The Recapture of north-east Beleriand - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Macalaure · 04-09-2006, 05:49 AM

I'm referring to the recapture of Beleriand by Maedhros prior to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. In the Silmarillion we get the clear impression that this was a fault, maybe the fault.

Do you agree?

What if he didn't? Would he have been able to hide his Union before Morgoth until it was too late for the Dark Lord to react?
I'm not sure about that.
To coordinate the attack there had to be great numbers of messengers coming from and going to Himring. With Maglor's Gap open to Morgoth, it is not unprobable, that one of them would have been captured. The smithies of Nogrod and Belegost were busy, but somehow those weapons had to be brought to Himring - across unguarded land. Maybe they would not have been ambushed, but wouldn't the news itself attract Morgoth's attention that something might be up? And in the end, it is simply unthinkable to me that he could have mustered his huge army without being espied. I don't think that he could have done it on Himring itself, for space reasons. The army had to gather behind the Gap before the march.

I agree with J.R.R. Tolkien that freeing Dorthonion was unnecessary, but I think if Maedhros didn't close the Gap of Maglor, his plans would have become known to Morgoth nevertheless.

04-09-2006, 05:49 AM	#1
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	The Recapture of north-east Beleriand I'm referring to the recapture of Beleriand by Maedhros prior to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. In the Silmarillion we get the clear impression that this was a fault, maybe the fault. Do you agree? What if he didn't? Would he have been able to hide his Union before Morgoth until it was too late for the Dark Lord to react? I'm not sure about that. To coordinate the attack there had to be great numbers of messengers coming from and going to Himring. With Maglor's Gap open to Morgoth, it is not unprobable, that one of them would have been captured. The smithies of Nogrod and Belegost were busy, but somehow those weapons had to be brought to Himring - across unguarded land. Maybe they would not have been ambushed, but wouldn't the news itself attract Morgoth's attention that something might be up? And in the end, it is simply unthinkable to me that he could have mustered his huge army without being espied. I don't think that he could have done it on Himring itself, for space reasons. The army had to gather behind the Gap before the march. I agree with J.R.R. Tolkien that freeing Dorthonion was unnecessary, but I think if Maedhros didn't close the Gap of Maglor, his plans would have become known to Morgoth nevertheless.