Timeline Event
Gwaihir and the Eagles attack the Nazgûl in the Battle of the Morannon
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Date: March 25, 3019
Description:
An event in the Battle of the Morannon; see that entry for an overview:
And then even as [Pippin's thought] winged away into forgetfulness it heard voices, and they seemed to be crying in some forgotten world far above:
'The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!'
For one moment more Pippin's thought hovered. 'Bilbo!' it said. 'But no! That came in his tale, long long ago. This is my tale, and it is ended now.'The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 10, The Black Gate Opens
All about the hills the hosts of Mordor raged. The Captains of the West were foundering in a gathering sea. ... [Under] the wings of the Nazgûl the shadows of death fell dark upon the earth. ... Upon the hill-top stood Gandalf, and ... no shadow fell on him. The onslaught of Mordor broke like a wave on the beleaguered hills, voices roaring like a tide amid the wreck and crash of arms.
As if to his eyes some sudden vision had been given, Gandalf stirred; and he turned, looking back north where the skies were pale and clear. Then he lifted up his hands and cried in a loud voice ringing above the din: The Eagles are coming! ... The hosts of Mordor looked up and wondered what this sign might mean.
There came Gwaihir the Windlord, and Landroval his brother, greatest of all the Eagles of the North, mightiest of the descendants of old Thorondor.... Behind them in long swift lines came all their vassals from the northern mountains, speeding on a gathering wind. Straight down upon the Nazgûl they bore, stooping suddenly out of the high airs, and the rush of their wide wings as they passed over was like a gale.
But the Nazgûl turned and fled....The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 4, The Field of Cormallen
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 23Jul06