Updated 19 Sep 06. Here is the epic story of how Morgoth tries to destroy the Sun and Moon and return Middle Earth to darkness. Excerpts are taken from the Silmarillion and the story is based on the MERP role playing game, The Court of Ardor.

The Death of Telperion and Laurelin

In the land of eternal light, only darkness reigned.

The two massive Trees of Light shone no more, their essence drained by the horror of the spider demon, Ungoliant and the treachery of the most powerful of the Vala, Melkor. Darkness shrouded all of Eä, the world made by Eru the creator. Once, the Trees had given forth light for eons over the blessed land, called Valinor in the language of the Elves who inhabited it. Created by the Valar, powerful beings and rulers of Valinor, the Trees' brilliance could be seen a continent away on Middle Earth. Telperion and Laurelin they were called, inspiring the sophisticated culture of the immortal Elves. Now they were just dead wood.

In the confusion that ensued, Melkor sacked the holds of the Noldor Elves and stole their treasures. There, he slew the Finwë, High King of the Noldor and took the most sacred of jewels, the Simarili. Finwë's son, the mighty Fëanor, discovered this treachery and named Melkor, Morgoth Bauglir, the dark enemy.

Then, Morgoth and the hideous Ungoliant fled out of Valinor after their wicked deed and passed over the grinding ice of the North and then to Morgoth's hold of Angband, there to quarrel over the treasures they had stolen from the Elves. The Valar, Tulkas and Orome, gave pursuit, but the dark webs of Ungoliant shrouded their retreat and the chase was abandoned in confusion and despair.

Angband

Fëatur

Deep in the bowels of the fortress of Angband, the Elf Feätur wept bitter tears. In his younger days in Valinor, he had been swayed by Melkor's sweet words and had been enlisted in the Vala's service. Melkor had taught him well and he had grown powerful in the service of the Vala. He and his twin sister, also named Feätur, had been an amusement for the mighty Vala, as they would often impersonate each other to fool their fellows. However, their similarities ended with their appearance. The brother, never truly corrupt, had begun to doubt Melkor's words of a new world order and a better, freer existence for all Elves.

From the depths of twisted fortress, he wept upon hearing of the death of the Trees. He remembered their godlike beauty from the blessed land and he renounced Morgoth and his lies. My crimes are unforgivable. I have fallen into evil, thinking I was doing good. I caused the Elves to look away so that Melkor could pervert their minds and deceive them.

No longer could he live with his own guilt, having furthered the cause of evil and spreading deception among the Elves. His own words spoke against those who saw through Morgoth and desired his banishment from Valinor. He had helped to trick the rulers of Valinor until Morgoth could mount his attack.

If I had only seen the truth. If I had only known. There is no going back.

His life should end here, encased in the foul pits of Angband. On his knees, he raised his hands up. "Illuvatar, I have betrayed you," he cried out to Eru. "End my suffering and let me pay for my crimes."

The taste of salty tears was thick in his mouth and he collapsed on the ground in grief. It was then that the hand of Eru released his spirit.

As with all Elves, Feätur's spirit returned to Valinor and passed into the Halls of Mandos, there to stand within the Mahanaxar; the Ring of Doom, and answer for his life. On his knees before the assemble judges, he begged for forgiveness. "Cast me into the utter void! I deserve no less."

The Valar sat in judgment, listening to his pleas. Sensing his heart to be cleansed and moved by his repentance, the powerful Valar found mercy and Feätur's life was returned to him. Manwë, Lord of the Valar, pointed a stern, but merciful finger at the elf. "We charge you, Feätur, to return east across the Sea to Middle Earth to combat the minions of Morgoth. You will be a beacon for the free peoples, though your road will be long and painful. This will be your penance."

Golden haired Feätur, Lord among the Elves wept again, this time for joy. However, over the millennia that he would yet live, he could never forget nor forgive his own transgression.

The Jewels of Fëanor

With the death of the Trees, the World had been plunged into utter darkness. Shrouded from detection, Morgoth and his wicked companion sped away. Fleeing North, Morgoth sacked the city of Formenos and slew King Finwë there.

The treasures of the Noldor were taken, including the Silmarili, fantastic jewels created by Fëanor, Finwë's eldest son and the greatest of the Elven smiths. The three jewels, made from the light of the Two Trees, burned Morgoth's hands with fire, but his greed drove him on.

Upon arriving in Lammoth in northwest Middle­ Earth, Ungoliant confronted her companion and demanded the riches stolen from Formenos. Devouring most of the jewels, save the priceless Silmarili, the Spirit of the Void grew. She loomed like a monstrous spider shaped cloud of black nothingness and demanded Fëanor's creations. The rogue Vala refused and the former allies battled. Summoning his Balrogs, mighty spirits of flame, Morgoth prevailed. Ungoliant fled into the wilderness of the continent, Endor. Ungoliant eventually made her home in the Valley of Dreadful Death, known as the Nan Dungortheb, on the northern edge of the land of Beleriand. She devoured all that lived there and mated with some of her monstrous prey. She spawned a race of demon spiders that would haunt Endor for ages. Here, she also belched out the devoured jewels in huge clouds of darkness, warped and corrupted.

Rescued by the Balrogs and forever free of Ungoliant, Morgoth journeyed to Angband and rejoined the remainder of his surviving servants. There, his lieutenant, Sauron had gathered the remnants of the host that served the Black Enemy before his fall in the Battle of the Powers. Morgoth took a new throne and began to rebuild his frozen domain. Strengthening his numbers, he augmented Angband's delvings and constructed a stronghold that rivaled his old, now shattered, subterranean fortress at Utumno. The waste of his minions' toils piled skyward with each passing year. Using this slag, the Black Enemy erected Thangorodrim, the triad of peaks beneath which lay his dark capital.

Morgoth claimed dominion over the World, calling himself King. To symbolize his sovereignty, he placed the three Silmirili in a crown of iron, the most potent item of power he ever created. With it, he channels his energies to forge an army of countless denizens: Orcs and Trolls, Wolves and Wargs, Spectres and Werebeasts, as well as Dragons and Balrogs. In a most foul experiment, Morgoth warped captured elves and turned them into the vicious orcs.

When the darkness had passed from Valinor and the damage assessed, the Noldor of Aman planned to avenge their King's murder. Fëanor declared himself High King of the Noldor and cursed the Valar for their weakness. His words were filled with anger, stirring the Noldor to madness. He urged the Noldor to follow him away from the Blessed Land and win their own freedom and establish great realms.

Together with his seven sons, Fëanor swore to pursue with vengeance any whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession. There too, stood young Almarië, daughter of Maglor, son of Fëanor. Fair she was and strong of body and spirit. As her father and grandfather swore their oath, silent she stood, unable to utter the horrible oath.

Leaving through the eastward pass called Calacirya, the Noldor entered Eldamar on the eastern coast of Aman. There, they encountered the sea faring elves called the Teleri at the Haven of Alqualondë. They requested the use of the Teleri's beautiful Swan Ships to ferry them to Endor. King Olwë's Teleri refused, knowing that the Noldor were in revolt. Enraged, the Noldor attacked their brother Elves, and stole their enchanted boats to depart Valinor. The lightly armed Teleri fought valiantly, but were no match for the proud and well-armed Noldor. Almarië watched as the friends of her youth were slaughtered by her kin. She wept bitter tears as the bloodied swan ships sailed from the Blessed Realm.

There, the Kin slaying of Alqualondë doomed the Noldor. Thus, they incurred the wrath of the Valar and the Curse of Mandos, doomsayer among the Valar. Fëanor laughed in spite as his people cowered. Thus it was that the Noldor passed out of Valinor into the darkness of Middle Earth.

The journey was long and arduous and there were many dissenters. Fëanor repaid them by leaving them on the shore while he and those faithful to him sailed away. Landing on the shores of Middle Earth, he burned the unearthly swan boats of the Teleri, determined that he should never look back.

Morgoth, learning of the landing, attacked. With his orcs and huge trolls, he assaulted the Noldor encampments. Fëanor's fury overcame the minions of Morgoth they were quickly defeated and fled. As Morgoth's legions melted, Maglor and his daughter Almarië hewed their way to the forefront of the battle. Many orcs and other demons fell before the sword of the Eldarin princess.

In his madness, Fëanor became berserk and could not me contained. He pursued the beaten enemy North outrunning his own troops. Soon he alone was in pursuit. Seeing the turn of events, Morgoth unleashed his Balrogs, fire spirits of incredible might, and Fëanor was dealt mortal wounds by Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs. Fëanor's seven sons drove the horde of demons away, but Fëanor passed soon after, holding his sons to their oath.

Thus ended the Battle Under the Stars. Upon Fëanor death, Fingolfin was named as the High King of the Noldor.

The darkness that surrounded Valinor was complete and a doom hung over the blessed land. They had been deceived and betrayed by the powerful Morgoth. Now the Noldor had revolted and departed the land. Many Teleri lay dead and their boats taken and burned. The Noldor who remained lived in shame and guilt. However, in the depths of despair, Eru revealed a plan so grand and astonishing that the Valar and the Elves were amazed.

The Sun and Moon

The rising of the Sun and Moon were first seen in Valinor and heralded as an unparalleled event in history. Songs were sung and praises given. The receptacles of light were fashioned by the great Vala Smith, Aulë and inhabited by spirits of lesser power called Maiar. They would travel the sky bringing light and hope to the peoples of the World and fear to those of evil.

The orcs, trolls and other demons that served Morgoth fell on their faces in fear upon sight of the rising Sun. His armies fled in terror back to the Fortress of Angband, sealing themselves in the dark caverns. Morgoth cursed his brother and sister Valar and resolved to find a way to bring these monstrosities down from the sky.

Sixty years after the rising of the Sun and Moon, Morgoth unleashed another assault upon the Elves. The new Noldor King, Fingolfin, routed the hordes of Morgoth and his armies chased the orcs to the very gates of Angband. Fingolfin pounded upon the gates of Angband, challenging Morgoth himself. Godlike Vala though he was, Morgoth shook with fear and hid in his fortress. The Noldor victory was complete and Angband was laid siege for more than four hundred years.