with evil intent to the Eldar； or that any were held captive by them against their will。 Now they watched and waited； for
they did not yet believe that F？anor could hold the host of the Noldor to his will。
And indeed when F？anor began the marshalling of the Noldor for their setting…out； then at once dissension arose。
For though he had brought the assembly in a mind to depart； by no means all were of a mind to take F？anor as King。
Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons； and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused
to renounce him； if he would go with them； and thus at the last as two divided hosts the Noldor set forth upon their bitter
road。 F？anor and his following were in the van； but the greater host came behind under Fingolfin； and he marched
against his wisdom； because Fingon his son so urged him； and because he would not be sundered from his people that
were eager to go； nor leave them to the rash counsels of F？anor。 Nor did he forget his words before the throne of
Manw？。 With Fingolfin went Finarfin also and for like reasons； but most loath was he to depart。 And of all the Noldor in
Valinor； who were grown now to a great people； but one tithe refused to take the road： some for the love that they bore
to the Valar （and to Aul？ not least）； some for the love of Tirion and the many things that they had made； none for fear of
peril by the way。
But even as the trumpet sang and F？anor issued from the gates of Tirion a messenger came at last from Manw？；
saying： 'Against the folly of F？anor shall be set my counsel only。 Go not forth！ For the hour is evil； and your road leads
to sorrow that ye do not foresee。 No aid will the Valar lend you in this quest； but neither will they hinder you； for this ye
shall know： as ye came hither freely； freely shall ye depart。 But thou F？anor Finw？'s son； by thine oath art exiled。 The
lies of Melkor thou shalt unlearn in bitterness。 Vala he is； thou saist Then thou hast sworn in vain； for none of the Valar
canst thou overe now or ever within the halls of E？； not though Eru whom thou namest had made thee thrice greater
than thou art。'
But F？anor laughed； and spoke not to the herald； but to the Noldor； saying： 'So！ Then will this valiant people send
forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only； and return to their bondage？ But if any will e
with me； I say to them： Is sorrow foreboded to you？ But in Aman we have seen it。 In Aman we have e through bliss
to woe。 The other now we will try： through sorrow to find joy； or freedom； at the least。'
Then turning to the herald he cried： 'Say this to Manw？ Súlimo； High King of Arda： if F？anor cannot overthrow
Morgoth； at least he delays not to assail him； and sits not idle in grief。 And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater
than thou knowest。 Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall
wonder to hear it。 Yea； in the end they shall follow me。 Farewell！'
In that hour the voice of F？anor grew so great and so potent that even the herald of the Valar bowed before him as
one full…answered； and departed； and the Noldor were over…ruled。 Therefore they continued their march； and the House
of F？anor hastened before them along the coasts of Elend？： not once did they turn their eyes back to Tirion on the green
hill of Túna。 Slower and less eagerly came the host of Fingolfin after them。 Of those Fingon was the foremost； but at the
rear went Finarfin and Finrod； and many of the noblest and wisest of the Noldor； and often they looked behind them to
see their fair city； until the lamp of the Mindon Eldaliéva was lost in the night。 More than any others of the Exiles they
carried thence memories of the bliss they had forsaken； and some even of the things that they had made there they took
with them： a solace and a burden on the road。
Now F？anor led the Noldor northward； because his first purpose was to follow Morgoth。 Moreover Túna beneath
Taniquetil was set nigh to the girdle of Arda； and there the Great Sea was immeasurably wide； whereas ever northward
the sundering seas grew narrower； as the wasteland of Araman and the coasts of Middle…earth drew together。 But as the
mind of F？anor cooled and took counsel he perceived overlate that all these great panies would never overe the
long leagues to the north； nor cross the seas at the last； save with the aid of ships； yet it would need long time and toil to
build so great a fleet； even were there any among the Noldor skilled in that craft。 He resolved now therefore to persuade
the Teleri； ever friends to the Noldor； to join with them； and in his rebellion he thought that thus the bliss of Valinor
might be further diminished and his power for war upon Morgoth be increased。 He hastened then to Alqualond？； and
spoke to the Teleri as he had spoken before in Tirion。
But the Teleri were unmoved by aught that he could say。 They were grieved indeed at the going of their kinsfolk
and long friends； but would rather dissuade them than aid them； and no ship would they lend； nor help in the building；
against the will of the Valar。 As for themselves； they desired now no other home but the strands of Eldamar； and no other
lord than Olw？； prince of Alqualond？。 And he had never lent ear to Morgoth； nor weled him to his land； and he
trusted still that Ulmo and the other great among the Valar would redress the hurts of Morgoth； and that the night would
pass yet to a new dawn。 Then F？anor grew wrathful； for he still feared delay； and hotly he spoke to Olw？。 'You renounce
your friendship； even in the hour of our need；' he said。 'Yet you were glad indeed to receive our aid when you came at
last to these shores； fainthearted loiterers； and wellnigh emptyhanded。 In huts on the beaches would yon be dwelling
still； had not the Noldor carved out your haven and toiled upon your walls。'
But Olw？ answered： 'We renounce no friendship。 But it may be the part of a friend to rebuke a friend's folly。 And
when the Noldor weled us and gave us aid； otherwise then you spoke： in the land of Aman we were to dwell for
ever； as brothers whose houses stand side by side。 But as for our white ships： those you gave us not。 We learned not that
craft from the Noldor； but from the Lords of the Sea； and the white timbers we wrought with our own hands； and the
white sails were woven by our wives and our daughters。 Therefore we will neither give them nor sell them for any league
or friendship。 For I say to you； F？anor son of Finw？； these are to us as are the gems of the Noldor： the work of our
hearts； whose like we shall not make again。'
Thereupon F？anor left him； and sat in dark thought beyond the walls of Alqualond？； until his host was assembled。
When he judged that his strength was enough； he went to the Haven of the Swans and began to man the ships that were
anchored there and to take them away by force。 But the Teleri withstood him； and cast many of the Noldor into the sea。
Then swords were drawn； and a bitter fight was fought upon the ships； and about the lamplit quays and piers of the
Haven； and even upon the great arch of its gate。 Thrice the people of F？anor were driven back； and many were slain
upon either side； but the vanguard of the Noldor were succoured by Fingon with the foremost of the host of Fingolfin；
who ing up found a battle joined and their own kin falling； and rushed in before they knew rightly the cause of the
quarrel； some thought indeed that the Teleri had sought to waylay the march of the Noldor at the bidding of the Valar。
Thus at last the Teleri were overe； and a great part of their mariners that dwelt in Alqualond？ were wickedly
slain。 For the Noldor were bee fierce and desperate； and the Teleri had less strength； and were armed for the most
part but with slender bows。 Then the Noldor drew away their white ships and manned their oars as best they might； and
rowed them north along the coast。 And Olw？ called upon Oss？； but he came not； for it was not permitted by the Valar
that the fight of the Noldor should be hindered by force。 But Uinen wept for the mariners of the Teleri； and the sea rose
in wrath against the slayers； so that many of the ships were wrecked and those in them drowned。 Of the enslaving at
Alqualond？ more is told in that lament which is named Noldolant？； the Fall of the Noldor； that Maglor made ere he was
lost。
Nonetheless the greater part of the Noldor escaped； and when the storm was past they held on their course； some
by ship and some by land； but the way was long and ever more evil as they went forward。 After they had marched for a
great while in the unmeasured night； they came at length to the northern confines of the Guarded Realm； upon the
borders of the empty waste of Araman which were mountainous and cold。 There they beheld suddenly a dark figure
standing high upon a rock that looked down upon the shore。 Some say that it was Mandos himself； and no lesser herald
of Manw？。 And they heard a loud voice； solemn and terrible； that bade them stand and give ear。 Then all halted and
stood still； and from end to end of the hosts of the Noldor the voice was heard speaking the curse and prophecy which is
called the Prophecy of the North； and the Doom of the Noldor。 Much it foretold in dark words； which the Noldor
understood not until the woes indeed after befell them； but all heard the curse that was uttered upon those that would not
stay nor seek the doom and pardon of the Valar。
'Tears unnumbered ye shall shed； and the Valar will fence Valinor against you； and shut you out； so that not even
the echo of your lamentation shall pass over the mountains。 On the House of F？anor the wrath of the Valar lieth from the
West unto the uttermost East； and upon all that will follow them it shall be laid also。 Their Oath shall drive them； and yet
betray them； and ever snatch away the very treasures that they have sworn to pursue。 To evil end shall all things turn that
they begin well； and by treason of kin unto kin； and the fear of treason； shall this e to pass。 The Dispossessed shall
they be for ever。
'Ye have spilled the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of Aman。 For blood ye shall
render blood； and beyond Aman ye shall dwell in Death's shadow。 For though Eru appointed to you to die not in E？； and
no sickness may assail you； yet slain ye may be； and slain ye shall be： by weapon and by torment and by grief； and your
houseless spirits shall e then to Mandos。 There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies； and find little pity
though all whom ye have slain should entreat for you。 And those that endure in Middle…earth and e not to Mandos
shall grow weary of the world as with a great burden； and shall wane； and bee as shadows of regret before the
younger race that eth after。 The Valar have spoken。'
Then many quailed； but F？anor hardened his heart and said： 'We have sworn； and not lightly。 This oath we will
keep。 We are threatened with many evils； and treason not least； but one thing is not said： that we shall suffer from
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