So he is responsible.......

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inzil

Well, even if Sauron had literally 'flown' through the air, as opposed to simply 'flying' (fleeing, generally),*

So basically the question of the century is this...

DOES SAURON HAVE WINGS?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

DOES SAURON HAVE WINGS?

Ah! Of course he does!

That completely explains something I was wondering about. Sauron had an alternate flying form and started his own evil race!

[Pitchwife]

Wait a sec. Let's suppose for a moment Sauron in flight had actually seen Gondolin and returned to his boss reporting its precise geographical position. What would have happened?

Morgoth, I think, would have attempted to attack and take it ASAP (Turgon always used to make him nervous, remember?). He might have taken a little longer without a Maeglin to help him from the inside, but I wager Gondolin would have fallen a lot earlier than it did.

What follows from this? No marriage of Tuor and Idril. No Eärendil. Nobody to plead for both Edain and Eldar before the Valar. Maybe no War of Wrath. Morgoth wins and establishes unchallenged dominion over Middle-earth. MWAHAHA!

Remind me again why this would have been preferable.

[Urwen]

So according to you, duty to the world is more important? You just sacrifice your mother, father, sister or brother? But of course, you fulfilled your duty and that's the only thing that matters.

Yeah, no. One's family is more important to them than some Middle Earth.

And I am the one considered insane here?

This approach you have is also sexist, by the way. You immediately assume that Idril might not be able to make it out of the carnage. If anyone in Gondolin could make it out, it's her. So the prophecy would still work, just would be fulfilled a little differently than in the books.

[gondowe]

Sorry but. Independently of the Eagles, that is a very important wall against everything that wanted to fly many miles near Gondolin, Sauron's direct way to Dorthonion (Taur-nu-fuin) is not over Gondolin (from Tol-Sirion), is north of Encircling Mountains, so ,at least for me, Sauron never could see Gondolin.

Greetings.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by gondowe

Sorry but. Independently of the Eagles, that is a very important wall against everything that wanted to fly many miles near Gondolin, Sauron's direct way to Dorthonion (Taur-nu-fuin) is not over Gondolin (from Tol-Sirion), is north of Encircling Mountains, so ,at least for me, Sauron never could see Gondolin.

Greetings.

Indeed, one look at the map actually shows that the "troper" probably should have taken two looks at the map.

However, it would be the direct route to Doriath- a possible confusion?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Let'as also remember that the ability to fly does not necessarily mean the ability to fly at any altitude one likes. Most birds and early aircraft, and all bats, couldn't manage the 5000 meters or so required (obviously Thorondor's Eagles had wings like a U-2....). Just like aircraft in the pre-jet age, the way to handle high mountain ranges was to go around them.