The War of the Jewels Read Free Page B

inner land south of Hithlum up to the feet of Eryd Luin (the Blue Mountains). But south of the mouths of Sirion it had no sure boundaries; for there were pathless forests in those days between the unpeopled shores and the lower waters of Gelion.

    VY 1050.

    $3. Hither, it is said, at this time came Melian the Maia from Valinor, when Varda made the great stars. In this same time the Quendi awoke by Kuivienen, as is told in the Chronicle of Aman.

    1080

    $4. About this time the spies of Melkor discovered the Quendi and afflicted them.

    1085

    $5. In this year Orome found the Quendi, and befriended them.

    1090

    $6. At this time the Valar came hither from Aman for their assault upon Melkor, whose stronghold was in the North beyond Eryd Engrin (the Iron Mountains). In these regions, therefore, were fought the first battles of the Powers of the West and the North, and all this land was much broken, and it took then that shape which it had until the coming of Fionwe. For the Great Sea broke in upon the coasts and made a deep gulf to the southward, and many lesser bays were made between the Great Gulf and Helkaraxe far in the North, where Middle-earth and Aman came nigh together. Of these bays the Bay of Balar was the chief; and into it the mighty river Sirion flowed down from the new-raised highlands northwards: Dorthonion and the mountains about Hithlum. At first these lands upon either side of Sirion were ruinous and desolate because of the War of the Powers, but soon growth began there, while most of Middle-earth slept in the Sleep of Yavanna, because the Valar of the Blessed Realm had set foot there; and there were young woods under the bright stars. These Melian the Maia fostered; and she dwelt most in the glades of Nan Elmoth beside the River Celon.
    There also dwelt her nightingales.

    1102-5.

    $7 Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe were brought to Valinor by Orome as ambassadors of the Quendi; and they looked upon the Light of the Trees and yearned for it. Returning they counselled the Eldar to go to the Land of Aman, at the summons of the Valar.

    1115.

    $8. Even as the Valar had come first to Beleriand as they went eastward, so later Orome leading the hosts of the Eldar westwards towards Aman brought them to the shores of Beleriand. For there the Great Sea was less wide and yet free from the perils of the ice that lay further north. In this year of the Valar, therefore, the foremost companies of the Vanyar and Noldor passed through the vale of Sirion and came to the sea-coast between Drengist and the Bay of Balar. But because of their fear of the Sea, which they had before neither seen nor imagined, the Eldar drew back into the woods and highlands.
    And Orome departed and went to Valinor and left them there for a time.

    1128.
    $9. In this year the Teleri, who had lingered on the road, came also at last over Eryd Luin into northern Beleriand. There they halted and dwelt a while between the River Gelion and Eryd Luin. At that time many of the Noldor dwelt westward of the Teleri, in those regions where afterwards stood the forests of Neldoreth and Region. Finwe was their lord, and with him Elwe lord of the Teleri had great friendship; and Elwe was wont often to visit Finwe in the dwellings of the Noldor.

    1130.

    $10. In this year King Elwe Singollo of the Teleri was lost in the wilderness. As he journeyed home from a meeting with Finwe, he passed by Nan Elmoth, and he heard the nightingales of Melian the Maia, and followed them deep into the glades.
    There he saw Melian standing beneath the stars, and a white mist was about her, but the Light of Aman was in her face. Thus began the love of Elwe Greymantle and Melian of Valinor.
    Hand in hand they stood silent in the woods, while the wheeling stars measured many years, and the young trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark. Long his people sought for Elwe in vain.

    1132.

    $11. Now Ulmo, at the command of the Valar, came to the shores of Beleriand and summoned the Eldar to meet