behind were
deemed to be a bulwark that Morgoth would not lightly seek to cross。
Between Dorthonion and the Shadowy Mountains there was a narrow vale； whose sheer walls were clad with
pines； but the vale itself was green； for the River Sirion flowed through it； hastening towards Beleriand。 Finrod held the
Pass of Sirion； and upon the isle of Tol Sirion in the midst of the river he built a mighty watch…tower； Minas Tirith； but
after Nargothrond was made he mitted that fortress mostly to the keeping of Orodreth his brother。
Now the great and fair country of Beleriand lay on either side of the mighty river Sirion； renowned in song；
which rose at Eithel Sirion and skirted the edge of Ard…galen ere he plunged through the pass； being ever fuller with
the streams of the mountains。 Thence he flowed south for one hundred and thirty leagues； gathering the waters of many
tributaries； until with a mighty flood he reached his many mouths and sandy delta in the Bay of Balar。 And following
Sirion from north to south there lay upon the right hand m West Beleriand the Forest of Brethil between Sirion and
Teiglin； and then the realm of Nargothrond； between Teiglin and Narog。 And the River Narog rose in the falls of Ivrin in
the southern face of Dor…lómin； and flowed some eighty leagues ere he joined Sirion in Nan…tathren； the Land of
Willows。 South of Nan…tathren was a region of meads filled with many flowers； where few folk dwelt； and beyond lay
the marshes and isles of reed about the mouths of Sirion； and the sands of his delta empty of all living things save birds
of the sea。
But the realm of Nargothrond extended also west of Narog to the River Nenning； that reached the sea at Eglarest；
and Finrod became the overlord of all the Elves of Beleriand between Sirion and the sea； save only in the Falas。 There
dwelt those of the Sindar who still loved ships； and Círdan the shipbuilder was their lord； but between Círdan and Finrod
there was friendship and alliance； and with the aid of the Noldor the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest were built anew。
Behind their great walls they became fair towns and harbours with quays and piers of stone。 Upon the cape west of
Eglarest Finrod raised the tower of Barad Nimras to watch the western sea； though needlessly； as it proved； for at no
time ever did Morgoth essay to build ships or to make war by sea。 Water all his servants shunned； and to the sea none
would willingly go nigh； save in dire need。 With the aid of the Elves of the Havens some of the folk of Nargothrond built
new ships； and they went forth and explored the great Isle of Balar； thinking there to prepare a last refuge； if evil came；
but it was not their fate that they should ever dwell there。
Thus the realm of Finrod was the greatest by far； though he was the youngest of the great lords of the Noldor；
Fingolfin； Fingon； and Maedhros； and Finrod Felagund。 But Fingolfin was held overlord of all the Noldor； and Fingon
after him； though their own realm was but the northern land of Hithlum； yet their people were the most hardy and
valiant； most feared by the Orcs and most hated by Morgoth。
Upon the left hand of Sirion lay East Beleriand； at its widest a hundred leagues from Sirion to Gelion and the
borders of Ossiriand； and first； between Sirion and Mindeb； lay the empty land of Dimbar under the peaks of the
Crissaegrim； abode of eagles。 Between Mindeb and the upper waters of Esgalduin lay the no…land of Nan Dungortheb；
and that region was filled with fear； for upon its one side the power of Melian fenced the north march of Doriath； but
upon the other side the sheer precipices of Ered Gorgoroth； Mountains of Terror； fell down from high Dorthonion。
Thither； as was earlier told； Ungoliant had fled from the whips of the Balrogs； and there she dwelt a while； filling the
ravines with her deadly gloom； and there still； when she had passed away； her foul offspring lurked and wove their evil
nets； and the thin waters that spilled from Ered Gorgoroth were defiled； and perilous to drink； for the hearts of those that
tasted them were filled with shadows of madness and despair。 All living things else shunned that land； and the Noldor
would pass through Nan Dungortheb only at great need； by paths near to the borders of Doriath and furthest from the
haunted hills。 That way was made long before； in the time ere Morgoth returned to Middle…earth； and if one fared upon it
he came eastwards to Esgalduin； where still there stood in the days of the Siege the stone bridge of Iant Taur。 Thence he
passed through Dor Dínen； the Silent Land； and crossing the Arossiach （which signifies the Fords of Aros） came to the
north marches of Beleriand； where dwelt the sons of F？anor。
Southward lay the guarded woods of Doriath； abode of Thingol the Hidden King； into whose realm none passed
save by his will。 Its northern and lesser part； the Forest of Neldoreth； was bounded east and south by the dark river
Esgalduin； which bent westward in the midst of the land； and between Aros and Esgalduin lay the denser and greater
woods of Region。 Upon the southern bank of Esgalduin； where it turned westward towards Sirion； were the Caves of
Menegroth； and all Doriath lay east of Sirion save for a narrow region of woodland between the meeting of Teiglin and
Sirion and the Meres of Twilight。 By the people of Doriath this wood was called Nivrim； the West March； great oak…
trees grew there； and it also was enpassed within the Girdle of Melian； that so some portion of Sirion which she
loved in reverence of Ulmo should be wholly under the power of Thingol。
In the south…west of Doriath； where Aros flowed into Sirion； lay great pools and marshes on either side of the
river； which halted there in his course and strayed in many channels。 That region was named Aelin…uial； the Twilight
Meres； for they were wrapped in mists； and the enchantment of Doriath lay over them。 Now all the northern part of
Beleriand sloped southward to this point and then for a while was plain； and the flood of Sirion was stayed。 But south of
Aelin…uial the land fell suddenly and steeply； and all the lower fields of Sirion were divided from the upper fields by this
fall； which to one looking from the south northward appeared as an endless chain of hills running from Eglarest beyond
Narog in the west to Amon Ereb in the east； within far sight of Gelion。 Narog came through these hills in a deep gorge；
and flowed over rapids bat had no fall； and on its western bank the land rose into the great wooded highlands of Tauren…
Faroth。 On the west side of this gorge； where the short and foaming stream Ringwil tumbled headlong into Narog from
the High Faroth； Finrod established Nargothrond。 But some twenty…five leagues east of the gorge of Nargothrond Sirion
fell from the north in a mighty fall below the Meres； and then he plunged suddenly underground into great tunnels that
the weight of his falling waters delved； and he issued again three leagues southward with great noise and smoke through
rocky arches at the foot of the hills which were called the Gates of Sirion。
This dividing fall was named Andram； the Long Wall； from Nargothrond to Ramdal； the Wall's End； in East
Beleriand。 But in the east it became ever less sheer； for the vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward； and Gelion had
neither fall nor rapids throughout his course； but was ever swifter than was Sirion。 Between Ramdal and Gelion there
stood a single hill of great extent and gentle slopes； but seeming mightier than it was； for it stood alone； and that hill was
named Amon Ereb。 Upon Amon Ereb died Denethor； lord of the Nandor that dwelt in Ossiriand； who marched to the aid
of Thingol against Morgoth in those days when the Orcs first came down in force； and broke the starlit peace of
Beleriand； and upon that hill Maedhros dwelt after the great defeat。 But south of the Andram； between Sirion and
Gelion； was a wild land of tangled forest in which no folk went； save here and there a few Dark Elves wandering； Taur…
im…Duinath it was named； the Forest between the Rivers。
Gelion was a great river； and he rose in two sources and had at first two branches； Little Gelion that came from
the Hill of Himring； and Greater Gelion that came from Mount Rerir。 From the meeting of his arms he flowed south for
forty leagues before he found his tributaries； and before he found the sea he was twice as long as Sirion； though less
wide and full； for more rain fell in Hithlum and Dorthonion； whence Sirion drew his waters； than in the east。 From Ered
Luin flowed the six tributaries of Gelion： Ascar （that was after named Rathlóriel）； Thalos； Legolin； Brilthor； Duilwen；
and Adurant； swift and turbulent streams； falling steeply from the mountains； and between Ascar in the north and
Adurant in the south； and between Gelion and Ered Luin； lay the far green country of Ossiriand； the Land of Seven
Rivers。 Now at a point nearly midway in its course the stream of Adurant divided and then joined again； and the island
that its waters enclosed was named Tol Galen； the Green Isle。 There Beren and Lúthien dwelt after their return。
In Ossiriand dwelt the Green…elves； in the protection of their rivers； for after Sirion Ulmo loved Gelion above all
the waters of the western world。 The woodcraft of the Elves of Ossiriand was such that a stranger might pass through
their land from end to end and see none of them。 They were clad in green in spring and summer； and the sound of their
singing could be heard even across the waters of Gelion； wherefore the Noldor named that country Lindon； the land of
music； and the mountains beyond they named Ered Lindon； for they first saw them from Ossiriand。
East of Dorthonion the marches of Beleriand were most open to attack； and only hills of no great height guarded
the vale of Gelion from the north。 In that region； upon the March of Maedhros and in the lands behind； dwelt the sons of
F？anor with many people； and their riders passed often over the vast northern plain； Lothlann the wide and empty； east
of Ard…galen； lest Morgoth should attempt any sortie towards Bast Beleriand。 The chief citadel of Maedhros was upon
the Hill of Himring； the Ever…cold； and that was wide…shouldered； bare of trees； and flat upon its summit； surrounded by
many lesser hills。 Between Himring and Dorthonion there was a pass； exceeding steep upon the west； and that was the
Pass of Aglon； and was a gate unto Doriath； and a bitter wind blew ever through it from the north。 But Celegorm and
Curufin fortified Aglon and held it with great strength； and all the land of Himlad southward between the River Aros that
rose in Dorthonion and his tributary Celon that came from Himring。
Between the arms of Gelion was the ward of Maglor； and here in one place the hills failed altogether： there it was
that the Orcs came into East Beleriand before the Third Battle。 Therefore the Noldor held strength of cavalry In the
plains at that place； and the people of Caranthir fortified the mountains to the east of Maglor's Gap。 There Mount Rerir；
and about it many les