The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Macalaure · 10-13-2006, 08:21 AM

I agree with Boromir88, if the remaining fellowship went with Frodo and Sam, it would've ended in disaster, but for a different reason.

Galadriel prophecied that the fellowship has to remain true, but by leaving Merry and Pippin to certain suffering, it would have broken ultimately. Sure, Frodo and Sam were going into probable suffering as well, but the point is that it is not certain. It's similar to the choice Gandalf has at the gate of Minas Tirith. Rescue Faramir from certain death, or rescue Theoden (or others) from only probable death. It's a moral choice and it's open to debate which choice is the better in such situations. In Tolkien's view, both Aragorn and Gandalf decide the right way. If Aragorn in particular decided otherwise, Eru (or fate or whatever), according to Galadriel's words, wouldn't have helped them when their own strengths would have eventually failed.

I think Gandalf could've handled Helm's Deep without Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, but Aragorn would not have been there to raise the dead and challenge Sauron via Palantir.
On the other side of the Anduin, they would have caught Gollum sooner or later. Frodo still would have felt pity and, as the ringbearer, Aragorn would have followed his word, though he probably would have vehemently counselled against it. Would Gollum have been compliant enough to lead them to Minas Morgul with Aragorn and Legolas, whom he loathed, in the place? He probably wouldn't have been able to sneak away to talk to Shelob given their watchful eyes.

My guess is that, if Aragorn followed Frodo, the Pelennor would have been lost, and the quest to destroy the Ring would have, at the latest, failed inside Mount Doom.

10-13-2006, 08:21 AM	#10
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	I agree with Boromir88, if the remaining fellowship went with Frodo and Sam, it would've ended in disaster, but for a different reason. Galadriel prophecied that the fellowship has to remain true, but by leaving Merry and Pippin to certain suffering, it would have broken ultimately. Sure, Frodo and Sam were going into probable suffering as well, but the point is that it is not certain. It's similar to the choice Gandalf has at the gate of Minas Tirith. Rescue Faramir from certain death, or rescue Theoden (or others) from only probable death. It's a moral choice and it's open to debate which choice is the better in such situations. In Tolkien's view, both Aragorn and Gandalf decide the right way. If Aragorn in particular decided otherwise, Eru (or fate or whatever), according to Galadriel's words, wouldn't have helped them when their own strengths would have eventually failed. I think Gandalf could've handled Helm's Deep without Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, but Aragorn would not have been there to raise the dead and challenge Sauron via Palantir. On the other side of the Anduin, they would have caught Gollum sooner or later. Frodo still would have felt pity and, as the ringbearer, Aragorn would have followed his word, though he probably would have vehemently counselled against it. Would Gollum have been compliant enough to lead them to Minas Morgul with Aragorn and Legolas, whom he loathed, in the place? He probably wouldn't have been able to sneak away to talk to Shelob given their watchful eyes. My guess is that, if Aragorn followed Frodo, the Pelennor would have been lost, and the quest to destroy the Ring would have, at the latest, failed inside Mount Doom.