While reading UT yesterday, I came upon this quote.
Quote:
[Voronwë: ][The Eagles] alone save the Noldor know the Hidden Kingdom and guard the skies above, though as yet no servant of the Enemy has dared to fly into the high airs.
(UT I 1- emphasis mine)
|
Note that the emphasised part has no time limit, like “no creature of Morgoth has dared to fly...since the Eagles made abode in the Echoriath.” It means that up to that point
none of Morgoth's creatures had dared to fly in the high airs.
Now, for this rescue mission...
Quote:
...now swiftly [the Balrogs] arose, and passing over Hithlum they came to Lammoth as a tempest of fire.
(The Silmarillion 9 - emphasis mine)
|
How could the Balrogs fly over Hithlum without taking the high airs? Any lower and they would have met a tragic end into one of the mountains. Ergo, they didn’t use their wings to fly this mission.