Quote:
Originally Posted by Sardy
To take the speculation one step further, would the use of dragon fire (had it existed) to destroy the existing Rings of Power (assuming all could be found) have been a viable (or at least interesting to speculate) strategy?
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Well, if you could persuade the Dragons... "I will give you this treasure if you destroy this Ring." Well, that won't be a Dwarf negotiating with them
It's not that overstretched, anyway; because as we know, three (or four?) of the Dwarven Rings were consummed by the Dragons without any particular intention of destroying them, so it does not seem that stupid theory...
But the point is, that of course the Three Rings, as long as they remained unrevealed, meant an important power for preservation and healing in the hands of the Free Nations. Of course, as you imply, had they been destroyed, probably their works will diminish as well (something like early Fourth Age will come), but at least they won't be turned to evil by Sauron. But, who knows if the "disenchanted" West will have the strength to oppose the evil... Rivendell and Lórien will become only settlements of Elves unprotected by anything more than Elven bows (not that this would be little, even Thranduil had just Elven bows, but it looks pretty bad in comparison to what - who, Gandalf? - says: there is power in Lórien or Rivendell that cannot be beaten unless the Dark Lord came there himself).