Ulmo and the Ring War

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Feliandreka

Alright, I concede the unlikelihood that the Eagles came to the aid of Aragorn at the battle before the black gate. There is no relationship between Aragorn and the Eagles. But they did come for their own reasons to that battle and other battles. Whether they came on their own accord or they were guided by the Valar we may never know.

My objection to their appearance at the Morannon is only on a literary level. The only other appearance they make in the entire trilogy is when Gandalf is rescued from Orthanc. Then, suddenly, they appear at the Battle of the Black Gates.

I'm not a published author, and certainly am I no J.R.R. Tolkien. But every creative writing class I ever took cites deus ex machina as anathema. The eagles at Morannon are reminiscent of the cavalry making its first appearance in a western film to help the besieged pioneers... at the very climax of the story.

I wish Tolkien had simply left them out of that scene.