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their towers； and many fair things they made in those days； and poems and histories and books of lore。 In many parts of
the land the Noldor and the Sindar became welded into one people； and spoke the same tongue； though this difference
remained between them； that the Noldor had the greater power of mind and body。 and were the mightier warriors and
sages； and they built with stone； and loved the hill…slopes and open lands。 But the Sindar had the fairer voices and were
more skilled in music； save only Maglor son of F？anor； and they loved the woods and the riversides； and some of the
Grey…elves still wandered far and wide without settled abode； and they sang as they went。
Chapter 14
Of Beleriand and Its Realms
This is the fashion of the lands into which the Noldor came； in the north of the western regions of Middle…earth； in the
ancient days； and here also is told of the manner in which the chieftains of the Eldar held their lands and the leaguer
upon Morgoth after the Dagor Aglareb； the third battle in the Wars of Beleriand。
In the north of the world Melkor had in the ages past reared Ered Engrin； the Iron Mountains； as a fence to his
citadel of Utumno； and they stood upon the borders of the regions of everlasting cold； in a great curve from east to west。
Behind the walls of Ered Engrin in the west； where they bent back northwards； Melkor built another fortress； as a
defence against assault that might e from Valinor； and when he came back to Middle…earth； as has been told； he took
up his abode in the endless dungeons of Angband； the Hells of Iron； for in the War of the Powers the Valar； in their haste
to overthrow him in his great stronghold of Utumno； did not wholly destroy Angband nor search out all its deep places。
Beneath Ered Engrin he made a great tunnel； which issued south of the mountains； and there he made a mighty gate。 But
above this gate； and behind it even to the mountains； he piled the thunderous towers of Thangorodrim； that were made of
the ash and slag of his subterranean furnaces； and the vast refuse of his tunnellings。 They were black and desolate and
exceedingly lofty； and smoke issued from their tops； dark and foul upon the northern sky。 Before the gates of Angband
filth and desolation spread southward for many miles over the wide plain of Ard…galen； but after the ing of the Sun
rich grass arose there； and while Angband was besieged and its gates shut there were green things even among the pits
and broken rocks before the doors of hell。
To the west of Thangorodrim lay Hisilóm？； the Land of Mist； for so it was named by the Noldor in their own
tongue because of the clouds that Morgoth sent thither during their first encampment； Hithlum it became in the tongue of
the Sindar that dwelt in those regions。 It was a fair land while the Siege of Angband lasted； although its air was cool and
winter there was cold。 In the west it was bounded by Ered Lómin； the Echoing Mountains that marched near the sea； and
in the east and south by the great curve of Ered Wethrin； the Shadowy Mountains； that looked across Ard…galen and the
Vale of Sirion。
Fingolfin and Fingon his son held Hithlum； and the most part of Fingolfin's folk dwelt in Mithrim about the
shores of the great lake； to Fingon was assigned Dor…lómin； that lay to the west of the Mountains of Mithrim。 But their
chief fortress was at Eithel Sirion in the east of Ered Wethrin； whence they kept watch upon Ard…galen； and their cavalry
rode upon that plain even to the shadow of Thangorodrim； for from few their horses had increased swiftly； and the grass
of Ard…galen was rich and green。 Of those horses many of the sires came from Valinor； and they were given to Fingolfin
by Maedhros in atonement of his losses； for they had been carried by ship to Losgar。
West of Dor…lómin； beyond the Echoing Mountains； which south of the Firth of Drengist marched inland； lay
Nevrast； that signifies the Hither Shore in the Sindarin tongue。 That name was given at first to all the coast…lands south
of the Firth； but afterwards only to the land whose shores lay between Drengist and Mount Taras。 There for many years
was the realm of Turgon the wise； son of Fingolfin； bounded by the sea； and by Ered Lómin； and by the hills which
continued the walls of Ered Wethrin westward； from Ivrin to Mount Taras； which stood upon a promontory。 By some
Nevrast was held to belong rather to Beleriand than to Hithlum； for it was a milder land； watered by the wet winds from
the sea and sheltered from the cold north winds that blew over Hithlum。 It was a hollow land； surrounded by mountains
and great coast…cliffs higher than the plains behind； and no river flowed thence； and there was a great mere in the midst
of Nevrast； with no certain shores； being encircled by wide marshes。 Linaewen was the name of that mere； because of
the multitude of birds that dwelt there； of such as love tall reeds and shallow pools。 At the ing of the Noldor many of
the Grey…elves lived in Nevrast near to the coasts； and especially about Mount Taras in the south…west； for to that place
Ulmo and Oss？ had been wont to e in days of old。 All that people took Turgon for their lord； and the mingling of the
Noldor and the Sindar came to pass soonest there； and Turgon dwelt long in those halls that he named Vinyamar； under
Mount Taras beside the sea。
South of Ard…galen the great highland named Dorthonion stretched for sixty leagues from west to east； great pine
forests it bore； especially on its northern and western sides。 By gentle slopes from the 'plain it rose to a bleak and lofty
land； where lay many tarns at the feet of bare tors whose heads were higher than the peaks of Ered Wethrin； but
southward where it looked towards Doriath it fell suddenly in dreadful precipices。 From the northern slopes of
Dorthonion Angrod and Aegnor； sons of Finarfin； looked out over the fields of Ard…galen； and were the vassals of their
brother Finrod； lord of Nargothrond； their people were few； for the land was barren； and the great highlands behind were
deemed to be a bulwark that Morgoth would not lightly seek to cross。
Between Dorthonion and the Shadowy Mountains there was a narrow vale； whose sheer walls were clad with
pines； but the vale itself was green； for the River Sirion flowed through it； hastening towards Beleriand。 Finrod held the
Pass of Sirion； and upon the isle of Tol Sirion in the midst of the river he built a mighty watch…tower； Minas Tirith； but
after Nargothrond was made he mitted that fortress mostly to the keeping of Orodreth his brother。
Now the great and fair country of Beleriand lay on either side of the mighty river Sirion； renowned in song；
which rose at Eithel Sirion and skirted the edge of Ard…galen ere he plunged through the pass； being ever fuller with
the streams of the mountains。 Thence he flowed south for one hundred and thirty leagues； gathering the waters of many
tributaries； until with a mighty flood he reached his many mouths and sandy delta in the Bay of Balar。 And following
Sirion from north to south there lay upon the right hand m West Beleriand the Forest of Brethil between Sirion and
Teiglin； and then the realm of Nargothrond； between Teiglin and Narog。 And the River Narog rose in the falls of Ivrin in
the southern face of Dor…lómin； and flowed some eighty leagues ere he joined Sirion in Nan…tathren； the Land of
Willows。 South of Nan…tathren was a region of meads filled with many flowers； where few folk dwelt； and beyond lay
the marshes and isles of reed about the mouths of Sirion； and the sands of his delta empty of all living things save birds
of the sea。
But the realm of Nargothrond extended also west of Narog to the River Nenning； that reached the sea at Eglarest；
and Finrod became the overlord of all the Elves of Beleriand between Sirion and the sea； save only in the Falas。 There
dwelt those of the Sindar who still loved ships； and Círdan the shipbuilder was their lord； but between Círdan and Finrod
there was friendship and alliance； and with the aid of the Noldor the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest were built anew。
Behind their great walls they became fair towns and harbours with quays and piers of stone。 Upon the cape west of
Eglarest Finrod raised the tower of Barad Nimras to watch the western sea； though needlessly； as it proved； for at no
time ever did Morgoth essay to build ships or to make war by sea。 Water all his servants shunned； and to the sea none
would willingly go nigh； save in dire need。 With the aid of the Elves of the Havens some of the folk of Nargothrond built
new ships； and they went forth and explored the great Isle of Balar； thinking there to prepare a last refuge； if evil came；
but it was not their fate that they should ever dwell there。
Thus the realm of Finrod was the greatest by far； though he was the youngest of the great lords of the Noldor；
Fingolfin； Fingon； and Maedhros； and Finrod Felagund。 But Fingolfin was held overlord of all the Noldor； and Fingon
after him； though their own realm was but the northern land of Hithlum； yet their people were the most hardy and
valiant； most feared by the Orcs and most hated by Morgoth。
Upon the left hand of Sirion lay East Beleriand； at its widest a hundred leagues from Sirion to Gelion and the
borders of Ossiriand； and first； between Sirion and Mindeb； lay the empty land of Dimbar under the peaks of the
Crissaegrim； abode of eagles。 Between Mindeb and the upper waters of Esgalduin lay the no…land of Nan Dungortheb；
and that region was filled with fear； for upon its one side the power of Melian fenced the north march of Doriath； but
upon the other side the sheer precipices of Ered Gorgoroth； Mountains of Terror； fell down from high Dorthonion。
Thither； as was earlier told； Ungoliant had fled from the whips of the Balrogs； and there she dwelt a while； filling the
ravines with her deadly gloom； and there still； when she had passed away； her foul offspring lurked and wove their evil
nets； and the thin waters that spilled from Ered Gorgoroth were defiled； and perilous to drink； for the hearts of those that
tasted them were filled with shadows of madness and despair。 All living things else shunned that land； and the Noldor
would pass through Nan Dungortheb only at great need； by paths near to the borders of Doriath and furthest from the
haunted hills。 That way was made long before； in the time ere Morgoth returned to Middle…earth； and if one fared upon it
he came eastwards to Esgalduin； where still there stood in the days of the Siege the stone bridge of Iant Taur。 Thence he
passed through Dor Dínen； the Silent Land； and crossing the Arossiach （which signifies the Fords of Aros） came to the
north marches of Beleriand； where dwelt the sons of F？anor。
Southward lay the guarded woods of Doriath； abode of Thingol the Hidden King； into whose realm none passed
save by his will。 Its northern and lesser part； the Forest of Neldoreth； was bounded east and south by the dark river
Esgalduin； which bent westward in the midst of the land； and between Aros and Esgalduin lay the denser and greater
woods of Region。 Upon the southern bank of Esgalduin； where it turned westward towards Sirion； were the Caves of
Menegroth； and all Doriath lay east of Sirion save for a narrow region of woodland between the meeting of Teiglin and
Sirion and the Meres of Twilight。 By the people of Doriath this wood was called Nivrim； the West March； great oak…
trees grew there； and it also was enpassed within the Girdle of Melian； that so some portion of Sirion which she
loved in reverence of Ulmo should be wholly under the power of Thingol。
In the south…west of Doriath； where Aros flowed into Sirion； lay great pools and marshes on either side of the
river； which halted there in his course and strayed in many channels。 That region was named Aelin…uial； the Twilight
Meres； for they were wrapped in mists； and the enchantment of Doriath lay over them。 Now all the northern part of
Beleriand sloped southward to this point and then for a while was plain； and the flood of Sirion was stayed。 But south of
Aelin…uial the land fell suddenly and steeply； and all the lower fields of Sirion were divided from the upper fields by this
fall； which to one looking from the south northward appeared as an endless chain of hills running from Eglarest beyond
Narog in the west to Amon Ereb in the east； within far sight of Gelion。 Narog came through these hills in a deep gorge；
and flowed over rapids bat had no fall； and on its western bank the land rose into the great wooded highlands of Tauren…
Faroth。 On the west side of this gorge； where the short and foaming stream Ringwil tumbled headlong into Narog from
the High Faroth； Finrod established Nargothrond。 But some twenty…five leagues east of the gorge of Nargothrond Sirion
fell from the north in a mighty fall below the Meres； and then he plunged suddenly underground into great tunnels that
the weight of his falling waters delved； and he issued again three leagues southward with great noise and smoke through
rocky arches at the fo