Does the Silmarillion Contradict Third age History? How Powerful Were Those First age

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by R.R.J Tolkien

I was thinking, what if tolkien instead of going back and changing balrogs in multiple accounts, just have gothmog survive and be DB?

Well, that would have made excellent fodder for fanfic writers, with the idea that two 'survivors' of Gondolin, the Lord of Balrogs and the Lord of the Golden Flower, lived in relatively close proximity (with Glorfindel being at Imladris). It would have us noticing still more the central place Gondolin holds in the Legendarium - with the swords, and Elrond being Earendil's son, there's already a massive concentration of Gondoliana in Rivendell's area, and Gothmog would be the icing on the cake. It might even have us questioning whether Celebrimbor of Hollin might actually have been an elf of Gondolin after all, to fit with the theme.

But... he didn't, so we don't do that. ^_^

hS