Why didn't 🧙Gandalf surrender to the Mouth of 👁️Sauron?

[BalrogRingDestroyer]

That part has confused me how he resisted despair and chose to fight when it looked like Mordor had captured Frodo and Sam. Assuming that Frodo had stuck the Ring up his rear end or something and that's why Sauron didn't already have the Ring, it would seem the best course of action to get Frodo and Sam out of the Dark Tower, even if it meant surrendering half the West, to keep the Ring from Sauron, rather than risk them caving under torture and Sauron taking everything anyway with the Ring.

Granted, and I think even Gandalf alludes to this, there's no guarantee that Sauron would give back Frodo and Sam, as Sauron is known to lie and break agreements. In fact, if the West were to make such a trade, he might wonder what their value is and be quite wary of giving them up even if he had thought of actually trading them for all that territory.

Still, other than when everyone knew that Sauron knew the Ring was at the Crack of Doom and both sides stood at the edge of either victory or defeat, the reveal of Frodo and Sam's seeming capture had to be one of Gandalf's darkest hours. Perhaps, though, he figured that if they didn't have the Ring, then they didn't really have Frodo and Sam. (An assumption, which, of course, was correct.)

 

[d4rk3lf]

Isn't there a hint in the dialogue that Gandalf managed to read slight insecurity in Mouth of Sauron, therefore concluded that they don't really have Frodo and Sam? And then he offered to Mouth of Sauron that Frodo is Sam is brought to the meeting, so they can reconsider Sauron offer, and Mouth of Sauron refused. That offer is exactly Gandalf double checking and confirming that emissary is not telling truth.

And apart from that, if Sauron had the ring, Gandalf (and Galadriel and Elrond) would be aware of it immediately, because Sauron would be able to read their thoughts.

 

[Frandîr]

Gandalf was steadfast and his commitment to the light and the command of Manwe was not to be deterred.

Also, even with the worries for the Hobbits, he manages to strike a conversation with Mouth of Sauron.

 

[Radaghast]

The MoS displayed Frodo's effects but not Sam's. Also, the MoS gave no indication that they found the Ring on Frodo. Sauron wouldn't have bothered to hold a parley at that point, unless it was to psych them out.

 

[Klaatu]

Gandalf’s insight rests not on seeing captives, but on noticing what the Mouth of Sauron refuses to show. The emissary is quick to produce Frodo’s mithril coat and Sam’s gear—tokens meant to shock and wound—but he keeps the supposed prisoners hidden. If Mordor truly held the Ring-bearer, Sauron would display him like a triumph, not hide him behind a gate. That omission alone tells Gandalf something is off.

And because he’s spent centuries studying the Enemy, Gandalf knows how Sauron’s servants lie: loudly, proudly, and never as cleverly as they think. When he presses the Mouth to bring the captives forth, it’s a calculated probe—not a request—and the emissary’s snarling refusal reveals more truth than any admission would. If Mordor had Frodo and Sam in hand, they would use them. If they had the Ring, every Wise heart in Middle-earth would feel the world tilt.

Sometimes the surest sign of a lie is the space where the truth should be standing.

And between us, I respect Gandalf’s technique. I once bluffed toward the marshmallow people of Stigman-15 using nothing but a burnt spoon and some paper towels. Worked like a charm… though I’m still banned from their confectionery council and they haven't returned the spoon yet.

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