The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Audiobook
After the tribes of the Edain had entered Beleriand and strengthened the forces of the Noldor, Fingolfin began trying to rally the Noldor and Edain together for an attack against the fortress of Morgoth. He was met with resistance, however, for the Noldor had grown complacent, loving their new realms and power. They were also fearful of the wrath of Morgoth, knowing that even a victory would come at a heavy cost.
At last, during winter, Morgoth attacked the Noldor. Great fires erupted out of the Iron Mountains and burned the great plains of Ard-galen, forever scarring them into a vast desert. Many Noldor were killed in the blaze, which reached as far down as Dorthonion before stopping.
Great armies poured forth from Angband as well, led by the great dragon, Glaurung. The combined strength of these armies was enough to break the power of the elves, ending the Siege of Angband forever.
Fingolfin in madness and grief mounted his horse and rode out from Hithlum across Dor-nu-Fauglith. His rage was so great that he was mistaken for Oromë, the huntsman of the Valar. Fingolfin rode up to the very gates of Angband, challenging Morgoth to single combat.
Fingolfin openly insulted Morgoth, calling him a coward and a tyrant. Morgoth had no choice but to answer Fingolfin's challenge, lest his own captains think him unfit to lead. Taking the great hammer of the underworld called Grond, Morgoth emerged from the black depths of Angband and attacked Fingolfin.
Fingolfin's great sword Ringil wounded Morgoth seven times, and whenever Morgoth attacked, Fingolfin would leap out of the way, causing the great hammer to leave a massive rend in the earth where the elf-king once stood. This duel raged on, and the forces of Morgoth quailed, their cries filling the North.
But Fingolfin was an Incarnate, and Morgoth was an Ainu. Fingolfin could grow tired, where as Morgoth did not, so at last, his strength failed, and Morgoth struck Fingolfin, smashing him with his great hammer. Morgoth placed his boot onto Fingolfin, intending to crush him to pieces, but with his last stroke, Fingolfin stabbed the foot of Morgoth with Ringil. The hurt was so great that Morgoth would limp forever after, and the pain of his wounds would never subside.
Morgoth's wrath would turn to the men with Barahir. Barahir fought the Orcs for all of the land he had, but the fight was soon desperate enough that his wife Emeldir took the women and children and fled to Brethil. Barahir became an outlaw, leading a band against Morgoth along with his son Beren.
At this time, two members of the house of Hador, Húrin and Huor, were living with the lord of the House of Haleth, as was the custom of Men. Both of these Men went to the battle with the Orcs who invaded Brethil. But their company was cut off, and they fled to the Ford of Brithiach. A mist arose from the river Sirion and hid them, and the great eagle Thorondor saw them and brought them before Turgon in the hidden city of Gondolin.
They won the heart of Turgon and learned much about the elves there. Yet after a year had passed, both Húrin and Huor desired to return to the battles with the Orcs and aid their fellow men. Turgon was reluctant to have them leave, but they swore oaths never to reveal the location of Gondolin. With that, Turgon allowed them to depart with the aid of Thorondor, such that they were unsure of the exact location of Gondolin.
Turgon, having learned of the events outside, began to send parties of Elves to the isle of Balar, where they created ships to sail west to the Undying Lands. Yet these ships never reached the Undying Lands, due to the curse of Mandos forbidding the return of the Noldor.
Within seven years, Morgoth renewed his attack against Hithlum. His forces attacked Ethel Sirion, killing Galdor, but they were driven back by his son Húrin. Fingon was also attacked but was saved by the arrival of ships sent by Círdan the shipwright. Thus the lordship of Dor-lómin passed to Húrin.
Timeline of Arda:
Years of the Sun
Years of the Sun in the First Age
455: Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband in Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame")
* Dorthonion is laid waste,
* Angrod and Aegnor die,
* people of Barahir become outlaws.
* Finrod's fortress of Minas Tirith is captured by the forces of Sauron;
* Tol Sirion is renamed Tol-in-Gaurhoth, "Isle of Werewolves"
456: Fingolfin challenges Morgoth to single combat and is slain.
* Fingon becomes the High King of the Noldor.
458: Húrin and Huor are separated from the Folk of Brethil during a battle and are brought to Gondolin by Thorondor.
459: Húrin and Huor return out of Gondolin to Dor-lómin.
460: Barahir and his companions are betrayed by Gorlim and killed, but Beren survives.
462: Morgoth tries to assault Hithlum but is withstood by Fingon and Círdan.
463: The first hosts of Easterlings appear in Beleriand.