The Valar then learned that Melkor was manipulating Fëanor, and sent Tulkas to capture Melkor, but he had already escaped. Melkor tried again to convince Fëanor of them, but Fëanor realised that Melkor's true goal was to obtain the Silmarils, "and he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Eä." The Valar then invited Fëanor and Fingolfin to Valinor to make peace. Fingolfin offered a hand to his half-brother, recognising Fëanor's place as the eldest. He gave his pledge to follow his elder brother and Fëanor accepted, but during their reunion, The Trees were destroyed by Melkor with the aid of Ungoliant. The Valar, realising that now the light of the Trees survived only in the Silmarils, asked Fëanor to give them up so that they could restore the Trees. Fëanor replied and said: "It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart." And it was after this that he stated that he would not give up the Silmarils of his own free will; if the Valar forced him, he said, they would be no better than Melkor. Soon after, messengers from Formenos arrived and told him that Finwë the King of the Noldor had been killed by Melkor, who had then stolen the Silmarils along with the other lesser jewels Fëanor had created. Without the living light from the Silmarils, the Vala Queen Yavanna could not heal the Two Trees.