it was they who received the report of the spies, and orchestrated the attack of the orcs? Legolas reports that the Orcs "came from over the mountains, and were unused to the woods" 'The Mountains', here, probably mean the Mountains of Mirkwood, not the Misty Mountains. So the Orcs came from Dol Guldur, and were unused to the north Mirkwood woods, not any woods. That is certainly the direction in which they retreated.
The Nazgul must have gathered and left on their search for the Shire some time after the attack on Osgiliath. (Though the timing is tight, as Gandalf meets Radagast on the 29th of June, and Radagast reports that ‘the Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward.’ Now Radagast may have spies of his own, likely birds and beasts, who possibly communicated rapidly and from afar on the movements of the Nine. Though Radagast said that he got his news from Saruman, not from birds nor beasts. Saruman, might have been able to detect the movements of the Nine instantaneously, through his Palantir, but unless Radagast had fast messengers from Saruman, he would still have needed time to get up to the Southern borders of the Shire to meet Gandalf.) I think the time-line might have been: Gollum is rescued and the battle of Osgiliath is fought on June 20. On June 21 the Nazgul cross the Anduin, searching for the Shire (they probably don’t link up on the West side of the Anduin for several days), and are detected by Saruman via Palantir. Saruman communicates to Radagast sometime shortly after June 21. Radagast arrives near the Shire to communicate with Gandalf on June 29.)
I think it was Sauron (or more likely his agents in the form of Nazgul) who mustered the orcs, planned the rescue, and initiated Gollum’s escape. They managed to get a message to Gollum that rescue was coming on a given date, and that he should contrive to remain in his tree after dark, and wait.
- How did they communicate
In any event, the plan worked. Gollum was free. He was indeed drawn towards the Ring. He probably would have picked up its trail sooner if his route to Eriador through Moria was not blocked at the West Gate. However, he found the Fellowship in Moria, and successfully trailed them thereafter.
I think we must assume that Mordor’s spies lost track of Gollum (possibly when he entered Moria, though Gollum is cunning and might have detected and evaded the spies earlier) and Mordor had no idea where he was before and after he picked up on the trail of the Ring.
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