ing down upon them out of the hills near Eithel Sirion drove them into the Fen of Serech。 Evil indeed were the
tidings that came at last to Angband； and Morgoth was dismayed。 Ten days that battle lasted； and from it returned of all
the hosts that he had prepared for the conquest of Beleriand no more than a handful of leaves。
Yet cause he had for great joy； though it was hidden from him for a while。 For F？anor； in his wrath against the
Enemy； would not halt； but pressed on behind the remnant of the Orcs； thinking so to e at Morgoth himself： and he
laughed aloud as he wielded his sword； rejoicing that he had dared the wrath of the Valar and the evils of the road； that
he might see the hour of his vengeance。 Nothing did he know of Angband or the great strength of defence that Morgoth
had so swiftly prepared： but even had he known it would not have deterred him； for he was fey； consumed by the flame
of his own wrath。 Thus it was that he drew far ahead of the van of his host； and seeing this the servants of Morgoth
turned to bay； and there issued from Angband Balrogs to aid them。 There upon the confines of Dor Daedeloth； the land
of Morgoth； F？anor was surrounded； with few friends about him。 Long he fought on； and undismayed； though he was
wrapped in fire and wounded with many wounds； but at the last he was smitten to the ground by Gothmog； Lord of
Balrogs； whom Ecthelion after slew in Gondolin。 There he would have perished； had not his sons in that moment e
up with force to his aid； and the Balrogs left him； and departed to Angband。
Then his sons raised up their father and bore him back towards Mithrim。 But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion
and were upon the upward path to the pass over the mountains； F？anor bade them halt； for his wounds were mortal； and
he knew that his hour was e。 And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld far off
the peaks of Thangorodrim； mightiest of the towers of Middle…earth； and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no
power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them； but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice； and laid it upon his sons to
hold to their oath； and to avenge their father。 Then he died； but he had neither burial nor tomb； for so fiery was his spirit
that as it sped his body fell to ash； and was borne away like smoke； and his likeness has never again appeared in Arda；
neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos。 Thus ended the mightiest of the Noldor； of whose deeds came both their
greatest renown and their most grievous woe。
Now in Mithrim there dwelt Grey…elves； folk of Beleriand that had wandered north over the mountains； and the
Noldor met them with gladness； as kinsfolk long sundered； but speech at first was not easy between them； for in their
long severance the tongues of the Calaquendi in Valinor and of the Moriquendi in Beleriand had drawn far apart。 From
the Elves of Mithrim the Noldor learned of the power of Elu Thingol； King in Doriath； and the girdle of enchantment
that fenced his realm； and tidings of these great deeds in the north came south to Menegroth； and to the havens of
Brithombar and Eglarest。 Then all the Elves of Beleriand were filled with wonder and with hope at the ing of their
mighty kindred； who thus returned unlocked…for from the West in the very hour of their need； believing indeed at first
that they came as emissaries of the Valar to deliver them。
But even in the hour of the death of F？anor an embassy came to his sons from Morgoth； acknowledging defeat；
and offering terms； even to the surrender of a Silmaril。 Then Maedhros the tall； the eldest son； persuaded his brothers to
feign to treat with Morgoth； and to meet his emissaries at the place appointed； but the Noldor had as little thought of
faith as had he。 Wherefore each embassy came with greater force than was agreed； but Morgoth sent the more； and there
were Balrogs。 Maedhros was ambushed； and all his pany were slain； but he himself was taken alive by the mand
of Morgoth； and brought to Angband。
Then the brothers of Maedhros drew back； and fortified a great camp in Hithlum； but Morgoth held Maedhros as
hostage； and sent word that he would not release him unless the Noldor would forsake their war； returning into the West；
or else departing far from Beleriand into the South of the world。 But the sons of F？anor knew that Morgoth would betray
them； and would not release Maedhros； whatsoever they might do； and they were constrained also by their oath； and
might not for any cause forsake the war against their Enemy。 Therefore Morgoth took Maedhros and hung him from the
face of a precipice upon Thangorodrim； and he was caught to the rock by the wrist of his right hand in a band of steel。
Now rumour came to the camp in Hithlum of the march of Fingolfin and those that followed him； who had
crossed the Grinding Ice； and all the world lay then in wonder at the ing of the Moon。 But as the host of Fingolfin
marched into Mithrim the Sun rose flaming in the West； and Fingolfin unfurled his blue and silver banners； and blew his
horns； and flowers sprang beneath his marching feet； and the ages of the stars were ended。 At the uprising of the great
light the servants of Morgoth fled into Angband； and Fingolfin passed unopposed through the fastness of Dor Daedeloth
while his foes hid beneath the earth。 Then the Elves smote upon the gates of Angband； and the challenge of their
trumpets shook the towers of Thangorodrim； and Maedhros heard them amid his torment and cried aloud； but his voice
was lost in the echoes of the stone。
But Fingolfin； being of other temper than F？anor； and wary of the wiles of Morgoth； withdrew from Dor
Daedeloth and turned back towards Mithrim； for he had heard tidings that there he should find the sons of F？anor； and
he desired also to have the shield of the Mountains of Shadow while his people rested and grew strong； for he had seen
the strength of Angband； and thought not that it would fall to the sound of trumpets only。 Therefore ing at length to
Hithlum he made his first camp and dwelling by the northern shores of Lake Mithrim。 No love was there in the hearts of
those that followed Fingolfin for the House of F？anor； for the agony of those that endured the crossing of the Ice had
been great； and Fingolfin held the sons the acplices of their father。 Then there was peril of strife between the hosts；
but grievous as were their losses upon the road； the people of Fingolfin and of Finrod son of Finarfin were still more
numerous than the followers of F？anor； and these now withdrew before them； and removed their dwelling to the southern
shore； and the lake lay between them。 Many of F？anor's people indeed repented of the burning at Losgar； and were filled
with amazement at the valour that had brought the friends whom they had abandoned over the Ice of the North； and they
would have weled them； but they dared not； for shame。
Thus because of the curse that lay upon them the Noldor achieved nothing； while Morgoth hesitated； and the
dread of light was new and strong upon the Orcs。 But Morgoth arose from thought； and seeing the division of his foes he
laughed。 In the pits of Angband he caused vast smokes and vapours to be made； and they came forth from the reeking
tops of the Iron Mountains； and afar off they could be seen in Mithrim； staining the bright airs in the first mornings of
the world。 A wind came out of the east； and bore them over Hithlum； darkening the new Sun； and they fell； and coiled
about the fields and hollows； and lay upon the waters of Mithrim； drear and poisonous。
Then Fingon the valiant； son of Fingolfin； resolved to heal the feud that divided the Noldor； before their Enemy
should be ready for war； for the earth trembled in the Northlands with the thunder of the forges of Morgoth
underground。 Long before； in the bliss of Valinor； before Melkor was unchained； or lies came between them； Fingon had
been close in friendship with Maedhros； and though he knew not yet that Maedhros had not forgotten him at the burning
of the ships； the thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart。 Therefore he dared a deed which is Justly renowned
among the feats of the princes of the Noldor： alone； and without the counsel of any； he set forth m search of Maedhros；
and aided by the very darkness that Morgoth had made he came unseen into the fastness of his foes。 High upon the
shoulders of Thangorodrim he climbed； and looked in despair upon the desolation of the land； but no passage or crevice
could he find through which he might e within Morgoth's stronghold。 Then in defiance of the Orcs； who cowered
still in the dark vaults beneath the earth； he took his harp and sang a song of Valinor that the Noldor made of old； before
strife was born among the sons of Finw？； and his voice rang in the mournful hollows that had never heard before aught
save cries of fear and woe。
Thus Fingon found what he sought。 For suddenly above him far and faint his song was taken up； and a voice
answering called to him。 Maedhros it was that sang amid his torment。 But Fingon climbed to the foot of the precipice
where his kinsman hung； and then could go no further； and he wept when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth。 Maedhros
therefore； being in anguish without hope； begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow； and Fingon strung an arrow； and
bent his bow。 And seeing no better hope he cried to Manw？； saying： 'O King to whom all birds are dear； speed now this
feathered shaft； and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need！'
His prayer was answered swiftly。 For Manw？ to whom all birds are dear； and to whom they bring news upon
Taniquetil from Middle…earth； had sent forth the race of Eagles； manding them to dwell in the crags of the North；
and to keep watch upon Morgoth； for Manw？ still had pity for the exiled Elves。 And the Eagles brought news of much
that passed in those days to the sad ears of Manw？。 Now； even as Fingon bent his bow； there flew down from the high
airs Thorondor； King of Eagles； mightiest of all birds that have ever been； whose outstretched wings spanned thirty
fathoms； and staying Fingon's hand he took him up； and bore him to the face of the rock where Maedhros hung。 But
Fingon could not release the hell…wrought bond upon his wrist； nor sever it； nor draw it from the stone。 Again therefore
in his pain Maedhros begged that he would slay him； but Fingon cut off his hand above the wrist； and Thorondor bore
them back to Mithrim。
There Maedhros in time was healed； for the fire of life was hot within him； and his strength was of the ancient
world； such as those possessed who were nurtured in Valinor。 His body recovered from his torment and became hale； but
the shadow of his pain was in his heart； and he lived to wield his sword with left hand more deadly than his right had
been。 By this deed Fingon won great renown； and all the Noldor praised him； and the hatred between the houses of
Fingolfin and F？anor was assuaged。 For Maedhros begged forgiveness for the desertion in Araman； and he waived his
claim to kingship over all