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Fingolfin Justin M. Fitzpatrick Fingolfin, second son of Finwe, was the high king of the Noldor in Middle-earth after the death of Feanor at Dagor-nuin-Giliath, 'Battle Under the Stars.' He and his people followed reluctantly after Feanor in the pursuit of Morgoth after the theft of the Silmarils. Though not completely without blame for the Kinslaying, Fingolfin and his people were less to blade for the Doom of the Noldor and they held a burning anger against the sons of Feanor. On the road to Middle-earth after they were abandoned by Feanor and his sons in Araman and survived the Grinding Ice of Helcaraxe in order to reach the coast of Middle-earth as the Moon rose for the first time and come upon Feanor's people in their time of need. The anger between the people of Feanor and Fingolfin was not assuaged until Fingon the valient, son of Fingolfin, resolved to heal the wounds between the peoples by searching for and rescuing Maedhros, son of Feanor, from his torment on Thangorodrim. With the help of Thorondor, King of Eagles, Fingon saved Maedhros from the torment Morgoth had set upon him as he hung by his wrist, shackled with iron to the face of one of the peaks of Thangorodrim, and the friendship between the Noldor was saved. The kingship was forfeited freely by Maedhros and Fingolfin became king of the Noldor on Middle-earth. Fingolfin's children were: Fingon, the valient; Turgon, founder of Gondolin; and Aredhel, called the White Lady of Gondolin. Fingolfin established himself in Hithlum and kept guard on the gates of Angband until the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455 of the First Age when he challenged Morgoth before the gates of Angband and, after wounding him seven times with his sword, Ringil, was slain by Morgoth's mighty hammer, Grond. ETEP The Tolkien Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia of Middle-earth Hypertextual Systems by FMI Publishing, 1996 |