**Why Didn’t Frodo and the Fellowship Simply Take Eagles to Mount Doom?**

It’s the timeless question that enthusiasts of *The Lord of the Rings* have pondered ever since Peter Jackson’s legendary trilogy debuted in theaters: Why didn’t Frodo and the Fellowship just hop on the Great Eagles and fly directly into Mordor to destroy the One Ring?

The explanation is quite simple. A flight of Great Eagles entering Mordor would have immediately exposed the Fellowship’s presence, putting their mission at risk. Moreover, the eagles aren’t simply a convenient long-distance transportation option within Middle-earth. However, if these explanations don’t fully satisfy you—or if you’re just craving more eagle action in Middle-earth—then *The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim* could be just the film for you.

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### The Function of Eagles in *The War of the Rohirrim*

This animated prequel, helmed by Kenji Kamiyama, explores the tale of Rohan’s famed King Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Brian Cox from *Succession*) and his conflict with the wrathful Dunlending Lord Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino). The struggle forces Helm, alongside his daughter Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise), and the Rohan populace to retreat to the Hornburg stronghold, where they endure a harsh siege and bitter winter.

As the siege continues and despair grows, the stakes escalate dramatically following Helm’s demise. Héra, unexpectedly thrust into a leadership position, makes a bold choice: she seeks the aid of a Great Eagle that soars above the Hornburg. Her intent? To communicate with her cousin Fréaláf (voiced by Laurence Ubong Williams) and his forces stationed at Dunharrow fortress.

Against all expectations, Héra’s plan succeeds. The eagle conveys Helm’s helmet and armor to Fréaláf, who wears them during his army’s attack on Wulf’s troops. The sight of Fréaláf clad in Helm’s iconic armor, illuminated by moonlight, terrifies Wulf’s soldiers, who believe they are seeing the ghost of Helm himself. This critical moment wouldn’t have been achievable without the involvement of the eagle. Although the film does not depict full-fledged eagle riding, it introduces messenger eagles as a novel and thrilling aspect of Middle-earth’s cinematic narrative.

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### The Eagle Beyond a Narrative Device

Interestingly, eagles are not mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien’s original narrative of Helm and Wulf’s conflict, which spans merely a page and a half in *The Lord of the Rings* Appendices. Similarly, Héra’s character is expanded from a minor reference to a prominent role in the film. For writers Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, the inclusion of the eagle wasn’t merely a nod to its function as a narrative device—it was also a pivotal moment in Héra’s evolution into a leader.

“It was crucial that Héra truly earned that moment,” Papageorgiou shared in a discussion with *Mashable*.

The idea of incorporating the eagle originated from Kamiyama and producer Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the *The Lord of the Rings* films. (Notably, Gittins is Boyens’ daughter.)

“We viewed [the eagles] as part of embedded storytelling,” Gittins explained. “We recognized it as a narrative device that [Kamiyama and Boyens] were eager to utilize. So how do we make it believable that Héra would pursue this course of action?”

To accomplish this, Gittins and Papageorgiou established the foundation for the eagle’s role early in the film. In Héra’s initial scene, she summons a young eagle and offers it meat, showcasing her profound connection to the natural world and her bond with the eagles. Symbolically, the fledgling represents Héra herself—both are unseasoned and must undergo significant growth by the conclusion of the story to achieve their true potential.

This connection culminates during the siege’s peak, when Héra seeks out the now mature eagle. It’s a last-resort action, but with no alternatives in sight, the eagle becomes the sole messenger capable of bypassing Wulf’s troops.

For the filmmakers, Héra’s choice to request aid from the eagle was a defining point in her character arc. It emphasized her readiness to connect across species and highlighted her evolution as a leader.

“What kind of protagonist were we going to portray in this film?” Papageorgiou pondered. “It wasn’t a warlord.”

Gittins added: “It was someone who possessed the strength to seek assistance.”

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*The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim* is currently showing in theaters.