The Western Roman Empire is falling; and after a set of lengthy philosophical debates with himself on Whether the End Justifies the Means, Aziraphale decides to take matters into his own hands.

Meanwhile, in the brazen luxury of Constantinopolis, Crowley struggles with the biggest personal crisis any demon has ever suffered - which would be difficult enough, even without the Emperor's new Christian priest nosing after him.

When their conflicting assignments put them on the opposite sides of the same battle, Crowley remembers an act of kindness left unreciprocated since Sodom and Gomorrah; and what had started off as an angel-hunt transforms into something far less defined.

Because Crawly is dead; and Crowley has changed.

The impossible happened – a Silmaril has been stolen from Morgoth’s crown. Maedhros decides to reunite the People of Beleriand against the Enemy and attack him while he is still unprepared (which is by no means less impossible). Meanwhile, in the hidden city of Gondolin, Lord Glorfindel of the Golden Flower pursues the meaning of his recurring nightmares, only to find himself in the centre of a secret ploy against the ever-growing power of Maeglin L�mion in the King’s Council.

The People of Beleriand are astir; and as the strings of our heroes’ fates tangle, a dark shadow creeps above the North – the Fifth Battle approaches. And to what end, no one could dream...