Mornië Alantië
After tiring of devouring the light that was readily available, the great spider Ungoliant and Morgoth, black foe of the world, hungered for something purer. The light of the Valmarian trees were unguarded. In the city shone the white Teleperion and the golden Laurelin, bathing the city in their glow. Bringing suffocating blackness with them, the two evil forms greedily consumed what was most beautiful in the region to the Valar.
Upon consuming the sap within the trees, Ungoliant grew to a terrible size, towering over her fearful companion. Morgoth fled and yet she followed, going with him to Angband. Ere they reached it, the huge creature desired payment. Many gems of beauty did Morgoth grudgingly feed to her. Still she demanded more. Three gems of immense and powerful radiance were hidden from her in his hand, for he sorely wished to keep them. She grew angry that he would not give them up to her and in her wrath spun threads all round him to kill him. Hearing their master's cry of excruciating pain, his Dark servants cut free the choking bonds that held him. Thus Ungoliant fled, without possession of the Silmarils, far into Beleriand underneath Ered Gorogoth, henceforward named the Valley of Dreadful Death.
She gave birth to many offspring and any being that dared to go near those parts soon met a horrible death. The spider lived long, perpetually bearing children of horrendous evil. The last she bore was named Shelob who was filled with cunning and malice. By this time, food was scarce for every living creature put it's live in peril if they came near the Valley.
Ungoliant's children were hungry. Shelob knew what to do. Telling the others of her plan, they waited until their immense mother was in a deep sleep. Carefully and as lightly as possible, as many as could fit climbed onto her and beneath her coarse hair, close to her veined skin. At Shelob's hoarse command, they all brought down their poisoned fangs into Ungoliant's soft flesh.
She awoke with a screech that shook the land's foundations. Trying to fight back, she realized that thick strands had tied down her long spindly legs. Her many searching eyes rolled in her head, looking for her attacker; the cause of entrapment and pain. As her children stabbed her over and over, filling her body with the venom that she had given them, her screams grew less piercing and her thrashing limbs became subdued. With one final moan of defeat, Ungoliant let her head fall with a mighty crash. The Gloomweaver was dead.
For two full circles of the Sun and Moon, they feasted. When they were done, for no trace of their mother remained, Shelob declared that they band together, forever gorging on the creatures of the land. This they did for some time, Shelob as their leader. Anganca, a dominant male hunter, questioned his sister's leadership abilities. He wanted to lead the pack for he was tired of doing what she wanted. Some heartily agreed but many others did not.
And so a violent fight erupted which left many brethren slain. Those who survived absconded with no direction and so were scattered. Shelob travelled lazily southeast, spreading terror in her wake. Meandering from one primitive home to another, she found a yearning to make for the Mountains of Ephel Dúath. Over the Fence of Shadow she clamoured and eventually came to a large tunnel with many caves branching from it. There, on the borders of Mordor, she waited.
After tiring of devouring the light that was readily available, the great spider Ungoliant and Morgoth, black foe of the world, hungered for something purer. The light of the Valmarian trees were unguarded. In the city shone the white Teleperion and the golden Laurelin, bathing the city in their glow. Bringing suffocating blackness with them, the two evil forms greedily consumed what was most beautiful in the region to the Valar.
Upon consuming the sap within the trees, Ungoliant grew to a terrible size, towering over her fearful companion. Morgoth fled and yet she followed, going with him to Angband. Ere they reached it, the huge creature desired payment. Many gems of beauty did Morgoth grudgingly feed to her. Still she demanded more. Three gems of immense and powerful radiance were hidden from her in his hand, for he sorely wished to keep them. She grew angry that he would not give them up to her and in her wrath spun threads all round him to kill him. Hearing their master's cry of excruciating pain, his Dark servants cut free the choking bonds that held him. Thus Ungoliant fled, without possession of the Silmarils, far into Beleriand underneath Ered Gorogoth, henceforward named the Valley of Dreadful Death.
She gave birth to many offspring and any being that dared to go near those parts soon met a horrible death. The spider lived long, perpetually bearing children of horrendous evil. The last she bore was named Shelob who was filled with cunning and malice. By this time, food was scarce for every living creature put it's live in peril if they came near the Valley.
Ungoliant's children were hungry. Shelob knew what to do. Telling the others of her plan, they waited until their immense mother was in a deep sleep. Carefully and as lightly as possible, as many as could fit climbed onto her and beneath her coarse hair, close to her veined skin. At Shelob's hoarse command, they all brought down their poisoned fangs into Ungoliant's soft flesh.
She awoke with a screech that shook the land's foundations. Trying to fight back, she realized that thick strands had tied down her long spindly legs. Her many searching eyes rolled in her head, looking for her attacker; the cause of entrapment and pain. As her children stabbed her over and over, filling her body with the venom that she had given them, her screams grew less piercing and her thrashing limbs became subdued. With one final moan of defeat, Ungoliant let her head fall with a mighty crash. The Gloomweaver was dead.
For two full circles of the Sun and Moon, they feasted. When they were done, for no trace of their mother remained, Shelob declared that they band together, forever gorging on the creatures of the land. This they did for some time, Shelob as their leader. Anganca, a dominant male hunter, questioned his sister's leadership abilities. He wanted to lead the pack for he was tired of doing what she wanted. Some heartily agreed but many others did not.
And so a violent fight erupted which left many brethren slain. Those who survived absconded with no direction and so were scattered. Shelob travelled lazily southeast, spreading terror in her wake. Meandering from one primitive home to another, she found a yearning to make for the Mountains of Ephel Dúath. Over the Fence of Shadow she clamoured and eventually came to a large tunnel with many caves branching from it. There, on the borders of Mordor, she waited.