Ring wraiths vs. Balrogs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kuruharan · 07-07-2002, 03:19 PM

The text says both.

"Thus they roused from sleep* a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth."

The footnote says, "Or relesed it from prison; it may well be that it had already been awakened by the malice of Sauron."

I take all this to mean that the presence of Sauron, who was beginning to stir again at that time, may have at least roused the Balrog into a more restless state of sleep if not exactly awaken it. However, I don't think that this implies that the Balrog was under Sauron. Just roused by the presence of another great evil. Like calling to like, after a fashion. I think the idea of an informal arrangement between the two best fits the evidence that we have.

[ July 07, 2002: Message edited by: Kuruharan ]

07-07-2002, 03:19 PM	#33
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	The text says both. "Thus they roused from sleep* a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth." The footnote says, "Or relesed it from prison; it may well be that it had already been awakened by the malice of Sauron." I take all this to mean that the presence of Sauron, who was beginning to stir again at that time, may have at least roused the Balrog into a more restless state of sleep if not exactly awaken it. However, I don't think that this implies that the Balrog was under Sauron. Just roused by the presence of another great evil. Like calling to like, after a fashion. I think the idea of an informal arrangement between the two best fits the evidence that we have. [ July 07, 2002: Message edited by: Kuruharan ] __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...