Chapter 15 - Of the Noldor in Beleriand - J.R.R. Tolkien
164The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Noldor in Beleriand
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Previously, Turgon had been led by Ulmo to the secret vale of Tumladen, hidden within the Encircling Mountains. This was a vast plain of grass with a great hill in the middle, where he decided to build a city that was reminiscent of Tirion. Turgon returned to his realm of Nevrast with the knowledge of this hidden place and began to plan for the making of the hidden refuge that would be safe from the knowledge of Morgoth.
After the Dagor Aglareb, Turgon led his people away from Nevrast back to Tumladen. There they began the construction of a great city upon the hill. After fifty-two years of secret toil and building, they at last completed the city of Gondolin. This city was known only to Turgon and those of the Noldor who had followed him there. Yet before Turgon left Nevrast for the last time, Ulmo appeared to him again. He warned Turgon that though he would shield Turgon's final journey to the city, he could not free Turgon from the Doom of Mandos that plagued the exiles. Gondolin would stand the longest of all the realms of the Noldor, but in the end, it too must eventually fall. But before that time would come, Ulmo would send Turgon a messenger to warn him of the impending doom. Ulmo bade Turgon to create special armor and weapons for that messenger, who would come to Nevrast himself one day. This would be a sign that the messenger was sent by Ulmo. Having done this, Turgon and his followers left Nevrast forever and went to Gondolin in secret.
Turgon prospered in Gondolin, which became a thriving city. And the secrecy of Gondolin would hold even through the great wars of the exiles and Morgoth. Gondolin produced many works, like Glingal and Belthil, forged at the image of the Two Trees of Valinor. As for Nevrast, it decayed as the years went on, and no one was left to live therein.
While Gondolin was being built, Finrod Felagund created his realm of Nargothrond, which would become a great city. His sister, Galadriel, would reside in the realm of Doriath. There Melian and she would often speak of Valinor, but Galadriel would never speak of what happened after the Darkening of Valinor began. But Melian was perceptive and wise, and she soon guessed that Galadriel was hiding something from her. She confronted Galadriel with this, and Galadriel told her of the Exile of the Noldor, but still did not mention their crimes.
Melian told Thingol what Galadriel had said, and cautioned him to beware of the Sons of Fëanor. Soon, rumors of the Kinslaying did indeed reach the ears of Thingol. The truth is known to him at last, Thingol confronted Finrod and his brothers who happened to be in Doriath at the time. Finrod protested that it was Fëanor and his followers who had been the prime movers of the evils the Noldor had done, not Finrod and his party. But he allowed Angrod to tell the whole story of what had happened on the flight from Aman. Thingol's wrath towards Finrod and Fingolfin was softened by what he heard, but he did not forgive the sons of Fëanor. In vengeance, he forbade the usage of Quenya, the language of the Noldor, within the borders of Doriath. In later years, this would lead to the rise of Sindarin over Quenya, which would become an almost dead language outside of books and the private use of the exiles.
When Nargothrond was finished, a feast was held to celebrate its completion, and Galadriel assisted. There she asked Finrod why he was not married, and with doom, in his heart, he foretold that he will swear an oath that one day he would fulfill, and no child would inherit his works.
Timeline of Arda:
Years of the Sun
Years of the Sun in the First Age
1: The Sun first sets sail, start of reckoning by 'Years of the Sun', Awakening of Men in Hildórien.
2: Fingolfin camps at Lake Mithrim
5: Fingon rescues Maedhros. Fingolfin becomes High King of the Noldor: the feud among the Noldor is healed.
6: Angrod meets Thingol in Doriath. Thingol permits the Noldor to occupy Hithlum, Dorthonion, and East Beleriand.
7: Sons of Fëanor depart to Eastern Beleriand.
20: The Mereth Aderthad (Feast of Reuniting) is held at Eithel Ivrin.
50: Turgon and Finrod are told by Ulmo to establish a refuge.
52: Finrod begins building Nargothrond.
53: Turgon discovers the hidden valley of Tumladen.
60: Dagor Aglareb: the Noldor defeat Morgoth's forces and start the Siege of Angband.
64: Turgon begins building Gondolin.
65: The havens of Brithombar and Eglarest are fortified; the Tower of Barad Nimras is built.
66: Galadriel tells Melian of the Silmarils.
67: Thingol learns of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. Quenya is prohibited by Thingol.