Silmarillion - Chapter 20 - Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I find it a bit unfair that the sons of Feanor suffer the least of all in that battle. Everywhere armies are demolished, and the kings / lords slain. Turgon is an exception, but he was a special case from the start. And the seven jerks survive! (Well, I take that back, some of them weren't jerks on occasion). On the other hand, though, they carry the weight of the Oath on top of the usual troubles, and they weren't exacty spared by fate either. It seems like they were "forbidden" to be killed by Morgoth (in a way this reminds me of the curse of Hurin). Most of them were killed in the kinslayings, and Maedhros jumped into the chasm. And Maglor was beaten from inside when he gave up on the last Silmaril.

It doesn't bother me that they didn't find death in the battle, as I don't think that have been undesirable to them. It seems to me that they probably on the whole would have preferred that to what befell them after the Nirnaeth.

The realm of Fingon was no more, and the sons Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind. Their arms were scattered, and their league broken; and they took to a wild and woodland life beneath the feet Ered Lindon, mingling with the Green-elves of Ossiriand, bereft of their power and glory of old.

Think of the humility the likes of Celegorm would have had thrust upon him; gone from ruling his own house and people to skulking in the woods.

One of the most heart-wrenching pictures for me is that of Fingon's beautiful blue and silver banner stomped into the ground, turning red with his blood.