Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor ~Silmarillion Chapter 7 ~

Yes, my friends, we have finally arrived at the titular Silmarils. 

Fëanor created the three Silmarils, like gem in form, holding the light of the Trees. As with all things great and wondrous, the Silmarils caught the eye of Melkor. He doubled his efforts to disperse lies and rumours among the Noldor, causing them to distrust the Valar and one another; he then taught them to make weapons. Fëanor became overprotective of the Silmarils, and grew paranoid and jealous of others. 

In an attempt to address the unrest and the lies, Finwë summoned a council. Fëanor encouraged rebellion, Fingolfin spoke against it, and Fëanor took that as proof of Fingolfin's rumoured (though nonexistent) plot to usurp the throne. Fëanor threatened Fingolfin at swordpoint, and the Valar called council. Because of Fëanor's behaviour, he was sentenced to 12 years exile from Tirion. Fingolfin forgives his half brother and is desirous of reconciliation. Finwë departs with Fëanor, and Fingolfin ends up with the crown, by no design of his own. 

As a result of the councils of Finwë and the Valar, it became clear that Melkor was the cause of many problems, but he fled before he could be brought to justice. 

First of all, Fëanor is being a brat. However, despite what I just said, I still hold to my opinion that some of what Fëanor does is justifiable, and most of it is understandable and should not be tossed off lightly as 'naughty naughty'. Some of what he does is, of course, a result of a vindictive nature which we can all self-righteously complain about if we like. 

As a further disclaimer, I am not endorsing Fëanor's actions, I am merely saying that I refuse to have him discounted as a 'bad guy'.  

Anyhow, what were we talking about? Oh yes, Silmarils. 

"But not until the End, when Fëanor shall return who perished ere the Sun was made, and sits now in the Halls of Awaiting and comes no more among his kin; not until the Sun passes and the Moon falls, shall it be known of what substance they were made."

By some art unknown (save perhaps to Varda) Fëanor filled these 'gems' with the light of the Trees of Valinor. 

As he became obsessed with Arda in its beauty, so Melkor's mind was now filled with lust for the Silmarils. 

"Ever Melkor found some ears that would heed him, and some tongues that would enlarge what they had heard; and his lies passed from friend to friend, as secrets of which the knowledge proves the teller wise. Bitterly did the Noldor atone for the folly of their open ears in the days that followed after."

The main of Melkor's lies concerned the Valar. He filled the heads of the Elve's with thoughts of the power they should and could wield if they were not under the thumb of the Valar. He told them that their freedom was a sham, and that they were only being kept out of Middle-earth so that another race (men) might rule it. 

Melkor also spread rumours that Fingolfin was plotting to take the kingship of the Noldor from Fëanor.

Here we come to two points concerning Fëanor. 

First, it is interesting to note that though Fëanor ever hated Melkor, yet he was greatly influenced by him, and brought many of his schemes to pass. Fëanor never listened to Melkor, but he always heard him, and then his own mind took credit for the poison which filled it. Later, when Fëanor sees what he believes to be Fingolfin trying to undermine him, he says "even as I guessed", when in reality, all those ideas about Fingolfin were put there by Melkor. Fëanor was the perfect soil for the lies of the dark lord; he so refused the idea that he could be in any way influenced by Melkor, that he had to make his unpleasant thoughts come out of his own head, a more reliable source. If he had simply acknowledged that Melkor had tricked him, and that he had to be more careful, things might have gone differently. 

Second, Manwë pretty much does nothing this entire time. Fëanor (though his own talk did as much or more damage than that of Melkor) saw his people divided and confused and angry. What he sees, is that Manwë wrongly freed Melkor, and then did nothing to keep him in check; let him loose among the Noldor to do as he pleased. Manwë's 'perfect' Aman, in which Míriel dies and Melkor walks freely.....is it anything but natural for Fëanor to dislike Manwë. Then later, with the destruction of the trees, it can once more be blamed on the Valar's lack of vigilance. Fëanor, despite everything, really has quite a case against Manwë. 

Moving on. Finwë summons his lords to council. 

"For Fëanor now began openly to speak words of rebellion against the Valar, crying aloud that he would depart from Valinor back to the world without, and would deliver the Noldor from thraldom, if they would follow him." 

Fingolfin asks Finwë to 'talk some sense' into their wayward relation, and Fëanor enters the council, fully armed. He orders Fingolfin to leave, accusing him of trying to turn their father against him, and follows him to the door. 

"...and the point of his bright sword he set against Fingolfin's breast. 'See, half-brother!' he said. 'This is sharper than thy tongue. Try but once more to usurp my place and the love of my father, and maybe it will rid the Noldor of one who seeks to be the master of thralls.'"

This was (finally) a step too far, and Fëanor, as well as others among the Noldor, were summoned before Manwê. 

"Then at last the root was laid bare, and the malice of Melkor revealed ... But Fëanor was not held guiltless, for he it was that had broken the peace of Valinor and drawn his sword upon his kinsman; and Mandos said to him: 'Thou speakest of thraldom. If thraldom it be, thou canst not escape it; for Manwë is King of Arda, and not Aman only. And this deed was unlawful, whether in Aman or not in Aman. Therefore this doom is now made: for twelve years thou shalt leave Tirion ... But after that time this matter shall be set in peace and held redressed, if others will release thee.'

Then Fingolfin said: 'I will release my brother'."

Bear in mind that 12 years is the blink of an eye for elves. This sentence is ridiculously light, but Fëanor, proud as he is, stalks off to Formenos with his family to sulk, hiding the Silmarils with him. 

"Thither also came Finwë the King, because of the love that bore to Fëanor; and Fingolfin ruled the Noldor in Tirion. Thus the lies of Melkor were made true in seeming, though Fëanor by his own deeds had brought this thing to pass". 

Melkor, knowing he was discovered, fled and was not brought to justice (another thing for Fëanor to add to his 'reasons why Manwë is lame' list), he instead went to Fëanor, to offer his "assistance", but the door was quite literally slammed in his face.

So off went Melkor, and off went Fëanor, and off went peace and the days when people weren't constantly being killed.  

Wave goodbye to those wonderful days, and get your handkerchiefs out. From now on, the book is full of sad sad sad things, and the many good things are so beautiful that they are even harder to read.

 

For a full list of Silmarillion posts: theredbooknews.blogspot.com/silmarillion-posts
Family Trees and Diagrams (Silmarillion Series): theredbooknews.blogspot.com/sil
A List of the Valar: theredbooknews.blogspot.com/the-valar 
Maps: theredbooknews.blogspot.com/maps
Pronunciation Guide: theredbooknews.blogspot.com/pronunciation 

(Lest there should be any confusion or matter of rights and whatnot, all quotes in this post are from the works of JRR Tolkien, unless otherwise mentioned. There may be slight errors, misspellings, or alternate punctuation in the quotes, and if you notice such, please inform me so that I can speedily remedy them.)

Fëanor with silmaril by steamey: https://steamey.deviantart.com/