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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 without there was peril and great fear； and the servants of Morgoth roamed at will； save in the
walled havens of the Falas。
But new tidings were at hand； which none in Middle…earth had foreseen； neither Morgoth in his pits nor Melian in
Menegroth； for no news came out of Aman whether by messenger； or by spirit； or by vision in dream； after the death of
the Trees。 In this same time F？anor came over the Sea in the white ships of the Teleri and landed in the Firth of Drengist；
and there burned the ships at Losgar。
Chapter 11
Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
It is told that after the flight of Melkor the Valar sat long unmoved upon their thrones in the Ring of Doom； but they
were not idle； as F？anor declared in the folly of his heart。 For the Valar may work many things with thought rather than
with hands； and without voices in silence they may hold council one with another。 Thus they held vigil in the night of
Valinor； and their thought passed back beyond E？ and forth to the End； yet neither power nor wisdom assuaged their
grief； and the knowing of evil in the hour of its being。 And they mourned not more for the death of the Trees than for the
marring of F？anor： of the works of Melkor one of the most evil。 For F？anor was made the mightiest in all parts of body
and mind； in valour； in endurance； in beauty； in understanding； in skill； in strength and in subtlety alike； of all the
Children of Ilúvatar； and a bright flame was in him。 The works of wonder for the glory of Arda that he might otherwise
have wrought only Manw？ might in some measure conceive。 And it was told by the Vanyar who held vigil with the Valar
that when the messengers declared to Manw？ the answers of F？anor to his heralds； Manw？ wept and bowed his head。
But at that last word of F？anor： that at the least the Noldor should do deeds to live in song for ever； he raised his head； as
one that hears a voice far off； and he said： 'So shall it be！ Dear…bought those songs shall be accounted； and yet shall be
well…bought。 For the price cou