[denethorthefirst]

While reading the SIL and browsing the forum, I have always wondered how the story would have played out if the Noldor had made the decision not to leave Valinor. Maybe Feanor has a slightly different personality. But whatever the reason, they stay put. What would happen? In the story the actions of the Noldor are painted in a rather negative light and they are scolded by the Valar. But what exactly did the Valar expect and how would they respond? If the Noldor never leave then Melkor will quickly overrun Beleriand and the rest of Arda. He will completely annihilate or enslave the Sindar and Nandor in Beleriand and even Doriath would not be able to hold out forever if there are no Noldor to save them ... hundreds of thousands dead, a genocide of epic proportions essentially ... how will those elves, arriving en masse in the Halls of Mandos, ever forgive the Valar and their inaction? In a way, the staying of the Noldor would lead to a rift between Elves and the Valar and strife too, just a strife of a different nature.