The Silmarils Are Stolen

Today's reading of The Silmarillion is action-packed. A lot happens that will have ramifications for years to come in Middle-earth. A mentor of mine who used to say: one choice affects an entire day, one day an entire week, one week an entire month, one month an entire year, and one year ripples through a lifetime. A good reminder that our choices matter. On to the action...

The Two Trees are dead. There is confusion and grief in Valinor. As Yavanna laments she states that even for the mightiest of Iluvatar's servants there are great deed that can be done once (i.e. she cannot recreate the Trees). However, she sees Feanor's foresight and hopes that with the Light of the Trees, which lives in his Silmarils, she might revive the Trees. She pleads with Feanor for the Silmarils to be unmade. There is silence from Feanor. Tulkos growing impatient and Aule warning against a forcing hasty decision.

Feanor at last responds, that he too, has completed his one great deed and he is loath to unmake the Silmarils. In fact should they be unmade he declares that he will be the first one slain in Valinor. "'Not the first,' said Mandos, but they did not understand his word" (p. 78, The Silmarillion). The lies of Melkor told to Feanor that the Valar would try to control the Silmarils seemed all the more true in this moment. At last Feanor declared: "'This thing I will not do of free will. But if the Valar will constrain me, then shall I know indeed that Melkor is of their kindred'" (p. 79, The Silmarillion).

Meanwhile, as this council takes place Melkor, with Ungoliant, went to Formenos--the place of Feanor's banishment. There Melkor slew Finwe, Feanor's father who did not come to Manwe's summons, (hence what Mandos was referring too) and took all the jewels, including the Silmarils. When news reached the council Feanor cursed both Melkor, and the summons of Manwe thinking he may of withstood Morgoth face-to-face. Feanor renamed Melkor Morgoth, Black Foe of the World, and ever after he was named such by the Eldar. Yet, Finwe his father was more dear to Feanor than even the Silmarils. I note that to give context for the decisions, tragic as they are, that Feanor will make.

Morgoth and Ungoliant make their way back to Middle-earth and try as he might Melkor cannot lose her. Ungoliant bade Morgoth to make good on the vow he made so lightly. "'Thou has a great treasure from Formenos; I will have all that. Yea, with both hands thou shalt give it'" (p. 80, The Silmarillion). Begrudgingly he gives her the jewels but witholds the Silmarils which by now are burning his hand. Ungoliant knew this and demanded Morgoth to give them up but he denied her. She had grown large from her feeding and rose up against him. Morgoth let out a terrible scream and summoned his servants of old, the Balrogs, to his aid and they drove Ungoliant back. Morgoth hastened to Angband to refortify. Ungoliant fled and went to Nan Dungortheh; she mated with and devoured spiders there. No definitive tale of her end is known: "Yet some have said that she ended long ago, when in her uttermost famine she devoured herself at last" (p. 81, The Silmarillion). Morgoth made himself a Crown of Iron placing the Silmarils within it and named himself King of the World. He began to build up his armies of Balrogs, Orcs, and other fell beasts.

In Valinor Feanor summoned the Noldor, breaking his banishment, and through fiery words roused their pride to leave the now marred Blessed Realm. Unbeknownst to him much of what he said were the lies of Morgoth yet there was also nobility to them as well: "'Shall we mourn here deedless forever, a shadow-folk, mist-haunting, dropping vain tears in the thankless sea? Or shall we return home?'" (p. 82-83, The Silmarillion). As the passions of the Noldor rose Feanor and his seven sons swore a fell and binding oath: "...vowing to pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala, Demon, Elf, or Man as yet unborn, or any creature, great or small, good or evil, that time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession" (p. 83, The Silmarillion). This oath would be the woe of many in days to come.

Middle-earth timeline: End of the Age of the Two Trees
Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 78-83