Chapter XIII, The Return of the Noldor.

[Beleg]

The Return of the Noldor constituting the Chapter 13 Of Silmarillion. [77].


Summary: The Feanorians land at Losgar, in the Firth of Drengist. Here Feanor ordered the Telerian swan ships to be burned. The reek of the burning was not only seen by the folks of Fingolfin in Araman but also by the servants of Morgoth. We are not told about Morgoth’s reaction upon hearing about the arrival of Feanor; his greatest foe.
According to the published Silmarillion chronology, when the host of Feanor landed, the moon hadn’t yet risen and Beleriand lay in forgotten sleep under the star-lit sky.
The Feanorians entered the great land of Hithlum from the West, and abode near the north shore of Lake Mithrim in the reigon with the same name.
But the forces of Morgoth, alerted by the burning at Losgar attacked the Feanorian camp before it was fully established and wrought. The Feanorians were taken by surprise but soon regained composure and thus was fought the second Battle of Beleriand, Dagor-nuin-Giliath it is named, the Battle-under-Stars it was called. The Noldor were fresh and spirited and the Light of Aman [1] ‘wasn’t yet dimmed in their eyes’.
The Noldo albeit few were soon successful and drove the orc host with great slaughter into the plain of Ard-galen which lay North of Dorthonion. A southern company of the Morgothian host, troubling Círdan was caught by Celegorm, Feanor’s son and was destroyed and hunted in the fens of Search. [2] The battle lasted for ten days and the armies he had prepared for the conquest of Beleriand were destroyed save a select few. Morgoth was great dismayed.
Yet, Morgoth’s wasn’t completely successless for Feanor in his fury heedless pursued the fleeing companies till few were left around him and the van of his host was far behind. Seeing this the fleeing armies turned to him and Balrogs came forth from the impregnable dungeons of Angband [3] and assaulted Feanor. Feanor had known not of the great defence and the halls of Angband which Morgoth had conjured up, but had he known it, it wouldn’t have deterred him, for he possessed a spirit so fey as to be dettered by none, be it the Valar’s wrath or Morgoth’s armies.
But circumstances proved that this unplanned assault was a great fault on Feanor’s part, for at the ‘Confines of Dol-dedoreth’, Morgoth’s land Feanor faught on with the Orc host and the Balrogs. He fought for long but was finally smitten by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs and only the timely arrival of his sons stopped the complete mutilation of his hroa.

1.

Just look at the majesty of this passage,

. But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion and were upon the upward path to the pass over the mountains, Fëanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal, and he knew that his hour was come. And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld far off the peaks of Thangorodrim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold to their oath, and to avenge their father. Then he died; but he had neither burial nor tomb, for so fiery was his spirit that as it sped his body fell to ash, and was borne away like smoke; and his likeness has never again appeared in Arda, neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos. Thus ended the mightiest of the Noldor, of whose deeds came both their greatest renown and their most grievous woe.

This shows to us that till his dying moment he still possessed the same enimity towards Morgoth and the same ferocity of character which he showed in Aman. The consumption of his spirit is also a singular example. It is an established fact that he was the ‘mightiest’ of the Noldor and it is explicitly mentioned that he would never be re-born.
But the most amazing and puzzling thing is Meadhros’s ‘foresight’.
Does this mean that even at the moment, the fate of the Noldor was already sealed, and they were just fighting a hopeless fight? Was it pre-ordained? Was it some Kind of a Vision? Or was it only that at his dying moment Feanor had recollected his wits and through his wisdom had reached the conclusion that their defeat was evident. The last option doesn’t correspond with the implication of the text but I felt it necessary to explain it since it could have been a powerful motive.

Oh and Thongroduim, it seems, is the ‘mightiest’ of the towers of Middle-earth and an adjective for ‘Mightiest’ also is massive.

2.

But moving on, we are told about the presence of ‘Grey Elves’ in Mithrim, who were of the ‘folks of Beleriand’ who had wandered northwards. Apparantly Noldor met them with great gladness [Hehe, Elvish Reunion! These elves seem so different from the somber third age elves; more earthly and more vibrant.]
The words ‘Moriquendi’ and ‘K[c]aliquendi’ are introduced, and the discrimination between the ‘elves of light’ and the other elves is made. [More on this in Qendi and Eldar] From them the Noldor learn about the griddle of Melian and the Kingdom of Doriath, ruled by one Elu Thingol, formerly Elwe Singollo, King Greycloak and the wise Maia Queen Melian.
The reaction of the Sindar at the coming of the Noldor is aptly described,

From the Elves of Mithrim the Noldor learned of the power of Elu Thingol, King in Doriath, and the girdle of enchantment that fenced his realm; and tidings of these great deeds in the north came south to Menegroth, and to the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest. Then all the Elves of Beleriand were filled with wonder and with hope at the coming of their mighty kindred, who thus returned unlocked-for from the West in the very hour of their need, believing indeed at first that they came as emissaries of the Valar to deliver them.
Do you think that initially Noldor themselves helped in spread the Rumor’s that they came to ‘Beleriand’ for the help of their sundered kindered, because they felt ashamed of their acts, specially the Kinslaying effected at Olwe’s people?

Next, the virtues of one infamous Mr. Meadhros are revealed.
Morgoth, King of deceit sent an embassy feigning defeat and surrender of as much as one Silmaril! A meeting was arranged and Mr. Meadhros persuaded his brothers to feign peace and meet the embassies.
Offcourse both sides cheated, but due to the aid of Balrog’s of Morgoth, the end result was the company of Meadhros was slaughtered and Meadhros captured.
Morgoth held Meadhros as hostage and promised to return him only if the Noldor either returned to Aman or forsook war against him and went to the far south. The rest of the sons of course refused and set up a great camp in Hithlum.
The time now is ripe for the arrival of the horns of Fingolfin and of mighty princes Finrod, Fingon and Turgon.

Morgoth’s treatment of Meadhros,

. Therefore Morgoth took Maedhros and hung him from the face of a precipice upon Thangorodrim, and he was caught to the rock by the wrist of his right hand in a band of steel..

Fingolfin and co arrive and so do the sun and the moon,

Now rumour came to the camp in Hithlum of the march of Fingolfin and those that followed him, who had crossed the Grinding Ice; and all the world lay then in wonder at the coming of the Moon. But as the host of Fingolfin marched into Mithrim the Sun rose flaming in the West; and Fingolfin unfurled his blue and silver banners, and blew his horns, and flowers sprang beneath his marching feet, and the ages of the stars were ended. At the uprising of the great light the servants of Morgoth fled into Angband, and Fingolfin passed unopposed through the fastness of Dor Daedeloth while his foes hid beneath the earth. Then the Elves smote upon the gates of Angband, and the challenge of their trumpets shook the towers of Thangorodrim; and Maedhros heard them amid his torment and cried aloud, but his voice was lost in the echoes of the stone.

Now Fingolfin too made his dwellings at the North end of the Lake of Mithrim and there was no love lost between his folks and the Feanorians. If things would have gone this way, a major fight was sure to be erupted and the ruin of the Noldor would have been sealed much earlier mainly due to their own petty quarrels.
But Fingon indeed performs an admirable deed, that of rescuring the tormented Meadhros which re-united both hosts and for the moment all the complaints are forgotten and vows are made to destroy Morgoth.
Meadhros surrenders the claim of Kingship to Fingolfin and the Feanorians are dispossessed, part of Prophecy of Mandos coming true.
Vital here is to mention Fingon’s prayer to Manwe asking for his blessing and help,
I am giving the whole event in some detail,



…..

[Continued]

[Beleg]

Then in defiance of the Orcs, who cowered still in the dark vaults beneath the earth, he took his harp and sang a song of Valinor that the Noldor made of old, before strife was born among the sons of Finwë; and his voice rang in the mournful hollows that had never heard before aught save cries of fear and woe.
Thus Fingon found what he sought. For suddenly above him far and faint his song was taken up, and a voice answering called to him. Maedhros it was that sang amid his torment. But Fingon climbed to the foot of the precipice where his kinsman hung, and then could go no further; and he wept when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth. Maedhros therefore, being in anguish without hope, begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow; and Fingon strung an arrow, and bent his bow. And seeing no better hope he cried to Manwë, 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 swiftly. For Manwë to whom all birds are dear, and to whom they bring news upon Taniquetil from Middle-earth, had sent forth the race of Eagles, commanding them to dwell in the crags of the North, and to keep watch upon Morgoth; for Manwë still had pity for the exiled Elves. And the Eagles brought news of much that passed in those days to the sad ears of Manwë. Now, even as Fingon bent his bow, there flew down from the high airs Thorondor, King of Eagles, mightiest of all birds that have ever been, whose outstretched wings spanned thirty fathoms; and staying Fingon's hand he took him up, and bore him to the face of the rock where Maedhros hung. But Fingon could not release the hell-wrought bond upon his wrist, nor sever it, nor draw it from the stone. Again therefore in his pain Maedhros begged that he would slay him; but Fingon cut off his hand above the wrist, and Thorondor bore them back to Mithrim.
There Maedhros in time was healed; for the fire of life was hot within him, and his strength was of the ancient world, such as those possessed who were nurtured in Valinor. His body recovered from his torment and became hale, but the shadow of his pain was in his heart; and he lived to wield his sword with left hand more deadly than his right had been. By this deed Fingon won great renown, and all the Noldor praised him; and the hatred between the houses of Fingolfin and Fëanor was assuaged. For Maedhros begged forgiveness for the desertion in Araman; and he waived his claim to kingship over all the Noldor, saying to Fingolfin: 'If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise.' But to this his brothers did not all in their hearts agree.
Therefore even as Mandos foretold the House of Fëanor were called the Dispossessed, because the over-lordship passed from it, the elder, to the house of Fingolfin, both in Elendë and in Beleriand, and because also of the loss of the Silmarils. But the Noldor being again united set a watch upon the borders of Dor Daedeloth, and Angband was beleaguered from west, and south, and east; and they sent forth messengers far and wide to explore the countries of Beleriand, and to treat with the people that dwelt there.

However Thingol is not pleased with the gathering of all these princes, he fears that all these princes might challenge his overlordship and try to usurp him.

He only allows the house of Finarfin to enter his realm, and that only too because they are his kin. Now Thingol at that junction of time was yet weary of Morgoth’s coming and still depended on Melian’s wisdom so he didn’t open up his realm.

Angrod, brother of Finrod was the first Noldor to enter Beleriand, bringing the message of his brother. Thinking all griefs forgotten he mentioned not the Kinslaying and other bad details but talked in detail about the ordering of their force, their realms and there customs.

Due to his wise embassy, Noldor were granted the leave to dwell in Hithlum, In Dorthonion and the plains adjacent eastward on the condition that they would guard the land from any onslaught of Morgoth.

But Thingol still possessed the title of Lord of Beleriand which angered the sons of Feanor a wee bit.

A council was held in Mithrim of Noldor lords and Angrod out of Doriath came there and relayed the King’s message. Meadhros very wisely took care of the matter and stopped his brothers from tipping off the rest of the host but not before Cranthir had said this,

: 'Yea more! Let not the sons of Finarfin run hither and thither with their tales to this Dark Elf in his caves! Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him? And though they be come indeed to Beleriand, let them not so swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor, though their mother be of other kin.

These words created great unrest and Noldor on both side were troubled. Therefore the Lords decided to choose their own Lands. Meadhros and brethren went to Eastern Beleriand, beyond Aros and Dorthonion, in the land of Thargelion and the adjacent areas.
Fingolfin dwelt in Hithlum with Fingon ruler of Mithrim and Turgon for a while dwelling in the myres of Neverast. The sons of Finarfin ruled Dorthonion and Ethil Sirion and Finrod Felagund later founded Nargothrond in the heart of Beleriand. Likewise did Turgon form a hidden Kingdom; Gondolin, the greatest of all Elvish Kingdoms of the First Age in Beleriand.
When twenty years of Sun had passed a great feast was held near the pools of Ethil Ervin where new friendships were made and new oaths sworned and every elf lord attended it.
Mereth Aderthad it was called. The feast led to a drastic change in Noldor lifestyle; they adapted Sindarin, the tongue of grey-elves, due to the racial mixing, except in Gondolin, which Turgon kept as a purely Noldorin empire.
The next few hundred years were well nigh peacefully and progressive and Beleriand grew rich behind the protection of the eager Noldor and the enemy was shut and besieged but not concurred and in time Morgoth sent my spies to Beleriand which inflicted grievous damage to the Noldor and the Sindar. When Thirty years had passed, Turgon left Neverast and sought out his friend Finrod at the isle of Tol-Sirion and together they journey far and wide and in the land of Willows were each filled with motions of establishing a Kingdom that would act as a refuge to the elves if by some mischance the frontline defence was overthrown. Both of them didn’t talk about this among themselves for each believed it was only revealed to him, but this later resulted in the establishment of Nargothrond and Gondolin; the two most long lasting Elvish Kingdoms. These ‘messages’ were sent by Ulmo, Lord of the Waters.
On a time when Galadriel [Sister of Finrod] and Finrod were visitng Menegroth, they were greatly effected by the splendour and majesty of the hidden, underground halls and there Finrod uncovered to Thingol, his desire for a suitable place to set up a Kingdom.
Thingol told him about the High Faroth and the gorge of the river Narog and its vast caverns. There was established Nargothrond with its vast armouries and underground chambers.

There in Nargothrond Finrod made his home with many of his people, and he was named in the tongue of the Dwarves Felagund, Hewer of Caves; and that name he bore thereafter until his end. But Finrod Felagund was not the first to dwell in the caves beside the River Narog.

A mention of the Petty Dwarves who claimed to have dwelt there long before Nargothrond was built.
According to the Silmarillion version, Galadriel didn’t go with her brother but dwelt with Melian in Doriath for she felt in love with Thingol’s Kinsman Celeborn. [For more information read ‘Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn’ in Unfinished Tales]

Turgon founded Gondolin in this manner,

But Turgon remembered the city set upon a hill, Tirion the fair with its tower and tree, and he found not what he sought, but returned to Nevrast, and sat in peace in Vinyamar by the shores of the sea. And in the next year Ulmo himself appeared to him, and bade him go forth again alone into the Vale of Sirion; and Turgon went forth, and by the guidance of Ulmo he discovered the hidden vale of Tumladen in the Encircling Mountains, in the midst of which there was a hill of stone. Of this he spoke to none as yet, but returned once more to Nevrast, and there began in his secret counsels to devise the plan of a city after the manner of Tirion upon Túna, for which his heart yearned in exile.

Morgoth gathered from his spies that all the lords of Noldor were busy re-ordering their hosts and establishing their empires with little heed of war, so he thought of testing the strength and Valour of Noldor.
He unleashed his armies but Meadhros and Fingolfin were not sleeping and destroyed the armies of Morgoth to the very last within sight of the very gates of Angband.
This battle is called Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle, It was won though it was but a premonition of the troubles that were to come and the tests Noldor would have to endure.

[Beleg]

A victory it was, and yet a warning; and the princes took heed of it, and thereafter drew closer their leaguer, and strengthened and ordered their watch, setting the Siege of Angband. which lasted wellnigh four hundred years of the Sun. For a long time after Dagor Aglareb no servant of Morgoth would venture from his gates, for they feared the lords of the Noldor; and Fingolfin boasted that save by treason among themselves Morgoth could never again burst from the leaguer of the Eldar, nor come upon them at unawares. Yet the Noldor could not capture Angband, nor could they regain the Silmarils; and war never wholly ceased in all that time of the Siege, for Morgoth devised new evils, and ever and anon he would make trial of his enemies. Nor could the stronghold of Morgoth be ever wholly encircled: for the Iron Mountains, from whose great curving wall the towers of Thangorodrim were thrust forward, defended it upon either side, and were impassable to the Noldor, because of their snow and ice. Thus in his rear and to the north Morgoth had no foes, and by that way his spies at times went out, and came by devious routes into Beleriand. And desiring above all to sow fear and disunion among the Eldar, he commanded the Orcs to take alive any of them that they could and bring them bound to Angband; and some he so daunted by the terror of his eyes that they needed no chains more, but walked ever in fear of him, doing his will wherever they might be. Thus Morgoth learned much of all that had befallen since the rebellion of Fëanor, and he rejoiced, seeing therein the seed of many dissensions among his foes.

No Eldar never served Morgoth of his own will.

One Hundred years after the Golorious battle, Morgoth thought of catching Fingolfin at unawares for he knew of the vigilance of Meadhros, so he launched an army in the white North which attacked Fingolfin from the rear. But Fingon hearing about the army attacked it and destroyed it. This battle is not counted among the great battles since the opposite numbers were not enough to warrant a full frontal attack.

Again after a hundred years Glaurung, the first of the Urulóki, the fire-drakes of the North, issued from Angband's gates by night. He was yet young and scarce half-grown, for long and slow is the life of the dragons, but the Elves fled before him to Ered Wethrin and Dorthonion in dismay; and he defiled the fields of Ard-galen. Then Fingon prince of Hithlum rode against him with archers on horseback, and hemmed him round with a ring of swift riders; and Glaurung could not endure their darts, being not yet come to his full armoury, and he fled back to Angband, and came not forth again for many years. Fingon won great praise, and the Noldor rejoiced; for few foresaw the full meaning and threat of this new thing. But Morgoth was ill-pleased that Glaurung had disclosed himself over-soon; and after his defeat there was the Long Peace of wellnigh two hundred years. In all that time there were but affrays on the marches, and all Beleriand prospered and grew rich. Behind the guard of their armies in the north the Noldor built their dwellings and their towers, and many fair things they made in those days, and poems and histories and books of lore. In many parts of the land the Noldor and the Sindar became welded into one people, and spoke the same tongue; though this difference remained between them, that the Noldor had the greater power of mind and body. and were the mightier warriors and sages, and they built with stone, and loved the hill-slopes and open lands. But the Sindar had the fairer voices and were more skilled in music, save only Maglor son of Fëanor, and they loved the woods and the riversides; and some of the Grey-elves still wandered far and wide without settled abode, and they sang as they went.

3.

Question One: In the light of the above example, do the Dragon’s possess a will of their own, so much that they could even defy his orders?

4.

Question Twp: Why did Noldor had greater share of power and mind?


Notes: [1*] What is this ‘Light of Aman’? What effect did it have on the indwellers? Did it enhance their mental and physical skills? If so why and how? Any ideas?


5.

[2*]: Why was the fen of Search so named?


6.

[3*]: [B]We are told that Morgoth didn’t knew for the time being about the death of Feanor, now how could this be so if he himself had sent the Balrogs? Did the Balrogs came out of Angband due to their own will and without any prior permission from there master? How did they travel? Any notion of the area of Dol-Delodreth?

Since this a very long chapter in which a lot happened, feel free to discuss anything you feel I have left out.

A map of Beleriand is hereby enclosed.

Main Events: The Second and Third Battles.
Death of Feanor.
Establishment of the Elvish Realms.
Feast at Ethil Ervin.


1. An interesting part of C.T commentary cited in HOME 11, War of the Jewel’s concerning the ‘Green Stone’ is given here,

§97 A new page in the QS manuscript begins with the opening of this paragraph, and at the top of the page my father pencilled: 'The Green Stone of Fëanor given by Maidros to Fingon.' This can hardly be other than a reference to the Elessar that came in the end to Aragorn; cf. the note given under §88 above referring to Fëanor's gift at his death of the Green Stone to Maidros. It is clear, I think, that my father was at this time pondering the previous history of the Elessar, which had emerged in The Lord of the Rings; for his later ideas on its origin see Unfinished Tales pp. 248-52.

2. An interesting element concerning Feanor’s landing at Lammoth and his son Amros is also cited here from HOME 12, People of Middle Earth, Shibboleth of Feanor.

Later, as Fëanor became more and more fell and violent, and rebelled against the Valar, Nerdanel, after long endeavouring to change his mood, became estranged. (Her kin were devoted to Aule, who counselled her father to take no part in the rebellion. 'It will in the end only lead Fëanor and all your children to death.') She retired to her father's house; but when it became clear that Fëanor and his sons would leave Valinor for ever, she came to him before the host started on its northward march, and begged that Fëanor should leave her the two youngest, the twins, or one at least of them. He replied: 'Were you a true wife, as you had been till cozened by Aulë, you would keep all of them, for you would come with us. If you desert me, you desert also all of our children. For they are determined to go with their father.' Then Nerdanel was angry and she answered: 'You will not keep all of them. One at least will never set foot on Middle-earth.' 'Take your evil omens to the Valar who will delight in them,' said Fëanor. 'I defy them'. So they parted.
Now it is told how Fëanor stole the ships of the Teleri, and breaking faith with Fingolfin and with those faithful to him sailed away in them to Middle-earth, leaving the rest of his host to make their way on foot with great travail and loss. The ships were anchored off the shore, in the Firth of Drengist, and all the host of Fëanor went on land and camped there.
In the night Fëanor, filled with malice, aroused Curufin, and with him and a few of those most close to Fëanor in obedience he went to the ships and set them all aflame; and the dark sky was red as with a terrible dawn. All the camp was roused, and Fëanor returning said: 'Now at least I am certain that no faint-heart or traitor among you will be able to take back even one ship to the succour of Fingolfin and his folk.' But all save few were dismayed, because there were many things still aboard that they had not yet brought ashore, and the ships would have been useful for further journeying. They were still far north and had purposed to sail southward to some better haven.
In the morning the host was mustered, but of Fëanor's seven sons only six were to be found. Then Ambarussa (6) went pale with fear. 'Did you not then rouse Ambarussa my brother (whom you called Ambarto)?' he said. 'He would not come ashore to sleep (he said) in discomfort.' But it is thought (and no doubt Fëanor guessed this also) that it was in the mind of Ambarto to sail his ship back [?afterwards] and rejoin Nerdanel; for he had been much [?shocked] by the deed of his father.
'That ship I destroyed first,' said Fëanor (hiding his own dismay). 'Then rightly you gave the name to the youngest of your children,' said Ambarussa, 'and Umbarto "the Fated" was its true form. Fell and fey are you become.' And after that no one dared speak again to Fëanor of this matter.

[Ithrynluin]

1.

Does this mean that even at the moment, the fate of the Noldor was already sealed, and they were just fighting a hopeless fight? Was it pre-ordained? Was it some Kind of a Vision? Or was it only that at his dying moment Feanor had recollected his wits and through his wisdom had reached the conclusion that their defeat was evident.

In a sense, everything was preordained. Despite the free will everyone had, Ilúvatar's plan got carried out one way or another. Morgoth was simply too strong for the Noldor to withstand him, even with the help of faithful friends such as the Sindar, Men and the Dwarves.

2.

Do you think that initially Noldor themselves helped in spread the Rumor’s that they came to ‘Beleriand’ for the help of their sundered kindered, because they felt ashamed of their acts, specially the Kinslaying effected at Olwe’s people?


No, I think it was just a logical assumption. I mean if your long-sundered kindred returns, you're bound to hope that they will help you in whatever troubles are plaguing you. They were of the same race, and Morgoth was their common enemy.

Either that or wishful thinking.


The feast led to a drastic change in Noldor lifestyle; they adapted Sindarin, the tongue of grey-elves, due to the racial mixing, except in Gondolin, which Turgon kept as a purely Noldorin empire.


Gondolin had many of the Sindar in their population. The idea that Noldorin was spoken in Gondolin was later abandoned. All the lands adopted a sort of Sindarin language enriched by Noldorin words and phrases. Doriath is the sole exception, with Thingol having forbidden the use of Noldorin.

The History of Middle Earth XI: The War of the Jewels; The Grey Annals
By later changes to the text (see notes 8-11) the idea that Noldorin remained in daily use in Gondolin was abandoned.


3.

Question One: In the light of the above example, do the Dragon’s possess a will of their own, so much that they could even defy his orders?

I think dragons were completely subservient to Morgoth, their creator. But if 'Morgoth was ill-pleased that Glaurung had disclosed himself over-soon', why did he order Glaurung to come forth in the firtst place? Still I doubt this could be a sign of Glaurung defying Morgoth's command.

A related thread that deals with this issue:
Dragons: Why do they have free will? (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6690)

4.

Question Twp: Why did Noldor had greater share of power and mind?
What is this ‘Light of Aman’? What effect did it have on the indwellers? Did it enhance their mental and physical skills? If so why and how? Any ideas?


As for the 'how' I don't think much can be said to get to the bottom. We can say that the light of Aman 'magically' enhances those that dwell in the Undying Lands.

See also: Who were the High-Elves? (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12812)

[I]5.

[2*]: Why was the fen of Search so named?


Because it consisted of marshlands? Similar to the swampy delta of the Entwash/Anduin influx.

6.

[3*]: [B]We are told that Morgoth didn’t knew for the time being about the death of Feanor, now how could this be so if he himself had sent the Balrogs? Did the Balrogs came out of Angband due to their own will and without any prior permission from there master? How did they travel? Any notion of the area of Dol-Delodreth?


Answering that question would prompt the opening of a very familiar can of worms. See a 'certain' thread in the Hall of Fire. ;)

[Elfarmari]

Does this mean that even at the moment, the fate of the Noldor was already sealed, and they were just fighting a hopeless fight? Was it pre-ordained? Was it some Kind of a Vision? The general form that 'history' would take regarding the Ainur and Eldar was pre-ordained, set by Illuvatar and the Ainur in the Ainulindale. While they made their own free decisions, I see it as 'bounds' being already set on their will, as with Melkor all that they did would eventually only further Eru's plan.

Do you think that initially Noldor themselves helped in spread the Rumor’s that they came to ‘Beleriand’ for the help of their sundered kindered, because they felt ashamed of their acts, specially the Kinslaying effected at Olwe’s people?
I think they probably didn't offer much explanation, and when this suggestion was made by the Sindar simply did little to discourage it.

Question One: In the light of the above example, do the Dragon’s possess a will of their own, so much that they could even defy his orders? I have always pictured the dragons as having their own wills, but being tied to Melkor in somewhat the same way that the Ringwraiths were tied to Sauron. Perhaps not as totally, but I doubt that a dragon would directly disobey Melkor. It does not say that Melkor had ordered Glaurung not to disclose himself, I think it was more of an oversight on Melkor's part.

Question Two: Why did Noldor had greater share of power and mind?
Notes: [1*] What is this ‘Light of Aman’? What effect did it have on the indwellers? Did it enhance their mental and physical skills? If so why and how? Any ideas?
In addition to the 'magical' ability Ithrynluin suggested, IMHO the Noldor also had the great advantage of tutelage under the Valar. The Valar knew much more than the Sindar did.

Why was the fen of Search so named? The fen of Serech? Do you mean the 'fen' part or the 'serech' part? I would agree with Ithrynluin on why it was called a fen, as for Serech I have no idea.

[Inderjit S]

Gondolin had many of the Sindar in their population. The idea that Noldorin was spoken in Gondolin was later abandoned

The conception of Gondolin being a realm in which Quenya was spoken seems to have re-surfaced.

His names were, however, given in Quenya; for Turgon after his foundation of the secret city of Gondolin had re-established Quenya as the daily speech of his household. Shibboleth of Feanor (HoME 12)

Why did Noldor had greater share of power and mind?

Them living in 'unstained' Aman, the light of the Two trees, and their teachings of the Valar, in a nutshell.

We are told that Morgoth didn’t knew for the time being about the death of Feanor, now how could this be so if he himself had sent the Balrogs? Did the Balrogs came out of Angband due to their own will and without any prior permission from there master? How did they travel? Any notion of the area of Dol-Delodreth?

Feanor was alive when the Vanguard of Fëanor issued forth to rescue him, so they didn't then know he was dead, only badly wounded.

It seems that the Balrogs issued from Angband to aid the Orks, who were 'turning to bay'.

On the pre-ordainment of events;

Even so, and on the grounds of the stories as received, it is possible to view the matter otherwise. The closing of Valinor against the rebel Noldor (who left it voluntarily and after warning) was in itself just. But, if we dare to attempt to enter the mind of the Elder King, assigning motives and finding faults, there are things to remember before we deliver a judgement. Manwe was the spirit of greatest wisdom and prudence in Arda. He is represented as having had the greatest knowledge of the Music, as a whole, possessed by any one finite mind; and he alone of all persons or minds in that time is represented as having the power of direct recourse to and communication with Eru. He must have grasped with great clarity what even we may perceive dimly: that it was the essential mode of the process of 'history' in Arda that evil should constantly arise, and that out of it new good should constantly come. One especial aspect of this is the strange way in which the evils of the Marrer, or his inheritors, are turned into weapons against evil. If we consider the situation after the escape of Morgoth and the reestablishment of his abode in Middle-earth, we shall see that the heroic Noldor were the best possible weapon with which to keep Morgoth at bay, virtually besieged, and at any rate fully occupied, on the northern fringe of Middle-earth, without provoking him to a frenzy of nihilistic destruction. And in the meanwhile, Men, or the best elements in Mankind, shaking off his shadow, came into contact with a people who had actually seen and experienced the Blessed Realm. Myhts Transformed; HoME 10

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Inderjit S
The conception of Gondolin being a realm in which Quenya was spoken seems to have re-surfaced.

His names were, however, given in Quenya; for Turgon after his foundation of the secret city of Gondolin had re-established Quenya as the daily speech of his household.

Shibboleth of Feanor (HoME 12)

[/I]

The key word being 'household'. I think that quote is telling us that Turgon and his close associates and family possibly adopted Noldorin again.

I doubt the Sindar would have picked up on Quenya so easily, even if they were willing. They were much less skilled in languages than the Noldor. And the population of Gondolin consisted of more Sindar than Noldor, if I am not mistaken, so I guess they'd have to go with the majority?