Amilessë (mother's name): Sanwëkano, "Thoughtful Commander"

​Kilmessë (self name): Tyelcomacil, "Hasty Sword"

After the War of Wrath, the question was asked, “Whether the Sons of Fëanor should lay down their weapons, and disband their forces?” but the clamour and rage of the dispossessed Fëanorians rang out, loud and bitter echoes of the Unbreakable Oath, and no voice answered in the affirmative. Maedhros, however, in his wisdom said that he would parley with the Valar, and attempt to do with Law what he could not with Arms. He ordered his soldiers to put down their swords, taking all possible care that no more blood be shed than could be helped.

When it was growing dark, Maedhros left his men, after having exhorted them to hold fast till his return, which they would not have long to wait for. To some of his most trusted lieutenants, he had given previous notice to follow him, but before the hour appointed,  Maedhros set out a different way than planned, and headed towards the camp of the Valar accompanied only by his brother, Maglor. Sanwëkano was one of the company to note their stealthy departure, and running hard after them, begged to follow. At first Maedhros refused, and said that he did not require any warriors to help him with his task, but then he relented, and told Sanwëkano of his plan to wrest the Silmarils away from the forces of the Valar: the keepers of the jewels were not to be overcome by numbers, but rather to be struck by surprise at the boldness of the attack, and their expeditious escape.

Staggered by the utter desperation of this attempt upon the very Powers that created the World, Sanwëkano faltered.  For once in his life, he stopped to weigh the terrible consequences of attacking; and, as he stood revolving in silence the arguments on both sides, he recalled the savage and unsuccessful exploits of the Fëanorians to regain the Silmarils, and foresaw several visions of the future calamities which the theft of the holy jewels by Melkor would unleash upon the world. Bitterly reflecting on how his perfidious acts would be viewed by posterity, and the death and despair he caused, as many of the Noldor’s boldest warriors heretofore had wrought, Maedhros and Maglor slipped away before his staring eyes. At last, upon some sudden impulse, bidding farewell to his reason, he cried out "Brave Noldor, strike and kill!" and immediately sped after the sons of Fëanor. But they reached the camp of the Valar before Sanwëkano could overtake them; and, spurred on by their Oath, the brothers slew the Vanyar guards, and took back what they claimed as their own, fleeing far away.

Now the land was shattered by the warfare of the Valar, and subject to tumultuous earthquakes, so that the tide flowed far inland, and would hardly obey the commands of Ulmo, or listen to the voice of Ossë; and the Elves were in danger of falling by its violence, and had to swiftly remove themselves from the lands of Beleriand to save their lives. On the eastward road, there were some refugees who reproached the Fëanorians, amidst their fears and sorrows, and spoke of their dread of what was to come, if the Fëanorians settled in their new lands with them; which is the necessary consequence of the grievances caused by the Kinslayings.

Sanwëkano, who was already distraught and confounded at the sudden suicide of his lord, heard this talk and was still more disturbed by a variety of censures on his conduct by his own people.  Some said he was weak-hearted, and others said that Maedhros’ faith in his lieutenant was misplaced, and that he abandoned him during his lord's greatest hour of need, and Maedhros would not have cast himself into the fiery chasm if he had been by his side; and still others cried for Sanwëkano to be driven out, as if he were one of those who, during difficult times, change allegiances as easily as they change their clothes, and would settle with Sindar. Indeed, Sanwëkano now openly lamented the hasty resolution he had taken to follow the Fëanorians, becoming himself ensnared in the Doom of Mandos, and forced to commit murder.

In blackest despair, he considered taking poison or throwing himself into the sea, and thereby follow his lord into the long Halls of Waiting. But he knew this last act would be unpardonable. Instead, he took up the garments of a poor man, and renouncing his name and heritage, covered his face, and wandered the lands of Middle-earth, speaking to no one, and in this disguise Sanwëkano passed through the broken lands and out of memory.