Speculation on Smaug and the One Ring

[Aganzir]

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?

I think there would have been more cons than pros.

Originally Posted by Of the Rings of Power

--- if Sauron should come again, then either he would find the Ruling Ring that was lost, or at the best his enemies would discover it and destroy it; but in either case the powers of the Three must then fail and all things maintained by them must fade, and so the Elves should pass into the twilight and the Dominion of Men begin.

The elves weren't too happy that the Three would lose their powers but accepted that the One Ring must be destroyed in order to get rid of Sauron. And as Sauron wasn't wearing the One, he wasn't as dangerous for the bearers of the three as he would have been otherwise.

Originally Posted by Legate

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...

Why did the dragons destroy the rings in the first place? I would imagine they would have been rather interested in them instead. Accidentally? Or did they think they were of little worth?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Why did the dragons destroy the rings in the first place? I would imagine they would have been rather interested in them instead. Accidentally? Or did they think they were of little worth?

Since there were three (or four? ) cases of this, then it's most intriguing. I mean, if just one Ring was lost this way, then we could say "one Dwarven Lord simply did not want to give up to the Dragon and so the dragon ate him whole without realising what all parts of the Dwarf he's eating". Comparing this to the scenario of Erebor, we know Thrór & Thráin saved themselves just because of the secret passage. Otherwise, maybe the Ring of Durin's tribe would have met similar fate as the other ones. But with three (or four?) cases of this, I think we must find a diversity in the events that occured, which is really interesting. Like, first Dwarven Lord simply did not want to give up, so the dragon ate him. Second Dwarven Lord and his Ring were baked in a small room. Third Dragon was a clever one and knew about the Ring and wanted the Dwarven Lord to hand it over. But the Dwarf knew that there is no escape and rather than give up the Ring, he threw it (or even himself) to the Dragon's mouth. Fourth Dragon, if there was any, was also clever one and wanted the Ring. But as he killed the bearer and realised the Ring is too small to be put on his finger, he got angry and ate it. Or something like that. It's not particularly diverse, I believe the true stories must have been a far more diverse and interesting. Another good topic for a fan-fiction or an RPG (last days of a Dwarven fortress, objective: carry the Ring away).

[Aganzir]

Or could it be something like Carcharoth devouring the Silmaril...? Evil yet clever creatures seem to have a tendency to eat powerful items.

By the way, Sauron had recovered three of the Seven, so four were destroyed. I had to check as it started to bug me as well.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Or could it be something like Carcharoth devouring the Silmaril...? Evil yet clever creatures seem to have a tendency to eat powerful items.

Yes, that's very true. Good idea. Although the Dragons seem to be very clever and care about treasures, Carcharoth obviously also did not think at the moment he ate the Silmaril - there is no logic in eating such an object, unless he thought it tastes as good as it shines, though it's said I believe that he did not like the light. So yes, there may be something on this idea.

By the way, Sauron had recovered three of the Seven, so four were destroyed. I had to check as it started to bug me as well.

Good to know. I could have checked it by myself; but my problem is rather that still, even though I know it now, I will forget it till tomorrow. I have experience with this and similar things where you can't actually make any good mnemonic. Hmm... I may try to remember that Sauron had three Dwarven Rings, like the Elves had also Three against him. Yes, maybe that will help. Thanks for looking it up.