1. Why was there not a serious force waiting for the Company on the west side
of the bridge?
I don't think the orcs were very organized. The goblin that Aragorn slew
in the Chamber of Mazarbul seemed to be the only one with an intelligent
thought. There rest weren't a fighting force at all, just a but of
witless thugs.
2. How could this guard force not be fully alerted and ready for anything?
They were stupid
3. Why in the WORLD didn’t the forces of evil concentrate on holding the exit,
instead of wandering around in a maze and getting cut off by their own fire?
They were stupid
4. In fact, since the orcs in the chamber of Mazarbul already knew about the
fire, how is it that they were cut off at all? There were all kinds of
connecting passages.
They were stupid
5. Is it possible that there aren’t really very many orcs in Moria, and that
they just don’t know the place well? And/or that the orc in black armor that
speared Frodo was the only high-initiative individual in the place?
There probably weren't that many that knew Moria well, and they were all stupid
CHALLENGE
What do you suppose Sauron heard about this entire encounter (Balrog and all),
and what did he think about it?
When he heard that Gandalf had died, Sauron must have thought the tide had
turned in his favor. I don't know if he realized the Ring was in
the company, but taking Gandalf out of play was a major boost for
Sauron.
******************************************************
Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ra-hoom-rah! The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them. There was another pause, and then a marching music began like solemn drums, and above the rolling beats and booms there welled voices singing high and strong.
We come, we come with roll of drum: ta-runda runda runda rom!
