but often maeglin went with few of his folk beyond the leaguer of the hills , and the king knew not that his bidding was defied ; and thus it came to pass , as fate willed , that maeglin was taken prisoner by orcs , and brought to angband , maeglin was no weakling or craven , but the torment wherewith he was threatened cowed his spirit , and he purchased his life and freedom by revealing to morgoth the very place of gondolin and the ways whereby it might be found and assailed .