The Captains Crazy of Middle-earth

managing a large body of people. He had also had plenty of time (the equivalent of many years) to reflect on the disastrous battle at Alqualonde, and on his brother's wild quest for revenge, and so would have become more clear-headed about matters. In fact, it was the equivalent of many years after Dagor-nuin-Giliath when Fingolfin's people arrived in Mithrim. By that time, Feanor was dead and his sons had also been defeated by Morgoth. After their father died Maedhros and his brothers agreed to meet with Morgoth's servants. But neither side was faithful in its agreement and both brought more warriors than agreed to. Once again, Morgoth had the greater force, and all of Maedhros' companions were killed. One can only imagine how many hundreds or thousands of Noldor had died in the battles at Alqualonde, Dagor-nuin-Giliath, and Maedhros' ill-fated meeting. The Feanorians were probably too weak to mount any offensive campaigns, and this would explain their prudence in withdrawing to Mithrim and building a fortified camp there. While Maedhros was held prisoner by Morgoth the two groups of Noldorin exiles avoided each other, but they both seem to have made contact with the Sindar of Mithrim. It would have been through the Sindar that they heard of each other. Fingolfin marched on Angband but he went in full daylight and apparently warned of what he would find. It helped that Morgoth's forces (what was left of them) retreated to Angband with the rising of the sun. Fingolfin returned to Mithrim, but he ignored the Feanorians and they ignored him, and both groups stayed in their fortified camps. The Noldor must have spent this time reassessing their situation, training themselves for war, and figuring out a long-term strategy. For Caranthir and his brothers there were few if any options. They simply had too few people to mount an offensive campaign. Fingolfin, on the other hand, still commanded many Elves. In time the rift between the two groups was partially healed, and the Feanorians migrated to east Beleriand where they established the March of Maedhros, a large and powerful kingdom though its population would have consisted mostly of Sindar who accepted Maedhros as their lord. Fingolfin remained in Mithrim and he established the Kingdom of Hithlum. The long-term strategy that he probably devised was to surround Angband on three sides, and to this end the sons of Finarfin established themselves in the Vale of Sirion and

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