| When tolkien gives a creature wings, those wings are used. If a Balrog had wings, it would use them, especially since they seem to have a propencity to fall to their deaths in combat. In the Silmarillion where it says that they moved with "winged speed" that means they moved really fast. They could also outrun lava as it poured down into the the plain before the gates of Angand, in the Battle of Sudden Flame. The Balrog in Moria could also run extremely swiftly, at least swiftly enough for the fire it was wreathed in to stream out behind it as it ran. Balrogs could however, possess "Shadow wings" or using the shadow it wraps itself in, create wings for intimidation purposes. We also know balrogs, being Maia, aren't stupid. If they had wings, they wouldn't hesitate to use them to get an edge in battle. | |
