I think one of the cool things that Tolkien did was that when he wanted some thing to be REALLY scary or ominous or creepy, with the exception of Minas Morgul, he didn't really describe it, leaving it to the reader's own imagination, which can create his or her worst nightmares much more efficiently and effectively. "Shadow and flame" doesn't really shape a solid monster in your mind, but it certainly does have the desired effect of evil.
In other words, I really had no firm image of the Balrog in my mind, but I knew it was scary. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
~*~Orual~*~
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"Oh, my god! I care so little, I almost passed out!" --Dr. Cox, "Scrubs"
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