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 from the plains to the hills。'
And ere long the evil creatures came even to Beleriand； over passes in the mountains； or up from the south
through the dark forests。 Wolves there were； or creatures that walked in wolf…shapes； and other fell beings of shadow；
and among them were the Orcs； who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand： but they were yet few and wary； and did but
smell out the ways of the land； awaiting the return of their lord。 Whence they came； or what they were； the Elves knew
not then； thinking them perhaps to be Avari who had bee evil and savage in the wild； in which they guessed all too
near； it is said。
Therefore Thingol took thought for arms； which before his people had not needed； and these at first the Naugrim
smithied for him； for they were greatly skilled in such work； though none among them surpassed the craftsmen of
Nogrod； of whom Telchar the smith was greatest in renown。 A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim； and they would
fight fiercely against whomsoever aggrieved them： servants of Melkor； or Eldar； or Avari； or wild beasts； or not seldom
their own kin； Dwarves of other mansions and lordships。 Their smithcraft indeed the Sindar soon learned of them； yet in
the tempering of steel alone of all crafts the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor； and in the making of
mail of linked rings； which was first contrived by the smiths of Belegost； their work had no rival。
At this time therefore the Sindar were well…armed； and they drove off an creatures of evil； and had peace again；
but Thingol's armouries were stored with axes and with spears and swords； and tall helms； and long coats of bright mail；
for the hauberks of the Dwarves were so fashioned that they rusted not but shone ever as if they were new…burnished。
And that proved well for Thingol in the time that was to e。
Now as has been told； one Lenw？ of the host of Olw？ forsook the march of the Eldar at that time when the Teleri
were halted by the shores of the Great River upon the borders of the westlands of Middle…earth。 Little is known of the
wanderings of the Nandor； whom he led away down Anduin： some； it is said； dwelt age…long in the woods of the Vale of
the Great River； some came at last to its mouths and there dwelt by the Sea； and yet others passing by Ered Nimrais； the
White Mountains； came north again and entered the wilderness of Eriador between Ered Luin and the far Mountains of
Mist。 Now these were a woodland people and had no weapons of steel； and the ing of the fell beasts of the North
filled them with great fear； as the Naugrim declared to King Thingol in Menegroth。 Therefore Denethor； the son of
Lenw？； hearing rumour of the might of Thingol and his majesty； and of the peace of his realm； gathered such host of his
scattered people as he could； and led them over the mountains into Beleriand。 There they were weled by Thingol； as
kin long lost that return； and they dwelt in Ossiriand； the Land of Seven Rivers。
Of the long years of peace that followed after the ing of Denethor there is little tale。 In those days； it is said；
Daeron the Minstrel； chief loremaster of the kingdom of Thingol； devised his Runes； and the Naugrim that came to
Thingol learned them； and were well…pleased with the device； esteeming Daeron's skill higher than did the Sindar； his
own people。 By the Naugrim the Cirth were taken east over the mountains and passed into the knowledge of many
peoples； but they were little used by the Sindar for the keeping of records； until the days of the War； and much that was
held in memory perished in the ruins of Doriath。 But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said； before it ends； as
works fair and wonderful； while still they endure for eyes to see； are their own record； and only when they are in peril or
broken for ever do they pass into song。
In Beleriand in those days the Elves walked； and the rivers flowed； and the stars shone； and the night…flowers
gave forth their scents； and the beauty of Melian was as the noon； and the beauty of Lúthien was as the dawn in spring。
In Beleriand King Thingol upon his throne was as the lords of the Maiar； whose power is at rest； whose joy is as an air
that they breathe in all their days； whose thought flows in a tide untroubled from the heights to the deeps。 In Beleriand
still at times rode Orom？ the great； passing like a wind over the mountains； and the sound of his horn came down the
leagues of the starlight； and the Elves feared him for the splendour of his countenance and the great noise of the onrush
of Nahar； but when the Valaróma echoed in the hills； they knew well that all evil things were fled far away。
But it came to pass at last that the end of bliss was at hand； and the noontide of Valinor was drawing to its
twilight。 For as has been told and as is known to all； being written in lore and sung in many songs； Melkor slew the Trees
of the Valar with the aid of Ungoliant； and escaped； and came back to Middle…earth。 Far to the north befell the strife of
Morgoth and Ungoliant； but the great cry of Morgoth echoed through Beleriand； and all its people shrank for fear； for
though they knew not what it foreboded； they heard then the herald of death。 Soon afterwards Ungoliant fled from the
north and came into the realm of King Thingol； and a terror of darkness was about her； but by the power of Melian she
was stayed； and entered not into Neldoreth； but abode long time under the shadow of the precipices in which Dorthonion
fell southward。 And they became known as Ered Gorgoroth； the Mountains of Terror； and none dared go thither； or pass
nigh them； there life and light were strangled； and there all waters were poisoned。 But Morgoth； as has before been told；
returned to Angband； and built it anew； and above its doors he reared the reeking towers of Thangorodrim； and the gates
of Morgoth were but one hundred and fifty leagues distant from the bridge of Menegroth： far and yet all too near。
Now the Orcs that multiplied in the darkness of the earth grew strong and fell； and their dark lord filled them with
a lust of rain and death； and they issued from Angband's gates under the clouds that Morgoth sent forth； and passed
silently into the highlands of the north。 Thence on a sudden a great army came into Beleriand and assailed King Thingol。
Now in his wide realm many Elves wandered free in the wild； or dwelt at peace in small kindreds far sundered； and only
about Menegroth in the midst of the land； and along the Falas in the country of the mariners； were there numerous
peoples。 But the Orcs came down upon either side of Menegroth； and from camps in the east between Celon and Gelion；
and west in the plains between Sirion and Narog； they plundered far and wide； and Thingol was cut on from Círdan at
Eglarest。 Therefore he called upon Denethor； and the Elves came in force from Region beyond Aros and from Ossiriand；
and fought the first battle in the Wars of Beleriand。 And the eastern host of the Orcs was taken between the armies of the
Eldar； north of the Andram and midway between Aros and Gelion； and there they were utterly defeated； and those that
fled north from the great slaughter were waylaid by the axes of the Naugrim that issued from Mount Dolmed： few indeed
returned to Angband。
But the victory of the Elves was dear…bought For those of Ossiriand were light…armed； and no match for the Orcs；
who were shod with iron and iron…shielded and bore great spears with broad blades； and Denethor was cut off and
surrounded upon the hill of Amon Ereb。 There he fell and all his nearest kin about him； before the host of Thingol could
e to his aid。 Bitterly though his fall was avenged； when Thingol came upon the rear of the Orcs and slew them in
heaps； his people lamented him ever after and took no king again。 After the battle some returned to Ossiriand； and their
tidings filled the remnant of their people with great fear； so that thereafter they came never forth in open war； but kept
themselves by wariness and secrecy； and they were called the Laiquendi； the Green…elves； because of their raiment of the
colour of leaves。 But many went north and entered the guarded realm of Thingol； and were merged with his people。
And when Thingol came again to Menegroth he learned that the Orc…host in the west was victorious； and had
driven Círdan to the rim of the sea。 Therefore he withdrew all his people that his summons could reach within the
fastness of Neldoreth and Region； and Melian put forth her power and fenced all that dominion round about with an
unseen wail of shadow and bewilderment： the Girdle of Melian； that none thereafter could pass against her will or the
will of King Thingol； unless one should e with a power greater than that of Melian the Maia。 And this inner land；
which was long named Eglador； was after called Doriath； the guarded kingdom； Land of the Girdle。 Within it there was
yet a watchful peace； but w