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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
unawares （for he knew of the vigilance of Maedhros）； and he sent forth an army into the white north； and they turned
west and again south and came down the coasts to the Firth of Drengist； by the route that Fingolfin followed from the
Grinding Ice。 Thus they would enter into the realm of Hithlum from the west； but they were espied in time； and Fingon
fell upon them among the hills at the head of the Firth； and most of the Orcs were driven into the sea。 This was not
reckoned among the great battles； for the Orcs were not in great number； and only a part of the people of Hithlum fought
there。 But thereafter there was peace for many years； and no open assault from Angband； for Morgoth perceived now
that the Orcs unaided were no match for the Noldor； and he sought in his heart for new counsel。
Again after a hundred years Glaurung； the first of the Urulóki； the fire…drakes of the North； issued from
Angband's gates by night。 He was yet young and scarce half…grown； for long and slow is the life of the dragons； but the
Elves fled before him to Ered Wethrin and Dorthonion in dismay； and he defiled the fields of Ard…galen。 Then Fingon
prince of Hithlum rode against him with archers on horseback； and hemmed him round with a ring of swift riders； and
Glaurung could not endure their darts； being not yet e to his full armoury； and he fled back to Angband； and came
not forth again for many years。 Fingon won great praise； and the Noldor rejoiced； for few foresaw the full meaning and
threat of this new thing。 But Morgoth was ill…pleased that Glaurung had disclosed himself over…soon； and after his defeat
there was the Long Peace of wellnigh two hundred years。 In all that time there were but affrays on the marches； and all
Beleriand prospered and grew rich。 Behind the guard of their armies in the north the Noldor built their dwellings and
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 O