But he knew that Morgoth would destroy them all if they not unite again. Yet the oath of Fëanor and the evil deeds that it had wrought did injury to the design of Maedhros and only a few were willing to join him. But Maedhros had the help of the Naugrim and of his brother and of many of the people of Men. But Morgoth came to know about the uprising of the Eldar and the Elf-friends and he sent forth many spies among them.

Maedhros, having gathered all the stregth that he could, resolved to assault Angband from east and west and he purposed to march with banners diplayed in open force. But when he had drawn forth, as he hoped, the armies of Morgoth in answer, then Fingon should issue forth from the passes of Hithlm and thus they thought to take the might of Morgoth as between anvil and hammer.

On the appointed day, on the morning of midsummer, in the east was raised the standard of the sons of Fëanor and in the west the standard of Fingon. Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim and there was a dark cloud about it and he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused. A shadow of doubt fell upon Fingon's heart and he not yet knew that Maedhros was hindered in his setting-forth by the guile of Uldor the accursed, who decieved him with false warnings of assault from Angband.

But then Turgon opened the leaguer of Gondolin and came with an army of ten thousand to join his brother and thus the shadow upon the heart of Fingon passed.

Now Morgoth, who trusted his servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes, sent a force towards Hithlum.

"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 revealed."

But the Noldor did not listen to hima nd started a battle with the Orcs. They won the battle, so that now the banners of Fingon passed over Anfauglith and were raised before the walls of Angband. They burst through the Gate but inside the fortress they were trapped and all slain save Gwindor only.

Then on the plain of Anfauglith, on the forth day of the war, there began Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Unnumbered Tears, for no tale or song can contain all its grief.

During the first days Men and Elves fought a good fight but then Morgoth sent Balrogs and dragons and also Glaurung, father of the dragons, came to fight. Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by dragons, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men. For in this hour the plots of Ulfang were revealed and his men went over to Morgoth and fought against the sons of Fëanor. In the end the sons of Fëanor were forced to flee so that the last force to stand firm were the dwarves. But they also left the battle when Azaghâl, Lord of Belegost, was slain.

Long lasted the battle in which also Fingon was slain and which only a few survived, such as Turgon who fled and hid in Gondolin. Last of all Húrin stood alone and he was captured and taken to Angband by Gothmog.

"Thus ended Nirnaeth Arnoediad, as the sun went down beyond the sea. Night fell in Hithlum and there came a great storm of wind of the west.From that day the hearts of the Elves were estranged from Men, save only those of the Three Houses of the Edain."

Húrin was set by Morgoth in a chair of stone upon a high place of Thangorodrim. There he was bound by the power of Mogoth and Morgoth said to him :