keep。 We are threatened with many evils； and treason not least； but one thing is not said： that we shall suffer from
cowardice； from cravens or the fear of cravens。 Therefore I say that we will go on； and this doom I add： the deeds that
we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda。'
But in that hour Finarfin forsook the march； and turned back； being filled with grief； and with bitterness against
the House of F？anor； because of his kinship with Olw？ of Alqualond？； and many of his people went with him； retracing
their steps in sorrow； until they beheld once more the far beam of the Mindon upon Túna still shining in the night； and so
came at last to Valinor。 There they received the pardon of the Valar； and Finarfin was set to rule the remnant of the
Noldor in the Blessed Realm。 But his sons were not with him； for they would not forsake the sons of Fingolfin； and all
Fingolfin's folk went forward still； feeling the constraint of their kinship and the will of F？anor； and fearing to face the
doom of the Valar； since not all of them had been guiltless of the Kinslaying at Alqualond？。 Moreover Fingon and
Turgon were bold and fiery of heart； and loath to abandon any task to which they had put their hands until the bitter end；
if bitter it must be。 So the main host held on； and swiftly the evil that was foretold began its work。
The Noldor came at last far into the north of Arda； and they saw the first teeth of the ice that floated in the sea；
and knew that they were drawing nigh to the Helcarax？。 For between the land of Aman that in the north curved eastward；
and the east…shores of Endor （which is Middle…earth） that bore westward； there was a narrow strait； through which the
chill waters of the Encircling Sea and the waves of Belegaer flowed together； and there were vast fogs and mists of
deathly cold； and the sea…streams were filled with clashing hills of ice and the grinding of ice deep…sunken。 Such was the
Helcarax？； and there none yet had dared to tread save the Valar only and Ungoliant
Therefore F？anor halted and the Noldor debated what course they should now take。 But they began to suffer
anguish from the cold； and the clinging mists through which no gleam of star could pierce； and many repented of the
road and began to murmur； especially those that followed Fingolfin； cursing F？anor； and naming him as the cause of all
the woes of the Eldar。 But F？anor； knowing all that was said； took counsel with his sons； and two courses only they saw
to escape from Araman and e into Endor： by the straits or by ship。 But the Helcarax？ they deemed impassable；
whereas the ships were too few。 Many had been lost upon their long journey； and there remained now not enough to bear
across all the great host together； yet none were willing to abide upon the western coast while others were ferried first：
already the fear of treachery was awake among the Noldor。 Therefore it came into the hearts of F？anor and his sons to
seize all the ships and depart suddenly； for they had retained the mastery of the fleet since the battle of the Haven； and it
was manned only by those who had fought there and were bound to F？anor。 And as though it came at his call； there
sprang up a wind from the north…west； and F？anor slipped away secretly with all whom he deemed true to him； and went
aboard； and put out to sea； and left Fingolfin in Araman。 And since the sea was there narrow； steering east and somewhat
south he passed over without loss； and first of all the Noldor set foot once more upon the shores of Middle…earth； and the
landing of F？anor was at the mouth of the firth which was called Drengist and ran into Dor…lómin。
But when they were landed； Maedhros the eldest of his sons； and on a time the friend of Fingon ere Morgoth's
lies came between； spoke to F？anor； saying： 'Now what ships and rowers will you spare to return； and whom shall they
bear hither first？ Fingon the valiant？'
Then F？anor laughed as one fey； and he cried： 'None and none！ What I have left behind I count now no loss；
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 Thin