Returning to The Silmarillion...

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about my mini-series on Elvish ''death'' but they are hopelessly long in the composition (I think I said that before), and I have neglected The Silmarillion. I shall return to that short series in due course, but I also need to concentrate on boring academic stuff too. And so, continuing from where we left off, the Sons of Fëanor had pursued their impetuous father into the very realm of Morgoth, and the Balrogs would have slew him had they not come. Bearing him away to Eithel Sirion, he died on the slopes of Ered Wethrin within sight of Angband, and long would Mandos hold him.

Now in Mithrim, west of Ered Wethrin, there dwelt Grey Elves, under the lordship of Thingol, and the Noldor met them with gladness as kin long sundered, but at first speech was not easy among them (they were sundered from one another for some thousands of years!) From the Sindarin Elves of Mithrim, the Noldor learned somewhat of the lands about them, and of Thingol in Menegroth; and the tidings of the meeting of the hosts of the Noldor with the Sindar came swiftly to Doriath, and to the havens at Brithombar and Eglarest. And the Elves of Beleriand were filled with gladness at the sudden return of their mighty kindred out of the West, in the very hour of their need - and they believed at first that the Noldor came under the grace and guidance of the Valar to deliver them.

But the Sons of Fëanor, on their return to Hithlum, were met at unawares by an embassy from Angband, acknowledging defeat and offering terms. Maedhros persuaded the Noldor to feign treaty with Morgoth, and to meet the embassy at the appointed place, and so they met the embassy with a greater force than was agreed, but Morgoth sent more, and Balrogs were among them, and Maedhros was betrayed. His company was slain, even to the last, and he himself was brought to Angband by the command of Morgoth. The other Sons withdrew and fortefied their camp at Hithlum, but Morgoth sent word that he would not release Maedhros unless the Noldor departed forever from Beleriand, or returned into the West; and he devised this torment for Maedhros: he had him hung upon a vast and sheer precipace of Thangorodrim by the wrist of his right hand.

Now, as has been told, Fingolfin was abandoned by Fëanor in Araman, but he led the greater part of the Noldor by the perilous sea of the Helcaraxë, and many perished in that crossing. But at the first Rising of the Moon, he marched with his host through Hithlum and so came back to Middle-earth; and he pressed on and on, and the Sun arose flaming in the West at that time, and he came to the very doors of Angband. He smote on the brazen doors, and they rang clear in the new mornings, albeit choked by the vast reek that Morgoth caused to shield his realm from the light of the new Sun. There came no answer from Angband, for the slaves of Morgoth still cowered deep under the earth, afraid of the Sun, and Fingolfin, wary of the deceits of Morgoth, departed, hearing not the cries of Maedhros from above. Returning to Hithlum, he made his camp by the northern shores of Mithrim, opposite the camp of the Sons of Fëanor. No love was there between those two hosts, and there was almost peril of battle. Many of the people of Fëanor indeed repented of the deeds of their king, and were moreover filled with amazement at the valour of their kindred, but dared not welcome them for shame.

And so, the Noldor achieved nothing, and Morgoth rejoiced seeing the dissension of his enemies, in spite of the Sun. And he sent vast smokes and vapours forth from Thangorodrim, and they went west and coiled about the lake of Mithrim, and in the North the earth trembled with the thunder of the forges of Angband.

But Fingon the valiant, son of Fingolfin, arose from thought and resolved to heal the divisions within the House of Finwë; and alone, taking counsel with none, he rode forth one morning and came within the realm of Morgoth. Aided by the very darkness that Morgoth caused to be made, he came even to Thangorodrim, and looked about in despair. Then, in defiance of the Great Enemy of God and Elves, he brought forth his harp and sang a song of Valinor, and the sound must have been extraordinary; his voice echoed among the crags, and soared up even to Maedhros in his torment. And Maedhros heard, and sang in answer; and seeing him far above, Fingon climbed to the base of the precipice, and he wept when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth. Therefore Maedhros begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow, and crying aloud to Manwë, Fingon drew his arrow, saying: ''O King to whom all birds are dear, speed now this feathered shaft, and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need!''

His prayer was answered. For Manwë sent forth the Eagles of the Lords of the West, commanding them to dwell among the peaks of the Iron Mountains and to keep watch upon Morgoth, and Thorondor, Lord of Eagles, was come, and staying Fingon's hand, he bore him up to Maedhros, but Fingon could not release him, and Maedhros again begged to be slain, but Fingon cut his right hand off below the wrist, and Thorondor bore them back to Mithrim.

Fingon won great praise, from both sides, for this great deed, and the dispute was healed (for the time). Maedhros was healed, and he begged the clemency of Fingolfin and of the greater part of the Noldor for their cruel deeds at Losgar, and he abandoned his claim to the overlordship of the Noldor, for Fingolfin was the eldest of the House of Finwë. And then, the Noldor began their long labours, and they besieged Angband from west, south and east, and sent their messengers down into Beleriand, to treat with the people that dwelt there.

The above image is of course by Ted Nasmith, and depicts the rescue of Maedhros from Thangorodrim.