按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was amazed by the strength of the city and the hosts of its people； and the many things strange and beautiful that he
beheld。 Yet to none were his eyes more often drawn than to Idril the King's daughter； who sat beside him； for she was
golden as the Vanyar； her mother's kindred； and she seemed to him as the sun from which all the King's hall drew its
light
But E？l； following after Aredhel； found the Dry River and the secret path； and so creeping in by stealth he came
to the Guard； and was taken and questioned。 And when the Guard heard that he claimed Aredhel as wife they were
amazed； and sent a swift messenger to the City； and he came to the King's hall。
'Lord；' he cried； 'the Guard have taken captive one that came by stealth to the Dark Gate。 E？l he names himself；
and he is a tall Elf； dark and grim； of the kindred of the Sindar； yet he claims the Lady Aredhel as his wife； and demands
to be brought before you。 His wrath is great and he is hard to restrain； but we have not slain him as your law mands。'
Then Aredhel said： 'Alas！ E？l has followed us； even as I feared。 But with great stealth was it done； for we saw
and heard no pursuit as we entered upon the Hidden Way。' Then she said to the messenger： 'He speaks but the truth。 He
is E6L and I am his wife； and he is the father of my son。 Slay him not； but lead him hither to the King's judgement； if the
King so wills。'
And so it was done； and E？l was brought to Turgon's hall and stood before his high seat； proud and sullen。
Though he was amazed no less than his son at all that he saw； his heart was filled the more with anger and with hate of
the Noldor。 But Turgon treated him with honour； and rose up and would take his hand； and he said： 〃Wele； kinsman；
for so I hold you。 Here you shall dwell at your pleasure； save only that you must here abide and depart not from my
kingdom； for it is my law that none who finds the way hither shall depart。'
But E？l withdrew his hand。 'I acknowledge not your law；' he said。 'No right have you or any of your kin in this
land to seize realms or to set bounds； either here or there。 This is the land of the Teleri； to which you bring war and all
unquiet； dealing ever proudly and unjustly。 I care nothing for your secrets and I came not to spy upon you； but to claim
my own： my wife and my son。 Yet if in Aredhel your sister you have some claim； then let her remain； let the bird go back
to the cage； where soon she will sicken again； as she sickened before。 But not so Maeglin。 My son you shall not withhold
from me。 e； Maeglin son of E？l！ Your father mands you。 Leave the house of his enemies and the slayers of his
kin； or be accursed！' But Maeglin answered nothing。
Then Turgon sat in his high seat holding his staff of doom； and in a stem voice spoke： 'I will not debate with you。
Dark Elf。 By the swords of the Noldor alone are your sunless woods defended。 Your freedom to wander there wild you
owe to my kin； and but for them long since you would have laboured in thraldom in the pits of Angband。 And here I am
King； and whether you will it or will it not； my doom is law。 This choice only is given to you： to abide here； or to die
here； and so also for your son。'
Then E？l looked into the eyes of King Turgon； and he was not daunted； but stood long without word or
movement while a still silence fell upon the hall； and Aredhel was afraid； knowing that he was perilous。 Suddenly； swift
as serpent； he seized a javelin that he held hid beneath his cloak and cast it at Maeglin； crying：
'The second choice I take and for my son also！ You shall not hold what is mine！'
But Aredhel sprang before the dart； and it smote her in the shoulder； and E？l was overborne by many and set in
bonds； and led away； while others tended Aredhel。 But Maeglin looking upon his father was silent。
It was appointed that E？l should be brought on the next day to the King's judgement； and Aredhel and Idril
moved Turgon to mercy。 But in the evening Aredhel sickened； though the wound had seemed little； and she fell into the
darkness； and in the night she died； for the point of the Javelin was poisoned； though none knew it until too late。
Therefore when E？l was brought before Turgon he found no mercy； and they led him forth to the Caragd？r； a
precipice of black rock upon the north side of the hill of Gondolin； there to cast him down from the sheer walls of the
city。 And Maeglin stood by and said nothing； but at the last E？l cried out： 'So you forsake your father and his kin； ill…
gotten son！ Here shall you fail of all your hopes； and here may you yet die the same death as I。'
Then they cast E？l over the Caragd？r； and so he ended； and to all in Gondolin it seemed just； but Idril was
troubled； and from that day she mistrusted her kinsman。 But Maeglin prospered and grew great among the
Gondolindrim； praised by all； and high in the favour of Turgon； for if he would learn eagerly and swiftly all that he
might； he had much also to teach。 And he gathered about him all such as had the most bent to smithcraft and mining； and
he sought in the Echoriath （which are the Encircling Mountains）； and found rich lodes of ore of divers metals。 Most he
prized the hard iron of the mine of Anghabar in the north of the Echoriath； and thence he got a wealth of forged metal
and of steel； so that the arms of the Gondolindrim were made ever stronger and more keen； and that stood them in good
stead in the days to e。 Wise in counsel was Maeglin and wary； and yet hardy and valiant at need。 And that was seen
in after days： for when in the dread year of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad Turgon opened his leaguer and marched forth to the
help of Fingon in the north； Maeglin would not remain in Gondolin as regent of the King； but went to the war and fought
beside Turgon； and proved fell and fearless in battle。
Thus all seemed well with the fortunes of Maeglin； who had risen to be mighty among the princes of the Noldor；
and greatest save one in the most renowned of their realms。 Yet he did not reveal his heart： and though not all things
went as he would he endured it in silence； hiding his mind so that few could read it； unless it were Idril Celebrindal。 For
from his first days in Gondolin he had borne a grief； ever worsening； that robbed him of all joy： he loved the beauty of
Idril and desired her； without hope。 The Eldar wedded not with km so near； nor ever before had any desired to do so。
And however that might be； Idril loved Maeglin not at all； and knowing his thought of her she loved him the less。 For it
seemed to her a thing strange and crooked in him； as indeed the Eldar ever since have deemed it： an evil fruit of the
Kinslaying； whereby the shadow of the curse of Mandos fell upon the last hope of the Noldor。 But as the years passed
still Maeglin watched Idril； and waited； and his love turned to darkness in his heart。 And he sought the more to have his
will in other matters； shirking no toil or burden； if he might thereby have power。
Thus it was in Gondolin； and amid all the bliss of that realm； while its glory lasted； a dark seed of evil was sown。
Chapter 17