If 👁️Sauron hadn't caught Gollum, Would things have been any different?

[Celebthôl]

Would things have been any different?

If Gandalf had caught Gollum, and killed him or whatever and Sauron or any servent of Sauron never got their hands on him to discover "Shire" and "Baggins" would the quest still have been undertaken?

The way i see it is that Sauron would be utterly terrified as he would have had no idea as to where it was.
So he would have made war much quicker. Wiped out all of everywhere, and the goodies would have lost undoubtably.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Inderjit S]

Sauron wouldn't know that ring Ring still existed if it wasn't for Gollum. He thought it had been destroyed.

 

[Celebthôl]

No he didnt, that is why he removed from the Anduin and went back to Mordor.
He knew it was found.

 

[Beleg]

Since when did he live on Anduin?
And If he hadn't known from Gollum, how would have he known that the ring was found?

 

[Celebthôl]

Dont you remember, he was searching the Anduin about the time of the quest of Erabor. As was Saruman, he had scouts tell him that that is where Isildur was killed. But then Dol Goldur was attacked and he ran off. But he know that the ring was found.

 

[Beleg]

Where does it say that 'Sauron' became aware of the presence of the ring before 3017?
Sure Saruman was searching the area around Gladden field, but not Sauron. Not many knew about the real story of Isidur's death, since only three people ever escaped alive and all of them came to Rivendell.
Saruman knew because he had access to the documents and loremasters of Rivendell and Mundburg. Sauron possessed no such privilage. No scouts told him.


Fellowship of the Ring, The Shadow of the Past

'Yes, alas! through him the Enemy has learned that the One has been found again. He knows where Isildur fell. He knows where Gollum found his ring. He knows that it is a Great Ring, for the three have never been lost, and they endure no evil. He knows that it is not one of the Seven, or the Nine, for they are accounted for. he knows that it is the One. And he has at last heard, I think, of hobbits and Shire'

It was from Gollum, In 3017, according to Appendix B that he acquired all this information.
If he had known before he would never have left his stronghold Dol Guldor, since it was closer to Gladden then Mordor.

 

[Celebthôl]

Well then shut my mouth

But that still does not answer the question at hand, would Sauron have attacked quicker or not, seeing as he was not aware of the whereabouts of the ring?

 

[Confusticated]

Sure Saruman was searching the area around Gladden field, but not Sauron. Not many knew about the real story of Isidur's death, since only three people ever escaped alive and all of them came to Rivendell.

From the Tale of Years:

2939 Saruman discovers that Sauron's servants are searching the Anduin near Gladden Fields, and that Sauron has therefore learned of Isildur's End. He is alarmed, but says nothing to the council.

As for Gandalf's words, I personally believe he was mistaken about Sauron having thought the Ring had been destroyed up until he heard from Gollum. As the Tale of Years show, Saruman did not tell Gandalf of Sauron's searches. Also, if Sauron thought his Ring had been destroyed, then he would have had to think that he was able to build up again after its destruction. And, if Sauron had ever been willing to think theyhad destroyed his Ring, why was he so darned sure that no one could destroy it that he failed to keep an eye on the one place where it could be destroyed?

Gandalf's words don't add up, all things that I know of considered.

 

[Celebthôl]

So, that having been said, what would Sauron have done differently, if Gollum was not caught?

 

[Confusticated]

I guess he would have continued to build up in Mordor and maybe search for his Ring. He might have noticed Frodo trying to sneek to Orodruin (this assuming it even came to that), as he would not have been engaged in such a huge battle, and then later the host at the Morannon, among which was to Sauron, presumably the keeper of his Ring.

On the other hand, it was Gandalf and Elrond's counsel (indepandantly of eachother and contested by no one) they there should be a decoy attack, so they may have had Gondor do such a thing anyhow, in this what if scenerio.

Also Legolas might not have been in the followship.

Who knows what could happen.

 

[Celebthôl]

But would the ring bearer have even set out for it? Sauron has no idea that it is in the Shire, or that the Shire even exists.

 

[Beleg]

If the affair of the Ring hadn't come between, then Sauron wouldn't have attacked Gondor+allies for some time, principally because he himself wasn't yet fully prepared [at the time of the War of the Ring, or an year ago] for open war.
He only hurried on after the discovery of the ring because he feared that someone else might use it to destroy him and consequently take his place.

 

[Confusticated]

Wow... you reply fast! Check my last post, I editted it while you were replying.

I think there would have still been council taken in Rivendell. I also think they would have decided the same thing, that the Ring should be destroyed. The reasons that they did decide this had nothing to do with Sauron knowing his Ring had been in the Shire. I think it was just a matter of keeping Middle-earth safe.

 

[Celebthôl]

But he knew where it was, he would have made all speed there, so that is why, if they dug a mile deep hole and stuffed the ring down it, then that would also work

 

[Confusticated]

The same reason they did not hide it. It would be found one day. Also, they believed he would take over Middle-earth without his Ring, so the destruction of it was apparantly the only way to avoid defeat.

Did you see the thread I started in this forum a few days ago? It just asks what Elrond and Gandalf and them had been thinking before they knew the Ring was found.

 

[Celebthôl]

Oh whats it called? Ill check it out