<P> Eagles are not kindly birds . Some are cowardly and cruel . But the ancient race of the northern mountains were the greatest of all birds; they were proud and strong and noble - hearted . </P> <P> Throughout The Silmarillion, the Eagles are particularly associated with Manwë, the ruler of the sky and Lord of the Valar . It is stated that "spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles" brought news from Middle - earth to his halls upon Taniquetil, the highest mountain in Valinor, although later in the book the same is said of birds in general, and in the Valaquenta of "all swift birds, strong of wing". (On the different conceptions implied by these and similar passages, see Nature below .) </P> <P> Upon their first appearance in the main narrative, it is stated that the Eagles had been "sent forth" to Middle - earth by Manwë, to live in the mountains north of the land of Beleriand, in order to "watch upon" Morgoth, and to help the exiled Noldorin Elves "in extreme cases". The Eagles were ruled by Thorondor, who dwelt (apparently with the majority of his folk) in the Encircling Mountains to the west of Dorthonion . </P> <P> When the Hidden City of Gondolin was built by Turgon, the eagles of Thorondor became his allies, bringing him news and keeping spies off the borders . Therefore the Orcs of Morgoth were unable to approach either the nearby mountains, or the important ford of Brithiach to the south; the eagles' watch had been redoubled after the coming of Tuor, enabling Gondolin to remain undiscovered the longest of all Elven realms . When the city fell at last, the eagles of Thorondor protected the fugitives, from the orcs that ambushed them at Cirith Thoronath north of Gondolin . </P>

Who sends the eagles in lord of the rings