The question of why the Eagles didn’t just fly Frodo to Mount Doom has been raised repeatedly for decades.
Luckily, the following exchange from the recently-leaked White Council emails finally gives us the definitive answer to the question:
>From: Gandalf The Grey <gandalf@whitecouncil.org>
>To: Gwaihir The Windlord <windlord@eagles.net>
>Sent: 22:37:06 23/10/3018TA
>Subject: Your Assistance
>
> Gwahir,
>
> Please come to Imladris post-haste, need your assistance to
> carry hobbits to Orodruin to destroy one ring. Much
> appreciated.
>
> ᚠ
>
>–
>Sent by ArdaMail v3.2 – One Mail Client to rule them all.
>
From: Gwaihir The Windlord <windlord@eagles.net>
To: Gandalf The Grey <gandalf@whitecouncil.org>
Sent: 09:17:46 24/10/3018TA
Subject: Re: Your Assistance
Gandalf,
I think you have the wrong idea about eagles. Perhaps you missed the “Eagles are a proud race” bit? I think you should do your own dirty-work for a change.
While it is true that you once healed me of an arrow wound, this does not mean that the eagles are forever indebted to you, or that we are your personal transportation system who only exist to carry you and whatever bunch of misfits you’ve associated yourself with this week wherever you like. It’s been barely a month since I rescued you from that whole “imprisoned at the top of orthanc” situation you found yourself in, and already you’re asking me for another favour? The nerve!
In my book, the debt for the healing of the arrow wound (which may not have even been a mortal wound) was paid when I rescued you and fourteen of your companions from the wargs and goblins. Even if my life was worth five dwarves, I’ve still paid the debt three times over. Even so, out of goodwill, I also saw fit to have you and your companions carried to the carrock. I see now that this was a mistake on my part. You asked us to take you “as far east as you will”, and we took you about half an hour out of our way. What makes you think that I would be willing to send my eagles hundreds of leagues into enemy territory?
To clarify the situation somewhat: when you came across me with that arrow wound, I had already sent two of my eagles off to find Radagast, who would have healed me and expected nothing in return. You offered to heal me and I accepted. I did not expect that this would mean that you would suddenly think I was in your debt forever, or i would have refused and waited. You never mentioned any Life Debt, or I would have told you to piss off. For the record, Radagast arrived on the scene less than 4 hours later, and was more than a little miffed that he had been called away from his work for what turned out to be nothing – to this day he still thinks it was a prank – he brings it up every time he asks for a favour (which usually are more along the lines of “can you pick up this rare herb from high in the mountains for me?”, and don’t tend to involve carrying his companion-of-the-week into the heart of the enemy’s domain).
Setting aside all these concerns, I hardly think that the Dark Lord is going to fail to notice a bunch of giant eagles flying into his territory. If you want to get into mordor, stealth is a better option. And it’s not like we’re invincible – just because we haven’t seen any huge flying beasts circling mordor doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any – maybe he’s keeping his best weapons in reserve. Hell, he could have his own personal dragon guard stationed at Mount Doom for all we know. And even if he doesn’t have any servants capable of flight, I do know for a fact that he has a whole bunch of arrows, and plenty of orcs and men more than willing to fire them. If we were to be shot down, how do you think your ringbearer will fare marooned in the midle of mordor surrounded by enemy armies with no food or provisions and fifteen broken bones from a 10,000 foot fall?
TL;DR: go fuck yourself. The eagles don’t work for you. If I ever find you stranded, naked and dazed, at the top of a mountain, I just might leave you there. Asshole.
-Gwaihir