The Silmarillion

When Fëanor burns his ships, the Orcs spot the flames, as do the “watchers of Morgoth” (50). Fëanor and his people pass into the land of Hithlum and arrive at a lake, Mithrim, where they make camp. Melkor’s forces attack before the encampment is set up but are defeated by the Noldor. Fëanor chases down the enemy back to Angband but is consumed by “the flame of his own wrath” (50) and finds himself separated from his forces; the Balrogs notice and attack. Fëanor is surrounded and, though he fights well, is struck down by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs. At the last moment, Fëanor’s sons arrive and chase away the Balrogs. The injured Fëanor is carried to Mithrim but tells them to stop; he knows he is going to die. Looking over all of Middle-earth, he calls on his sons to avenge their father. Fëanor dies, his body turning straight to ash.

The Noldor meet with the local Grey Elves and learn of the power of Thingol. An emissary of Melkor offers them a peace deal that includes the return of one Silmaril. Maedhros, Fëanor’s son, convinces his brothers to accept the deal and to betray Melkor when convenient. They arrive at the meeting with a huge army, but Melkor has sent more. Maedhros’ men are killed, and Maedhros is captured alive and taken to Angband. The remaining brothers know they cannot make a deal with Melkor and are sworn to avenge their father, so Melkor strings Maedhros by the wrist and hangs him from a high precipice.

Fingolfin and his people march into Mithrim as the sun rises for the first time and pass through unchallenged to Angband. They hear Maedhros call for help. Fingolfin is wary and turns his people back to Mithrim. He makes camp near the sons of Fëanor; there is still resentment between the groups, though Fingolfin has far greater numbers. Fingolfin camps on the northern shore, Fëanor’s sons on the south. Melkor laughs at the division of his enemies and spreads a thick black smoke over the land. Fingolfin’s son Fingon makes peace with the other Noldor by rescuing Maedhros with the help of Manwë and a giant eagle, cutting off Maedhros’ hand to free him from Melkor’s binding.

Thingol will not allow the reunited Noldor into his kingdom but tells them where they might make their home. The Noldor are unimpressed by Thingol but do as he says, making their homes near Hithlum, Dorthonion, and the empty lands east of Doriath, meeting the Dwarves along the way.

Twenty years later, Fingolfin hosts a great feast. It is a time of peace, though darkness “brooded in the north” (54). As more decades pass, Turgon and Finrod wander the lands, and Ulmo infuses them with the idea that they must build fortresses to protect themselves in case Melkor ever bursts from Angband. Fingolfin seeks advice from Thingol and the Dwarves and builds Nargothrond, while Turgon searches for many years until he finds a hidden vale in the Encircling Mountains and plans to build a great city there.

Melkor watches the Elves from afar and launches an attack after a few decades of peace. His Orcs are defeated again, and the Noldor and the other Elves resolve to fortify their defenses. They even consider attacking Angband but lack the strength, though they do lay siege to Angband for 400 years. A hundred years later, Melkor tries again. This time, the Orcs sneak around and try and attack the Elves’ rear, but the Elves beat the Orcs again. After another hundred years, Melkor creates a dragon named Glaurung and sets it loose. The young dragon scares many Elves but is eventually beaten by Fingon. After that, 200 years of peace follows, and Beleriand becomes very prosperous. The Noldor and the Sindar become almost as one people.