May 30, 2002

The One that Got Away and Balrogs Continued
Richard P.

I noticed someone saying about the Valar doing a bad job of mopping up after they destroyed Angband and cast Morgoth into the void. I'd just like to try and explain how it came to be that Sauron got away.

Firstly, when the Valar decided to do something they didn't go themselves. They sent the Maia and the Noldorian elves left in Valinor to do it for them. Voronwe (i think), herald of Manwe, led the assualt. When Angband had been destroyed and Morgoth captured all of his servants that were deemed redeemable were given that chance. They were told to return to Valinor to await the judgement of the Valar. When it came to be Sauron's turn he humbled himself before the feet of Voronwe, who told him to go to Valinor. Sauron, not believing his ears, promised to go... then promtly ran off and hid! It wasn't until everyone had returned to Valinor that it was noticed, by which time it was too late to mount a hunt to go and fetch him.

This shows us, I think, some interesting things about the Valar. Firstly, that they were willing to forgive everyone... they had even hoped for a redemption of Morgoth/Melkor. Perhaps this can be seen as one of their major flaws... they tend to fear open confrontation.
Secondly it shows that the Valar are not perfect... they didn't go to the battle, they wanted to stay at home; they decided not to chase Sauron.

Continuing the Balrog theme... I just thought... perhaps the Balrog was not awakened by the noise the Fellowship made in the mines as is tended to be assumed. This could also make a case for the orcs actually being seperate in terms of organisation and leadership from the Balrog.
When the Fellowship are on Caradhras Gandalf uses magic to light a fire, saying "I have written 'Gandalf is here' in signs that can be seen from the Last Homely House to the Mouths of Anduin, if there are any to see..."
Surely, the Balrog is one who can see... being a Maia spirit. Gandalf using his power may have woken or roused the Balrog into a more active state. Gandalfs plan of then going into the mines in order to cover their tracks after making this magic 'signature' is negated as the Balrog is in their alert to the fact that there is another Maia in the vicinity. (Also perhaps another self-preservation instinct?)

I think that the Orcs and the Balrog are not really related to each other. The Balrog lives deep in Moria, probably in the Mithril lodes, since thats where it was first disturbed; the Orcs live in the upper caverns. The Balrog belongs to itself; the Orcs belong to Sauron. I'm not saying that whenever the Balrog woke up it didn't come and bully the Orcs a bit, but they presumably had orders from Sauron, who was unaware of the Balrog. It may just be coincidence that the Balrog was stirred up by Gandalf usage of magic, and the Orcs were stirred up by the noise Pippin makes, and they both end up at the same place at the same time. In any instance the Orcs are afraid of the Balrog, described as cowering and whispering so as not to attract its attention to themselves. Also, the Orcs would have captured any intruders for questioning and to be sent to Saruon... whereas the Balrog seems bent on just destroying the Fellowship.


Also, with regards to the description of Gandalf as a Christ figure, I disagree. Tolkien firstly hated allegory; and secondly was a devout Catholic. He may well have found that making allegory of the Christian faith and traditions was tantamount to blasphamy.

(Hope all this makes sence... I'm a bit tired ;-) )