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for new realms； and he would not open his kingdom； nor remove its girdle of enchantment； for wise with the wisdom of
Melian he trusted not that the restraint of Morgoth would endure。 Alone of the princes of the Noldor those of Finarfin's
house were suffered to pass within the confines of Doriath； for they could claim close kinship with King Thingol
himself； since their mother was E？rwen of Alqualond？； Olw？'s daughter。
Angrod son of Finarfin was the first of the Exiles to e to Menegroth； as messenger of his brother Finrod； and
he spoke long with the King； telling him of the deeds of the Noldor in the north； and of their numbers； and of the
ordering of their force； but being true； and wisehearted； and thinking all griefs now forgiven； he spoke no word
concerning the kinslaying； nor of the manner of the exile of the Noldor and the oath of F？anor。 King Thingol hearkened
to the words of Angrod； and ere he went he said to him： 'Thus shall you speak for me to those that sent you。 In Hithlum
the Noldor have leave to dwell； and in the highlands of Dorthonion； and in the lands east of Doriath that are empty and
wild； but elsewhere there are many of my people； and I would not have them restrained of their freedom； still less ousted
from their homes。 Beware therefore how you princes of the West bear yourselves； for I am the Lord of Beleriand； and all
who seek to dwell there shall hear my word。 Into Doriath none shall e to abide but only such as I call as guests； or
who seek me in great need。'
Now the lords of the Noldor held council in Mithrim； and thither came Angrod out of Doriath； bearing the
message of King Thingol。 Cold seemed its wele to the Noldor； and the sons of F？anor were angered at the words；
but Maedhros laughed； saying： 'A king is he that can hold his own； or eke his title is vain。 Thingol does but grant us
lands where his power does not run。 Indeed Doriath alone would be his realm this day； but for the ing of the Noldor。
Therefore in Doriath let him reign； and be glad that he has the sons of Finw？ for his neighbours； not the Orcs of Morgoth
that we found。 Elsewhere it shall go as seems good to us。〃
But Caranthir； who loved not the sons of Finarfin； and was the harshest of the brothers and the most quick to
anger； cried aloud： 'Yea more！ Let not the sons of Finarfin run hither and thither with their tales to this Dark Elf in his
caves！ Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him？ And though they be e indeed to Beleriand； let them not so
swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor； though their mother be of other kin。'
Then Angrod was wrathful and went forth from the council。 Maedhros indeed rebuked Caranthir； but the greater
part of the Noldor； of both followings； hearing his words were troubled in heart； fearing the fell spirit of the sons of
F？anor that it seemed would ever be like to burst forth in rash word or violence。 But Maedhros restrained his brothers；
and they departed from the council； and soon afterwards they left Mithrim and went eastward beyond Aros to the wide
lands about the Hill of Himring。 That region was named thereafter the March of Maedhros； for northwards there was
little defence of hill or river against assault from Angband。 There Maedhros and his brothers kept watch； gathering all
such people as would e to them； and they had few dealings with their kinsfolk westward； save at need。 It is said
indeed that Maedhros himself devised this plan； to lessen the chances of strife； and because he was very willing that the
chief peril of assault should fall upon himself； and he remained for his part in friendship with the houses of Fingolfin and
Finarfin； and would e among them at times for mon counsel。 Yet he also was bound by the oath； though it slept
now for a time。
Now the people of Caranthir dwelt furthest east beyond the upper waters of Gelion； about Lake Helevorn under
Mount Rerir and to the southward； and they climbed the heights of Ered Luin and looked eastward in wonder； for wild
and wide it seemed to them were the lands of Middle…earth。 And thus it was that Caranthir's people came upon the
Dwarves； who after the onslaught of Morgoth and the ing of the Noldor had ceased their traffic into Beleriand。 But
though either people loved skill and were eager to learn； no great love was there between them； for the Dwarves were
secret and quick to resentment； and Caranthir was haughty and scarce concealed his scorn for the unloveliness of the
Naugrim； and his people followed their lord。 Nevertheless since both peoples feared and hated Morgoth they made
alliance； and had of it great profit； for the Naugrim learned many secrets of craft in those days； so that the smiths and
masons of Nogrod and Belegost became renowned among their kin； and when the Dwarves began again to journey into
Beleriand all the traffic of the dwarf…mines passed first through the hands of Caranthir； and thus great riches came to
him。
When twenty years of the Sun had passed； Fingolfin King of the Noldor made a great feast； and it was held in the
spring near to the pools of Ivrin； whence the swift river Narog rose； for there the lands were green and fair at the feet of
the Mountains of Shadow that shielded them from the north。 The joy of that feast was long remembered in later days of
sorrow； and it was called Mereth Aderthad； the Feast of Reuniting。 Thither came many of the chieftains and people of
Fingolfin and Finrod； and of the sons of F？anor Maedhros and Maglor； with warriors of the eastern March； and there
came also great numbers of the Grey…elves； wanderers of the woods of Beleriand and folk of the Havens； with Círdan
their lord。 There came even Green…elves from Ossiriand； the Land of Seven Rivers； far off under the walls of the Blue
Mountains； but out of Doriath there came but two messengers； Mablung and Daeron； bearing greetings from the King。
At Mereth Aderthad many counsels were taken in good will； and oaths were sworn of league and friendship； and
it is told that at this feast the tongue of the Grey…elves was most spoken even by the Noldor； for they learned swiftly the
speech of Beleriand； whereas the Sindar were slow to master the tongue of Valinor。 The hearts of the Noldor were high
and full of hope； and to many among them it seemed that the words of F？anor had been Justified； bidding them seek
freedom and fair kingdoms in Middle…earth； and indeed there followed after long years of peace； while their swords
fenced Beleriand from the ruin of Morgoth； and his power was shut behind his gates。 In those days there was joy beneath
the new Sun and Moon； and all the land was glad； but still the Shadow brooded in the north。
And when again thirty years had passed； Turgon son of Fingolfin left Nevrast where he dwelt and sought out
Finrod his friend upon the island of Tol Sirion； and they journeyed southward along the river； being weary for a while of
the northern mountains； and as they journeyed night came upon them beyond the Meres of Twilight beside the waters of
Sirion； and they slept upon his banks beneath the summer stars。 But Ulmo ing up the river laid a deep sleep upon
them and heavy dreams； and the trouble of the dreams remained after they awoke； but neither said aught to the other； for
their memory was not clear； and each believed that Ulmo had sent a message to him alone。 But unquiet was upon them
ever after； and doubt of what should befall； and they wandered often alone in untrodden lands； seeking far and wide for
places of hidden strength； for it seemed to each that he was bidden to prepare for a day of evil； and to establish a retreat；
lest Morgoth should burst from Angband and overthrow the armies of the North。
Now on a time Finrod and Galadriel his sister were the guests of Thingol their kinsman in Doriath。 Then Finrod
was filled with wonder at the strength and majesty of Menegroth； its treasuries and armouries and its many…pillared halls
of stone； and it came into his heart that he would build wide halls behind ever…guarded gates in some deep and secret
place beneath the hills。 Therefore he opened his heart to