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earned swiftly the
speech of Beleriand； whereas the Sindar were slow to master the tongue of Valinor。 The hearts of the Noldor were high
and full of hope； and to many among them it seemed that the words of F？anor had been Justified； bidding them seek
freedom and fair kingdoms in Middle…earth； and indeed there followed after long years of peace； while their swords
fenced Beleriand from the ruin of Morgoth； and his power was shut behind his gates。 In those days there was joy beneath
the new Sun and Moon； and all the land was glad； but still the Shadow brooded in the north。
And when again thirty years had passed； Turgon son of Fingolfin left Nevrast where he dwelt and sought out
Finrod his friend upon the island of Tol Sirion； and they journeyed southward along the river； being weary for a while of
the northern mountains； and as they journeyed night came upon them beyond the Meres of Twilight beside the waters of
Sirion； and they slept upon his banks beneath the summer stars。 But Ulmo ing up the river laid a deep sleep upon
them and heavy dreams； and the trouble of the dreams remained after they awoke； but neither said aught to the other； for
their memory was not clear； and each believed that Ulmo had sent a message to him alone。 But unquiet was upon them
ever after； and doubt of what should befall； and they wandered often alone in untrodden lands； seeking far and wide for
places of hidden strength； for it seemed to each that he was bidden to prepare for a day of evil； and to establish a retreat；
lest Morgoth should burst from Angband and overthrow the armies of the North。
Now on a time Finrod and Galadriel his sister were the guests of Thingol their kinsman in Doriath。 Then Finrod
was filled with wonder at the strength and majesty of Menegroth； its treasuries and armouries and its many…pillared halls
of stone； and it came into his heart that he would build wide halls behind ever…guarded gates in some deep and secret
place beneath the hills。 Therefore he opened his heart to Thingol； telling him of his dreams； and Thingol spoke to him of
the deep gorge of the River Narog； and the caves under the High Faroth in its steep western shore； and when he departed
he gave him guides to lead him to that place of which few yet knew。 Thus Finrod came to the Caverns of Narog； and
began to establish there deep halls and armouries after the fashion of the mansions of Menegroth； and that stronghold
was called Nargothrond。 In that labour Finrod was aided by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains； and they were rewarded
well； for Finrod had brought more treasures out of Tirion than any other of the princes of the Noldor。 And in that time
was made for him the Nauglamír； the Necklace of the Dwarves； most renowned of their works in the Elder Days。 It was
a carcanet of gold； and set therein were gems uncounted from Valinor； but it had a power within it so that it rested lightly
on its wearer as a strand of flax； and whatsoever neck it clasped it sat always with grace and loveliness。
There in Nargothrond Finrod made his home with many of his people； and he was named in the tongue of the
Dwarves Felagund； Hewer of Caves； and that name he bore thereafter until his end。 But Finrod Felagund was not the
first to dwell m the caves beside the River Narog。
Galadriel his sister went not with him to Nargothrond； for in Doriath dwelt Celeborn； kinsman of Thingol； and
there was great love between them。 Therefore she remained in the Hidden Kingdom； and abode with Melian； and of her
learned great lore and wisdom concerning Middle…earth。
But Turgon remembered the city set upon a hill； Tirion the fair with its tower and tree； and he found not what he
sought； but returned to Nevrast； and sat in peace in Vinyamar by the shores of the sea。 And in the next year Ulmo himself
appeared to him； and bade him go forth again alone into the Vale of Sirion； and Turgon went forth； and by the guidance
of Ulmo he discovered the hidden vale of Tumladen in the Encircling Mountains； in the midst of which there was a hill
of stone。 Of this he spoke to none as yet； but returned once more to Nevrast； and there began in his secret counsels to
devise the plan of a city after the manner of Tirion upon Túna； for which his heart yearned in exile。
Now Morgoth； believing the report of his spies that the lords of the Noldor were wandering abroad with little
thought of war； made trial of the strength and watchfulness of his enemies。 Once more； with little warning； his might was
stirred； and suddenly there were earthquakes in the north； and fire came from fissures in the earth； and the Iron
Mountains vomited flame； and Orcs poured forth across the plain of Ard…galen。 Thence they thrust down the Pass of
Sirion in the west； and in the east they burst through the land of Maglor； in the gap between the hills of Maedhros and
the outliers of the Blue Mountains。 But Fingolfin and Maedhros were not sleeping； and while others sought out the
scattered bands of Orcs that strayed in Beleriand did great evil they came upon the main host from either side as it was
assaulting Dorthonion； and they defeated the servants of Morgoth； and pursuing them across Ard…galen destroyed them
utterly； to the least and last； within sight of Angband's gates。 That was the third great battle of the Wars of Beleriand； and
it was named Dagor Aglareb； the Glorious Battle。
A victory it was； and yet a warning； and the princes took heed of it； and thereafter drew closer their leaguer； and
strengthened and ordered their watch； setting the Siege of Angband。 which lasted wellnigh four hundred years of the
Sun。 For a long time after Dagor Aglareb no servant of Morgoth would venture from his gates； for they feared the lords
of the Noldor； and Fingolfin boasted that save by treason among themselves Morgoth could never again burst from the
leaguer of the Eldar； nor e upon them at unawares。 Yet the Noldor could not capture Angband； nor could they regain
the Silmarils； and war never wholly ceased in all that time of the Siege； for Morgoth devised new evils； and ever and
anon he would make trial of his enemies。 Nor could the stronghold of Morgoth be ever wholly encircled： for the Iron
Mountains； from whose great curving wall the towers of Thangorodrim were thrust forward； defended it upon either
side； and were impassable to the Noldor； because of their snow and ice。 Thus in his rear and to the north Morgoth had no
foes； and by that way his spies at times went out； and came by devious routes into Beleriand。 And desiring above all to
sow fear and disunion among the Eldar； he manded the Orcs to take alive any of them that they could and bring them
bound to Angband； and some he so daunted by the terror of his eyes that they needed no chains more； but walked ever in
fear of him； doing his will wherever they might be。 Thus Morgoth learned much of all that had befallen since the
rebellion of F？anor； and he rejoiced； seeing therein the seed of many dissensions among his foes。
When nearly one hundred years had run since the Dagor Aglareb； Morgoth endeavoured to take Fingolfin at