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Then Thingol was silent； being filled with grief and foreboding； but at length he said： 'Now at last I understand
the ing of the Noldor out of the West； at which I wondered much before。 Not to our aid did they e （save by
chance）； for those that remain in Middle…earth the Valar will leave to their own devices； until the uttermost need。 For
vengeance and redress of their loss the Noldor came。 Yet all the more sure shall they be as allies against Morgoth； with
whom it is not now to be thought that they shall ever make treaty。'
But Melian said： 'Truly for these causes they came； but for others also。 Beware of the sons of F？anor！ The
shadow of the wrath of the Valar lies upon them； and they have done evil； I perceive； both in Aman and to their own kin。
A grief but lulled to sleep lies between the princes of the Noldor。'
And Thingol answered： 'What is that to me？ Of F？anor I have heard but report； which makes him great indeed。
Of his sons I hear little to my pleasure； yet they are likely to prove the deadliest foes of our foe。'
Their swords and their counsels shall have two edges；' I said Melian； and afterwards they spoke no more of this
matter。
It was not long before whispered tales began to pass among the Sindar concerning the deeds of the Noldor ere
they came to Beleriand。 Certain it is whence they came； and the evil truth was enhanced and poisoned by lies； but the
Sindar were yet unwary and trustful of words； and （as may well be thought） Morgoth chose them for this first assault of
his malice； for they knew him not。 And Círdan； hearing these dark tales； was troubled； for he was wise； and perceived
swiftly that true or false they were put about at this time through malice； though the malice he deemed was that of the
princes of the Noldor； because of the jealousy of their houses。 Therefore he sent messengers to Thingol to tell all that he
had heard。
It chanced that at that time the sons of Finarfin were again the guests of Thingol； for they wished to see their
sister Galadriel。 Then Thingol； being greatly moved； spoke in anger to Finrod； saying： 'Ill have you done to me；
kinsman； to conceal so great matters from me。 For now I have learned of all the evil deeds of the Noldor。'
But Finrod answered： 'What ill have I done yon； lord？ Or what evil deed have the Noldor done in all your realm
to grieve you？ Neither against your kinship nor against any of your people have they thought evil or done evil。'
'I marvel at you； son of E？rwen；' said Thingol； 'that you would e to the board of your kinsman thus red…
handed from the slaying of your mothers kin； and yet say naught in defence； nor yet seek any pardon！'
Then Finrod was greatly troubled； but he was silent； for he could not defend himself； save by bringing charges
against the other princes of the Noldor； and that he was loath to do before Thingol。 But in Angrod's heart the memory of
the words of Caranthir welled up again in bitterness； and he cried： 'Lord； I know not what lies you have heard； nor
whence； but we came not red…handed。 Guiltless we came forth； save maybe of folly； to listen to the words of fell F？anor；
and bee as if besotted with wine； and as briefly。 No evil did we do on our road； but suffered ourselves great wrong；
and forgave it。 For this we are named tale…bearers to you and treasonable to the Noldor： untruly as you know； for we
have of our loyalty been silent before you； and thus earned your anger。 But now these charges are no longer to be borne；
and the truth yon shall know。'
Then Angrod spoke bitterly against the sons of F？anor； telling of the blood at Alqualond？； and the Doom of
Mandos； and the burning of the ships at Losgar。 And he cried： 'Wherefore should we that endured the Grinding Ice bear
the name of kinslayers and traitors？'
'Yet the shadow of Mandos lies on you also；' said Melian。 But Thingol was long silent ere he spoke。 'Go now！' he
said。 'For my heart is hot within me。 Later you may return； if you will； for I will not shut my doors for ever against you；
my kindred； that were ensnared in an evil that you did not aid。 With Fingolfin and his people also I will keep friendship；
for they have bitterly atoned for such ill as they did。 And in our hatred of the Power that wrought all this woe our griefs
shall be lost。 But hear my words！ Never again in my ears shall be heard the tongue of those who slew my kin in
Alqualond？！ Nor in all my realm shall it be openly spoken； while my power endures。 All the Sindar shall hear my
mand that they shall neither speak with the tongue of the Noldor nor answer to it。 And all such as use it shall be held
slayers of kin and betrayers of kin unrepentant。'
Then the sons of Finarfin departed from Menegroth with heavy hearts； perceiving how the words of Mandos
would ever be made true； and that none of the Noldor that followed after F？anor could escape from the shadow that lay
upon his house。 And it came to pass even as Thingol had spoken； for the Sindar heard his word； and thereafter
throughout Beleriand they refused the tongue of the Noldor； and shunned those that spoke it aloud； but the Exiles took
the Sindarin tongue in all their daily uses； and the High Speech of the West was spoken only by the lords of the Noldor
among themselves。 Yet that speech lived ever as a language of lore； wherever any of that people dwelt。
It came to pass that Nargothrond was full…wrought （and yet Turgon still dwelt in the halls of Vinyamar）； and the
sons of Finarfin were gathered there to a feast； and Galadriel came from Doriath and dwelt a while in Nargothrond。 Now
King Finrod Felagund had no wife； and Galadriel asked him why this should be； but foresight came upon Felagund as
she spoke； and he said： 'An oath I too shall swear； and must be free to fulfil it； and go into darkness。 Nor shall anything
of my realm endure that a son should inherit。'
But it is said that not until that hour had such cold thoughts ruled him； for indeed she whom he had loved was
Amari？ of the Vanyar； and she went not with him into exile。
Chapter 16
Of Maeglin
Aredhel Ar…Feiniel； the White Lady of the Noldor； daughter of Fingolfin； dwelt in Nevrast with Turgon her brother； and
she went with him to the Hidden Kingdom。 But she wearied of the guarded city of Gondolin； desiring ever the longer the
more to ride again in the wide lands and to walk in the forests； as had been her wont in Valinor： and when two hundred
years had passed since Gondolin was full…wrought； she spoke to Turgon and asked leave to depart。 Turgon was loath to
grant this； and long denied her； but at the last he yielded； saying： 'Go then； if you will though it is against my wisdom；
and I forebode that ill will e of it both to you and to me。 But you shall go only to seek Fingon； our brother； and those
that I send with you shall return hither to Gondolin as swiftly as they may。'
But Aredhel said： 'I am your sister and not your servant； and beyond your bounds I will go as seems good to me。
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