Summary
Meanwhile in Beleriand…
While Morgoth was in chains, the Sindar in Beleriand under the rule of Elwë Singollo (otherwise known as Elu Thingol) and Melian prospered. During this time, Thingol and Melian’s child Lúthien was born. This was when the Dwarves first appeared in Beleriand as well, building the great cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Ered Luin. The Sindar were amazed, for they had never before heard of any thinking being that wasn’t an Elf. Relations between them were always cool, though they both gained a lot from each other. Melian foresaw that the peace would not last, and Thingol contracted with the Dwarves for them to construct him an underground stronghold that would be known as Menegroth, the Thousand Caves.
As the captivity of Morgoth was drawing to an end, word came to Thingol from the Dwarves of trouble beyond the Ered Luin - the evil that had been left to fester in the north had multiplied. Dangerous things were walking the starlit lands, and the Dark Elves were fleeing. Soon Orcs and wolves began appearing in Beleriand, and Thingol (with the help again of the Dwarves) began amassing stores of arms. Around this time the Nandor (who had left the host of the Teleri when they reached the Misty Mountains on the way to Arda) reappeared, under their lord Denethor, seeking refuge under Thingol’s protection.
When Ungoliant was driven away by the Balrogs, she fled south, but Melian’s power kept her from entering Beleriand proper; she settled in what would become known as the Ered Gorgoroth, the Mountains of Terror. And Morgoth rebuilt Angband and raised the three peaks of Thangorodrim above its gates, 150 leagues north of Menegroth. From there the an army of Orcs emerged - they bypassed Menegroth and began slaughtering the Sindar, most of whom lived widely dispersed throughout Beleriand. The eastern forces were crushed between Thingol and the Dwarves but many (including Denethor) were killed. The western force of orcs, however, was victorious, and had driven Círdan back to the walled havens of the Falas. Thingol summoned as many of his people as could come to the lands about Menegroth, and Melian wove a protective enchantment around the land.
Commentary
Tolkien at one point said regarding the ages of bliss in Valinor that the good times can last for a long time (literally Ages in this case), but they always seem short in the telling. The same thing is going on in Beleriand. I always forget that the Sindar had three Ages to flourish. They might not be High Elves, though they are still Eldar, and Thingol himself (having seen the Trees) is one of the High Elves. And they’re not ruled by the Valar, but Melian is an Ainur, and not a minor one. They ain’t Calaquendi, but they’re close.
So Dwarves and Elves: not friends, but willing to work with each other. The Sindar come across as more than a little arrogant with regards to the Naugrim. The Dwarven love of pearls makes absolute sense - it’s the one gem that they can’t find on their own. I’ll draw special attention to Telchar, “greatest in renown” among the smiths of Nogrod. He gets a name drop in LotR:
In this Elvish sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time. Death shall come to any man that draws Elendil’s sword save Elendil’s heir.
We get a reminder that there’s still a lot of Elves wandering about Middle-earth. (Hi Nandor! Welcome back!) And remember when I said that the evil things left lurking in Angband wouldn’t cause any problems? Looks like I was wrong. Whodathunk.
And then we Morgoth shows back up, and we get the first battle of the wars of Beleriand. The Sindar make a good fight of it, but the Orcs ultimately win. The only territory the Sindar hold on to are the lands about Menegroth, now known as Doriath and protected by the Girdle of Melian, and fortified havens of the Falas where Círdan’s people are. The Girdle of Melian is right out of fairy stories in the old sense - Doriath isn’t protected by walls or armies, but by a forest that ensnares anyone trying to cross in an enchantment. Unless, of course, “one should come with a power greater than that of Melian the Maia.” Foreshadowing? Nah, couldn’t be.
Next time, we find out that a very large portion of Morgoth’s armies are actually gingers when we learn “Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor.”
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