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not。 Some say that they too go to the halls of Mandos； but their place of waiting there is not that of the Elves； and
Mandos under Ilúvatar alone save Manw？ knows whither they go after the time of recollection in those silent halls
beside the Outer Sea。 None have ever e back from the mansions of the dead； save only Beren son of Barahir； whose
hand had touched a Silmaril； but he never spoke afterward to mortal Men。 The fate of Men after death； maybe； is not in
the hands of the Valar； nor was all foretold in the Music of the Ainur。
In after days； when because of the triumph of Morgoth Elves and Men became estranged； as be most wished；
those of the Elven…race that lived still in Middle…earth waned and faded； and Men usurped the sunlight。 Then the Quendi
wandered in the lonely places of the great lands and the isles； and took to the moonlight and the starlight； and to the
woods and caves； being as shadows and memories； save those who ever and anon set sail into the West and vanished
from Middle…earth。 But in the dawn of years Elves and Men were allies and held themselves akin； and there were some
among Men that learned the wisdom of the Eldar； and became great and valiant among the captains of the Noldor。 And
in the glory and beauty of the Elves； and in their fate； full share had the offspring of elf and mortal； E？rendil； and
Elwing； and Elrond their child。
Chapter 13
Of the Return of the Noldor
It has been told that F？anor and his sons came first of the Exiles to Middle…earth； and landed in the waste of Lammoth；
the Great Echo； upon the outer shores of the Firth of Drengist And even as the Noldor set foot upon the strand their cries
were taken up into the hills and multiplied； so that a clamour as of countless mighty voices filled all the coasts of the
North； and the noise of the burning of the ships at Losgar went down the winds of the sea as a tumult of great wrath； and
far away all who heard that sound were filled with wonder。
Now the flames of that burning were seen not only by Fingolfin； whom F？anor had deserted in Araman； but also
by the Orcs and the watchers of Morgoth。 No tale has told what Morgoth thought in his heart at the tidings that F？anor；
his bitterest foe； had brought a host out of the West。 It may be that he feared him little； for he had as yet no proof of the
swords of the Noldor； and soon it was seen that he purposed to drive them back into the sea。
Under the cold stars before the rising of the Moon the host of F？anor went up the long Firth of Drengist that
pierced the Echoing Hills of Ered Lómin； and passed thus from the shores into the great land of Hithlum； and they came
at length to the long lake of Mithrim； and upon its northern shore made their encampment in the region that bore the
same name。 But the host of Morgoth； aroused by the tumult of Lam…moth and the light of the burning at Losgar； came
through the passes of Ered Wethrin； the Mountains of Shadow； and assailed F？anor on a sudden； before his camp was
full…wrought or put in defence； and there on the grey fields of Mithrim was fought the Second Battle in the Wars of
Beleriand。 Dagor…nuin…Giliath it is named； the Battle…under…Stars； for the Moon had not yet risen； and it is renowned in
song。 The Noldor； outnumbered and taken at unawares； were yet swiftly victorious； for the light of Aman was not yet
dimmed in their eyes； and they were strong and swift； and deadly in anger； and their swords were long and terrible。 The
Orcs fled before them； and they were driven forth from Mithrim with great slaughter； and hunted over the Mountains of
Shadow into the great plain of Ard…galen； that lay northward of Dorthonion。 There the armies of Morgoth that had
passed south into the Vale of Sirion and beleaguered Círdan in the Havens of the Falas came up to their aid； and were
caught in their ruin。 For Celegorm； F？anor's son； having news of them； waylaid them with a part of the Elven…host； and
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；