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needless baggage on the road it has proved。 Let those that cursed my name； curse me still； and whine their way back to
the cages of the Valar！ Let the ships burn！' Then Maedhros alone stood aside； but F？anor caused fire to be set to the
white ships of the Teleri。 So in that place which was called Losgar at the outlet of the Firth of Drengist ended the fairest
vessels that ever sailed the sea； in a great burning； bright and terrible。 And Fingolfin and his people saw the light afar
off； red beneath the clouds； and they knew that they were betrayed。 This was the firstfruits of the Kinslaying and the
Doom of the Noldor。
Then Fingolfin seeing that F？anor had left him to perish in Araman or return in shame to Valinor was filled with
bitterness； but he desired now as never before to e by some way to Middle…earth； and meet F？anor again。 And he and
his host wandered long in misery； but their valour and endurance grew with hardship； for they were a mighty people； the
elder children undying of Elu Ilúvatar； but new…e from the Blessed Realm； and not yet weary with the weariness of
Earth。 The fire of their hearts was young； and led by Fingolfin and his sons； and by Finrod and Galadriel； they dared to
pass into the bitterest North； and finding no other way they endured at last the terror of the Helcarax？ and the cruel hills
of ice。 Few of the deeds of the Noldor thereafter surpassed that desperate crossing in hardihood or woe。 There Elenw？
the wife of Turgon was lost； and many others perished also； and it was with a lessened host that Fingolfin set foot at last
upon the Outer Lands。 Small love for F？anor or his sons had those that marched at last behind him； and blew their
trumpets in Middle…earth at the first rising of the Moon。
Chapter 10
Of the Sindar
Now as has been told the power of Elw？ and Melian increased in Middle…earth； and all the Elves of Beleriand；
from the mariners of Círdan to the wandering hunters of the Blue Mountains beyond the River Gelion； owned Elw？ as
their lord； Elu Thingol he was called； King Greymantle； in the tongue of his people。 They are called the Sindar； the
Grey…elves of starlit Beleriand； and although they were Moriquendi； under the lordship of Thingol and the teaching of
Melian they became the fairest and the most wise and skilful of all the Elves of Middle…earth。 And at the end of the first
age of the Chaining of Melkor； when all the Earth had peace and the glory of Valinor was at its noon； there came into the
world Lúthien； the only child of Thingol and Melian。 Though Middle…earth lay for the most part in the Sleep of Yavanna；
in Beleriand under the power of Melian there was life and joy； and the bright stars shone as silver fires； and there in the
forest of Neldoreth Lúthien was born； and the white flowers of niphredil came forth to greet her as stars from the earth。
It came to pass during the second age of the captivity of Melkor that Dwarves came over the Blue Mountains of
Ered Luin into Beleriand。 Themselves they named Khazad； but the Sindar called them Naugrim； the Stunted People； and
Gonnhirrim； Masters of Stone。 Far to the east were the most ancient dwellings of the Naugrim； but they had delved for
themselves great halls and mansions； after the manner of their kind； in the eastern side of Ered Luin； and those cities
were named in their own tongue Gabilgathol and Tumunzahar。 To the north of the great height of Mount Dolmed was
Gabilgathol； which the Elves interpreted in their tongue Belegost； that is Mickleburg； and southward was delved
Tumunzahar； by the Elves named Nogrod； the Hollowbold。 Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad…
d？m； the Dwarrowdelf； Hadhodrond in the Elvish tongue； that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria；
but it was far off in the Mountains of Mist beyond the wide leagues of Eriador； and to the Eldar came but as a name and
a rumour from the words of the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains。
From Nogrod and Belegost the Naugrim came forth into Beleriand； and the Elves were filled with amazement；
for they had believed themselves to be the only living things in Middle…earth that spoke with words or wrought with
hands； and that all others were but birds and beasts。 But they could understand no word of the tongue of the Naugrim；
which to their ears was cumbrous and unlovely； and few ever of the Eldar have achieved the mastery of it But the
Dwarves were swift to learn； and indeed were more willing to learn the Elventongue than to teach their own to those of
alien race。 Few of the Eldar went ever to Nogrod and Belegost； save E？l of Nan Elmoth and Maeglin his son； but the
Dwarves trafficked into Beleriand； and they made a great road that passed under the shoulders of Mount Dolmed and
followed the course of the River Ascar； crossing Gelion at Sarn Athrad； the Ford of Stones； where battle after befell。
Ever cool was the friendship between the Naugrim and the Eldar； though much profit they had one of the other； but at
that time those griefs that lay between them had not yet e to pass； and King Thingol weled them。 But the
Naugrim gave their friendship more readily to the Noldor in after days than to any others of Elves and Men； because of
their love and reverence for Aul？； and the gems of the Noldor they praised above all other wealth。 In the darkness of
Arda already the Dwarves wrought great works； for even from the first days of their Fathers they had marvellous skill
with metals and with stone； but in that ancient time iron and copper they loved to work； rather than silver or gold。
Now Melian had much foresight； after the manner of the Maiar； and when the second age of the captivity of
Melkor had passed； she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last for ever。 He took thought therefore
how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling； and a place that should be strong； if evil were to awake again in
Middle…earth； and he sought aid and counsel of the Dwarves of Belegost They gave it willingly； for they were unwearied
in those days and eager for new works； and though the Dwarves ever demanded a price for all that they did； whether
with delight or with toil； at this time they held themselves paid。 For Melian taught them much that they were eager to
learn； and Thingol rewarded them with many fair pearls。 These Círdan gave to him； for they were got in great number in
the shallow waters about the Isle of Balar； but the Naugrim had not before seen their like； and they held them dear。 One
there was as great as a dove's egg； and its sheen was as starlight on the foam of the sea； Nimphelos it was named； and the
chieftain of the Dwarves of Belegost prized it above a mountain of wealth。
Therefore the Naugrim laboured long and gladly for Thingol； and devised for him mansions after the fashion of
their people； delved deep in the earth。 Where the Esgalduin flowed down； and parted Neldoreth from Region； there rose
in the midst of the forest a rocky hill； and the river ran at its feet。 There they made the gates of the hall of Thingol； and
they built a bridge of stone over the river； by which alone the gates could be entered。 Beyond the gates wide passages
ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone； so many and so great that that
dwelling was named Menegroth； the Thousand Caves。
But the Elves also had part in that labour； and Elves and Dwarves together； each with their own skill； there
wrought out the visions of Melian； images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea。 The pillars of
Menegroth were hewn in the likeness of the beeches of Orom？； stock； bough； and leaf； and they were lit with lanterns of
gold。 The nightingales sang there as in the gardens of Lórien； and there were fountains of silver； and basins of marble；
and floors of many…coloured stones。 Carven figures of beasts and birds there ran upon the walls； or climbed upon the
pillars； or peered among the branches entwined with many flowers。 And as the years passed Melian and her maidens
filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar； and many things that had befallen in
Arda since its beginning； and shadows of things that were yet to be。 That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has
ever been east of the Sea。
And when the building of Menegroth was achieved； and there was peace in the realm of Thingol and Melian； the
Naugrim yet came ever and anon over the mountains and went in traffic about the lands； but they went seldom to the
Falas； for they hated the sound of the sea and feared to look upon it。 To Beleriand there came no other rumour or tidings
of the world without。
But as the third age of the captivity of Melkor drew on； the Dwarves became troubled； and they spoke to King
Thingol； saying that the Valar had not rooted out utterly the evils of the North； and now the remnant； having long
multiplied in the dark； were ing forth once more and roaming far and wide。 'There are fell beasts；' they said； 'in the
land east of the mountains； and your ancient kindred that dwell there are flying