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lay upon the confines of Eldamar； north of the Calacirya； where the light of the stars was bright and clear。
As the ages passed the Vanyar grew to love the land of the Valar and the full light of the Trees； and they forsook
the city of Tirion upon Túna； and dwelt thereafter upon the mountain of Manw？； or about the plains and woods of
Valinor； and became sundered from the Noldor。 But the memory of Middle…earth under the stars remained in the hearts
of the Noldor； and they abode in the Calacirya； and in the hills and valleys within sound of the western sea； and though
many of them went often about the land of the Valar； making far journeys in search of the secrets of land and water and
all living things； yet the peoples of Túna and Alqualond？ drew together in those days。 Finw？ was king in Tirion and
Olw？ in Alqualond？； but Ingw？ was ever held the High King of all the Elves。 He abode thereafter at the feet of Manw？
upon Taniquetil。
F？anor and his sons abode seldom in one place for long； but travelled far and wide upon the confines of Valinor；
going even to the borders of the Dark and the cold shores of the Outer Sea； seeking the unknown。 Often they were guests
in the halls of Aul？； but Celegorm went rather to the house of Orom？； and there he got great knowledge of birds and
beasts； and all their tongues he knew。 For all living things that are or have been in the Kingdom of Arda； save only the
fell and evil creatures of Melkor； lived then in the land of Aman； and there also were many other creatures that have not
been seen upon Middle…earth； and perhaps never now shall be； since the fashion of the world was changed。
Chapter 6
Of F？anor and the Unchaining of Melkor
Now the Three Kindreds of the Eldar were gathered at last in Valinor； and Melkor was chained。 This was the Noontide
of the Blessed Realm； the fullness of its glory and its bliss； long in tale of years； but in memory too brief。 In those days
the Eldar became full…grown in stature of body and of mind； and the Noldor advanced ever in skill and knowledge； and
the long years were filled with their joyful labours； in which many new things fair and wonderful were devised。 Then it
was that the Noldor first bethought them of letters； and Rúmil of Tirion was the name of the loremaster who first
achieved fitting signs for the recording of speech and song； some for graving upon metal or in stone； others for drawing
with brush or with pen。
In that time was born in Eldamar； in the house of the King in Tirion upon the crown of Túna； the eldest of the
sons of Finw？； and the most beloved。 Curufinw？ was his name； but by his mother he was called F？anor； Spirit of Fire；
and thus he is remembered in all the tales of the Noldor。
Míriel was the name of his mother； who was called Serind？； because of her surpassing skill in weaving and
needlework； for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor。 The love of Finw？ and
Míriel was great and glad； for it began in the Blessed Realm in the Days of Bliss。 But in the bearing of her son Míriel
was consumed in spirit and body； and after his birth she yearned for release from the labours of living。 Ana when she
had named mm； she said to Finw？： 'Never again shall I bear child； for strength that would have nourished the life of
many has gone forth into F？anor。'
Then Finw？ was grieved； for the Noldor were in me youth of their days； and he desired to bring forth many
children into the Miss of Aman； and he said： 'Surely there is healing in Aman？ Here all weariness can find rest。' But
when Míriel languished still； Finw？ sought the counsel of Manw？； and Manw？ delivered her to the care of Irmo in
Lórien。 At their parting （for a little while as he thought） Finw？ was sad； for it seemed an unhappy chance that the mother
should depart and miss the beginning at least of the childhood days of her son。
'It is indeed unhappy；' said Míriel； 'and I would weep； if I were not so weary。 But hold me blameless in this； and
in all that may e after。'
She went then to the gardens of Lórien and lay down to sleep； but though she seemed to sleep； her spirit indeed
departed from her body； and passed in silence to the halls of Mandos。 The maidens of Est？ tended the body of Míriel；
and it remained unwithered； but she did not return。 Then Finw？ lived in sorrow； and he went often to the gardens of
Lórien； and sitting beneath the silver willows beside the body of his wife he called her by her names。 But it was
unavailing； and alone in all the Blessed Realm he was deprived of joy。 After a while he went to Lórien no more。
An his love he gave thereafter to his son； and F？anor grew swiftly； as if a secret fire were kindled within him。 He
was tall； and fair of face； and masterful； his eyes piercingly bright and his hair raven…dark； in the pursuit of all his
purposes eager and steadfast。 Few ever changed his courses by counsel； none by force。 He became of all the Noldor；
then or after； the most subtle in mind and the most skilled in hand。 In his youth； bettering the work of Rúmil； he devised
those letters which bear his name； and which the Eldar used ever after； and he it was who； first of the Noldor； discovered
how gems greater and brighter than those of the earth might be made with skill。 The first gems that F？anor made were
white and colourless； but being set under starlight they would blaze with blue and silver fires brighter than Helluin； and
other crystals he made also； wherein things far away could be seen small but clear； as with the eyes of the eagles of
Manw？。 Seldom were the hands and mind of F？anor at rest。
While still in his early youth he wedded Nerdanel； the daughter of a great smith named Mahtan； among those of
the Noldor most dear to Aul？； and of Mahtan he learned much of the making of things in metal and in stone。 Nerdanel
also was firm of will； but more patient than F？anor； desiring to understand minds rather than to master them； and at first
she restrained him when the fire of his heart grew too hot； but his later deeds grieved her； and they became estranged。
Seven sons she bore to F？anor； her mood she bequeathed in part to some of them； but not to all。
Now it came to pass that Finw？ took as his second wife Indis the Fair。 She was a Vanya； close kin of Ingw？ the
High King； golden…haired and tall； and in all ways unlike Míriel。 Finw？ loved her greatly； and was glad again。 But the
shadow of Míriel did not depart from the house of Finw？； nor from his heart； and of all whom he loved F？anor had ever
the chief share of his thought。
The wedding of his father was not pleasing to F？anor； and he had no great love for Indis； nor for Fingolfin and
Finarfin； her sons。 He lived apart from them； exploring the land of Aman； or busying himself with the knowledge and the
crafts in which he delighted。 In those unhappy things which later came to pass； and in which F？anor was the leader；
many saw the effect of this breach within the house of Finw？； judging that if Finw？ had endured his loss and been
content with the fathering of his mighty son； the courses of F？anor would have been otherwise； and great evil might have
been prevented； for the sorrow and the strife in the house of Finw？ is graven in the memory of the Noldorin Elves。 But
the children of Indis were great and glorious； and their children also； and if they had not lived the history of the Eldar
would have been diminished。
Now even while F？anor and the craftsmen of the Noldor worked with delight； foreseeing no end to their labours；
and while the sons of Indis grew to their full stature； the Noontide of Valinor was drawing to its close。 For it came to
pass that Melkor； as the Valar had decreed； pleted the term of his bondage； dwelling for three ages in the duress of
Mandos； alone。 At length； as Manw？ had promised； he was brought again before the thrones of the Valar。 Then he looked
upon their glory and their bliss； and envy was in his heart； he looked upon the Children of Ilúvatar that sat at the feet of
the Mighty； and hatred filled him； he looked upon the wealth of bright