1) First and foremost, I take as absolute canon what Christopher Tolkien states was his father's "final word" on Gil-galad's parentage, namely that he was the son of Orodreth. ?xml:namespace prefix = o />
 
As often as I agree with Michael Martinez, I find that in the essay on Gil-galad he draws some conclusions which, although they are consistent with canon, cannot be verified for certain. For example, he claims that when Orodreth fled the destruction of Tol Sirion, he took with him "his wife, a Sindarin lady from the northern lands, and his son (Rodnor Gil-galad) and daughter (Finduilas)." I cannot find a passage which supports this directly. We have no canonical statements which say Gil-galad, as son of Orodreth, was born there rather than in Nargathrond.
 
?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Martinez also wonders that during the supposed 40 years Gil-galad was at Nargathrond (assuming he came there with his parents and left with the destruction of the stronghold) "we hear nothing of Gil-galad.... [He] did not march with Gwindor's company to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and he doesn't seem to have been one of the soldiers in Orodreth's army which was defeated by Glaurung's army at the Battle of Tumhalad. It would make sense for Orodreth to leave Gil-galad behind to defend Nargothrond. Gil-galad might only then have just been reaching full maturity....
 
"Thus when Glaurung came up against the city and its defenders proved to be too few and weak to withstand the dragon, the young prince must have become separated from his family. We don't know the fate of his mother, though she was probably killed or taken prisoner, but Finduilas was captured and taken with other Elf-women to Brethil by the Orcs. There she was mortally wounded despite the best efforts of the wood-men to free the captives.
 
"Making his way south Gil-galad reached the Mouths of Sirion. The community of Elves and Men which would later found the realm of Arvernien under Earendil did not yet exist, but many Noldor (and Sindar) had been fleeing south for years, hoping to join up with Cirdan, whose people had abandoned the Falas after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in 473 and fled to the Isle of Balar. Annael, leader of the group of Sindar who fostered Tuor, eventually reached the Mouths of Sirion.
So Gil-galad established a community of Elves there, or found one and was acknowledged its leader. This community, however, must have eventually moved to Balar, probably at Cirdan's invitation, thus ensuring that the House of Finwë would survive."
 
Although this is a plausible interpretation based on canon, it is not the sole one. Here is all we truly have on Tolkien's thoughts of Gil-galad as Orodreth's son, from a note dated August 1965:
 
"Finrod left his wife in Valinor and had no children in exile. Angrod's son was Artaresto, who was beloved by Finrod and escaped when Angrod was slain, and dwelt with Finrod. Finrod made him his 'stewart' and he succeeded him in Nargothrond. His Sindarin name was Rodreth (altered to Orodreth because of his love of the mountains [unintelligible words]. His children were Finduilas and Artanaro = Rodnor later called Gil-galad. (Their mother was a Sindarin lady of the North. She called her son Gil-galad.) Rodnor Gil-galad escaped and eventually came to Sirion's Mouth and was King of the Noldor there." (Peoples of Middle-earth: 350) One further note says of Gil-galad "he escaped and dwelt at Sirion's Mouth." (Ibid.) In terms of the reason for his mother's choice of names, "The Later Quenta Silmarillion" (War of the Jewels: 242) states it was bestowed "for the brightness of his eye." [see note 4 below]
 
What can we distill from all this? It seems to me to make considerable sense that Gil-galad was indeed at Nargothrond at its fall and "escaped" rather than being sent away at an earlier time. However, it also makes sense to me that it is far easier to explain his absence at earlier battles if he was merely a child at their occurrence; namely, that he was born at Nargothrond, and therefore no earlier than around FA 455. In this scenario, he would have been no more than 40 at the destruction of Nargothrond, not yet in his majority. Thus it makes sense that he had been "left behind" when his father and Turin left for the battle of Tumhalad (where Orodreth fell). I have made him even younger, being born after his father became king of Nargothrond. In any case, there is no doubt Gil-galad would have defended his home bravely from the onslaught of the dragon Glaurung and his orc army, but neither is there any doubt that he would not have been able to withstand their attack, especially with minimal forces. We know from canon that his sister, Finduilas, was captured and later killed, but as Martinez notes, his mother's fate is left unsaid. We can probably assume she fell in the initial attack.
 
2) The following information concerning the death of Orodreth and the fall of Nargothrond in the fall of the year FA 496 is taken from "The Grey Annals" (The War of the Jewels: 84-6):
 
"And in that time the folk of Nargothrond forsook their secrecy, their war of ambush and hunting, and went openly to battle... and built a bridge over the Narog from the great doors of Felagund for the swifter passage of their arms... Then Orodreth and Turin... and Gwindor went up against him [Glaurung the dragon], but they were defeated upon the field of Tum-halad; and Orodreth was slain.... And Gwindor said '...Haste thee to Nargothrond and save Finduilas. And this last I say to thee: she alone stands between thee and thy doom'.... In that day the bridge that Turin let build over Narog proved an evil; for it was great and mightily made and could not swiftly be destroyed, and thus the enemy came readily over the deep river, and Glaurung came in full fire against the Doors of Felagund, and overthrew then, and passed within.
 
"And even as Turin came up the ghastly sack of Nargothrond was wellnigh achieved. The Orcs had slain or driven off all that remained in arms, and they were even then ransacking all the great halls and chambers, plundering and destroying; but those of the women and maidens that were not burned or slain they had herded on the terrace before the doors, as slaves to be taken to Angband."
 
The dragon bewitched Turin and thus he was unable to defend the women nor aid what few refugees he found. Some of the refugees eventually made their way to Doriath after spending a winter in the wilderness. Turin eventually killed the dragon, but not before being tricked into marrying his sister and making her pregnant. It should be noted that if Turin had returned Finduilas' love and married her, then Gil-galad's sister would have been married to the first cousin of Elrond's grandfather, Tuor. Sounds like Jerry Springer to me.
 
A natural question is why did Gil-galad apparently travel south to the mouth of Sirion rather than to the relative safety of Doriath? A possible explanation is found in a note to the Grey Annals (War of the Jewels: 136): "It is said earlier in GA (sections 151-2) that after the Dagor Bragollach Turgon sent Elves of Gondolin to the mouths of Sirion and to the Isle of Balar to attempt shipbuilding." Perhaps Gil-galad was attempting to reach his kinfolk at this outpost, or at the very least decided Cirdan's well-known and relatively stable seaside outpost would be a more welcoming situation than the king of Doriath (Elwe/Thingol), well-known to be more than a tad suspicious of the Noldor.
 
3) Gil-galad became the High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth at the fall of Gondolin and the death of his grandfather's cousin, Turgon. In case you have trouble figuring out the tortuous chain of succession in the FA, here's a brief synopsis. Fingolfin, the second son of Finwe, was declared rightful king after Feanor's death, partly because Maedhros, eldest son of Feanor, had sworn off all claim to the throne in the name of his brothers (not a popular decision, by their reckoning). Upon Fingolfin's death at Morgoth's hand, his elder son, Fingon, took on the mantle of leadership. Upon his death less than twenty years later at the Nirnaeth Arnoedid, the High Kingship went to his younger brother, Turgon of Gondolin. Turgon had no male heir (his only child being Idril, Elrond's paternal grandmother), hence the throne eventually moved to the line of Finwe's third son, Finarfin. Unfortunately, at the time of Gondolin's fall, Finarfin himself was still in Valinor (having repented early on in the revolt) and all three of his sons were dead. His daughter, Galadriel, could not act as heir, so the throne went to the only great-grandson, Gil-galad (grandson of Finarfin's second son, Angrod). Confused? Well, I tried ;) One final word on Finarfin - he is said to have led a host of his people to Middle-earth in the War of Wrath and was the fairest and wisest of Finwe's sons.
 
4) The Calaquendi or Light Elves went into the West during the First Age and saw the light of the Two Trees. It is said that they could be known by the unique fire in their eyes. "Quendi and Eldar" (The War of the Jewels: 384) states that "the eyes of all Elves that had dwelt in Aman impressed those of Middle-earth by their piercing brightness. For which reason the Sindar often called them Lachend, pl. Lechind 'flame-eyed'." For example, in "The Grey Annals" (War of the Jewels: 17) the Host of Feanor is described as "strong and fair were they yet, for the light of Aman was not yet dimmed in their eyes."
 
5) The White Wing (of a swan or gull) was the symbol of Tuor's House, as described in "The Fall of Gondolin" (The Book of Lost Tales 2: 174).
 
6) According to an essay among Tolkien's last writings (Peoples of Middle-earth: 385), Cirdan was "akin to Olwe" and thus "also akin to Elwe." The same essay says that "Cirdan received a foresight touching all matters of importance beyond the measure of all other Elves upon Middle-earth." At least one version of the Celeborn/Galadriel story (Unfinished Tales: 244) states that Celeborn was the grandson of Elwe's younger brother Elmo and uncle of Nimloth, Dior's wife. These familiar connections make Cirdan and Celeborn kin (as reflected in their silver hair, known exclusively in descendents of Elwe's family tree), as well as kin to Elrond through his mother's side (Luthien, his great-grandmother being the daughter of Elwe [Thingol]). Note that Galadriel, Celeborn's wife, was Gil-galad's great-aunt. Her father was brother to Elrond's great-great-grandfather, and her mother's father, Olwe, was brother to Elwe (Thingol), another of Elrond's great-great-grandfathers.
 
7) From the already aforementioned note dated August 1965, we have the statement that Gil-galad was his mother-name, which he apparently chose over his father-name (Rodnor) for his reign. Ereinion (S: 'scion of kings') seems to me to have been a "nickname" or title more than anything else. We have one further name in canon for Gil-galad, one mentioned in two places, yet changed by Christopher Tolkien in "The Silmarillion." In "The Shibboleth of Feanor" (Peoples of Middle-earth: 351), CT admits that he changed part of the tale of Aldarion and Erendis in "Unfinished Tales" to "Ereinion Gil-galad son of Fingon" from his father's original "Finellach Gil-galad of the House of Finarfin (where Finellach was changed from Finhenlach, and that from Finlachen)." He also admits to changing a similar line in "A Description of the Island of Numenor" to "King Gil-galad of Lindon" from "King Finellach Gil-galad of Lindon." Hence we see in both these instances that the mysterious name 'Finellach' emerges after the end of the First Age, when Gil-galad has been established in Lindon.
 
What can we make of this little known yet canonical name? Let us look at the roots of the three versions of the name:
 
Fin/Finn = hair/tress
Finnel = braided hair
Lachen = deep elf (i.e. Sindarin name for the Noldor, meaning 'flame-eyed')
Lach = leaping flame
El = star

Therefore several literal interpretations are possible, but the simplest is probably the following:
 
"Finellachen" = braided-haired Noldor
"Finellach" is probably a slight contraction of that (as was the initial "Finlachen")
 
Fin-raun literally means "errant hair" which I have taken to mean "unruly hair"
 
We are now left with the discussion as to how and when Gil-galad might have received this name. There are two detailed canonical discussions concerning the Elvish traditions of bestowing names. In "The Shibboleth of Feanor" (Peoples of Middle-earth: 339), it is said that the "Eldar in Valinor had as a rule two names, or essi. The first-given was the father-name, received at birth. It usually recalled the father's name.... The mother-name was given later, often some years later, by the mother; but sometimes it was given soon after birth. For the mothers of the Eldar were gifted with deep insight into their children's characters and abilities, and many had also the gift of prophetic foresight.
 
In addition any of the Eldar might acquire an epesse ('after-name'), not necessarily given by their own kin, a nick-name - mostly given as a title of admiration or honour. Later some among the exiles gave themselves names, as disguises or in reference to their own deeds and personal history: such names were called kilmessi 'self-names' (literally names of personal choice). The 'true names' remained the first two, but in later song and history any of the four might become the name generally used and recognized."
 
An earlier discussion of Eldar tradition naming customs appears in "Morgoth's Ring" (215) in the section entitled "Laws and Customs Among the Eldar." Here it is said that "Now these two names, the father-name and the chosen name, were 'true names', not nicknames; but the father-name was public, and the chosen name was private, especially when used alone. Private, not secret. The chosen names were regarded by the Noldor as part of their personal property.... The use of the chosen name, except by members of the same house (parents, sisters, and brothers), was a token of closest intimacy and love, when permitted. It was, therefore, presumptuous or insulting to use it without permission."
 
What of the name Gil-galad gives to Elrond? This is my own invention. Ninniach means rainbow, so Ninniachiar means "rainbow blood." Estel as everyone knows means "hope," and Estel-panuin is "hope of all."
 
8) So where were the various players during the War of Wrath? In many cases canon is vague, partially because Tolkien does not describe the war in much detail at all! Our first clue actually comes from "Fellowship of the Ring," in "The Council of Elrond" (319):
 
"Thereupon Elrond paused a while and sighed. 'I remember well the splendour of their banners,' he said. 'It recalled to me the glory of the Elder Days and the hosts of Beleriand, so many great princes and captains were assembled. And yet not so many, not so fair, as when Thangorodrim was broken, and the Elves deemed that evil was ended for ever, and it was not so.'
 
''You remember?' said Frodo, speaking his thought aloud in his astonishment. 'But I thought,' he stammered as Elrond turned towards him, 'I thought, that the fall of Gil-galad was a long time ago.'
 
''So it was indeed,' answered Elrond gravely. 'But my memory reaches back even to the Elder Days. Earendil was my sire, who was born in Gondolin before its fall; and my mother was Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Luthien of Doriath. I have seen three ages in the West of the world, and many defeats, and many fruitless victories.'"
 
This passage is often interpreted as saying that Elrond was present in person at the fall of Thangorodrim. Some draw a parallel conclusion that his twin Elros was also present, although there is nothing in canon to either support or refute that claim. It is known that the twins were fostered by Maglor (and perhaps Maedhros as well) during the years just after the destruction of Sirion; however, it is not clear at all how long either remained with the Feanorians. There is no evidence that they were with Cirdan or Gil-galad, hence it makes sense to say that they either remained with the Feanorians or were among the other scattered bands of resistance fighters and refugees (Edain and Eldar alike) living in various parts of Beleriand. Of Maglor and Maedhros' actions during the War of Wrath conflicting statements exist. In "The Later Annals of Beleriand" (version AB2) (The Lost Road: 157) it is said "they dwelt in hiding in the south of Eastern Beleriand, about Amon Ereb, the Lonely Hill, that stands solitary amid the wide plain. But Morgoth sent against them, and they fled to the Isle of Balar." However, the commentary to that chapter (167-8) notes that "it is not told in AB1 that Maidros and Maglor and their people fled in the end from Amon Ereb to the Isle of Balar. In Q nothing is told of the actual habitation of Maidros and Maglor during the final years." In the end, it appears that fanfic authors have nearly free reign to speculate on the actions of the Peredhil during these important years of the First Age. It is certainly likely that they were among the men and Elves who heeded the great trumpets of the Host of Valinor and joined the army at some point as it pushed northward toward Thangorodrim.
 
Of other groups, canon speaks more clearly. All men except the Edain fought on the side of Morgoth (see, for example, "Peoples of Middle-earth: 143). In the years before the Great War the havens of Falas, Brithombar and Eglorest had been destroyed and "the most part of Cirdan's people were slain or enslaved. But some went aboard ship and escaped by sea.... This remnant sailed with Cirdan south to the Isle of Balar, and they made a refuge for all that could come thither." (Silmarillion: 239) It appears neither Cirdan nor Gil-galad took a direct part in the War of Wrath, but essentially ran a huge refuge camp for the Eldar of Middle-earth.
 
9) The Host of the Valar was led by Fionwe, son of Manwe, in the original version, and Eonwe, herald of Manwe, in later ones. He was accompanied by a great host of the Noldor who did not rebel and the Vanyar, in some versions led by Ingwiel/Ingwion, son of Ingwe. See "We are Finding Who We Are" for my take on the family of Ingwion and a possible connection to Legolas.
 
10) The forty year battle between the forces of Morgoth and those of Valinor ended in a great final assault on Thangorodrim, called the Dagor Delothrin, 'The Terrible Battle.' It was then that Morgoth unleashed for the first time the flying dragons, the greatest of these being Ancalagon the Black. Note that previous dragons, such as Glaurung, were called the Uruloki or fire-drakes and did not fly. The battle took a serious turn for the worse until Earendil arrived in his ship of the heavens, Vingelot, with a great company of birds and finally slew the dragon. It was the force of Ancalagon's body striking the ground which broke the towers of Thangorodrim. For more details, see "The Quenta" (QII) (The Shaping of Middle-earth: 192) or "Quenta Silmarillion" (The Lost Road: 363).
 
In the aftermath, Fionwe was able to overcome Morgoth and bind him in shackles bent from his own iron crown, but not without serious repercussions. "The Later Annals of Beleriand" (The Lost Road: 159) states that the "Sons of Gods wrestled with Morgoth in his dungeons, and the earth shook, and gaped, and Beleriand was shattered and changed, and many perished in the ruin of the land." In "The Quenta" (QII) (The Shaping of Middle-earth:192) it is written that "so great was the fury of those adversaries that the Northern regions of the Western world were rent and riven, and the sea roared in through many chasms, and there was confusion and great noise; and the rivers perished or found new paths, and the valleys were upheaved and the hills trod down; and Sirion was no more." Obviously Cirdan and his company managed to evacuate before Balar before it sank/was flooded and relocated temporarily on one of the new islands created in the tectonic upheavals. One of these new islands was Tol Morwen, the site of the graves of Turin and Morwen. See "The Quenta" (The Shaping of Middle-earth: 242) for more discussion.
 
Martinez argues, quite rightly in my mind, that Tulkas and Orome would have probably been a part of the Host of Valinor, Tulkas the warrior Vala being a sworn enemy of Morgoth from the beginning, while Orome was the "destroyer of monsters."

Valinor