|
I think that the Valar wanted the Noldor to humble themselves before them, before thinking of giving them aid. When Earendil set out on his voyage West, it wasn't his action itself that impressed the Valar, it was the humility behind it. Without that humility (which wouldn't have been there if the Elves had won the Nirnaeth Arnoediad), the Valar wouldn't have sent aid.
On a second note, perhaps this victory would have just put off that final flood of darkness. If this victory could have been comparable to, say, the Dagor Aglareb, then the Elves would eventually have been defeated by Morgoth anyway. This would just put off the War of Wrath.
__________________
But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.
|