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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
Of the ing of Men into the West
When three hundred years and more were gone since the Noldor came to Beleriand； in the days of the Long Peace；
Finrod Felagund lord of Nargothrond journeyed east of Sirion and went hunting with Maglor and Maedhros； sons of
F？anor。 But he wearied of the chase and passed cm alone towards the mountains of Ered Lindon that he saw shining
afar； and taking the Dwarf…road he crossed Gelion at the ford of Sarn Athrad； and taming south over the upper streams of
Ascar； he came into the north of Ossiriand。
In a valley among the foothills of the mountains； below the springs of Thalos； he saw lights in the evening； and
far off he heard the sound of song。 At this he wondered much； for the Green…elves of that land lit no fires； nor did they
sing by night At first he feared that a raid of Orcs had passed the leaguer of the North； but as he drew near he perceived
that it was not so； for the singers used a tongue that he had not heard before； neither that of Dwarves nor of Orcs。 Then
Felagund； standing silent hi the night…shadow of the trees； looked down into the camp； and there he beheld a strange
people。
Now these were a part of the kindred and following of B？or the Old； as he was afterwards called； a chieftain
among Men。 After many lives of wandering out of the East he had led them at last over the Blue Mountains； the first of
the race of Men to enter Beleriand； and they sang because they were glad； and believed that they had escaped from all
perils and had e at last to a land without fear。
Long Felagund watched them； and love for them stirred in his heart； but he remained hidden in the trees until they
had all fallen asleep。 Then he went among the sleeping people； and sat beside their dying fire where none kept watch；
and he took up a rude harp which B？or had laid aside； and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not
heard； for they had as yet no teachers in the art； save only the Dark Elves in the wild lands。
Now men awoke and listened to Felagund as he harped and sang； and each thought that he was in some fair
dream； until he saw that his fellows were awake also beside him； but they did not speak or stir while Felagund still
played； because of the beauty of the music and the wonder of the song。 Wisdom was in the words of the Elven…king； and
the hearts grew wiser that hearkened to him； for the things of which he sang； of the making of Arda； and the bliss of
Aman beyond the shadows of the Sea； came as clear visions before their eyes； and his Elvish speech was interpreted in
each mind according to its measure。
Thus it was that Men called King Felagund； whom they first met of all the Eldar； Nóm； that is Wisdom； in the
language of that people； and after him they named his folk Nómin； the Wise。 Indeed they believed at first that Felagund
was one of the Valar； of whom they had heard rumour that they dwelt far in the West； and this was （some say） the cause
of their journeying。 But Felagund dwelt among them and taught them true knowledge； and they loved him； and took him
for their lord； and were ever after loyal to the house of Finarfin。
Now the Eldar were beyond all other peoples skilled in tongues； and Felagund discovered also that he could read
in the minds of Men such thoughts as they wished to reveal in speech； so that their words were easily interpreted。 It is
said also that these Men had long had dealings with the Dark Elves east of the mountains； and from them had learned
much of their speech； and since all the languages of the Quendi were of one origin； the language of B？or and his folk
resembled the Elven…tongue in many words and devices。 It was not long therefore before Felagund could hold converse
with B？or； and while he dwelt with him they spoke much together。 But when he questioned him concerning the arising of
Men and their journeys； B？or would say little； and indeed he knew little； for the fathers of his people had told few tales
of their past and a silence had fallen upon their memory。 'A darkness lies behind us；' B？or said； 'and we have turned our
backs upon it； and we do not desire to return thither even in thought。 Westwards our hearts have been turned； and we
believe that there we shall find Light。'
But it was said afterwards among the Eldar that when Men awoke in Hildórien at the rising of the Sun the spies of
Morgoth were watchful； and tidings were soon brought to him； and this seemed to him so great a matter that secretly
under shadow he himself departed from Angband； and went forth into Middle…earth； leaving to Sauron the mand of
the War。 Of his dealings with Men the Eldar indeed knew nothing； at that time； and learnt but little afterwards； but that a
darkness lay upon the hearts of Men （as the shadow of the Kinslaying and the Doom of Mandos lay upon the Noldor）
they perceived clearly even in the people of the Elf…friends whom they first knew。 To corrupt or destroy whatsoever
arose new and fair was ever the chief desire of Morgoth； and doubtless he had this purpose also in his erran