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Noldor of Hithlum were assembled； together with Elves of the Falas and Gwindor's pany from Nargothrond； and he
had great strength of Men： upon the right were the host of Dor…lómin and all the valour of Húrin and Huor his brother；
and to them had e Haldir of Brethil with many men of the woods。
Then Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim； and there was a dark cloud about it； and a black smoke went up； and
he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused； and that their challenge was accepted。 A shadow of doubt fell upon
Fingon's heart； and he looked eastwards； seeking if he might see with elven…sight the dust of Anfauglith rising beneath
the hosts of Maedhros。 He knew not that Maedhros was hindered in his setting…forth by the guile of Uldor the accursed；
who deceived him with false warnings of assault from Angband。
But now a cry went up； passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale； and Elves and Men lifted their
voices in wonder and joy。 For unsummoned and unlocked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin； and was
e with an army ten thousand strong； with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest。 Then when Fingon
heard afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother； the shadow passed and his heart was uplifted； and he shouted aloud：
'Utúlie'n aur？！ Aiya Eldali？ ar Atanatári； utúlie'n aur？！ The day has e！ Behold； people of the Eldar and Fathers of
Men； the day has e！' And all those who heard his great voice echo in the hills answered crying： 'Auta i lóm？！ The
night is passing！'
Now Morgoth； who knew much of what was done and designed by his enemies； chose his hour； and trusting in his
treacherous servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes he sent a force seeming great （and yet but
part of all that he had made ready） towards Hithlum； and they were clad all in dun raiment and showed no naked steel；
and thus were already far over the sands of Anfauglith before their approach was seen。
Then the hearts of the Noldor grew hot； and their captains wished to assail their foes upon the plain； but Húrin
spoke against it； and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth； whose strength was always greater than it seemed； and
his purpose other than he revealed。 And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not； and the host grew
impatient； Húrin urged them still to await it； and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills。
But the Captain of Morgoth in the west had been manded to draw out Fingon swiftly from his hills by
whatever means he could。 He marched on therefore until the front of his battle was drawn up before the stream of Sirion；
from the walls of the fortress of Eithel Sirion to the inflowing of Rivil at the Fen of Serech； and the outposts of Fingon
could see the eyes of their enemies。 But there was no answer to his challenge； and the taunts of the Orcs faltered as they
looked upon the silent walls and the hidden threat of the hills。 Then the Captain of Morgoth sent out riders with tokens
of parley； and they rode up before the outworks of the Barad Eithel。 With them they brought Gelmir son of Guilin； that
lord of Nargothrond whom they had captured in the Bragollach； and they had blinded him。 Then the heralds of Angband
showed him forth； crying： 'We have many more such at home； but you must make haste if you would find them； for we
shall deal with them all when we return even so。' And they hewed off Gelmir's hands and feet； and his head last； within
sight of the Elves； and left him。
By ill chance； at that place in the outworks stood Gwindor of Nargothrond； the brother of Gelmir。 Now his wrath
was kindled to madness； and he leapt forth on horseback； and many riders with him； and they pursued the heralds and
slew them； and drove on deep into the main host。 And seeing this all the host of the Noldor was set on fire； and Fingon
put on his white helm and sounded his trumpets； and all the host of Hithlum leapt forth from the hills in sudden
onslaught。 The light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a fire in a field of reeds； and so fell and swift
was their onset that almost the designs of Morgoth went astray。 Before the army that he sent westward could be
strengthened it was swept away； and the banners of Fingon passed over Anfauglith and were raised before the walls of
Angband。 Ever in the forefront of that battle went Gwindor and the Elves of Nargothrond； and even now they could not
be restrained； and they burst through the Gate and slew the guards upon the very stairs of Angband； and Morgoth
trembled upon his deep throne； hearing them beat upon his doors。 But they were trapped there； and all were slain save
Gwindor only； whom they took alive； for Fingon could not e to their aid。 By many secret doors in Thangorodrim
Morgoth had let issue forth his main host that he held in waiting； and Fingon was beaten back with great loss from the
walls。
Then in the plain of Anfauglith； on the fourth day of the war； there began Nirnaeth Arnoediad； Unnumbered
Tears； for no song or tale can contain all its grief。 The host of Fingon retreated over the sands； and Haldir lord of the
Haladin was slain in the rearguard； with him fell most of the Men of Brethil； and came never back to their woods。 But on
the fifth day as night fell； and they were still far from Ered Wethrin； the Orcs surrounded the host of Hithlum； and they
fought until day； pressed ever closer。 In the morning came hope； when the horns of Turgon were heard as he marched up
with the main host of Gondolin； for they had been stationed southward guarding the Pass of Sirion； and Turgon
restrained most of his people from the rash onslaught。 Now he hastened to the aid of his brother； and the Gondolindrim
were strong and clad in mail； and their ranks shone like a river of steel in the sun。
Now the phalanx of the guard of the King broke through the ranks of the Orcs； and Turgon hewed his way to the
side of his brother； and it is told that the meeting of Turgon with Húrin； who stood beside Fingon； was glad in the midst
of battle。 Then hope was renewed in the hearts of the Elves； and in that very time； at the third hour of morning； the
trumpets of Maedhros were heard at last ing up from the east； and the banners of the sons of F？anor assailed the
enemy in the rear。 Some have said that even then the Eldar might have won the day； had all their hosts proved faithful；
for the Orcs wavered； and their onslaught was stayed； and already some were turning to flight。 But even as the vanguard
of Maedhros came upon the Orcs； Morgoth loosed his last strength； and Angband was emptied。 There came wolves； and
wolfriders； and there came Balrogs； and dragons； and Glaurung father of dragons。 The strength and terror of the Great
Worm were now great indeed； and Elves and Men withered before him； and he came between the hosts of Maedhros and
Fingon and swept them apart。
Yet neither by wolf； nor by Balrog； nor by Dragon； would Morgoth have achieved his end； but for the treachery
of Men。 In this hour the plots of Ulfang were revealed。 Many of the Easterlings turned and