Great birds who serve as emissaries of Manwe, King of the Valar. The Eagles are intelligent, noble creatures who intervene at critical moments throughout the history of Middle-earth. They rescue Gandalf from Orthanc, turn the tide at the Battle of Five Armies, and carry Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Mount Doom after the destruction of the One Ring. Their leader in the Third Age is Gwaihir the Windlord.