July 2, 2002

Overs and Unders
Brett C.

Well, alright, Red Horn. Run out the guns and lets go.

Your argument is the most compelling I've run up agianst so far. Well done. But I have to say the Balrogs might have been able to reach Morgoth even without wings. Case in point; Nahar, the steed of Orome. Early part of the Silmarilloin state that Orome rode Nahar all over Middle Earth, including across the Sundering Sea, and in quick time to, but nowhere is it suggested Nahar had wings.

The reason of course is that Nahar, and Orome, and the Balrogs, are beings more of spirit than substance, though they can all manifest themselves bodily. Also in a section just before the test you cited Morgoth is described as being seen passing north from Valinor like a storm cloud. And finally, how long did it take Morgoth and Ungoliant to reach Lammoth from Valinor. It says they passed over the regions of the north 'in haste', and they certainly didn't take the weeks it would take mortal beings to do the journey on foot.

To this end I submit that the text about the Balrogs rushing to Morgoth's aid is intriguing, but inconclusive, since the Valar and like spirits can obviously travel at incredible speeds and yet still without the benefit of being truly winged. The weight of circumstatial evidence is still pretty much balanced in my mind.
Good to have a discussion I can sink my teeth into though. Thanks:)