Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

           NowFingolfin,KingoftheNorth,andHighKingoftheNoldor,seeingthathispeoplewerebecomenumerousandstrong,andthattheMenalliedtothemweremanyandvaliant,ponderedoncemoreanassaultuponAngband;forheknewthattheylivedindangerwhilethecircleofthesiegewasincomplete,andMorgothwasfreetolabourinhisdeepmines,devisingwhatevilsnonecouldforetellereheshouldrevealthem.Thiscounselwaswiseaccordingtothemeasureofhisknowledge;fortheNoldordidnotyetcomprehendthefullnessofthepowerofMorgoth,norunderstandthattheirunaidedwaruponhimwaswithoutfinalhope,whethertheyhastedordelayed.Butbecausethelandwasfairandtheirkingdomswide,mostoftheNoldorwerecontentwiththingsastheywere,trustingthemtolast,andslowtobeginanassaultinwhichmanymustsurelyperishwereitinvictoryorindefeatThereforetheywerelittledisposedtohearkentoFingolfin,andthesonsofFeanoratthattimeleastofall.AmongthechieftainsoftheNoldorAngrodandAegnoralonewereoflikemindwiththeKing;fortheydweltinregionswhenceThangorodrimcouldbedescried,andthethreatofMorgothwaspresenttotheirthought.ThusthedesignsofFingolfincametonaught,andthelandhadpeaceyetforawhile.