His kin had then narrated the recent misfortunes of the Noldor. Indeed, the long peace that has lasted since the sun had come up had ended when he was but a babe. And it had ended in a horrible way. Still, in their tale of horror glimmer for hope could be seen..
"In Dagor Bragollach, the battle of sudden flame,
Was not the pride of Noldor put to shame?
"If if all the might of Morgoth comes forth
Our leaguer will be broken only by treachery!"
Had boasted the High King of the North.
Did not the fury of Angband made such mockery
Of the tall claims of Noble Fingolfin?"
"On a winter day, cold and moonless
All was still and quiet, all asleep and few restless
Only the snoring of the sleepers had kept the watch half awake
When from Angband rose torrents of hissing flame,
And like the dance of Northern lights
The north sky was lit red and bright
This was not nature revealed in heavenly splendor
For the Noldor to the Morgoth's sheer delight
This was the Crack of Doom!
The siege of Angband was rent asunder
As on the sleeping men and elves the flood of fire came
And devoured many alive on Ard Galen
Also burned down all camps and forts on that sea of green
Where the elves had bred Valinor horses that had roamed serene
Like swans gracefully moving on a vast lake,
Now left in the fire floods wake,
Were only charred bones and a gaping dusty plain."
"On those soldiers spared the fire
The smoke, stench and the lingering gloom
Cast a cloak of utter dismay and dark despair
They could not rally and resist
The numberles hordes of Orcs that were then released
From the pits of Morgoth's lofty tower.
Like fallen leaves flying before a winter breeze
All his foes were swept away
Morgoth took Ard Galen with such ease
How many Elves and men died that day?"
Then on the mountains the black storm broke
The Elves barely weathered that mighty stroke."
"The Noldor also saw their ranks diminish
When many Sindar fled the field in terror
And hid in Doriath, far from the Northern horror,
Leaving the dwellers of Ladros and Dorthonion
To face the onrushing assault utterly alone
As armies of dragons, Balrogs and Orcs
Prevented the three houses of Noldor
From uniting and closing ranks.
Like ice welting under the scorching sun,
The flower of Noldor had withered ere battle was done."
"Now can you recall,
The beginning of the fall
Of the proud Princes of the Noldor?
With Blue and Silver banners flying in the foul breeze
Issued forth the High King from Barad Ethel.
The yellow headed men of Dor-lomin
Also marched in the train of Fingolfin.
Their silver mails woven like fish scales
The cloaked Hithlum host marched
They shone with a sliver glow,
Like sunlight shining on ice and snow.
The blue and black plumes on their jeweled helms
Bobbed and weaved in the breeze
And they held their swords, shields and spears
With such practiced ease.
Like swarms of eagles in flight, a sight of sheer delight
To the East went Fingolfin with his folk
To drive back Andbands' might."
"Like two opposing tides the warring sides
Crashed into each other along the banks of Sirion
The battle began with such high hope
As with the skill and zeal of Hithlum the Orcs could not cope
Before the rage of Fingon and the valor of Hador
The Orc cohorts broke and north they fled in dismay
The host of Hithlum swiftly reformed
And set forth toward Dorthonion
Then came again another host from Angband
And the march began to falter
Their horses neighed and shied,
Away from the Wargs and Wolf riders
Many riders were thrown and slain
Heralding the coming slaughter
Yet the Noldor would not break and flee
Their horsemen dismounted
Joining the ranks of their infantry
Strove to ward off any disaster."
"Long and hard was this battle
On the now ash covered plain
The Noldor slew Orcs like cattle,
Before the eastern bank of Sirion,
Slowly rose mounds of bodies of the Orc slain
The roar of warriors and the groans of pain
Echoed from the mountain walls again and again
Grimly the Noldor and folk of Hador fought
Long they denied Morgoth the victory he sought
Blue and white shone the slashing Noldor swords
Among the Orc iron mails and dark shrouds
It was like countless flashes of thunder
Against the backdrop of black rain clouds
Before the skill of that valiant folk
Hordes and hordes of wolves, trolls and Orcs went under
Even the Balrogs of the dark lord
Were wary of the Hithlum swords
Rarely did they seek to assail
The Noldor lords clad in mithril mail
Yet all this came to no avail
The weight on numbers were too much to quell
After hewing and warring for many days
The strength of Hithlum began to fail,
Beaten back was the host of Fingolfin and Fingon.
In the rearguard of the high king
With many men fell Lords Hador and Gundor of Dor-lomin
The height of Ered Withrin and the skill of those hardy folk
Then just contained Angbands' relentless assaults
Barely the Noldor held the forts of Hithlum.
Try as they might,
To aid Dorthonion they could not come."