The Good, the Bad, and the Outlawed - Page 5
© Michael Martinez
As rebels, the Noldor returned to Middle-earth without any legitimacy. Their new legitimacy arose from Thingol's unwitting acceptance of their aid in the war with Morgoth. He knew nothing of the Kinslaying in Alqualonde, but the Feanorians had destroyed Morgoth's western forces and freed Cirdan's people in Brithombar and Eglarest. The recognition which Thingol extended to the princes of Aman restored their legitimacy. They were received into the community of Beleriand as kinsmen because they had suppressed the stain of their outlawry. Hence, when Thingol learned the truth years later, it was too late to renege on his grants of land. He could only banish the use of the language of outlawry, requiring that the Exiles use the Sindarin language, and therefore acknowledge his authority. The Noldor were in a sense put on probation, although Thingol had no power to enforce that probation. Nonetheless, only Thingol's moral authority was sufficient that only his word was required to bar the use of Quenya in Beleriand.
As the Beleriandic civilization crumbled, the Eldar and Edain were gradually reduced to outlawry in all their communities. The High Kings of the Noldor-in-Exile retained the only moral prerogatives of the Beleriandic civilization. That is, when northern Dorthonion was conquered, the Beorians fled their lands. Driven into exile, they were absored into either the Folk of Haleth in Brethil or the Marachians in Dor-lomin. The Beorians and Marachians of Estolad fled back to Eriador where, presumably, they were accepted into the communities of Edain still dwelling there.
When Hithlum and the March of Maedhros were destroyed in the Nirnaeth, anyone who could get out, left. Men and Elves fled into hiding, although few of the warriors survived. The community of Hithlum was absorbed into Morgoth's realm (and presumably most of the non-combatant Elves were taken captive). Some Edain and Sindar escaped. The Falas went next, but Cirdan led a part of his people to the island of Balar. Balar would become the final refuge of Elves and Men from Beleriand. Ereinion Gil-galad also fled to Balar, probably from the ruin of Nargothrond, and after the fall of Gondolin he was acknowleged the High King of the Noldor-in-Exile. The community of Balar thus preserved as much of the moral authority of Beleriand's culture as could be. Hence, when the Feanorians attacked the survivors of Doriath and Gondolin at Arvernien, Gil-galad and Cirdan intervened. They represented the highest authority in what remained of Beleriand's community.
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