The Battle Under The Stars

Second battle in the War of the Jewels. The Battle-under-Stars was fought in 1497 of the Years of the Trees between the Noldor led by Feanor and the forces of Morgoth. The Elves were victorious but Feanor was killed after the battle.

Feanor and the Noldor came to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands to retrieve the Silmarils that had been stolen by Morgoth. There were not enough ships to carry all of them so Feanor abandoned Fingolfin and his followers whom he considered disloyal. Upon arrival in Middle-earth, Feanor ordered the ships to be burned rather than use them to return for the others.

Feanor's people came ashore at Lammoth - the Great Echo - on the Firth of Drengist and they journeyed inland through Hithlum and set up camp on the northern shore of Lake Mithrim. Morgoth was alerted to their presence by the fire of the burning ships and the noise of their resounding voices in Lammoth.

Morgoth's forces came over the Ered Wethrin into Mithrim and attacked the Noldor. Feanor's people were unprepared and outnumbered but in 10 days they won the battle, "for the light of Aman was not yet dimmed in their eyes, and they were strong and swift, and deadly in anger, and their swords were long and terrible."

The Orcs were driven back over the Ered Wethrin onto Ard-galen. Another of Morgoth's armies - which had been besieging the Havens of the Falas since the First Battle earlier that year - came north to help the Orcs. Both armies were driven into the Fen of Serech by Feanor's son Celegorm who waylaid them from the hills near Eithel Sirion. Only a small part of Morgoth's forces returned to Angband.

Feanor was determined to overthrow Morgoth and reclaim his Silmarils. He followed the fleeing Orcs northward to Dor Daedeloth with no knowledge of the strength of Angband or Morgoth's defenses. In his haste, Feanor outpaced his army and became separated from them. Balrogs led by Gothmog came from Angband and attacked Feanor. After a long struggle, Feanor was mortally wounded by Gothmog. Before he died, Feanor had his sons promise to keep their oath to retrieve the Silmarils.