door of Gondolin。 Therefore they set out together from that place； and as the Fell Winter of that year came down upon
them out of the north they went warily eastward under the eaves of the Mountains of Shadow/
At length they came in their journeying to the Pools of Ivrin； and looked with grief on the defilement wrought
there by the passage of Glaurung the Dragon； but even as they gazed upon it they saw one going northward in haste； and
he was a tall Man； clad in black； and bearing a black sword。 But they knew not who he was； nor anything of what had
befallen in the south； and he passed them by； and they said no word。
And at the last by the power that Ulmo set upon them they came to the hidden door of Gondolin； and passing
down the tunnel they reached the inner gate； and were taken by the guard as prisoners。 Then they were led up the mighty
ravine of Orfalch Echor； barred by seven gates； and brought before Ecthelion of the Fountain； the warden of the great
gate at the end of the climbing road； and there Tuor cast aside his cloak； and from the arms that he bore from Vinyamar
it was seen that he was in truth one sent by Ulmo。 Then Tuor looked down upon the fair vale of Tumladen； set as a green
jewel amid the encircling hills； and he saw far off upon the rocky height of Amon Gwareth Gondolin the great； city of
seven names； whose fame and glory is mightiest in song of all dwellings of the Elves in the Hither Lands。 At the bidding
of Ecthelion trumpets were blown on the towers of the great gate； and they echoed in the hills； and far off but clear there
came a sound of answering trumpets blown upon the white walls of the city； flushed with the rose of dawn upon the
plain。
Thus it was that the son of Huor rode across Tumladen； and came to the gate of Gondolin； and passing up the
wide stairways of the city he was brought at last to the Tower of the King； and looked upon the images of the Trees of
Valinor。 Then Tuor stood before Turgon son of Fingolfin； High King of the Noldor； and upon the King's right hand there
stood Maeglin his sister…son； but upon his left hand sat Idril Celebrindal his daughter； and all that heard the voice of
Tuor marvelled； doubting that this were in truth a Man of mortal race； for his words were the words of the Lord of
Waters that came to him in that hour。 And he gave warning to Turgon that the Curse of Mandos now hastened to its
fulfilment； when all the works of the Noldor should perish； and he bade him depart； and abandon the fair and mighty city
that he had built； and go down Sirion to the sea。
Then Turgon pondered long the counsel of Ulmo； and there came into his mind the words that were spoken to
him in Vinyamar： 'Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart； and remember that the true hope
of the Noldor lieth in the West； and eth from the Sea。' But Turgon was bee proud； and Gondolin as beautiful as a
memory of Elven Tirion； and he trusted still in its secret and impregnable strength； though even a Vala should gainsay it；
and after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the people of that city desired never again to mingle in the woes of Elves and Men
without； nor to return through dread and danger into the West。 Shut behind their pathless and enchanted hills they
suffered none to enter； though he fled from Morgoth hate…pursued； and tidings of the lands beyond came to them faint
and far； and they heeded them little。 The spies of Angband sought for them in vain； and their dwelling was as a rumour；
and a secret that none could find。 Maeglin spoke ever against Tuor in the councils of the King； and his words seemed the
more weighty in that they went with Turgon's heart； and at the last he rejected the bidding of Ulmo and refused his
counsel。 But in the warning of the Vala he heard again the words that were spoken before the departing Noldor on the
coast of Araman long ago； and the fear of treason was wakened in Turgon's heart。 Therefore in that time the very
entrance to the hidden door in the Encircling Mountains was caused to be blocked up； and thereafter none went ever
forth from Gondolin on any errand of peace or war； while that city stood。 Tidings were brought by Thorondor Lord of
Eagles of the fall of Nargothrond； and after of the slaying of Thingol and of Dior his heir； and of the ruin of Doriath； but
Turgon shut his ear to word of the woes without； and vowed to march never at the side of any son of F？anor； and his
people he forbade ever to pass the leaguer of the hills。
And Tuor remained in Gondolin； for its bliss and its beauty and the wisdom of its people held mm enthralled； and
he became mighty in stature and in mind； and learned deeply of the lore of the exiled Elves。 Then the heart of Idril was
turned to him； and his to her； and Maeglin's secret hatred grew ever greater； for he desired above all things to possess
her； the only heir of the King of Gondolin。 But so high did Tuor stand in the favour of the King that when he had dwelt
there for seven years Turgon did not refuse him even the hand of his daughter； for though he would not heed the bidding
of Ulmo； he perceived that the fate of the Noldor was wound with the one whom Ulmo had sent； and he did not forget
the words that Huor spoke to him before the host of Gondolin departed from the Battle of Unnumbered Tears。
Then there was made a great and joyful feast； for Tuor had won the hearts of all that people； save only of Maeglin
and his secret following； and thus there came to pass the second union of Elves and Men。
In the spring of the year after was born in Gondolin E？rendil Halfelven； the son of Tuor and Idril Celebrindal；
and that was five hundred years and three since the ing of the Noldor to Middle…earth。 Of surpassing beauty was
E？rendil； for a light was in his face as the light of heaven； and he had the beauty and the wisdom of the Eldar and the
strength and hardihood of the Men of old； and the Sea spoke ever in his ear and heart； even as with Tuor his father。
Then the days of Gondolin were yet full of joy and peace； and none knew that the region wherein the Hidden
Kingdom lay had been at last revealed to Morgoth by the cries of Húrin； when standing in the wilderness beyond the
Encircling Mountains and finding no entrance he called on Turgon in despair。 Thereafter the thought of Morgoth was
bent unceasing on the mountainous land between Anach and the upper waters of Sirion； whither his servants had never
passed； yet still no spy or creature out of Angband could e there because of the vigilance of the eagles； and Morgoth
was thwarted in the fulfilment of his designs。 But Idril Celebrindal was wise and far…seeing； and her heart misgave her；
and foreboding crept upon her spirit as a cloud。 Therefore in that time she let prepare a secret way； that should lead
down from the city and passing out beneath the surface of the plain issue far beyond the walls； northward of Amon
Gwareth； and she contrived it that the work was known but to few； and no whisper of it came to Maeglin's ears。
Now on a time； when E？rendil was yet young； Maeglin was lost。 For he； as has been told； loved mining and
quarrying after metals above all other craft； and he was master and leader of the Elves who worked in the mountains
distant from the city； seeking after metals for their smithying of things both of peace and war。 But often Maeglin went
with few of his folk beyond the leaguer of the hills； and the King knew not that his bidding was defied； and thus it came
to pass； as fate willed； that Maeglin was taken prisoner by Orcs； and brought to Angband； Maeglin was no weakling or
craven； but the torment wherewith he was threatened cowed his spirit； and he purchased his life and freedom by
revealing to Morgoth the very place of Gondolin and the ways whereby it might be found and assailed。 Great indeed was
the Joy of Morgoth； and to Maeglin he promised the lordship of Gondolin as his vassal； and the possession of Idril
Celebrindal； when the city should be taken； and indeed desire for Idril and hatred for Tuor led Maeglin the easier to his
treachery； most infamous in all the histories of the Elder Days。 But Morgoth sent him back to Gondolin； lest any should
suspect the betrayal； and so that Maeglin should aid the assault from within； when the hour came； and he abode in the
halls of the King with smiling face and evil in his heart； while the darkness gathered ever deeper upon Idril。
At last； in the year when E？rendil was seven years old； Morgoth was ready； and he loosed upon Gondolin his
Balrogs； and his Orcs； and his wolves； and with them came dragons of the brood of Glaurung； and they were bee
now many and terrible。 The host of Morgoth came over the northern hills where the height was greatest and the watch
least vigilant； and it came at night upon a time of festival； when all the people of Gondolin were upon the walls to await
the rising sun； and sing their songs at its uplifting； for the morrow was the great feast that they named the Gates of
Summer。 But the red light mounted the hills in the north and not in the east； and there was no stay in the advance of the
foe until they were beneath the very walls of Gondolin； and the city was beleaguered without hope。 Of the deeds of
desperate valour there done； by the chieftains of the noble houses and their warriors； and not least by Tuor； much is told
in The Fall of Gondolin： of the battle of Ecthelion of the Fountain with Gothmog Lord of Balrogs in the very square of
the King； where each slew the other； and of the defence of the tower of Turgon by the people of his household； until the
tower was overthrown； and mighty was its fall and the fall of Turgon in its ruin。
Tuor sought to rescue Idril from the sack of the city； but Maeglin had laid hands on her； and on E？rendil； and
Tuor fought with Maeglin on the walls； and cast him far out； and his body as it fell smote the rocky slopes of Amon
Gwareth thrice ere it pitched into the flames below。 Then Tuor and Idril led such remnants of the people of Gondolin as
they could gather in the confusion of the burning down the secret way which Idril had prepared； and of that passage the
captains of Angband knew nothing； and thought not that any fugitives would take a path towards the north and the
highest parts of the mountains and the nighest to Angband。 The fume of the burning； and the steam of the fair fountains
of Gondolin withering in the flame of the dragons of the north； fell upon the vale of Tumladen in mournful mists； and
thus was the escape of Tuor and his pany aided； for there was still a long and open road to follow from the tunnel's
mouth to the foothills of the mountains。 Nonetheless they came thither； and beyond hope they climbed； in woe and
misery； for the high places were cold and terrible； and they had among them many that were wounded； and women and
children。
There was a dreadful pass； Cirith Thoronath it was named； the Eagles' Cleft； where beneath the shadow of the
highest peaks a narrow path wound its way； on the right hand it was walled by a precipice； and on the left a dreadful fall
leapt into empt