One hand tied behind their backs

[HerenIstarion]

Just stumbled upon this thread again

Symestreem, the quote you refer to is preceeded with:

His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings.

and in itself runs as follows:

It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall

emphases mine. It seems that drawing 'to a great height' is not quite physical process, but shadowlike, and so wings are of shadow - for if Balrog were of a given stature, the change of height would require some 'were' abilities (as, per instance, Beorn is werebear). But there is no textual evidence of Balrogs being shape-shifters.

But that seemed not too relevant to what the post #32 up above dealt with, so I haven't stressed on wing issue at all