home？ In Cuiviénen sweet ran the waters under unclouded stars； and wide lands lay about； where a free people might
walk。 There they lie still and await us who in our folly forsook them。 e away！ Let the cowards keep this city！'
Long he spoke； and ever he urged the Noldor to follow him and by their own prowess to win freedom and great
realms in the lands of the East； before it was too late； for he echoed the lies of Melkor； that the Valar had cozened them
and would hold them captive so that Men might rule in Middle…earth。 Many of the Eldar heard then for the first time of
the Afterers。 'Fair shall the end be；' he cried； though long and hard shall be the road！ Say farewell to bondage！ But
say farewell also to ease！ Say farewell to the weak！ Say farewell to your treasures！ More still shall we make。 Journey
light： but bring with you your swords！ For we will go further than Orom？； endure longer than Tulkas： we will never turn
back from pursuit。 After Morgoth to the ends of the Earth！ War shall he have and hatred undying。 But when we have
conquered and have regained the Silmarils； then we and we alone shall be lords of the unsullied Light； and masters of
the bliss and beauty of Arda。 No other race shall oust us！'
Then F？anor swore a terrible oath。 His seven sons leapt straightway to his side and took the selfsame vow
together； and red as blood shone their drawn swords in the glare of the torches。 They swore an oath which none shall
break； and none should take； by the name even of Ilúvatar； calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not；
and Manw？ they named in witness； and Varda； and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil； 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。
Thus spoke Maedhros and Maglor and Celegorm； Curufin and Caranthir； Amrod and Amras； princes of the
Noldor； and many quailed to hear the dread words。 For so sworn； good or evil； an oath may not be broken； and it shall
pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end。 Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against F？anor； and
fierce words awoke； so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords。 But Finarfin spoke softly； as was his
wont； and sought to calm the Noldor； persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be
undone； and Orodreth； alone of his sons； spoke in like manner。 Finrod was with Turgon； his friend； but Galadriel； the
only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes； was eager to be gone。 No
oaths she swore； but the words of F？anor concerning Middle…earth had kindled in her heart； for she yearned to see the
wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will。 Of like mind with Galadriel was Fingon Fingolfin's son；
being moved also by F？anor's words； though he loved him little； and with Fingon stood as they ever did Angrod and
Aegnor； sons of Finarfin。 But these held their peace and spoke not against their fathers。
At length after long debate F？anor prevailed； and the greater part of the Noldor there assembled he set aflame
with the desire of new things and strange countries。 Therefore when Finarfin spoke yet again for heed and delay； a great
shout went up： 'Nay； let us be gone！' And straightway F？anor and his sons began to prepare for the marching forth。
Little foresight could there be for those who dared to take so dark a road。 Yet all was done in over…haste； for
F？anor drove them on； fearing lest in the cooling of their hearts his words should wane and other counsels yet prevail；
and for all his proud words he did not forget the power of the Valar。 But from Valmar no message came； and Manw？ was
silent。 He would not yet either forbid or hinder F？anor's purpose； for the Valar were aggrieved that they were charged
with evil intent to the Eldar； or that any were held captive by them against their will。 Now they watched and waited； for
they did not yet believe that F？anor could hold the host of the Noldor to his will。
And indeed when F？anor began the marshalling of the Noldor for their setting…out； then at once dissension arose。
For though he had brought the assembly in a mind to depart； by no means all were of a mind to take F？anor as King。
Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons； and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused
to renounce him； if he would go with them； and thus at the last as two divided hosts the Noldor set forth upon their bitter
road。 F？anor and his following were in the van； but the greater host came behind under Fingolfin； and he marched
against his wisdom； because Fingon his son so urged him； and because he would not be sundered from his people that
were eager to go； nor leave them to the rash counsels of F？anor。 Nor did he forget his words before the throne of
Manw？。 With Fingolfin went Finarfin also and for like reasons； but most loath was he to depart。 And of all the Noldor in
Valinor； who were grown now to a great people； but one tithe refused to take the road： some for the love that they bore
to the Valar （and to Aul？ not least）； some for the love of Tirion and the many things that they had made； none for fear of
peril by the way。
But even as the trumpet sang and F？anor issued from the gates of Tirion a messenger came at last from Manw？；
saying： 'Against the folly of F？anor shall be set my counsel only。 Go not forth！ For the hour is evil； and your road leads
to sorrow that ye do not foresee。 No aid will the Valar lend you in this quest； but neither will they hinder you； for this ye
shall know： as ye came hither freely； freely shall ye depart。 But thou F？anor Finw？'s son； by thine oath art exiled。 The
lies of Melkor thou shalt unlearn in bitterness。 Vala he is； thou saist Then thou hast sworn in vain； for none of the Valar
canst thou overe now or ever within the halls of E？； not though Eru whom thou namest had made thee thrice greater
than thou art。'
But F？anor laughed； and spoke not to the herald； but to the Noldor； saying： 'So！ Then will this valiant people send
forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only； and return to their bondage？ But if any will e
with me； I say to them： Is sorrow foreboded to you？ But in Aman we have seen it。 In Aman we have e through bliss
to woe。 The other now we will try： through sorrow to find joy； or freedom； at the least。'
Then turning to the herald he cried： 'Say this to Manw？ Súlimo； High King of Arda： if F？anor cannot overthrow
Morgoth； at least he delays not to assail him； and sits not idle in grief。 And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater
than thou knowest。 Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall
wonder to hear it。 Yea； in the end they shall follow me。 Farewell！'
In that hour the voice of F？anor grew so great and so potent that even the herald of the Valar bowed be