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them。
Nonetheless the Edain of old learned swiftly of the Eldar all such art and knowledge as they could receive； and
their sons increased in wisdom and skill； until they far surpassed all others of Mankind； who dwelt still east of the
mountains and had not seen the Eldar； nor looked upon the faces that had beheld the Light of Valinor。
Chapter 18
Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Now Fingolfin； King of the North； and High King of the Noldor； seeing that his people were bee numerous and
strong； and that the Men allied to them were many and valiant； pondered once more an assault upon Angband； for he
knew that they lived in danger while the circle of the siege was inplete； and Morgoth was free to labour in his deep
mines； devising what evils none could foretell ere he should reveal them。 This counsel was wise according to the
measure of his knowledge； for the Noldor did not yet prehend the fullness of the power of Morgoth； nor understand
that their unaided war upon him was without final hope； whether they hasted or delayed。 But because the land was fair
and their kingdoms wide； most of the Noldor were content with things as they were； trusting them to last； and slow to
begin an assault in which many must surely perish were it in victory or in defeat Therefore they were little disposed to
hearken to Fingolfin； and the sons of F？anor at that time least of all。 Among the chieftains of the Noldor Angrod and
Aegnor alone were of like mind with the King； for they dwelt in regions whence Thangorodrim could be descried； and
the threat of Morgoth was present to their thought。 Thus the designs of Fingolfin came to naught； and the land had peace
yet for a while。
But when the sixth generation of Men after B？or and Marach were not yet e to full manhood； it being then
four hundred years and five and fifty since the ing of Fingolfin； the evil befell that he had long dreaded； and yet
more dire and sudden than his darkest fear。 For Morgoth had long prepared his force in secret； while ever the malice of
his heart grew greater； and his hatred of the Noldor more bitter； and he desired not only to end his foes but to destroy
also and defile the lands that they had taken and made fair。 And it is said that his hate overcame his counsel； so that if he
had but endured to wait longer； until his designs were full； then the Noldor would have perished utterly。 But on his part
he esteemed too lightly the valour of the Elves； and of Men he took yet no account。
There came a time of winter； when night was dark and without moon； and the wide plain of Ard…galen stretched
dim beneath the cold stars； from the hill…forts of the Noldor to the feet of Thangorodrim。 The watch…fires burned low；
and the guards were few； on the plain few were waking in the camps of the horsemen of Hithlum。 Then suddenly
Morgoth sent forth great rivers of flame that ran down swifter than Balrogs from Thangorodrim； and poured over all the
plain； and the Mountains of Iron belched forth fires of many poisonous hues； and the fume of them stank upon the air；
and was deadly。 Thus Ard…galen perished； and fire devoured its grasses； and it became a burned and desolate waste； full
of a choking dust； barren and lifeless。 Thereafter its name was changed； and it was called Anfauglith； the Gasping Dust
Many charred bones had there their roofless grave； for many of the Noldor perished in that burning； who were caught by
the running flame and could not fly to the hills。 The heights of Dorthonion and Ered Wethrin held back the fiery torrents；
but their woods upon the slopes that looked towards Angband were all kindled； and the smoke wrought confusion among
the defenders。 Thus began the fourth of the great battles； Dagor Bragollach； the Battle of Sudden Flame。
In the front of that fire came Glaurung the golden； father of dragons； in his full might； and in his train were
Balrogs； and behind them came the black armies of the Orcs in multitudes such as the Noldor had never before seen or
imagined。 And they assaulted the fortresses of the Noldor； and broke the leaguer about Angband； and slew wherever they
found them the Noldor and their allies。 Grey…elves and Men。 Many of the stoutest of the foes of Morgoth were destroyed
in the first days of that war； bewildered and dispersed and unable to muster their strength。 War ceased not wholly ever
again in Beleriand； but the Battle of Sudden Flame is held to have ended with the ing of spring； when the onslaught
of Morgoth grew less。
Thus ended the Siege of Angband； and the foes of Morgoth were scattered and sundered one from another。 The
most part of the Grey…elves fled south and forsook the northern war； many were received into Doriath； and the kingdom
and strength of Thingol grew greater in that time； for the power of Melian the queen was woven about his borders and
evil could not yet enter that hidden realm。 Others took refuge in the fortresses by the sea； and in Nargothrond； and some
fled the land and hid themselves in Ossiriand； or passing the mountains wandered homeless in the wild。 And rumour of
the war and the breaking of the siege reached the ears of Men in the east of Middle…earth。
The sons of Finarfin bore most heavily the brunt of the assault； and Angrod and Aegnor were slain； beside them
fell Bregolas lord of the house of B？or； and a great part of the warriors of that people。 But Barahir the brother of
Bregolas was in the fighting farther westward； near to the Pass of Sirion。 There King Finrod Felagund； hastening from
the south； was cut off from his people and surrounded with small pany in the Pen of Serech； and he would have been
slain or taken； but Barahir came up with the bravest of his men and rescued him； and made a wall of spears about him；
and they cut their way out of the battle with great loss。 Thus Felagund escaped； and returned to his deep fortress of
Nargothrond； but he swore an oath of abiding friendship and aid in every need to Barahir and all his kin； and in token of
his vow he gave to Barahir his ring。 Barahir was now by right lord of the house of B？or； and he returned to Dorthonion；
but most of his people fled from their homes and took refuge in the fastness of Hithlum。
So great was the onslaught of Morgoth that Fingolfin and Fingon could not e to the aid of the sons of
Finarfin； and the hosts of Hithlum were driven back with great loss to the fortresses of Ered Wethrin； and these they
hardly defended against the Orcs。 Before the walls of Eithel Sirion fell Hador the Golden…haired； defending the
rearguard of his lord Fingolfin； being then sixty and six years of age； and with him fell Gundor his younger son； pierced
with many arrows； and they were mourned by the Elves。 Then Galdor the Tall took the lordship of his father。 And
because of the strength and height of the Shadowy Mountains； which withstood the torrent of fire； and by the valour of
the Elves and the Men of the North； which neither Orc nor Balrog could yet overe； Hithlum remained unconquered；
a threat upon the flank of Morgoth's attack； but Fingolfin was sundered from his kinsmen by a sea of foes。
For the war had gone ill with the sons of F？anor； and well nigh all the east marches were taken by assault The
Pass of Aglon was forced； though with great cost to the hosts of Morgoth； and Celegorm and Curufin being defeated fled
south and west by the marches of Doriath； and ing at last to Nargothrond sought harbour with Finrod Felagund。
Thus it came to pass that their people swelled the strength of Nargothrond； but it would have been better； as was after
seen； if they had remained in the east among their own kin。 Maedhros did deeds of surpassing valour； and the Orcs fled
before his face； for since his torment upon Thangorodrim his spirit burned like a white fire within； and he was as one
that returns from the dead。 Thus the great fortress upon the Hill of Himring could not be taken； and many of the most
valiant that remained； both of the people of Dorthonion and of the east marches； rallied there to Maedhros； and for a
while he closed once more the Pass of Aglon； so that the Orcs could not enter Beleriand by that road。 But they
overwhelmed the riders of the people of F？anor upon Lothlann； for Glaurung came thither； and passed through Maglor's
Gap； and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion。 And the Orcs took the fortress upon the west slopes of
Mount Rerir； and ravaged all Thargelion； the land of Caranthir； and they defiled Lake Helevorn。 Thence they passed
over Gelion with fire and terror and came far into East Beleriand。 Maglor joined Maedhros upon Himring； but Caranthir
fled and joined the remnant of his people to the scattered folk of the hunters； Amrod and Amras； and they retreated and
passed Ramdal in the south。 Upon Amon Ereb they maintained a watch and some strength of war； and they had aid of the
Green…elves； and the Orcs came not into Ossiriand； nor to Taur…im…Duinath and the wilds of the south。
Now news came to Hithlum that Dorthonion was lost and the sons of Finarfin overthrown； and that the sons of
F？anor were driven from their lands。 Then Fingolfin beheld （as it seemed to him） the utter ruin of the Noldor； and the
defeat beyond redress of all their houses； and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon Rochallor his great horse
and rode forth alone； and none might restrain him。 He passed over Dor…nu…Fauglith like a wind amid the dust； and all
that beheld his onset fled in amaze； thinking that Orom？ himself was e： for a great madness of rage was upon him；
so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar。 Thus he came alone to Angband's gates； and he sounded his horn； and
smote once more upon the brazen doors； and challenged Morgoth to e forth to single bat。 And Morgoth came。
That was the last time in those wars that he passed the doors of his stronghold； and it is said that he took not the
challenge willingly； for though his might was greatest of all things in this world； alone of the Valar he knew fear。 But he
could not now deny the challenge before the face of his captains； for the rocks rang with the shrill music of Fingolfin's
horn； and his voice came keen and clear down into the depths of Angband； and Fingolfin named Morgoth craven； and
lord of slaves。 Therefore Morgoth came； climbing slowly from his subterranean throne； and the rumour of his feet was
like thunder underground。 And he issued forth clad in black armour； and he stood before the King like a tower； iron…
crowned； and his vast shield； sable on…blazoned； cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud。 But Fingolfin gleamed
beneath it as a star； for his mail was overlaid with silver； and his blue shield was set with crystals； and he drew his sword
Ringil； that glittered like ice。
Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond； the Hammer of the Underworld； and swung it down like a bolt of thunder。 But
Fingolfin sprang aside； and Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth； whence smoke and fire darted。 Many times Morgoth
essayed to smite him； and each time Fingolfin leaped away； as a 'lightning shoots from under a dark cloud； and he
wounded Morgoth with seven wounds； and seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish； whereat the hosts of Angband
fell upon their faces in dismay； and the cries echoed in the Northlands。
But at the last the King grew weary； and Morgoth bore down his shield upon hint Thrice he was crushed to his
knees； and thrice arose again and bore up his broken shield and stricken helm。 But the earth was all rent and pitted about
him； and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet of Morgoth； and Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck； and the
weight of it was like a fallen hill。 Yet with his last and desperate stroke Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil； and the
blood gashed forth black and smoking and filled the pits of Grond。
Thus died Fingolfin； High King of the Noldor； most proud and valiant of the Elven…kings of old。 The Orcs made
no boast of that duel at the gate； neither do the Elves sing of it； for their sorrow is too deep。 Yet the tale of it is
remembered still； for Thorondor King of Eagles brought the tidings to Gondolin； and to Hithlum afar off。 And Morgoth
took the body of the Elven…king and broke it； and would cast it to his wolves； but Thorondor came hasting from his eyrie
among the peaks of the Crissaegrim； and he stooped upon Morgoth and marred his face。 The rushing of the wings of
Thorondor was like the noise of the winds of Manw？； and he seized the body in his mighty talons； and soaring suddenly
above the darts of the Orcs he bore the King away。 And he laid him upon a mountain…top that looked from the north
upon the hidden valley of Gondolin； and Turgon ing built a high cairn over his father。 No Orc dared ever after to
pass over the mount of Fingolfin or draw nigh his tomb； until the doom of Gondolin was e and treachery was born
among his kin。 Morgoth went ever halt of one foot after that day； and the pain of his wounds could not be healed； and in
his face was the scar that Thorondor made。
Great was the lamentation in Hithlum when the fall of Fingolfin became