Quote:
Originally Posted by Runes
Thanks, this is interesting! Is this all speculation, or was this info revealed somewhere? Sorry, I'm quite a Tolkien-novice. I've only read the Hobbit and LoTR once before the movies came out, and once again recently.
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It's in the book: Return of the King, chp "The Black Gate Opens".
He calls himself "The Mouth of Sauron", says he has tokens to show, in especial, to Gandalf, declares the tokens are proof that the mission of the "spies" Gandalf had sent into Mordor has failed and that they will be tortured and broken if the Captains do not meet Sauron's terms (essentially to surrender).
The Movies here are wrong. Aragorn does not suddenly behead the Mouth. Instead, Gandalf is the one who, for a moment, unveils his glory and, in the momentary shock (to the Mouth) comes and takes the tokens from him declaring:
These we will take in memory of our friend. But as for your terms, we reject them utterly.
Get you gone, for your embassy is over and death is near to you.
We did not come here to waste words in treating with Sauron, faithless and accursed; still less with one of his slaves. Begone!
Really an *In Your Face, Mouth* moment!!
The Mouth is filled with rage, but also fear; turns and gallops back to the Black Gate with his embassy - blowing horns to sound the attack.