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keep it for ever； for such was its power。 Therefore he sent back the messengers with scornful words。 Maedhros made no
answer； for he had now begun to devise the league and union of the Elves； but Celegorm and Curufin vowed openly to
slay Thingol and destroy his people； if they came victorious from war； and the jewel were not surrendered of free will。
Then Thingol fortified the marches of his realm； and went not to war； nor any out of Doriath save Mablung and Beleg；
who were unwilling to have no part in these great deeds。 To them Thingol gave leave to go； so long as they served not
the sons of F？anor； and they joined themselves to the host of Fingon。
But Maedhros had the help of the Naugrim； both in armed force and in great store of weapons； and the smithies
of Nogrod and Belegost were busy in those days。 And he gathered together again all his brothers and all the people who
would follow them； and the Men of Bór and Ulfang were marshalled and trained for war； and they summoned yet more
of their kinsfolk out of the East。 Moreover in the west Fingon； ever the friend of Maedhros； took counsel with Himring；
and in Hithlum the Noldor and the Men of the house of Hador prepared for war。 In the forest of Brethil Halmir； lord of
the People of Haleth； gathered his men； and they whetted their axes； but Halmir died ere the war came； and Haldir his
son ruled that people。 And to Gondolin also the tidings came； to Turgon； the hidden king。
But Maedhros made trial of his strength too soon； ere his plans were full…wrought； and though the Orcs were
driven out of all the northward regions of Beleriand； and even Dorthonion was freed for a while； Morgoth was warned of
the uprising of the Eldar and the Elf…friends； and took counsel against them。 Many spies and workers of treason he sent
forth among them； as he was the better able now to do； for the faithless Men of his secret allegiance were yet deep in the
secrets of the sons of F？anor。
At length Maedhros； having gathered all the strength that he could of Elves and Men and Dwarves； resolved to
assault Angband from east and west； and he purposed to march with banners displayed in open force over Anfauglith。
But when he had drawn forth； as he hoped； the armies of Morgoth in answer； then Fingon should issue forth from the
passes of Hithlum； and thus they thought to take the might of Morgoth as between anvil and hammer； and break it to
pieces。 And the signal for this was to be the firing of a great beacon in Dorthonion。
On the appointed day； on the morning of Midsummer； the trumpets of the Eldar greeted the rising of the sun； and
in the east was raised the standard of the sons of F？anor； and in the west the standard of Fingon； High King of the
Noldor。 Then Fingon looked out from the walls of Eithel Sirion； and his host was arrayed in the valleys and the woods
upon the east of Ered Wethrin； well hid from the eyes of the Enemy； but he knew that it was very great。 For there all the
Noldor of Hithlum were assembled； together with Elves of the Falas and Gwindor's pany from Nargothrond； and he
had great strength of Men： upon the right were the host of Dor…lómin and all the valour of Húrin and Huor his brother；
and to them had e Haldir of Brethil with many men of the woods。
Then Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim； and there was a dark cloud about it； and a black smoke went up； and
he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused； and that their challenge was accepted。 A shadow of doubt fell upon
Fingon's heart； and he looked eastwards； seeking if he might see with elven…sight the dust of Anfauglith rising beneath
the hosts of Maedhros。 He knew not that Maedhros was hindered in his setting…forth by the guile of Uldor the accursed；
who deceived him with false warnings of assault from Angband。
But now a cry went up； passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale； and Elves and Men lifted their
voices in wonder and joy。 For unsummoned and unlocked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin； and was
e with an army ten thousand strong； with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest。 Then when Fingon
heard afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother； the shadow passed and his heart was uplifted； and he shouted aloud：
'Utúlie'n aur？！ Aiya Eldali？ ar Atanatári； utúlie'n aur？！ The day has e！ Behold； people of the Eldar and Fathers of
Men； the day has e！' And all those who heard his great voice echo in the hills answered crying： 'Auta i lóm？！ The
night is passing！'
Now Morgoth； who knew much of what was done and designed by his enemies； chose his hour； and trusting in his
treacherous servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes he sent a force seeming great （and yet but
part of all that he had made ready） towards Hithlum； and they were clad all in dun raiment and showed no naked steel；
and thus were already far over the sands of Anfauglith before their approach was seen。
Then the hearts of the Noldor grew hot； and their captains wished to assail their foes upon the plain； but Húrin
spoke against it； and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth； whose strength was always greater than it seemed； and
his purpose other than he revealed。 And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not； and the host grew
impatient； Húrin urged them still to await it； and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills。
But the Captain of Morgoth in the west had been manded to draw out Fingon swiftly from his hills by
whatever means he could。 He marched on therefore until the front of his battle was drawn up before the stream of Sirion；
from the walls of the fortress of Eithel Sirion to the inflowing of Rivil at the Fen of Serech； and the outposts of Fingon
could see the eyes of their enemies。 But there was no answer to his challenge； and the taunts of the Orcs faltered as they
looked upon the silent walls and the hidden threat of the hills。 Then the Captain of Morgoth sent out riders with tokens
of parley； and they rode up before the outworks of the Barad Eithel。 With them they brought Gelmir son of Guilin； that
lord of Nargothrond whom they had captured in the Bragollach； and they had blinded him。 Then the heralds of Angband
showed him forth； crying： 'We have many more such at home； but you must make haste if you would find them； for we
shall deal with them all when we return even so。' And they hewed off Gelmir's hands and feet； and his head last； within
sight of the Elves； and left him。
By ill chance； at that place in the outworks stood Gwindor of Nargothrond； the brother of Gelmir。 Now his wrath
was kindled to madness； and he leapt forth on horseback； and many riders with him； and they pursued the heralds and
slew them； and drove on deep into the main host。 And seeing this all the host of the Noldor was set on fire； and Fingon
put on his white helm and sounded his trumpets； and all the host of Hithlum leapt forth from the hills in sudden
onslaught。 The light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a fire in a field of reeds； and so fell and swift
was their onset that almost the designs of Morgoth went astray。 Before the army that he sent westward could be
strengthened it was swept away； and the banners of Fingon passed over Anfauglith and were raised before the walls of
Angband。 Ever in the forefront of that battle went Gwindor and the Elves of Nargothrond； and even now they could not
be restrained； and they burst through the Gate and slew the guards upon the very stairs of Angband； and Morgoth
trembled upon his deep throne； hearing them beat upon his doors。 But they were trapped there； and all were slain save
Gwindor only； whom they took alive； for Fingon could not e to their aid。 By many secret doors in Thangorodrim
Morgoth had let issue forth his main host that he held in waiting； and Fingon was beaten back with great loss from the
walls。
Then in the plain of Anfauglith； on the fourth day of the war； there began Nirnaeth Arnoediad； Unnumbered
Tears； for no song or tale can contain all its grief。 The host of Fingon retreated over the sands； and Haldir lord of