e
purpose of Melkor； she was torn between lust and great fear； for she was loath to dare the perils of Aman and the power
of the dreadful Lords； and she would not stir from her hiding。 Therefore Melkor said to her： 'Do as I bid； and if thou
hunger still when all is done； then I will give thee whatsoever thy lust may demand。 Yea； with both hands。' Lightly he
made this vow； as he ever did； and he laughed in his heart。 Thus did the great thief set his lure for the lesser。
A cloak of darkness she wove about them when Melkor and Ungoliant set forth； an Unlight； in which things
seemed to be no more； and which eyes could not pierce； for it was void。 Then slowly she wrought her webs： rope by
rope from cleft to cleft； from jutting rock to pinnacle of stone； ever climbing upwards； crawling and clinging； until at last
she reached the very summit of Hyarmentir； the highest mountain in that region of the world； far south of great
Taniquetil。 There the Valar were not vigilant； for west of the Pelóri was an empty land in twilight； and eastward the
mountains looked out； save for forgotten Avathar； only upon the dim waters of the pathless sea。 But now upon the
mountain…top dark Ungoliant lay； and she made a ladder of woven ropes and cast it down； and Melkor climbed upon it
and came to that high place； and stood beside her； looking down upon the Guarded Realm。 Below them lay the woods of
Orom？； and westward shimmered the fields and pastures of Yavanna； gold beneath the tall wheat of the gods。 Bat
Melkor looked north； and saw afar the shining plain； and the silver domes of Valmar gleaming in the mingling of the
lights of Telperion and Laurelin。 Then Melkor laughed aloud； and leapt swiftly down the long western slopes； and
Ungoliant was at his side； and her darkness covered them。
Now it was a time of festival； as Melkor knew well。 Though all tides and seasons were at the will of the Valar；
and in Valinor there was no winter of death； nonetheless they dwelt then in the Kingdom of Arda； and that was but a
small realm in the halls of E？； whose life is Time； which flows ever from the first note to the last chord of Eru。 And even
as it was then the delight of the Valar （as is told in the Ainulindal？） to clothe themselves as in a vesture in the forms of
the Children of Ilúvatar； so also did they eat and drink； and gather the fruits of Yavanna from the Earth； which under Eru
they had made。
Therefore Yavanna set times for the flowering and the ripening of all things mat grew in Valinor； and at each first
gathering of fruits Manw？ made a high feast for the praising of Eru； when all the peoples of Valinor poured forth their
joy in music and song upon Taniquetil。 This now was the hour； and Manw？ decreed a feast more glorious than any that
had been held since the ing of the Eldar to Aman。 For though the escape of Melkor portended toils and sorrows to
e； and indeed none could tell what further hurts would be done to Arda ere he could be subdued again； at this time
Manw？ designed to heal the evil that had arisen among the Noldor； and all were bidden to e to his halls upon
Taniquetil； there to put aside the griefs that lay between their princes； and forget utterly the lies of their Enemy。 There
came the Vanyar； and there came the Noldor of Tirion； and the Maiar were gathered together； and the Valar were arrayed
in their beauty and majesty； and they sang before Manw？ and Varda in their lofty halls； or danced upon the green slopes
of the Mountain that looked west towards the Trees。 In that day the streets of Valmar were empty； and the stairs of Tirion
were silent； and all the land lay sleeping in peace。 Only the Teleri beyond the mountains still sang upon the shores of the
sea； for they recked little of seasons or times； and gave no thought to the cares of the Rulers of Arda； or the shadow that
had fallen on Valinor； for it had not touched them； as yet。
One thing only marred the design of Manw？。 F？anor came indeed； for him alone Manw？ had manded to
e； but Finw？ came not； nor any others of the Noldor of Formenos。 For said Finw？： 'While the ban lasts upon F？anor
my son； that he may not go to Tirion； I hold myself unkinged； and I will not meet my people。' And F？anor came not in
raiment of festival； and he wore no ornament； neither silver nor gold nor any gem； and he denied the sight of the
Silmarils to the Valar and the Eldar； and left them locked in Formenos in their chamber of iron。 Nevertheless he met
Fingolfin before the throne of Manw？； and was reconciled； in word； and Fingolfin set at naught the unsheathing of the
sword。 For Fingolfin held forth his hand； saying： 'As I promised； I do now。 I release thee； and remember no grievance。'
Then F？anor took his hand in silence； but Fingolfin said： 'Half…brother in blood； full brother in heart will I be。
Thou shalt lead and I will follow。 May no new grief divide as。'
'I hear thee；' said F？anor。 'So be it。' But they did not know the meaning that their words would bear。
It is told that even as F？anor and Fingolfin stood before Manw？ there came the mingling of the lights； when both
Trees were shining； and the silent city of Valmar was filled with a radiance of silver and gold。 And in that very hour
Melkor and Ungoliant came hastening over the fields of Valinor； as the shadow of a black cloud upon the wind fleets
over the sunlit earth； and they came before the green mound Ezellohar。 Then the Unlight of Ungoliant rose up even to
the roots of the Trees； and Melkor sprang upon the mound； and with his black spear he smote each Tree to its core；
wounded them deep； and their sap poured forth as it were their blood； and was spilled upon the ground。 But Ungoliant
sucked it up； and going then from Tree to Tree she set her black beak to their wounds； till they were drained； and the
poison of Death that was in her went into their tissues and withered them； root； branch； and leaf； and they died。 And still
she thirsted； and going to the Wells of Varda she drank them dry； but Ungoliant belched forth black vapours as she
drank； and swelled to a shape so vast and hideous that Melkor was afraid。
So the great darkness fell upon Valinor。 Of the deeds of that day much is told in the Aldudéni？； that Elemmír？ of
the Vanyar made and is known to all the Eldar。 Yet no song or tale could contain all the grief and terror that then befell。
The Light failed； but the Darkness that followed was more than loss of light。 In that hour was made a Darkness that
seemed not lack but a thing with being of its own： for it was indeed made by malice out of Light； and it had power to
pierce the eye； and to enter heart and mind； and strangle the very will。
Varda looked down from Taniquetil； and beheld the Shadow soaring up in sudden towers of gloom； Valmar had
foundered in a deep sea of night。 Soon the Holy Mountain stood alone； a last island in a world that was drowned。 All
song ceased。 There was silence in Valinor； and no sound could be heard； save only from afar there came on the wind
through the pass of the mountains the wailing of the Teleri like the cold cry of gulls。 For it ble