the mountains； and saw the island…hill that stood there of hard smooth stone； for the vale had been a great lake in ancient
days。 Then Turgon knew that he had found the place of his desire； and he resolved to build there a fair city； a memorial
of Tirion upon Túna； but he returned to Nevrast； and remained there in peace； though he pondered ever in his thought
how he should acplish his design。
Now after the Dagor Aglareb the unquiet that Ulmo set in his heart returned to him； and he summoned many of
the hardiest and most skilled of his people； and led them secretly to the hidden vale； and there they began the building of
the city that Turgon had devised； and they set a watch all about it； that none might e upon their work from without；
and the power of Ulmo that ran in Sirion protected them。 But Turgon dwelt still for the most part in Nevrast； until it
came to pass that at last the city was full…wrought； after two and fifty years of secret toil。 It is said that Turgon appointed
its name to be Ondolind？ in the speech of the Elves of Valinor； the Rock of the Music of Water； for there were fountains
upon the hill； but in the Sindarin tongue the name was changed； and it became Gondolin； the Hidden Rock。 Then Turgon
prepared to depart from Nevrast and leave his halls in Vinyamar beside the sea； and there Ulmo came to him once again；
and spoke with him。 And he said： 'Now thou shalt go at last to Gondolin； Turgon； and I will maintain my power in the
Vale of Sirion； and in all the waters therein； so that none shall mark thy going； nor shall any find there the hidden
entrance against thy will。 Longest of all the realms of the Eldali？ shall Gondolin stand against Melkor。 But love not too
well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart； and remember that the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West
and eth from the Sea。'
And Ulmo warned Turgon that he also lay under the Doom of Mandos； which Ulmo had no power to remove。
'Thus it may e to pass；' he said； 'that the curse of the Noldor shall find thee too ere the end； and treason awake within
thy walls。 Then they shall be in peril of fire。 But if this peril draweth nigh indeed； then even from Nevrast one shall
e to warn thee； and from him beyond ruin and fire hope shall be born for Elves and Men。 Leave therefore in this
house arms and a sword； that in years to e he may find them； and thus shalt thou know him； and not be deceived。'
And Ulmo declared to Turgon of what kind and stature should be the helm and mail and sword that he left behind。
Then Ulmo returned to the sea； and Turgon sent forth all his people； even to a third part of the Noldor of
Fingolfin's following； and a yet greater host of the Sindar； and they passed away； pany by pany； secretly； under
the shadows of Ered Wethrin； and they came unseen to Gondolin； and none knew whither they had gone。 And last of all
Turgon arose； and went with his household silently through the hills； and passed the gates in the mountains； and they
were shut behind him。
Through many long years none passed inward thereafter； save Húrin and Huor only； and the host of Turgon came
never forth again until the Year of Lamentation after three hundred and fifty years and more。 But behind the circle of the
mountains the people of Turgon grew and throve； and they put forth their skill in labour unceasing； so that Gondolin
upon Amon Gwareth became fair indeed and fit to pare even with Elven Tirion beyond the sea。 High and white were
its walls； and smooth its stairs； and tall and strong was the Tower of the King。 There shining fountains played； and in the
courts of Turgon stood images of the Trees of old； which Turgon himself wrought with elven…craft； and the Tree which
he made of gold was named Glingal； and the Tree whose flowers he made of silver was named Belthil。 But fairer than all
the wonders of Gondolin was Idril； Turgon's daughter； she that was called Celebrindal； the Silver…foot； whose hair was as
the gold of Laurelin before the ing of Melkor。 Thus Turgon lived long in bliss； but Nevrast was desolate； and
remained empty of living folk until the ruin of Beleriand。
Now while the city of Gondolin was building in secret； Finrod Felagund wrought in the deep places of
Nargothrond； but Galadriel his sister dwelt； as has been told； in Thingol's realm in Doriath。 And at times Melian and
Galadriel would speak together of Valinor and the bliss of old； but beyond the dark hour of the death of the Trees
Galadriel would not go； but ever fell silent。 And on a time Melian said： 'There is some woe that lies upon you and your
kin。 That I can see in you； but all else is hidden from me； for by no vision or thought can I perceive anything that passed
or passes in the West： a shadow lies over all the land of Aman； and reaches far out over the sea。 Why will you not tell me
more？'
'For that woe is past；' said Galadriel； 'and I would take what joy is here left； untroubled by memory。 And maybe
there is woe enough yet to e； though still hope may seem bright。'
Then Melian looked in her eyes； and said： 'I believe not that the Noldor came forth as messengers of the Valar； as
was said at first： not though they came in the very hour of our need。 For they speak never of the Valar； nor have their
high lords brought any message to Thingol； whether from Manw？； or Ulmo； or even from Olw？ the King's brother； and
his own folk that went over the sea。 For what cause； Galadriel； were the high people of the Noldor driven forth as exiles
from Aman？ Or what evil lies on the sons of F？anor that they are so haughty and so fell？ Do I not strike near the truth？'
〃Near；' said Galadriel； 'save that we were not driven forth； but came of our own will； and against that of the Valar。
And through great peril and in despite of the Valar for this purpose we came： to take vengeance upon Morgoth； and
regain what he stole。'
Then Galadriel spoke to Melian of the Silmarils； and of the slaying of King Finw？ at Formenos： but still she said
no word of the Oath； nor of the Kinslaying； nor of the burning of the ships at Losgar。 But Melian said： 'Now much you
tell me； and yet more I perceive。 A darkness you would cast over the long road from Tirion； but I see evil there； which
Thingol should learn for his guidance。'
'Maybe；' said Galadriel； 'but not of me。'
And Melian spoke then no more of these matters with Galadriel； but she told to King Thingol all that she had
heard of the Silmarils。 'This is a great matter；' she said； 'greater indeed than the Noldor themselves understand； for the
Light of Aman and the fate of Arda lie locked now in these things； the work of F？anor； who is gone。 They shall not be
recovered； I foretell； by any power of the Eldar； and the world shall be broken in battles that are to e； ere they are
wrested from Morgoth。 See now！ F？anor they have slain； and many another； as I guess； but first of all the deaths they
have brought and yet shall bring was Finw？ your friend。 Morgoth slew him； ere he fled from Aman。'
Then Thingol was silent； being filled with grief and foreboding； but at length he said： 'Now at last I un