About the elves showing up at Helms Deep - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Victariongreyjoy · 07-18-2020, 06:31 AM

Would it have been better if Rivendell and Lorien sent the elvish troops to the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the Battle of the Black Gate instead?

William Cloud Hicklin · 07-18-2020, 07:14 AM

What, can the Elves predict the future? Or teleport over 100s of miles?

Besides, as Legolas says at Helm's Deep, no Elves would come: their own homes were under attack.

Boromir88 · 07-18-2020, 04:15 PM

Elladan and Elrohir came, as they often did when there were opportunities to kill orcs.

William Cloud Hicklin · 07-18-2020, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Elladan and Elrohir came, as they often did when there were opportunities to kill orcs.

Elladan and Elrohir came in response to Galadriel's summons to the Dunedain, missed Helm's deep and only knew vaguely that Aragorn was "in Rohan."

Besides, there's rather a dirrerence between a small for of 30 riding hard, and a battalion marching on foot.

Zigûr · 07-19-2020, 06:50 AM

I suppose it really depends on what dramatic purpose having Elves at the battles in the South serves from the point of view of the films. We can't assume that any motivation or "historical" fact from the books holds true in the "world" of the films; we can only work with what the films give us. I think the point was to show that the people of Middle-earth were not as estranged and disunited as it seemed; if that's the case then the question is whether the second or third film of the trilogy was the better place to demonstrate that.

Frankly I think some Dwarves ought to have shown up too. After all, all bets were off by that point.

07-18-2020, 06:31 AM	#1
Victariongreyjoy Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99	About the elves showing up at Helms Deep Would it have been better if Rivendell and Lorien sent the elvish troops to the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the Battle of the Black Gate instead?

07-18-2020, 07:14 AM	#2
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,321	What, can the Elves predict the future? Or teleport over 100s of miles? Besides, as Legolas says at Helm's Deep, no Elves would come: their own homes were under attack. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

07-18-2020, 04:15 PM	#3
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,518	Elladan and Elrohir came, as they often did when there were opportunities to kill orcs. __________________ Fenris Penguin

07-19-2020, 06:50 AM	#5
Zigûr Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 785	I suppose it really depends on what dramatic purpose having Elves at the battles in the South serves from the point of view of the films. We can't assume that any motivation or "historical" fact from the books holds true in the "world" of the films; we can only work with what the films give us. I think the point was to show that the people of Middle-earth were not as estranged and disunited as it seemed; if that's the case then the question is whether the second or third film of the trilogy was the better place to demonstrate that. Frankly I think some Dwarves ought to have shown up too. After all, all bets were off by that point. __________________ "Since the evening of that day we have journeyed from the shadow of Tol Brandir." "On foot?" cried Éomer.