How did it become known that the One Ring could only be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom?

Saruman was not at the Council of Elrond. The decision to destroy it would never have be his, even if never found. Nor would he likely suggest or even hint at ways to destroy it, even if he knew ways.

Of course, that much is obvious. What exactly is the point of mentioning this?

Please prove in any way, or provide any context, that Saruman suggested it be destroyed, in Oridruin no less.

I have literally never said that Saruman suggested it be destroyed, or the way to destroy it, or anything even remotely close to it.

This is closer to what happened.

Closer because the alternative you think I suggested (which I didn't suggest) is completely idiotic, but it is not very close to what happened.

What happened is that Gandalf and Elrond deduced that the only force availabe in Middle Earth that could unmake the Ring was the one force that was used in the making, the fires of Orodruin. They deduced this by:

  • The knowledge that the rings were physically forged objects.

  • The knowledge that the Ring was made in Orodruin, using its fires in the process.

  • The knowledge that the One could control the Three, which meant it must have been incredibly powerful, which suggests Sauron must have poured a great portion of his own strength into it.

  • The knowledge that, without the Ring, Sauron was much less powerful, which confirmed that he did indeed pour a great deal of hsi own power into it.

  • The knowledge that Sauron's innate power was enormous, as proven by his long a storied career as Morgoth's lieutenant and then Big Bad Number One.

  • The knowledge that the Rings of Power in general are extremely resilient objects.

From all of these, they deduced that no force was available in Middle Earth capable of melting the Ring, save for the one that was known to have been used to forge it in the first place.

/r/tolkienfans Thread Parent