Why didn't the 🦅eagles fly the ring to 🌋Mt Doom?

[Alcuin]

From Morgoth’s Ring, “Myths Transformed”, VII, “Notes on motives in the Silmarillion”

Sauron had not served Morgoth, even in his last stages, without becoming infected by his lust for destruction, and his hatred of God (which must end in nihilism). Sauron could not, of course, be a “sincere” atheist. Though one of the minor spirits created before the world, he knew Eru, according to his measure. …

Sauron was not a “sincere” atheist, but he preached atheism, because it weakened resistance to himself (and he had ceased to fear God’s action in Arda). … But there was … the effect of Melkor upon Sauron: he spoke of Melkor in Melkor’s own terms: as a god, or even as God. … His cunning motive is probably best expressed thus. To wean one of the God-fearing from their allegiance it is best to propound another unseen object of allegiance and another hope of benefits; propound to him a Lord who will sanction what he desires and not forbid it. …

Now Gothmog, I assume that since your old master Melkor Morgoth and your old colleague Sauron were not “‘sincere’ atheists,” you, in your beginnings a Maia or “minor spirit” like Sauron, are not a “‘sincere’ atheist” either, but rather weaning the God-fearing from their allegiance by propounding another unseen object of allegiance and another hope of benefits; propounding to them a Lord who will sanction what they desire and not forbid it. Is that correct? :*D

 

[Mimzy]

Because Sauron's dragons would kill them?

 

[Zalmoxis]

The Eagles could not have taken the ring to Mount Doom... The scenario is extremely unrealistic.

There are few problems here:

1. We do not know whether trough the caldera of the volcano would be a direct passage to the flow of lava. There existed only a special entrance to the insides of Mount Doom, a quite narrow one, and my opinion is that at least before the final eruption only trough that entrance could one reach the inner lava chamber.

2. If they would have ever approached Mordor, the Evil Eye would had seen them, and would have sent all the flying beasts against them. They would have had no chance.

 

[Bucky]

Why didn't the eagles fly the ring & drop it into Mt Doom?

Simple...

There'd be no story. :*eek:

 

[Troll]

I always thought - and this may be silly of me - that the power of Sauron prevented the Eagles from entering Mordor. Yes, all the other reasons about divine providence and storytelling too, but I doubt the Eagles ever had the strength to directly contest the will of Sauron by themselves.

Zalmoxis also makes the excellent point that Sauron must have been preparing his Fell Beast aviaries for quite some time, given that he was able to re-saddle the Nazgul whenever the need arose. If the Eagles had attempted a flyby of Orodruin, the Nine would surely have opposed them. Who knows how that contest would end, but it only takes one sudden jolt for a wounded Eagle to drop a tiny Ringbearer...