Vehtequentalë Quangoldo

Pergoldo was the son of Argoldo of the kin of Finwë and Silmerainë of the Teleri (so named because of her silver hair, upon which she wore a tressure of silver adorned with purest pearls) who became renowned in Eldamar as a healer and loremaster. He took as his wife Failóriel of the Ñoldor, whom he met among the Lambengolmor. Their son was Quangoldo, afterwards known in Middle-earth as Pangolodh Orodben, and their daughters were Ñólanis, Ñolondis and Ñolwendë.

Now Pangolodh was born near the end of the Days of Bliss, and his early years he spent in peace and mirth, or so it seemed, for the shadow of unrest had already fallen upon the hearts of the Ñoldor. Like his parents, Pangolodh was fairly skilled in the matters of lore and language, and he knew both Ñoldorin and Telerin since his childhood, but at the same time he delighted in athletic feats and hunting (much unlike his father who never touched a weapon, being devoted to the art of healing); and he was very swift of foot and fond of wandering and ever eager to see many new and wonderful things in the wide world around him.

Pangolodh was nearing full growth when the Ñoldorin Exile began. Enchanted with the rumours about the vastness of Middle-earth, he parted from his family and joined the host of Fingolfin. Moving in the rear, he reached Alqualondë only after the end of the Kinslaying, and although horrified by what had happened, he did not turn back, for he burned with desire that drove him forward. Therefore, after the Dreadful Years of the march through Araman and Helcaraxë, Pangolodh came at last to Middle-earth, and faced his first trial by sword in the Battle of the Lammoth, and settled in Mithrim.

When five Sun-years had passed since the arrival of the Exiles in Middle-earth, Pangolodh, being one of the Ñoldorin messengers sent far and wide across Beleriand, went south-west along the Eryd Wethrin and explored Nevrast, whither he accompanied Turgon after the council which was held in Mithrim in the following year. There he dwelt for seven and fifty years, until, among a few of the people of Turgon, he secretly left Nevrast and came to the vale of Tumladen, where he devoted himself to the long and hard work of exploring the Eryd Echor and achieved great skill in mountain climbing. It was for his lengthy stays in the mountains that the people of Gondolin jestingly called him Orodben. Too long indeed they were, for it is told that because of them, maybe, he lost his beloved maiden, Máriel, whose heart turned to another during his absence. This he ever regretted, and amid all the bliss of Gondolin he could find joy no more.

Pangolodh dwelt in Gondolin until the Fell Year of the Dagor Bragollach. In that year, desiring to escape from his grief, he offered himself to be one of the secret messengers whom Turgon intended to send to the Mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar, where they would endeavour to build ships that might sail into the uttermost West seeking for Valinor. Thus did Pangolodh leave Gondolin, and later with a few companions he sailed on the first of those ships when it was ready, but their voyage proved unavailing, and in the end the ship was driven back by fierce winds and wrecked at Ras Mewrim. Pangolodh, alone of the crew, was saved by the scouts of Finrod who at that time observed the Sea from Barad Nimras. He would not return to Gondolin after his suffering and fail and loss of his friends, and so, after a sojourn in the Falas with his new companions, he went with them to Nargothrond, the hidden stronghold of Finrod Felagund, where he was welcomed as a trusty warrior in time of need. There he became a friend of Orodreth, the King’s nephew, with whom he would often walk in the High Faroth; and at this time he came to know Orodreth’s son Gil-galad.

When Finrod went with Beren on the Quest for the Silmaril, Pangolodh remained in Nargothrond. Having never sworn allegiance to the House of Finarfin, he quickly fell under the sway of Celegorm and Curufin, whose purpose to unite all the Eldar under one banner seemed to him wise and noble, and in this he supported them eagerly and soon gained their trust. Thus it came to be that after Lúthien was captured by the brothers, Pangolodh became one of the ambassadors sent by Celegorm to King Thingol in Doriath so as to force him into an alliance. That embassy proved disastrous, for Thingol was wroth at the message, and taking the ambassadors as hostages in exchange for Lúthien he armed for war against Celegorm. Soon, to Pangolodh’s dismay, Thingol’s army marched forth from Menegroth, but on the borders of Doriath it suddenly met with the host of the Orc-captain Boldog. A battle was fought, and Thingol had the victory, but after the confusion Celegorm’s ambassadors were gone, save Pangolodh, who approached Thingol and begged him not to proceed to Nargothrond, for that would surely betray the city to Morgoth. Thingol agreed to wait, and the more so because he had to bury the slain and to care for the wounded, and he camped on the border of Doriath, but Pangolodh he bade return to Nargothrond and explore the situation in order to report to his scout who would follow afterwards. Thus it came to be that after a hasty ride Pangolodh came to Nargothrond not long after refugees whom Lúthien and Huan had freed from the prisons of Sauron’s Isle, and at this time the people of Nargothrond learned of the treachery of Celegorm and Curufin and the threat of war and turned against the brothers, and they were expelled, and the rule of the House of Finarfin restored. This Pangolodh made known to Beleg Strongbow, the chief of Thingol’s scouts, who had secretly journeyed to Narog in search of tidings, and thus the war of Elf with Elf was prevented.

In the year following the Nirnaeth Arnediad, when Morgoth ravaged the Falas and besieged the Havens of Círdan, Pangolodh joined a small company of warriors whom Orodreth sent in secret to the defense of Eglarest, for he was worried about his son Gil-galad, whom he had sent to the Havens at the bidding of Finrod before the latter’s departure. No more help came to the Falathrim from Nargothrond in those days for fear lest the city should be revealed to the Enemy, and most of Círdan’s folk perished, but Gil-galad was among those few who escaped by the Sea and sailed to the Isle of Balar, and so was Pangolodh, who soon returned to Nargothrond with news.

Pangolodh dwelt in Nargothrond for two and twenty years more, and he was among those that escaped its fall and came to Doriath seeking refuge. There he was received by Thingol, though not without dislike from some of the Iathrim, and spent the following years, surviving both the ruin of the realm after the coming of Húrin with the hoard of Nargothrond and the Second Kinslaying, in which Doriath was utterly destroyed by the sons of Fëanor.

Then Pangolodh came to the Haven of Siriombar, and it was there that Círdan the Shipwright soon sought him out to convey him the words of Ulmo, who bade him return to Gondolin and warn Turgon that the only hope to save the city in this hour lies in going forth to war and uniting with all who remain yet unconquered of Elves and Men, even with the sons of Fëanor, ere Morgoth attacks first. So it came to pass that, after four and fifty years away, Pangolodh returned at last to Gondolin by the pass of Cirith Thoronath, which now remained the only way, and was taken by the guard and brought before the King. Then he told him his story, and delivered his message, as is told in the Tale of Years, but Turgon heeded not, for he would have no alliance with any son of Fëanor after the kinslaying of Doriath. But though the message was neglected, Pangolodh was received with honour and soon became a follower of Tuor son of Huor and one of his bodyguard, the men of the Wing. Yet his return was short-lived, for in the following year Gondolin fell to treachery, and Pangolodh with other survivors came once more to the Mouths of Sirion.

Here at Sirion’s Haven there came to pass the Third Kinslaying, the cruellest of the three, which Pangolodh barely survived. He was found by the men of Círdan and Gil-galad at the field of battle, heavily wounded, and departed with them to the Isle of Balar. It was Gil-galad who later led the remnants of the Eldar of Beleriand, by that time called the Dúnedhil, in the Last Battle of the First Age, and Pangolodh was among them.

After the overthrow of Morgoth, Pangolodh remained in Lindon with King Gil-galad. Not until two long ages more had passed did he depart from Middle-earth, and his vivid memory of the War of the Jewels was preserved in the Tale of the Arising of the Dúnedhil, or Narn en·Eriad i·Ndúnedhil, in which the story related here is told in full.