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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 gems； and he lusted for them； but he hid his
thoughts； and postponed his vengeance。
Before the gates of Valmar Melkor abased himself at the feet of Manw？ and sued for pardon； vowing that if he
might be made only the least of the free people of Valinor he would aid the Valar in all their works； and most of all in the
healing of the many hurts that he had done to the world。 And Nienna aided his prayer； but Mandos was silent
Then Manw？ granted him pardon； but the Valar would not yet suffer him to depart beyond their sight and
vigilance； and he was constrained to dwell within the gates of Valmar。 But fair…seeming were all the words and deeds of
Melkor in that time； and both the Valar and the Eldar had profit from his aid and counsel； if they sought it； and therefore
in a while he was given leave to go freely about the land； and it seemed to Manw？ that the evil of Melkor was cured。 For
Manw？ was free from evil and could not prehend it； and he knew that in the beginning； in the thought of Ilúvatar；
Melkor had been even as he； and he saw not to the depths of Melkor's heart； and did not perceive that all love had
departed from him for ever。 But Ulmo was not deceived； and Tulkas clenched his hands whenever he saw Melkor his foe
go by； for if Tulkas is slow to wrath he is slow also to forget。 But they obeyed the judgement of Manw？； for those who
will defend authority against rebellion must not themselves rebel。
Now in his heart Melkor most hated the Eldar； both because they were fair and joyful and because in them he saw
the reason for the arising of the Valar； and his own downfall。 Therefore all the more did he feign love for them and seek
their friendship； and he offered them the service of his lore and labour in any great deed that they would do。 The Vanyar
indeed held him in suspicion； for they dwelt in the light of the Trees and were content； and to the Teleri he gave small
heed； thinking them of little worth； tools too weak for his designs。 But the Noldor took delight in the hidden knowledge
that he could reveal to them； and some hearkened to words that it would have been better for them never to have heard。
Melkor indeed declared afterwards that F？anor had learned much art from him in secret； and had been instructed by him
in the greatest of all his works； but he lied in his lust and his envy； for none of the Eldali？ ever hated Melkor more than
F？anor son of Finw？； who first named him Morgoth； and snared though he was in the webs of Melkor's malice against
the Valar he held no converse with him and took no counsel from him。 For F？anor was driven by the fire of his own
heart only； working ever swiftly and alone； and he asked the aid and sought the counsel of none that dwelt in Aman；
great or small； save only and for a little while of Nerdanel the wise； his wife。
Chapter 7
Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor
In that time were made those things that afterwards were most renowned of all the works of the Elves。 For F？anor； being
e to his full might； was filled with a new thought； or it may be that some shadow of foreknowledge came to him of
the doom that drew near； and he pondered how the light of the Trees； the glory of the Blessed Realm； might be preserved
imperishable。 Then he began a long and secret labour； and he summoned all his lore； and his power； and his subtle skill；
and at the end of all he made the Silmarils。
As three great Jewels they were in form。 But not until the End； when F？anor shall return who perished ere the Sun
was made； and sits now in the Halls of Awaiting and es no more among his kin； not until the Sun passes and the
Moon falls； shall it be known of what substance they were made。 Like the crystal of diamonds it appeared； and yet was
more strong than adamant； so that no violence could mar it or break it within the Kingdom of Arda。 Yet that crystal was
to the Silmarils but as is the body to the Children of Ilúvatar： the house of its inner fire； that is within it and yet in all
parts of it； and is its life。 And the inner fire of the Silmarils F？anor made of the blended light of the Trees of Valinor；
which lives in them yet； though the Trees have long withered and shine no more。 Therefore even in the darkness of the
deepest treasury the Silmarils of their own radiance shone like the stars of Varda； and yet； as were they indeed living
things； they rejoiced in light and received it and gave it back in hues more marvellous than before。
All who dwelt in Aman were filled with wonder and delight at the work of F？anor。 And Varda hallowed the
Silmarils； so that thereafter no mortal flesh； nor hands unclean； nor anything of evil will might touch them； but it was
scorched and withered； and Mandos foretold that the fates of Arda； earth； sea； and air； lay locked within them。 The heart
of F？anor was fast bound to these things that he himself had made。
Then Melkor lusted for the Silmarils； and the very memory of their radiance was a gnawing fire in his heart。
From that time forth； inflamed by this desire； he sought ever more eagerly how he should destroy F？anor and end the
friendship of the Valar and the Elves； but he dissembled his purposes with cunning； and nothing of his malice could yet
be seen in the semblance that he wore。 Long was he at work； and slow at first and barren was his labour。 But he that
sows lies in the end shall not lack of a harvest； and soon he may rest from toil indeed while others reap and sow in his
stead。 Ever Melkor found some ears that would heed him； and some tongues that would enlarge what they had heard；
and his lies passed from friend to friend； as secrets of which the knowledge proves the teller wise。 Bitterly did the
Noldor atone for the folly of their open ears in the days that followed after。
When he saw that many leaned towards him； Melkor would often walk among them； and amid his fair words
others were woven； so subtly that many who heard them believed in recollection that they arose from their own thought。
Visions he would conjure in their hearts of the mighty realms that they could have ruled at their own will； in power and
freedom in the East； and then whispers went abroad that the Valar had brought the Eldar to Aman because of their
jealousy； fearing that the beauty of the Quendi and the makers' power that Ilúvatar had bequeathed to them would grow
too great for the Valar to govern； as the Elves waxed and spread over the wide lands of the world。
In those days； moreover； though the Valar knew indeed of the ing of Men that were to be； the Elves as yet
knew naught of it； for Manw？ had not revealed it to them。 Bat Melkor spoke to them in secret of Mortal Men； seeing
how the silence of the Valar might be twisted to evil。 Little he knew yet concerning Men； for engrossed with his own
thought in the Music he had paid small heed to the Third Theme of Ilúvatar； but now the whisper went among the Elves
that Manw？ held them captive； so that Men might e and supplant them in the kingdoms of Middle…earth； for the
Valar saw that they might more easily sway this short…lived and weaker race； defrauding the Elves of the inheritance of
Ilúvatar。 Small truth was there in this； and little have the Valar ever prevailed to sway the wills of Men； but many of the
Noldor believed； or half believed； the evil words。
Thus ere the Valar were aware； the peace of Valinor was poisoned。 The Noldor began to murmur against them；
and many became filled with pride； forgetting how much of what they had and knew came to them in gift from the Valar。
Fiercest burned the new flame of desire for freedom and wider realms in the eager heart of F？anor； and Melkor laughed
in his secrecy； for to that mark his lies had been addressed； hating F？anor above all； and lusting ever for the Silmarils。
But these he was not suffered to approach； for though at great feasts F？anor would wear them； blazing on his brow； at
other times they were guarded close； locked in the deep chambers of his hoard in Tirion。 For F？anor began to love the
Silmarils with a greedy love； and grudged the sight of them to all save to his father and his seven sons； he seldom
remembered now that the light within them was not his own。
High princes were F？anor and Fingolfin； the elder sons of Finw？； honoured by all in Aman； but now they grew
proud and jealous each of his rights and his possessions。 Then Melkor set new lies abroad in Eldamar； and whispers
came to F？anor that Fingolfin and his sons were plotting to usurp the leadership of Finw？ and of the elder line of F？anor；
and to supplant them by the leave of the Valar； for the Valar were ill…pleased that the Silmarils lay in Tirion and were not
mitted to their keeping。 But to Fingolfin and Finarfin it was said： 'Beware！ Small love has the proud son of Míriel
ever had for the children of Indis。 Now he has bee great； and he has his father in his hand。 It will not be long before
he drives you forth from Túna！'
And when Melkor saw that these lies were smouldering； and that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor；
he spoke to them concerning weapons； and in that time the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears。
Shields also they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another； and these only
they wore abroad； and of other weapons they did not speak； for each believed that he alone had received the warning。
And F？anor made a secret forge； of which not even Melkor was aware； and there he tempered fell swords for himself
and for his sons； and made tall helms with plumes of red。 Bitterly did Mahtan rue the day when he taught to the husband
of Nerdanel all the lore of metalwork that he had learned of Aul？。
Thus with lies and evil whisperings and false counsel Melkor kindled the hearts of the Noldor to strife； and of
their quarrels came at length the end of the high days of Valinor and the evening of its ancient glory。 For F？anor now
began openly to speak words of rebellion against