Chapter 9 - Of the Flight of the Noldor - J.R.R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Flight of the Noldor
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In Valinor, there was no longer any light from the Trees after their poisoning by Melkor and Ungoliant. The only light in the sky was that produced by the stars of Varda, much like how it was in Middle-earth. Yavanna went to the Trees and found they had been shriveled and ruined beyond her ability to heal. But if she had even a little bit of the former light of the Trees, she might have been able to bring the Trees back to life. The only light of the Trees now rested in the Silmarils of Fëanor.

The Valar asked Fëanor to give Yavanna the Silmarils so she could break them open and use the light within. But Fëanor refused to give them up.

But soon, even worse news soon came. Messengers arrived from Formenos, saying that the fortress had been attacked by Melkor and the Silmarils and other treasures stolen. Worst of all, Fëanor's father, Finwë, had been slain by Melkor. Enraged, Fëanor gave Melkor the name he is known by forever after: Morgoth, the dark enemy of the world.

Meanwhile, Morgoth and Ungoliant both fled to the northern wastes of Araman beyond the Pelóri mountains. Ungoliant cornered Morgoth and demanded the payment he promised. Morgoth grudgingly gave her the jewels of Formenos, but this caused her only to grow even bigger. Ungoliant then demanded that he give her the Silmarils as well, but he refused to give them up. She attacked Morgoth, causing him to scream in agony. His cries reached the ruins of Angband and awakened the Balrogs that hid there. Using their flame whips, they drove Ungoliant off before she could take the Silmarils. She fled south toward Doriath.

Morgoth went back to Angband and began rebuilding it. He set the Silmarils into an iron crown which he wore at all times, even though their touch burned him. He raised the three peaks of Thangorodrim above his fortress and sent forth black clouds nearby.

Back in Valinor, the Valar and Maiar and Elves sat in the darkness. Suddenly, Fëanor reappeared in Tirion, calling upon all who would listen to come to him. He spoke of the supposed enslavement of the Noldor by the Valar, who he said brought the Elves to Valinor so that they could use the race of Men to rule Middle-earth in their stead, for Men would be easier to control than Elves. He called for the Noldor to return to Middle-earth and leave Valinor so they could set up their own realms in Middle-earth.

Prevailing over those who opposed him Fëanor drove his people northward, not letting them stop to fully consider their actions. The exiles left Tirion forever, some less willingly than others.

The exiles went northwards until they reached the Great Sea of Belegaer. Fëanor realized that he had no boats to reach Middle-earth. The Noldor stormed the docks of Teleri and began taking the ships. The Teleri resisted, but Elven blood was shed by Elves in what would be later known as the first Kinslaying.

The Noldor managed to get the boats moving, but as they began to leave, a figure appeared. Some say it was Mandos himself. There he gave the Doom of Mandos: a prophecy that the Noldor shall not succeed in their futile quest. The penalty for slaying the Teleri was great. The Noldor would shed unnumbered tears and all of their works would be destroyed. The house of Fëanor would lose the high kingship of the Noldor. And even if they tried to seek the aid of the Valar, the realm of Valinor would be fenced against them and no help would come.

Fëanor scoffed at this and rejected the message, but Finarfin relented and went back to Valinor, taking some people with him. The exiles now set about the task of going to Middle-earth. There were not enough boats to take them all over, so Fëanor took his sons and those who are most loyal and stole the boats so they could get over first. Upon arriving in Middle-earth, Fëanor ordered the ships burned so that no one could follow them.

Fingolfin saw the great burning of the ships and thus knew that Fëanor has betrayed him. He led his people on a perilous journey across the Helcaraxë.

Timeline of Arda:

Years of the Trees
4995: The Darkening of Valinor.
* Manwë tries to heal the feud of the Noldor, and summons Fëanor to a festival in Valimar.
* Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees, kill Finwë, steal the Silmarils, and flee to Middle-earth.
* Fëanor becomes High King of the Noldor, renaming Melkor as Morgoth.
* Fëanor and his sons swear an oath to regain the Silmarils and the majority of the Noldor depart from Valinor.
* Noldor kill many Teleri and seize their ships in the First Kinslaying.
4996: Doom of Mandos: the Noldor are banished from Valinor and face great doom.
* Finarfin turns back and returns to Valinor.
4997: The Noldor arrive at Helcaraxë.
* Fëanor and his host betray the sons of Indis and sail across, then burn the ships at Losgar.
* They begin devising the Moon and Sun.
5000: The host of Fingolfin arrives in Middle-earth.
* the Moon arises.