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laughter。 Like to them were the woodland folk of Haleth； but they were of lesser stature； and less eager for lore。 They
used few words； and did not love great concourse of men； and many among them delighted in solitude； wandering free in
the greenwoods while the wonder of the lands of the Eldar was new upon them。 But in the realms of the West their time
was brief and their days unhappy。
The years of the Edain were lengthened； according to the reckoning of Men； after their ing to Beleriand； but
at last B？or the Old died when he had lived three and ninety years； for four and forty of which he had served King
Felagund。 And when he lay dead； of no wound or grief； but stricken by age； the Eldar saw for the first time the swift
waning of the life of Men； and the death of weariness which they knew not in themselves； and they grieved greatly for
the loss of their friends。 But B？or at the last had relinquished his life willingly and passed in peace； and the Eldar
wondered much at the strange fate of Men； for in all their lore there was no account of it； and its end was hidden from
them。
Nonetheless the Edain of old learned swiftly of the Eldar all such art and knowledge as they could receive； and
their sons increased in wisdom and skill； until they far surpassed all others of Mankind； who dwelt still east of the
mountains and had not seen the Eldar； nor looked upon the faces that had beheld the Light of Valinor。
Chapter 18
Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Now Fingolfin； King of the North； and High King of the Noldor； seeing that his people were bee numerous and
strong； and that the Men allied to them were many and valiant； pondered once more an assault upon Angband； for he
knew that they lived in danger while the circle of the siege was inplete； and Morgoth was free to labour in his deep
mines； devising what evils none could foretell ere he should reveal them。 This counsel was wise according to the
measure of his knowledge； for the Noldor did not yet prehend the fullness of the power of Morgoth； nor understand
that their unaided war upon him was without final hope； whether they hasted or delayed。 But because the land was fair
and their kingdoms wide； most of the Noldor were content with things as they were； trusting them to last； and slow to
begin an assault in which many must surely perish were it in victory or in defeat Therefore they were little disposed to
hearken to Fingolfin； and the sons of F？anor at that time least of all。 Among the chieftains of the Noldor Angrod and
Aegnor alone were of like mind with the King； for they dwelt in regions whence Thangorodrim could be descried； and
the threat of Morgoth was present to their thought。 Thus the designs of Fingolfin came to naught； and the land had peace
yet for a while。
But when the sixth generation of Men after B？or and Marach were not yet e to full manhood； it being then
four hundred years and five and fifty since the ing of Fingolfin； the evil befell that he had long dreaded； and yet
more dire and sudden than his darkest fear。 For Morgoth had long prepared his force in secret； while ever the malice of
his heart grew greater； and his hatred of the Noldor more bitter； and he desired not only to end his foes but to destroy
also and defile the lands that they had taken and made fair。 And it is said that his hate overcame his counsel； so that if he
had but endured to wait longer； until his designs were full； then the Noldor would have perished utterly。 But on his part
he esteemed too lightly the valour of the Elves； and of Men he took yet no account。
There came a time of winter； when night was dark and without moon； and the wide plain of Ard…galen stretched
dim beneath the cold stars； from the hill…forts of the Noldor to the feet of Thangorodrim。 The watch…fires burned low；
and the guards were few； on the plain few were waking in the camps of the horsemen of Hithlum。 Then suddenly
Morgoth sent forth great rivers of flame that ran down swifter than Balrogs from Thangorodrim； and poured over all the
plain； and the Mountains of Iron belched forth fires of many poisonous hues； and the fume of them stank upon the air；
and was deadly。 Thus Ard…galen perished； and fire devoured its grasses； and it became a burned and desolate waste； full
of a choking dust； barren and lifeless。 Thereafter its name was changed； and it was called Anfauglith； the Gasping Dust
Many charred bones had there their roofless grave； for many of the Noldor perished in that burning； who were caught by
the running flame and could not fly to the hills。 The heights of Dorthonion and Ered Wethrin held back the fiery torrents；
but their woods upon the slopes that looked towards Angband were all kindled； and the smoke wrought confusion among
the defenders。 Thus began the fourth of the great battles； Dagor Bragollach； the Battle of Sudden Flame。
In the front of that fire came Glaurung the golden； father of dragons； in his full might； and in his train were
Balrogs； and behind them came the black armies of the Orcs in multitudes such as the Noldor had never before seen or
imagined。 And they assaulted the fortresses of the Noldor； and broke the leaguer about Angband； and slew wherever they
found them the Noldor and their allies。 Grey…elves and Men。 Many of the stoutest of the foes of Morgoth were destroyed
in the first days of that war； bewildered and dispersed and unable to muster their strength。 War ceased not wholly ever
again in Beleriand； but the Battle of Sudden Flame is held to have ended with the ing of spring； when the onslaught
of Morgoth grew less。
Thus ended the Siege of Angband； and the foes of Morgoth were scattered and sundered one from another。 The
most part of the Grey…elves fled south and forsook the northern war； many were received into Doriath； and the kingdom
and strength of Thingol grew greater in that time； for the power of Melian the queen was woven about his borders and
evil could not yet enter that hidden realm。 Others took refuge in the fortresses by the sea； and in Nargothrond； and some
fled the land and hid themselves in Ossiriand； or passing the mountains wandered homeless in the wild。 And rumour of
the war and the breaking of the siege reached the ears of Men in the east of Middle…earth。
The sons of Finarfin bore most heavily the brunt of the assault； and Angrod and Aegnor were slain； beside them
fell Bregolas lord of the house of B？or； and a great part of the warriors of that people。 But Barahir the brother of
Bregolas was in the fighting farther westward； near to the Pass of Sirion。 There King Finrod Felagund； hastening from
the south； was cut off from his people and surrounded with small pany in the Pen of Serech； and he would have been
slain or taken； but Barahir came up with the bravest of his men and rescued him； and made a wall of spears about him；
and they cut their way out of the battle with great loss。 Thus Felagund escaped； and returned to his deep fortress of
Nargothrond； but he swore an oath of abiding friendship and aid in every need to Barahir and all his kin； and in token of
his vow he gave to Barahir his ring。 Barahir was now by right lord of the house of B？or； and he returned to Dorthonion；
but most of his people fled from their homes and took refuge in the fastness of Hithlum。
So great was the onslaught of Morgoth that Fingolfin and Fingon could not e to the aid of the sons of
Finarfin； and the hosts of Hithlum were driven back with great loss to the fortresses of Ered Wethrin； and these they
hardly defended against the Orcs。 Before the walls of Eithel Sirion fell Hador the Golden…haired； defending the
rearguard of his lord Fingolfin； being then sixty and six years of age； and with him fell Gundor his younger son； pierced
with many arrows； and they were mourned by the Elves。 Then Galdor the Tall took the lordship of his father。 And
because of the strength and height of the Shadowy Mountains； which withstood the torrent of fire； and by the valour of
the Elves and the Men of the North； which neither Orc nor Balrog could yet overe； Hithlum remained unconquered；
a threat upon the flank of Morgoth's attack； but Fingolfin was sundered from his kinsmen by a sea of foes。
For the war had gone ill with the sons of F？anor； and well nigh all the east marches were taken by assault The
Pass of Aglon was forced； though with great cost to the hosts of Morgoth； and Celegorm and Curufin being defeated fled
south and west by the marches of Doriath； and ing at last to Nargothrond sought harbour with Finrod Felagund。
Thus it came to pass that their people swelled the strength of Nargothrond； but it would have been better； as was after
seen； if they had remained in the east among their own kin。 Maedhros did deeds of surpassing valour； and the Orcs fled
before his face； for since his torment upon Thangorodrim his spirit burned like a white fire within； and he was as one
that returns from the dead。 Thus the great fortress upon the Hill of Himring could not be taken； and many of the most
valiant that remained； both of the people of Dorthonion and of the eas