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And if you begrudge me an escort； then I will go alone。'
Then Turgon answered： 'I grudge you nothing that I have。 Yet I desire that none shall dwell beyond my walls who
know the way hither： and if I trust you； my sister； others I trust less to keep guard on their tongues。'
And Turgon appointed three lords of his household to ride with Aredhel； and he bade them lead her to Fingon in
Hithlum； if they might prevail upon her。 'And be wary；' he said； 'for though Morgoth be yet hemmed in the North there
are many perils in Middle…earth of which the Lady knows nothing。' Then Aredhel departed from Gondolin； and Turgon's
heart was heavy at her going。
But when she came to the Ford of Brithiach in the River Sirion she said to her panions： 'Turn now south and
not north； for I will not ride to Hithlum； my heart desires rather to find the sons of F？anor； my friends of old。' And since
she could not be dissuaded they turned south as she manded； and sought admittance into Doriath。 But the march…
wardens denied them； for Thingol would suffer none of the Noldor to pass the Girdle； save his kinsfolk of the house of
Finarfin； and least of all those that were friends of the sons of F？anor。 Therefore the march…wardens said to Aredhel： 'To
the land of Celegorm for which you seek； Lady； you may by no means pass through the realm of King Thingol； you must
ride beyond the Girdle of Melian； to the south or to the north。 The speediest way is by the paths that lead east from the
Brithiach through Dimbar and along the north…march of this kingdom； until you pass the Bridge of Esgalduin and the
Fords of Aros； and e to the lands that lie behind the Hill of Himring。 There dwell； as we believe； Celegorm and
Curufin； and it may be that you will find them； but the road is perilous。'
Then Aredhel turned back and sought the dangerous road between the haunted valleys of Ered Gorgoroth and the
north fences of Doriath； and as they drew near to the evil region of Nan Dungortheb the riders became enmeshed in
shadows； and Aredhel strayed from her panions and was lost。 They sought long for her in vain； fearing that she had
been ensnared； or had drunk from the poisoned streams of that land； but the fell creatures of Ungoliant that dwelt in the
ravines were aroused and pursued them； and they hardly escaped with their lives。 When at last they returned and their
tale was told there was great sorrow in Gondolin； and Turgon sat long alone； enduring grief and anger in silence。
But Aredhel； having sought in vain for her panions； rode on； for she was fearless and hardy of heart； as were
all the children of Finw？； and she held on her way； and crossing Esgalduin and Aros came to the land of Himlad between
Aros and Celon where Celegorm and Curufin dwelt in those days； before the breaking of the Siege of Angband。 At that
time they were from home； riding with Caranthir east in Thargelion； but the people of Celegorm weled her and bade
her stay among them with honour until their lord's return。 There for a while she was content； and had great Joy in
wandering free in the woodlands； but as the year lengthened and Celegorm did not return； she became restless again； and
took to riding alone ever further abroad； seeking for new paths and untrodden glades。 Thus it chanced in the waning of
the year that Aredhel came to the south of Himlad； and passed over Celon； and before she was aware she was enmeshed
in Nan Elmoth。
In that wood in ages past Melian walked in the twilight of Middle…earth when the trees were young； and
enchantment lay upon it still。 But now the trees of Nan Elmoth were the tallest and darkest in all Beleriand； and there the
sun never came； and there E？l dwelt； who was named the Dark Elf。 Of old he was of the kin of Thingol； but he was
restless and ill at ease in Doriath； and when the Girdle of Melian was set about the Forest of Region where he dwelt he
fled thence to Nan Elmoth。 There he lived in deep shadow； loving the night and the twilight under the stars。 He shunned
the Noldor； holding them to blame for the return of Morgoth； to trouble the quiet of Beleriand； but for the Dwarves he
had more liking than any other of the Elvenfolk of old。 From him the Dwarves learned much of what passed in the lands
of the Eldar。
Now the traffic of the Dwarves down from the Blue Mountains followed two roads across East Beleriand； and the
northern way； going towards the Fords of Aros； passed nigh to Nan Elmoth； and there E？l would meet the Naugrim and
hold converse with them。 And as their friendship grew he would at times go and dwell as guest in the deep mansions of
Nogrod or Belegost There he learned much of metalwork； and came to great skill therein； and he devised a metal as hard
as the steel of the Dwarves； but so malleable that he could make it thin and supple； and yet it remained resistant to all
blades and darts。 He named it galvorn； for it was black and shining like jet； and he was clad in it whenever he went
abroad。 But E？l； though stooped by his smithwork； was no Dwarf； but a tall Elf of a high kin of the Teleri； noble though
grim of face； and his eyes could see deep into shadows and dark places。 And it came to pass that he saw Aredhel Ar…
Feiniel as she strayed among the tall trees near the borders of Nan Elmoth； a gleam of white in the dim land。 Very fair
she seemed to him； and he desired her； and he set his enchantments about her so that she could not find the ways out； but
drew ever nearer to his dwelling in the depths of the wood。 There were his smithy； and his dim halls； and such servants
as he had； silent and secret as their master。 And when Aredhel； weary with wandering； came at last to his doors； he
revealed himself； and he weled her； and led her into his house。 And there she remained； for E？l took her to wife； and
it was long ere any of her kin heard of her again。
It is not said that Aredhel was wholly unwilling； nor that her life in Nan Elmoth was hateful to her for many years。
For though at E？l's mand she must shun the sunlight； they wandered far together under the stars or by the light of the
sickle moon； or she might fare alone as she would； save that E？l forbade her to seek the sons of F？anor； or any others of
the Noldor。 And Aredhel bore to E？l a son in the shadows of Nan Elmoth； and in her heart she gave him a name in the
forbidden tongue of the Noldor； Lómion； that signifies Child of the Twilight； but his father gave him no name until he
was twelve years old。 Then he called him Maeglin； which is Sharp Glance； for he perceived that the eyes of his son were
more piercing than his own； and his thought could read the secrets of hearts beyond the mist of words。
As Maeglin grew to full stature he resembled in face and form rather his kindred of the Noldor； but in mood and
mind he was the son of his father。 His words were few save in matters that touched him near； and then his voice had a
power to move those that heard him and to overthrow those that withstood him。 He was tall and black…haired； his eyes
were dark； yet bright and keen as the eyes of the Noldor； and his skin was white。 Often he went with E？l to the cities of
the Dwarves in the east of Ered Lindon； and there he learned eagerly what they would teach； and above all the craft of
finding the ores of metals in the mountains。
Yet it is said that Maeglin loved his mother better； and if E？l were abroad he would sit long beside her and listen
to all that she could tell him of her kin and their deeds in Eldamar； and of the might and valour of the princes of the
House of Fingolfin。 All these things he laid to heart； but most of all that which he heard of Turgon； and that he had no
heir； for Elenw？ his wife perished in the crossing of the Helcarax？； and his daughter Idril Celebrindal was his only child。
In the telling of these tales there was awakened in Aredhel a desire to see her own kin again； and she marvelled
that she had grown weary of the light of Gondolin； and the fountains in the sun； and the green sward of Tumladen under
the windy skies of spring； moreover she was often alone in the shadows when both her son and