Home » Reading & Literature » J.R.R. Tolkien » The Sauron Strategies: One War to Win Them All, Except... - Page 8

The Sauron Strategies: One War to Win Them All, Except... - Page 8

© Michael Martinez

At the urging of the White Council, which Galadriel had convened among the Istari and lords of the Eldar after the Watchful Peace ended, Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur in 2851. There he finally confirmed that the Necromancer was indeed Sauron returned, and Gandalf discovered that Sauron was gathering the Rings of Power once again, as well as seeking for the One. Such news proved alarming to Saruman, who had settled in the former Gondorian fortress of Isengard after the Long Winter. Saruman had by this time come to believe that the One Ring could indeed be found, and he wanted it for himself. He began recruiting Dunlendings and Orcs to serve him, and sent spies to search for the Ring near the Gladden Fields. Although Saruman presented little immediate threat to Sauron, the search for the Ring took on new urgency. Whereas Arnor had been completely destroyed (or so Sauron believed -- he did not realize that descendants of Isildur had survived in the north), Gondor was proving to be much more resilient and versatile, thanks to the alliance with the Rohirrim. The rise of a rival power in Isengard could complicate matters, but if Sauron could find the One Ring he would quickly be able to achieve mastery over many peoples. By 2941, Sauron was probably convinced the One Ring was no longer in the region of the Gladden Fields. The White Council moved against him and he retreated from Dol Guldur. Mirkwood is said to have become a cleaner, more wholesome place for a time. Such a transition implies that Sauron did not simply retreat from Dol Guldur. It suggests that there was a wholesale migration eastward of Orcs, Men, and whatever other creatures were directly under his control. While some people argue that the White Council's action may have consisted of some sort of magical attack, it is more likely that Lothlorien sent an army into Mirkwood. The Istari and the Lords of the Eldar may have challenged the Necromancer's sorcerous power directly, but Sauron pulled back and thereby preserved a great part of his forces. The retreat suggests that Sauron was no longer willing to risk his primary armies in open combat, or to allow them to act by proxy. On the other hand, in the north, Bolg (son of Azog) launched a campaign against the small company of Dwarves, led by Thorin Thrain's son, who returned to Erebor. After the death of Smaug, Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Orcs all converged on the mountain to seize the treasure which Smaug had guarded there for 170 years. Was Bolg acting on Sauron's orders, or had Sauron lost control over the Orcs of the Misty Mountains? If Sauron approved of or permitted Bolg to launch the attack, then he allowed considerable resources to be committed to an action which might have secured a base in the north Sauron could use against Thranduil. But it also left Sauron without close support from the Misty Mountains. Had Bolg gained control over Erebor, Sauron would have been in a position to crush Thranduil and bring reinforcements against Lothlorien without hindrance. But when Bolg drew off the Orc armies, Lothlorien had a window of opportunity in which to take action.

The copyright of the article The Sauron Strategies: One War to Win Them All, Except... - Page 8 in J.R.R. Tolkien is owned by Michael Martinez. Permission to republish The Sauron Strategies: One War to Win Them All, Except... - Page 8 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.