acplish but once only； and in that deed his heart shall rest。 It may be that I can unlock my jewels； but never again
shall I make their like； and if I must break them； I shall break my heart； and I shall be slain； first of all the Eldar in
Aman。'
'Not the first；' said Mandos； but they did not understand his word； and again there was silence； while F？anor
brooded in the dark。 It seemed to him that he was beset in a ring of enemies； and the words of Melkor returned to him；
saying that the Silmarils were not safe； if the Valar would possess them。 'And is he not Vala as are they；' said his thought；
'and does he not understand their hearts？ Yea； a thief shall reveal thieves！' Then he cried aloud： 'This thing I will not do
of free will。 But if the Valar will constrain me； then shall I know indeed that Melkor is of their kindred。'
Then Mandos said： 'Thou hast spoken。' And Nienna arose and went up onto Ezellohar； and cast back her grey
hood； and with her tears washed away the defilements of Ungoliant； and she sang in mourning for the bitterness of the
world and the Marring of Arda。
But even as Nienna mourned； there came messengers from Formenos； and they were Noldor and bore new tidings
of evil。 For they told how a blind Darkness came northward； and in the midst walked some power for which there was no
name； and the Darkness issued from it。 But Melkor also was there； and he came to the house of F？anor； and there he
slew Finw？ King of the Noldor before his doors； and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm； for Finw？ alone had
not fled from the horror of the Dark。 And they told that Melkor had broken the stronghold of Formenos； and taken all the
Jewels of the Noldor that were hoarded in that place； and the Silmarils were gone。
Then F？anor rose； and lifting up his hand before Manw？ he cursed Melkor； naming him Morgoth； the Black Foe
of the World； and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after。 And he cursed also the summons of Manw？
and the hour in which he came to Taniquetil； thinking in the madness of his rage and grief that had he been at Formenos
his strength would have availed more than to be slain also； as Melkor had purposed。 Then F？anor ran from the Ring of
Doom； and fled into the night； for his father was dearer to him than the Light of Valinor or the peerless works of his
hands； and who among sons； of Elves or of Men； have held their fathers of greater worth？
Many there grieved for the anguish of F？anor； but his loss was not his alone； and Yavanna wept by the mound； in
fear that the Darkness should swallow the last rays of the Light of Valinor for ever。 For though the Valar did not yet
understand fully what had befallen； they perceived that Melkor had called upon some aid that came from beyond Arda。
The Silmarils had passed away； and all one it may seem whether F？anor had said yea or nay to Yavanna； yet had he said
yea at the first； before the tidings came from Formenos； it may be that his after deeds would have been other than they
were。 But now the doom of the Noldor drew near。
Meanwhile Morgoth escaping from the pursuit of the Valar came to the wastes of Araman。 This land lay
northward between the Mountains of the Pelóri and the Great Sea； as Avathar lay to the south； but Araman was a wider
land； and between the shores and the mountains were barren plains； ever colder as the Ice drew nearer。 Through this
region Morgoth and Ungoliant passed in haste； and so came through the great mists of Oiomúr？ to the Helcarax？； where
the strait between Araman and Middle…earth was filled with grinding ice； and he crossed over； and came back at last to
the north of the Outer Lands。 Together they went on； for Morgoth could not elude Ungoliant； and her cloud was still
about him； and all her eyes were upon him； and they came to those lands that lay north of the Firth of Drengist。 Now
Morgoth was drawing near to the ruins of Angband； where his great western stronghold had been； and Ungoliant
perceived his hope； and knew that here he would seek to escape from her； and she stayed him； demanding that he fulfil
his promise。
'Blackheart！' she said。 'I have done thy bidding。 But I hunger still。'
'What wouldst thou have more？' said Morgoth。 'Dost thou desire all the world for thy belly？ I did not vow to give
thee that。 I am its Lord。'
'Not so much；' said Ungoliant。 'But thou hast a great treasure from Formenos； I will have all that。 Yea； with both
hands thou shalt give it'。
Then perforce Morgoth surrendered to her the gems that he bore with him； one by one and grudgingly； and she
devoured them； and their beauty perished from the world。 Huger and darker yet grew Ungoliant； but her lust was
unsated。 'With one hand thou givest；' she said； 'with the left only。 Open thy right hand。'
In his right hand Morgoth held close the Silmarils； and though they were locked in a crystal casket； they had
begun to bum him； and his hand was clenched in pain； but he would not open it 'Nay！' he said。 'Thou hast had thy doe。
For with my power that I put into thee thy work was acplished。 I need thee no more。 These things thou shalt not
have； nor see。 I name them unto myself for ever。 '
But Ungoliant had grown great； and he less by the power that had gone out of him； and she rose against him； and
her cloud closed about him； and she enmeshed him in a web of clinging thongs to strangle him。 Then Morgoth sent forth
a terrible cry； that echoed in the mountains。 Therefore that region was called Lammoth； for the echoes of his voice dwelt
there ever after； so that any who cried aloud in that land awoke them； and all the waste between the hills and the sea was
filled with a clamour as of voices in anguish。 The cry of Morgoth in that hour was the greatest and most dreadful that
was ever heard in the northern world； the mountains shook； and the earth trembled； and rocks were riven asunder。 Deep
in forgotten places that cry was heard。 Far beneath the rained halls of Angband； in vaults to which the Valar in the haste
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