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ners； 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 the Noldor； saying to Fingolfin： 'If there lay no grievance between us； lord； still the kingship
would rightly e to you； the eldest here of the house of Finw？； and not the least wise。' But to this his brothers did not
all in their hearts agree。
Therefore even as Mandos foretold the House of F？anor were called the Dispossessed； because the over…lordship
passed from it； the elder； to the house of Fingolfin； both in Elend？ and in Beleriand； and because also of the loss of the
Silmarils。 But the Noldor being again united set a watch upon the borders of Dor Daedeloth； and Angband was
beleaguered from west； and south； and east； and they sent forth messengers far and wide to explore the countries of
Beleriand； and to treat with the people that dwelt there。
Now King Thingol weled not with a full heart the ing of so many princes in might out of the West； eager
for new realms； and he would not open his kingdom； nor remove its girdle of enchantment； for wise with the wisdom of
Melian he trusted not that the restraint of Morgoth would endure。 Alone of the princes of the Noldor those of Finarfin's
house were suffered to pass within the confines of Doriath； for they could claim close kinship with King Thingol
himself； since their mother was E？rwen of Alqualond？； Olw？'s daughter。
Angrod son of Finarfin was the first of the Exiles to e to Menegroth； as messenger of his brother Finrod； and
he spoke long with the King； telling him of the deeds of the Noldor in the north； and of their numbers； and of the
ordering of their force； but being true； and wisehearted； and thinking all griefs now forgiven； he spoke no word
concerning the kinslaying； nor of the manner of the exile of the Noldor and the oath of F？anor。 King Thingol hearkened
to the words of Angrod； and ere he went he said to him： 'Thus shall you speak for me to those that sent you。 In Hithlum
the Noldor have leave to dwell； and in the highlands of Dorthonion； and in the lands east of Doriath that are empty and
wild； but elsewhere there are many of my people； and I would not have them restrained of their freedom； still less ousted
from their homes。 Beware therefore how you princes of the West bear yourselves； for I am the Lord of Beleriand； and all
who seek to dwell there shall hear my word。 Into Doriath none shall e to abide but only such as I call as guests； or
who seek me in great need。'
Now the lords of the Noldor held council in Mithrim； and thither came Angrod out of Doriath； bearing the
message of King Thingol。 Cold seemed its wele to the Noldor； and the sons of F？anor were angered at the words；
but Maedhros laughed； saying： 'A king is he that can hold his own； or eke his title is vain。 Thingol does but grant us
lands where his power does not run。 Indeed Doriath alone would be his realm this day； but for the ing of the Noldor。
Therefore in Doriath let him reign； and be glad that he has the sons of Finw？ for his neighbours； not the Orcs of Morgoth
that we found。 Elsewhere it shall go as seems good to us。〃
But Caranthir； who loved not the sons of Fi