[Osse]

My i just ask, in reply to an earlier post;
Who said Sauron did not have a body?

Saruman in PJ's FOTR.

I was under the impression that he could take form late in the War Of the Ring, but he chose to be clad in his form of The Great Eye. He could not be clad in any form that appeared fair to Men or Elves, but he could take form. Instances in the texts support this.

Back to the point; if Smaug had not been slain or the Quest of Erebor undertaken, Sauron would not have had to do much to get him into the fray. He would have easily convinced Smaug that he could pile riches and have some fun--and a fully grown dragon on the loose would have been disasterous; Laketown would have been gone, and Smaug (with the help of Saurons Dol Guldur forces) could have easily destroyed the Elves of Mirkwood. Lorien and Imlardris would then be open to full assault-- Gondor would not have stood long, and the ring would have been found by an orc rather than Bilbo and eventually gotten onto the finger of it's master. If the Quest of Erebor had not succeeded, then there would have been no War of The Ring, just ravaging and destruction. Sauron certainly would have employed Smaug into his service; either wittingly or unwittingly.

Osse

[ August 04, 2003: Message edited by: Osse ]