July 9, 2002

Still More About
Mewlip

Note from Tal-Elmar: "... and ever one of the accursed ships hath black wings." & "The foul wings of the Sea-men have not been seen in these waters for many a year; ..." JRRT

Before these was written: "... for the Sea-men spread great cloths like wings to catch the airs, and bind them to tall poles like trees of the forest." Moreover, a reaching shadow can simply be described as 'wings', as in JRRTs:

"Over the land there lies a long shadow,
westward reaching wings of darkness." (RotK).

In "Fellowship" the shadow about it [the Balrog] "reached" out like two vast wings. In RotK a long shadow is described as "reaching wings of darkness". For your consideration in any event. And signing off with a quote from "The Later Quenta Silmarillion", on Balrogs:

"... their hearts were of fire, but they were cloaked in darkness, and terror went before them; they had wips of flame." JRRT