The Captains Crazy of Middle-earth

beside many lesser creatures. The new attack drove the Elven forces apart, and Maedhros though aided by Men and Dwarves could not approach Fingon's army. Ulfang, leader of the faithless Easterlings, had dropped behind Maedhros' army, and now he attacked the rear. The Noldor were taken completely by surprise and Ulfang almost reached Maedhros himself. Some of the Easterlings remained faithful, but these Men, the Folk of Bor, were either too few or not warlike enough to overcome Ulfang's men, who were reinforced by yet more Easterlings who came up. Ulfang and his brothers perished, but their treachery achieved Morgoth's goal. They prevented Maedhros from mounting a counter-attack against Glaurung and the dragons. Glaurung was in fact wounded in the battle, and he withdrew. He attacked the Dwarves of Belegost and slew their king, Azaghal, who in turn wounded the dragon seriously. When they saw Glaurung withdraw, the other dragons withdrew as well, and the Dwarves alone achieved any significant gain in the battle. They at least prevented the dragons from destroying the last remnants of Elves and Men. But by this time they were alone on the field. Maedhros' and his supporters had been driven away, and most of Maedhros' soldiers lay dead or dying on the field. So the Dwarves picked up the body of Azaghal and marched away, and Morgoth's soldiers left them alone. With Maedhros' army destroyed, all Morgoth's troops now concentrated on Fingon and Turgon's armies. Hurin and the Edain were pushed south with Turgon's army, and Fingon was left alone. If Cirdan himself fought in the battle he, too, must have been driven back -- or had been left to command the rearguard. For he survived the day and withdrew to the Falas. Turgon, too, withdrew, protected by Hurin's Men, who seeing no hope of returning to Hithlum held out in the Fen of Serech for as long as possible, until they were all slain and Hurin himself taken prisoner. Fingon's army withered away about him, and he was chased down by Gothmog and the Balrogs, who slew the Elvenking after his personal guard had all fallen. The greater part of the Noldorin soldiers died on that day. A few escaped the slaughter to wander lost and alone through Beleriand, forsaken and homeless. If Fingon had held back, and sacrificed Gwindor's company, he might have been tainted by a great shame, but he would also have stood a better chance of

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