Chapter 17 - Of the Coming of Men into the West - J.R.R. Tolkien
197The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Coming of Men into the West
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After three hundred years had passed since the arrival of the Noldor, Finrod went hunting with Maedhros and Maglor. Yet he would soon grow tired of hunting, and he continued eastward to Ossiriand, where he spotted a strange light and heard unfamiliar songs.
Finrod hid, for he feared that Orcs had come from Angband. Yet the strange beings were not Orcs, or Dwarves, or even other Elves. They were Men who had come out of the east from Hildorien and were following a light to the west.
Waiting until they had fallen asleep, Finrod went among them, took up a harp, and began to sing. The newcomers awoke, but they did not speak, opting to listen to Finrod's songs of Aman and the Valar instead.
Finrod would remain with the Men and teach them much of what the Noldor knew. Finrod could understand their tongue, for it was descended from the same language that all Elves had once known. Men had learned it from the Avari who remained east and did not go to Valinor, as they had also learned basic crafting skills and tools.
Among them, Finrod befriended Bëor, but when Finrod asked of the origins of Men, Bëor would only say that they came west fleeing darkness and following the light. Also, he said to Finrod that other groups of men would follow: Men who were called the Haladin as well as those who followed a chief named Marach. These Men spoke a different language than that of Bëor.
The groups that Bëor spoke of would soon enter into Beleriand: the Haladin who would be known as the House of Haleth, and the house of Marach would be later known as the House of Hador. These two houses, as well as the House of Bëor, would form the basis of the Edain, or the Elf-friends.
Many Elves such as Fingolfin gladly received Men, taking them into their lands as allies. Thus Men continued to spread across Beleriand. They would enter in via Estolad but spread out across the realms of the Eldar. Thingol forbade Men to enter Doriath, mistrusting them.
Thus it was that Men would live in Beleriand beside the Elves. Men would learn much from the Elves, and many would even learn Sindarin. In their turn, many Men would also become servants in the household of elven kings, such as Hador, who served Fingolfin and was given the lordship of Dor-lómin. Many great heroes would come from the Elf friends, such as Beren and Túrin.
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.
102: Nargothrond is completed: Finrod's folk depart from Hithlum.
116: Gondolin is completed. Turgon's people begin the migration from Nevrast in secret.
150: The Dwarves renew their trade in Beleriand. Caranthir meets them.
155: An assault upon Hithlum from the Firth of Drengist is defeated by Fingolfin's forces.
260: Glaurung ravages Ard-galen, but is driven back to Angband. The Long Peace begins.
262: Bëor is born.
282: Marach is born.
289: Baran is born.
292: Belen is born.
307: Malach is born.
310: Bëor leads the First House of the Edain into Beleriand: they are discovered by Finrod.
* They move to Estolad, and after a few years the Second House enters Thargelion and the Third settles in Estolad.
* Imlach is born.
311: Finrod and Bëor leave Estolad together. Baran becomes lord of the House of Bëor.
316: Aredhel departs from Gondolin and comes to Eöl.
320: The Edain begin migrating from Estolad to Dorthonion, Hithlum and Talath Dirnen.
369: Many of the Edain, led by Bereg, leave to Eriador.
375: Orcs attack Thargelion; many of the Second House of the Edain perish, but next year Haleth leads the remnants to Estolad.
390: Haleth lead her people from Eriador
391 they come to the lands south of Taeglin. The majority later enter the forest of Brethil.
400: Aredhel and Maeglin return to Gondolin; later, Eöl and Aredhel die.
410: The province of Ladros is officially granted to Boromir of the House of Bëor.
416: Dor-lómin is granted to the House of Marach.