Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor (Ch. 13)

Chapter Thirteen: Of the Return of the Noldor

The Last Days of Fëanor 

As Fëanor and his sons came to Middle-earth, they burned the ships at Losgar. Unbeknownst to them, this scene drew the attention of the servants of Morgoth. The hosts of Fëanor passed into Hithlum and made their dwelling in Mithrim. Suddenly, the servants of Morgoth attacked the Noldor at their encampment. This was the Second Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, called the Dagor-nuin-Giliath. The Noldor were victorious. 

Driven mad in wrath, Fëanor believed that he could take on Morgoth himself. He rushed ahead of his hosts and so found himself alone, surrounded by the servants of Morgoth. He was “smitten to the ground by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.” His sons carried him back towards Mithrim, but he died along the way. His body fell to ash as his fiery spirit left him. 

The Noldor in Beleriand

The Noldor met the Grey-Elves in Beleriand and were glad to see one another, but their speech had been sundered, so it was hard for them to communicate. An embassy came to the sons of Fëanor from Morgoth, feigning defeat. Maedhros agreed to meet with Morgoth’s ambassadors in bad faith, but he was taken hostage by Morgoth. 

Morgoth demanded that the Noldor forsake their war against him and depart Beleriand. Bound by their oath, the sons of Fëanor were unable to agree — and they also knew Morgoth would not give them Maedhros either way. Maedhros was taken and hanged by the wrist from a precipice upon Thangorodrim. 

The People of Fingolfin

Eventually, the kindred of Fingolfin arrived in Middle-earth and came to Mithrim as the Sun was rising. They settled in Hithlum by the northern shores of Lake Mithrim. The people of Fingolfin and Finrod had no love for the people of Fëanor, and they consistently worked against each other. 

Fingon Rescues Maedhros

Fingon resolved to heal the feud between the Noldor by rescuing Maedhros. When Fingon found him, Maedhros begged Fingon to kill him. Feeling like he had no other option, Fingon prepared an arrow and begged Manwë to have pity on the Noldor.

At this moment, Thorondor came at the bidding of Manwë and carried Fingon to the rock where Maedhros was. He was unable to free his hand, so Fingon cut off Maedhros' hand above the wrist, and Thorondor bore them back to Mithrim. This heroic deed healed much of the hurt between the two groups of the Noldor. 

Unrest among the Eldar in Beleriand

Fingolfin was then the king of the Noldor, but not everyone accepted him in their hearts. At the same time, King Thingol was hesitant to welcome the Noldor in Beleriand. And only those of the house of Finarfin were allowed into Doriath because they could claim kinship with Thingol since their mother was Earwen, Olwë’s daughter.

Angrod, son of Finarfin, was the first of the Exiles to come to Menegroth, and he spoke to the King. He didn’t tell him about the kinslaying because he thought all was healed and forgiven. Thingol still would not allow anyone into Doriath unless they were his guest or sought him in great need, which angered the sons of Fëanor. The kin of Caranthir met the Dwarves, and while their friendship was not very great, they did profit from each other.

After twenty years, Fingolfin made a great feast called Mereth Aderthad, the Feast of Reuniting. Elves from many regions came. Long years of peace came after that. Thirty years passed. 

Dreams from Ulmo

Turgon, son of Fingolfin, and Finrod went on a journey and slept on the banks of the river Sirion. There, Ulmo gave them dreams, though they didn’t tell each other about them. Because of these dreams, they felt that they should prepare for a day of evil and establish a retreat. 

There came a time when Finrod and Galadriel were guests of Thingol in Doriath. Galadriel stayed in Doriath, in part because she loved Celeborn. Finrod told Thingol about his dreams, and Thingol told him about the deep gorge of the River Narog and the caves under the High Faroth. Finrod came to the Caverns of Narog and began to delve mansions and called it Nargothrond. He commissioned the Dwarves to help with this. The Dwarves also made the Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves. Finrod was renamed Felagund, Hewer of Caves.

Turgon, guided by Ulmo, discovered the hidden vale of Tumladen and began plans to build a city there.

The Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle

Morgoth sent earthquakes and orcs from the North. This was the third great battle of the Wars of Beleriand, the Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle. The elves were victorious, but they were also more cautious and watchful afterward. 

Nearly 100 years after the Dagor Aglareb, Morgoth sent forth an army to the Firth of Drengist, but Fingon drove most of the orcs into the sea. After that there was peace for many years.

Morgoth realized that Orcs alone could not defeat the Noldor. After another 100 years, Glaurung, the first of the Urulóki, the fire-drakes of the North, came forth from Angband. He was young and not full strength. Fingon pushed him back, and he retreated to Angband. There was peace again for about 200 years, and the Elves prospered.