Manw？ designed to heal the evil that had arisen among the Noldor； and all were bidden to e to his halls upon
Taniquetil； there to put aside the griefs that lay between their princes； and forget utterly the lies of their Enemy。 There
came the Vanyar； and there came the Noldor of Tirion； and the Maiar were gathered together； and the Valar were arrayed
in their beauty and majesty； and they sang before Manw？ and Varda in their lofty halls； or danced upon the green slopes
of the Mountain that looked west towards the Trees。 In that day the streets of Valmar were empty； and the stairs of Tirion
were silent； and all the land lay sleeping in peace。 Only the Teleri beyond the mountains still sang upon the shores of the
sea； for they recked little of seasons or times； and gave no thought to the cares of the Rulers of Arda； or the shadow that
had fallen on Valinor； for it had not touched them； as yet。
One thing only marred the design of Manw？。 F？anor came indeed； for him alone Manw？ had manded to
e； but Finw？ came not； nor any others of the Noldor of Formenos。 For said Finw？： 'While the ban lasts upon F？anor
my son； that he may not go to Tirion； I hold myself unkinged； and I will not meet my people。' And F？anor came not in
raiment of festival； and he wore no ornament； neither silver nor gold nor any gem； and he denied the sight of the
Silmarils to the Valar and the Eldar； and left them locked in Formenos in their chamber of iron。 Nevertheless he met
Fingolfin before the throne of Manw？； and was reconciled； in word； and Fingolfin set at naught the unsheathing of the
sword。 For Fingolfin held forth his hand； saying： 'As I promised； I do now。 I release thee； and remember no grievance。'
Then F？anor took his hand in silence； but Fingolfin said： 'Half…brother in blood； full brother in heart will I be。
Thou shalt lead and I will follow。 May no new grief divide as。'
'I hear thee；' said F？anor。 'So be it。' But they did not know the meaning that their words would bear。
It is told that even as F？anor and Fingolfin stood before Manw？ there came the mingling of the lights； when both
Trees were shining； and the silent city of Valmar was filled with a radiance of silver and gold。 And in that very hour
Melkor and Ungoliant came hastening over the fields of Valinor； as the shadow of a black cloud upon the wind fleets
over the sunlit earth； and they came before the green mound Ezellohar。 Then the Unlight of Ungoliant rose up even to
the roots of the Trees； and Melkor sprang upon the mound； and with his black spear he smote each Tree to its core；
wounded them deep； and their sap poured forth as it were their blood； and was spilled upon the ground。 But Ungoliant
sucked it up； and going then from Tree to Tree she set her black beak to their wounds； till they were drained； and the
poison of Death that was in her went into their tissues and withered them； root； branch； and leaf； and they died。 And still
she thirsted； and going to the Wells of Varda she drank them dry； but Ungoliant belched forth black vapours as she
drank； and swelled to a shape so vast and hideous that Melkor was afraid。
So the great darkness fell upon Valinor。 Of the deeds of that day much is told in the Aldudéni？； that Elemmír？ of
the Vanyar made and is known to all the Eldar。 Yet no song or tale could contain all the grief and terror that then befell。
The Light failed； but the Darkness that followed was more than loss of light。 In that hour was made a Darkness that
seemed not lack but a thing with being of its own： for it was indeed made by malice out of Light； and it had power to
pierce the eye； and to enter heart and mind； and strangle the very will。
Varda looked down from Taniquetil； and beheld the Shadow soaring up in sudden towers of gloom； Valmar had
foundered in a deep sea of night。 Soon the Holy Mountain stood alone； a last island in a world that was drowned。 All
song ceased。 There was silence in Valinor； and no sound could be heard； save only from afar there came on the wind
through the pass of the mountains the wailing of the Teleri like the cold cry of gulls。 For it blew chill from the East in
that hour； and the vast shadows of the sea were rolled against the walls of the shore。
But Manw？ from his high seat looked out； and his eyes alone pierced through the night； until they saw a
Darkness beyond dark which they could not penetrate； huge but far away； moving now northward with great speed； and
he knew that Melkor had e and gone。
Then the pursuit was begun； and the earth shook beneath the horses of the host of Orom？； and the fire that was
stricken from the hooves of Nahar was the first light that returned to Valinor。 But so soon as any came up with the Cloud
of Ungoliant the riders of the Valar were blinded and dismayed； and they were scattered； and went they knew not
whither； and the sound of the Valaróma faltered and failed。 And Tulkas was as one caught in a black net at night； and he
stood powerless and beat the air in vain。 But when the Darkness had passed； it was too late： Melkor had gone whither he
would； and his vengeance was achieved。
Chapter 9
Of the Flight of the Noldor
After a time a great concourse gathered about the Ring of Doom； and the Valar sat in shadow； for it was night。 But the
stars of Varda now glimmered overhead； and the air was clear； for the winds of Manw？ has driven away the vapours of
death and rolled back the shadows of the sea。 Then Yavanna arose and stood upon Ezellohar； the Green Mound； but it
was bare now and black； and she laid her hands upon the Trees； but they were dead and dark； and each branch that she
touched broke and fell lifeless at her feet。 Then many voices were lifted in lamentation； and it seemed to those that
mourned that they had drained to the dregs the cup of woe that Melkor had filled for them。 But it was not so。
Yavanna spoke before the Valar； saying： 〃The Light of the Trees has passed away； and lives now only in the
Silmarils of F？anor。 Foresighted was he！ Even for those who are mightiest under Ilúvatar there is some work that they
may acplish once； and once only。 The Light of the Trees I brought into being； and within E？ I can do so never again。
Yet had I but a little of that light I could recall life to the Trees； ere their roots decay； and then our hurt should be healed；
and the malice of Melkor be confounded。'
Then Manw？ spoke and said： 'Hearest thou； F？anor son of Finw？； the words of Yavanna？ Wilt thou grant what
she would ask？'
There was long silence； but F？anor answered no word。 Then Tulkas cried： 'Speak； O Noldo； yea or nay！ But who
shall deny Yavanna？ And did not the light of the Silmarils e from her work in the beginning？'
But Aul？ the Maker said： 'Be not hasty！ We ask a greater thing than thou knowest。 Let him have peace yet awhile。'
But F？anor spoke then； and cried bitterly： 'For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may
acplish but once only； and in that deed his heart shall rest。 It may be that I can unlock my jewels； but never again
shall I make their like； and if I must break them； I shall break my heart； and I shall be slain； first of all the Eldar in
Aman。'
'Not the first；' said Mandos； but they did not understand his word； and again there was silence； while F？anor
brooded in the dark。 It seemed to him that he was beset in a ring of enemies； and the words of Melkor returned to him；
saying that the Silmarils were not safe； if the Valar would possess them。 'And is he not Vala as are they；' said his thought；
'and does he not understand their hearts？ Yea； a thief shall reveal thieves！' Then he cried aloud： 'This thing I will not do
of free will。 But if the Valar will constrain me； then shall I know indeed that Melkor is of their kindred。'
Then Mandos said： 'Thou hast spoken。' And Nienna arose and went up onto Ezellohar； and cast back her grey
hood； and with her tears washed away the defilements of Ungoliant； and she sang in mourning for the bitterness of the
world and the Marring of Arda。
But even as Nienna mourned； there came messengers from Formenos； and they were Noldor and bore new tidings
of evil。 For they told how a blind Darkness came northward； and in the midst walked some power for which there was no
name； and the Darkness issued from it。 But Melkor also was there； and he came to the house of F？anor； and there he
slew Finw？ King of the Noldor before his doors； and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm； for Finw？ alone had
not fled from the horror of the Dark。 And they told that Melkor had broken the stronghold of Formenos； and taken all the
Jewels of the Noldor that were hoarded in that place； and the Silmarils were gone。
Then F？anor rose； and lifting up his hand before Manw？ he cursed Melkor； naming him Morgoth； the Black Foe
of the World； and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after。 And he cursed also the summons of Manw？
and the hour in which he came to Taniquetil； thinking in the madness of his rage and grief that had he been at Formenos
his strength would have availed more than to be slain also； as Melkor had purposed。 Then F？anor ran from the Ring of
Doom； and fled into the night； for his father was dearer to him than the Light of Valinor or the peerless works of his
hands； and who among sons； of Elves or of Men； have held their fathers of greater worth？
Many there grieved for the anguish of F？anor； but his loss was not his alone； and Yavanna wept by the mound； in
fear that the Darkness should swallow the last rays of the Light of Valinor for ever。 For though the Valar did not yet
understand fully what had befallen； they perceived that Melkor had called upon some aid that came from beyond Arda。
The Silmarils had passed away； and all one it may seem whether F？anor had said yea or nay to Yavanna； yet had he said
yea at the first； before the tidings came from Formenos； it may be that his after deeds would have been other than they
were。 But now the doom of the Noldor drew near。
Meanwhile Morgoth escaping from the pursuit of the Valar came to the wastes of Araman。 This land lay
northward between the Mountains of the Pelóri and the Great Sea； as Avathar lay to the south； but Araman was a wider
land； and between the shores and the mountains were barren plains； ever colder as the Ice drew nearer。 Through this
region Morgoth and Ungoliant passed in haste； and so came through the great mists of Oiomúr？ to the Helcarax？； where
the strait between Araman and Middle…earth was filled with grinding ice； and he crossed over； and came back at last to
the north of the Outer Lands。 Together they went on； for Morgoth could not elude Ungoliant； and her cloud was still
about him； and all her eyes were upon him； and they came to those lands that lay north of the Firth of Drengist。 Now
Morgoth was drawing near to the ruins of Angband； where his great western stronghold had been； and Ungoliant
perceived his hope； and knew that here he would seek to escape from her； and she stayed him； demanding that he fulfil
his promise。
'Blackheart！' she said。 'I have done thy bidding。 But I hunger still。'
'What w