What became of the Mouth of Sauron?

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

Gandalf takes the mithril coat from the Mouth of Sauron, he whezes and chokes in rage, runs back into the Black Gate and then...?
Nothing more is heard of him in the rest of the book, not even a passing reference to his fate, so the question has to be... what happened?
I can personally imagine him trying to flee with as much gold and other riches as possible as he comes across as a complete coward and I can't envision him fighting.

[Boromir88]

My guess is one of 2 possibilities. The MOS either died in the fall of Barad-dur, or he hid in cubby hole crying, after being humiliated and let's say "out-insulted" by Gandalf and Aragorn. But, I'm just guessing.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

The MOS either died in the fall of Barad-dur ...

Given that he was Lieutenant of the Dark Tower and Sauron's ambassador, that initially seemed to me the most likely scenario. But would he have had time to return there following his parley with Aragorn and Gandalf? I suspect not.

So I envisage him having a slightly different fate, although no less terminal.

The fact that the Mouth of Sauron had forgotten his name would suggest that he had lived well beyond his natural lifespan. Assuming that was the case, such unnatural longetivity would no doubt have been the product of sorcerous power delegated to him by Sauron. Once the Ring was destroyed and Sauron defeated, such delegated power would no longer have been available to him. I suspect, therefore, that he aged alarmingly rapidly and was reduced to little more than dust in a matter of moments.

Much as Christopher Lee does at the end of most Dracula films.

(On the solid assumption that the Mouth will appear in the Extended Edition of the RotK film, I can see such a scenario appealing greatly to Jackson. )

[Boromir88]

SpM I have overlooked probably a key opponent in order to solve this (if it even is solvable), here's the quote tell me what you think...

The Black Gate Opens
....He gave out a great cry, and turned, leaped upon his steed, and with his company galloped madly back to Cirith Gorgor. But as they went his soldiers blew their horns in signal long arranged, and even before they came to the gate Sauron sprang his trap.

First, I believe Cirith Gorgor is right around the Morannon. Secondly look, at "even before they came to the gate," would this mean, before he could retreat back, the host came out, therefor he was stuck at the battle? That is what I'm thinking, what do you think?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

First, I believe Cirith Gorgor is right around the Morannon. Secondly look, at "even before they came to the gate," would this mean, before he could retreat back, the host came out, therefor he was stuck at the battle? That is what I'm thinking, what do you think?

Cirith Gorgor is the pass across which the Morannon, or Black Gate, lay. It seems to me that this extract is simply saying that The Mouth's company gave the signal which triggered the assault and that the assault began immediately upon that signal. I don't doubt that the advancing hordes would have let the Mouth and his guard (the Mouthguard ) through.

But the extract does, to my mind, make it clear that the Mouth would have had no chance of making it back to Barad-Dur before its fall.

[Boromir88]

Ahhh, I do see what you are saying, yes that makes sense now. Now that I have read it again, yes, the signal was blown, the guard came out, and Tolkien was just describing before they could reach the gate, the army was unleashed. Ok, yes I do agree, I think he wouldn't have been able to get to Barad-dur.