View Single Post
Old 06-12-2002, 05:05 PM   #29
Thingol
Shade of Carn Dûm
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 259
Thingol has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

It quite explicitly says that both Glorfindel and Aragorn could not have overcome all of the Nine grouped together. Now Glorfindel killed a Balrog. To me this indicates pretty clearly that all nine of the Nazgul could kill a Balrog. As for Ecthellion vs. The Balrog; Tolkien stated that Glorfindel's slaying of a Balrog was one of the greatest acts of the eldar and that Elves of the calliber of Ecthellion and Glorfindel were exceptionallt rare. Also, at least one Balrog did flee from the War of Wrath, not exactly a brave thing to do. It is entirely possible for a Balrog to be slain by beings of great spiritual/magical power such as Glorfindel, Ecthellion, or the Nazgul. Even if terror would not work on the Balrog that would not mean that it could not be defeated. The power of the 9 rings greatly enhanced the powers of the men who wore them. With the 9 rings I doubt that their power was any less than that of an incarnated Maia, such as a Balrog. And as I've said Gandalf stated that Glorfindel and Aragorn together could not stand against all of the nine. In adition it says in the Unfinished Tales that the rangers guarding the area around the Shire were driven off or slain with the comming of the Witch King of Angmar, and even if their captain, Aragorn, had been there they probably wouldn't have been up to the task of stopping him. Pretty convicing evidence to me.

[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]
__________________
Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.
Thingol is offline   Reply With Quote