#working on a Feanor bio so don't be surprised if you see random Feanor musings on this blog between now and November

[polutrope]

Melkor indeed declared afterwards that Fëanor had learned much art from him in secret, and had been instructed by him in the greatest of all his works; but he lied in his lust and his envy, for none of the Eldalië ever hated Melkor more than Fëanor son of Finwë, who first named him Morgoth; and snared though he was in the webs of Melkor’s malice against the Valar he held no converse with him and took no counsel from him. The Silmarillion, Ch. 6 'Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor'

I think it's so interesting that Fëanor apparently never spoke to Melkor.*

But what I find even more interesting is this passage in 'The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II)':

And lo! Melkor then set new lies abroad, and whispers came to Fëanor that Fingolfin and his sons were planning to usurp the leadership of Finwë and the elder line of Fëanor [etc., more lies]. But to Fingolfin and Finarfin it was said: 'Beware! Small love has the proud son of Míriel ever had for the children of Indis! [etc., more lies].' It is told also that when Melkor saw that these lies were smouldering he began to speak, first to the sons of Fëanor, and at other times to the sons of Indis, concerning weapons and armour ... Morgoth's Ring, 'Later QS (II)', §52-52a (p. 276)

This is pretty similar to what's in the published Silm (much of which is closely derived from this text; I'll put the passage below the cut if anyone wants to compare), but the bit about "to the sons of Fëanor" does not appear.

Fëanor refused to listen to Melkor, but Melkor definitely got at him other ways. One might conclude based on the published Silm that his sons were a logical conduit for his lies, but I love that it's stated outright in the Later QS. Juicy.

*Other than, I suppose, the incident when Melkor shows up uninvited and has the door slammed in his face.

Second passage as it appears in the Silmarillion (Ch. 7):

Then Melkor set new lies abroad in Eldamar, and whispers came to Feanor that Fingolfin and his sons were plotting to usurp the leadership of Finwe and of the elder line of Feanor, and to supplant them by the leave of the Valar; for the Valar were ill-pleased that the Silmarils lay in Tirion and were not committed to their keeping. But to Fingolfin and Finarfin it was said: ‘Beware! Small love has the proud son of Miriel ever had for the children of Indis. Now he has become great, and he has his father in his hand. It will not be long before he drives you forth from Tuna!’ And when Melkor saw that these lies were smouldering, and that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor, he spoke to them concerning weapons; and in that time the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears.