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of their assault had not descended； Balrogs lurked still； awaiting ever the return of their Lord； and now swiftly they
arose； and passing over Hithlum they came to Lammoth as a tempest of fire。 With their whips of flame they smote
asunder the webs of Ungoliant； and she quailed； and turned to flight； belching black vapours to cover her； and fleeing
from the north she went down into Beleriand； and dwelt beneath Ered Gorgoroth； in that dark valley that was after called
Nan Dungortheb； the Valley of Dreadful Death； because of the horror that she bred there。 For other foul creatures of
spider form had dwelt there since the days of the delving of Angband； and she mated with them； and devoured them； and
even after Ungoliant herself departed； and went whither she would into the forgotten south of the world； her offspring
abode there and wove their hideous webs。 Of the fate of Ungoliant no tale tells。 Yet some have said that she ended long
ago； when in her uttermost famine she devoured herself at last。
And thus the fear of Yavanna that the Silmarils would be swallowed up and fall into nothingness did not e to
pass； but they remained in the power of Morgoth。 And he being freed gathered again all his servants that he could find；
and came to the ruins of Angband。 There he delved anew his vast vaults and dungeons； and above their gates he reared
the threefold peaks of Thangorodrim； and a great reek of dark smoke was ever wreathed about them。 There countless
became the hosts of his beasts and his demons； and the race of the Orcs； bred long before； grew and multiplied in the
bowels of the earth。 Dark now fell the shadow on Beleriand； as is told hereafter； but in Angband Morgoth forged for
himself a great crown of iron； and he called himself King of the World。 In token of this he set the Silmarils in his crown。
His hands were burned black by the touch of those hallowed jewels； and black they remained ever after； nor was he ever
free from the pain of the burning； and the anger of the pain。 That crown he never took from his head； though its weight
became a deadly weariness。 Never but once only did he depart for a while secretly from his domain in the North； seldom
indeed did he leave the deep places of his fortress； but governed his armies from his northern throne。 And once only also
did he himself wield weapon； while his realm lasted。
For now； more than in the days of Utumno ere his pride was humbled； his hatred devoured him； and in the
domination of his servants and the inspiring of them with lust of evil he spent his spirit。 Nonetheless his majesty as one
of the Valar long remained； though turned to terror； and before his face all save the mightiest sank into a dark pit of fear。
Now when it was known that Morgoth had escaped from Valinor and pursuit was unavailing； the Valar remained
long seated in darkness in the Ring of Doom； and the Maiar and the Vanyar stood beside them and wept； but the Noldor
for the most part returned to Tirion and mourned for the darkening of their fair city。 Through the dim ravine of the
Calacirya fogs drifted in from the shadowy seas and mantled its towers； and the lamp of the Mindon burned pale in the
gloom。
Then suddenly F？anor appeared in the city and called on all to e to the high court of the King upon the
summit of Túna； but the doom of banishment that had been laid upon him was not yet lifted； and he rebelled against the
Valar。 A great multitude gathered swiftly； therefore； to hear what he would say； and the hill and an the stairs and streets
that climbed upon it were lit with the light of many torches that each one bore in hand。 F？anor was a master of words；
and his tongue had great power over hearts when he would use it； and that night he made a speech before the Noldor
which they ever remembered。 Fierce and few were his words； and filled with anger and pride； and hearing them the
Noldor were stirred to madness。 His wrath and his hate were given most to Morgoth； and yet well nigh all that he said
came from the very lies of Morgoth himself； but he was distraught with grief for the slaying of his father； and with
anguish for the rape of the Silmarils。 He claimed now the kingship of all the Noldor； since Finw？ was dead； and he
scorned the decrees of the Valar。
'Why； O people of the Noldor；' he cried； 'why should we longer serve the jealous Valar； who cannot keep us nor
even their own realm secure from their Enemy？ And though he be now their foe； are not they and he of one kin？
Vengeance calls me hence； but even were it otherwise I would not dwell longer in the same land with the kin of my
father's slayer and of the thief of my treasure。 Yet I am not the only valiant in this valiant people。 And have ye not all lost
your King？ And what else have ye not lost； cooped here in a narrow land between the mountains and the sea？
'Here once was light； that the Valar begrudged to Middle…earth； but now dark levels all。 Shall we mourn here
deedless for ever； a shadow…folk； mist…haunting； dropping vain tears in the thankless sea？ Or shall we return to our
home？ In Cuiviénen sweet ran the waters under unclouded stars； and wide lands lay about； where a free people might
walk。 There they lie still and await us who in our folly forsook them。 e away！ Let the cowards keep this city！'
Long he spoke； and ever he urged the Noldor to follow him and by their own prowess to win freedom and great
realms in the lands of the East； before it was too late； for he echoed the lies of Melkor； that the Valar had cozened them
and would hold them captive so that Men might rule in Middle…earth。 Many of the Eldar heard then for the first time of
the Afterers。 'Fair shall the end be；' he cried； though long and hard shall be the road！ Say farewell to bondage！ But
say farewell also to ease！ Say farewell to the weak！ Say farewell to your treasures！ More still shall we make。 Journey
light： but bring with you your swords！ For we will go further than Orom？； endure longer than Tulkas： we will never turn
back from pursuit。 After Morgoth to the ends of the Earth！ War shall he have and hatred undying。 But when we have
conquered and have regained the Silmarils； then we and we alone shall be lords of the unsullied Light； and masters of
the bliss and beauty of Arda。 No other race shall oust us！'
Then F？anor swore a terrible oath。 His seven sons leapt straightway to his side and took the selfsame vow
together； and red as blood shone their drawn swords in the glare of the torches。 They swore an oath which none shall
break； and none should take； by the name even of Ilúvatar； calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not；
and Manw？ they named in witness； and Varda； and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil； vowing to pursue with
vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala； Demon； Elf or Man as yet unborn； or any creature； great or small；
good or evil； that time should bring forth unto the end of days； whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their
possession。
Thus spoke Maedhros and Maglor and Celegorm； Curufin and Caranthir； Amrod and Amras； princes of the
Noldor； and many quailed to hear the dread words。 For so sworn； good or evil； an oath may not be broken； and it shall
pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end。 Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against F？anor； and
fierce words awoke； so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords。 But Finarfin spoke softly； as was his
wont； and sought to calm the Noldor； persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be
undone； and Orodreth； alone of his sons； spoke in like manner。 Finrod was with Turgon； his friend； but Galadriel； the
only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes； was eager to be gone。 No
oaths she swore； but the words of F？anor concerning Middle…earth had kindled in her heart； for she yearned to see the
wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will。 Of like mind with Galadriel was Fingon Fingolfin's son；
being moved also by F？anor's words； though he loved him little； and with Fingon stood as they ever did Angrod and
Aegnor； sons of Finarfin。 But these held their peace and spoke not against their fathers。
At length after long debate F？anor prevailed； and the greater part of the Noldor there assembled he set aflame
with the desire of new things and strange countries。 Therefore when Finarfin spoke yet again for heed and delay； a great
shout went up： 'Nay； let us be gone！' And straightway F？anor and his sons began to prepare for the marching forth。
Little foresight could there be for those who dared to take so dark a road。 Yet all was done in over…haste； for
F？anor drove them on； fearing lest in the cooling of their hearts his words should wane and other counsels yet prevail；
and for all his proud words he did not forget the power of the Valar。 But from Valmar no message came； and Manw？ was
silent。 He would not yet either forbid or hinder F？anor's purpose； for the Valar were aggrieved that they were charged
with evil intent to the Eldar； or that any were held captive by them against their will。 Now they watched and waited； for
they did not yet believe that F？anor could hold the host of the Noldor to his will。
And indeed when F？anor began the marshalling of the Noldor for their setting…out； then at once dissension arose。
For though he had brought the assembly in a mind to depart； by no means all were of a mind to take F？anor as King。
Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons； and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused
to renounce him； if he would go with them； and thus at the last as two divided hosts the Noldor set forth upon their bitter
road。 F？anor and his following were in the van； but the greater host came behind under Fingolfin； and he marched
against his wisdom； because Fingon his son so urged him； and because he would not be sundered from his people that
were eager to go； nor leave them to the rash counsels of F？anor。 Nor did he forget his words before the throne of
Manw？。 With Fingolfin went Finarfin also and for like reasons； but most loath was he to depart。 And of all the Noldor in
Valinor； who were grown now to a great people； but one tithe refused to take the road： some for the love that they bore
to the Valar （and to Aul？ not least）； some for the love of Tirion and the many things that they had made； none for fear of
peril by the way。
But even as the trumpet sang and F？anor issued from the gates of Tirion a messenger came at last from Manw？；
saying： 'Against the folly of F？anor shall be set my counsel only。 Go not forth！ For the hour is evil； and your road leads
to sorrow that ye do not foresee。 No aid will the Valar lend you in this quest； but neither will they hinder you； for this ye
shall know： as ye came hither freely； freely shall ye depart。 But thou F？anor Finw？'s son； by thine oath art exiled。 The
lies of Melkor thou shalt unlearn in bitterness。 Vala he is； thou saist Then thou hast sworn in vain； for none of the Valar
canst thou overe now or ever within the halls of E？； not though Eru whom thou namest had made thee thrice greater
than thou art。'
But F？anor laughed； and spoke not to the herald； but to the Noldor； saying： 'So！ Then will this valiant people send
forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only； and return to their bondage？ But if any will e
with me； I say to them： Is sorrow foreboded to you？ But in Aman we have seen it。 In Aman we have e through bliss
to woe。 The other now we will try： through sorrow to find joy； or freedom； at the least。'
Then turning to the herald he cried： 'Say this to Manw？ Súlimo； High King of Arda： if F？anor cannot overthrow
Morgoth； at least he delays not to assail him； and sits not idle in grief。 And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater
than thou knowest。 Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall
wonder to hear it。 Yea； in the end they shall follow me。 Farewell！'
In that hour the voice of F？anor grew so great and so potent that even the herald of the Valar bowed before him as
one full…answered； and departed； and the Noldor were over…ruled。 Therefore they continued their march； and the House
of F？anor hastened before them along the coasts of Elend？： not once did they turn their eyes back to Tirion on the green
hill of Túna。 Slower and less eagerly came the host of Fingolfin after them。 Of those Fingon was the foremost； but at the
rear went Finarfin and Finrod； and many of the noblest and wisest of the Noldor； and often they looked behind them to
see their fair city； until the lamp of the Mindon Eldaliéva was lost in the night。 More than any others of the Exiles they
carried thence memories of the bliss they had forsaken； and some even of the things that they had made there they took
with them： a solace and a burden on the road。
Now F？anor led the Noldor northward； because his first purpose was to follow Morgoth。 Moreover Túna beneath
Taniquetil was set nigh to the girdle