Of Beleriand and Its Realms

           ThisisthefashionofthelandsintowhichtheNoldorcame,inthenorthofthewesternregionsofMiddle-earth,intheancientdays;andherealsoistoldofthemannerinwhichthechieftainsoftheEldarheldtheirlandsandtheleagueruponMorgothaftertheDagorAglareb,thethirdbattleintheWarsofBeleriand.

           InthenorthoftheworldMelkorhadintheagespastrearedEredEngrin,theIronMountains,asafencetohiscitadelofUtumno;andtheystooduponthebordersoftheregionsofeverlastingcold,inagreatcurvefromeasttowest.BehindthewallsofEredEngrininthewest,wheretheybentbacknorthwards,Melkorbuiltanotherfortress,asadefenceagainstassaultthatmightcomefromValinor;andwhenhecamebacktoMiddle-earth,ashasbeentold,hetookuphisabodeintheendlessdungeonsofAngband,theHellsofIron,forintheWarofthePowerstheValar,intheirhastetooverthrowhiminhisgreatstrongholdofUtumno,didnotwhollydestroyAngbandnorsearchoutallitsdeepplaces.BeneathEredEngrinhemadeagreattunnel,whichissuedsouthofthemountains;andtherehemadeamightygate.Butabovethisgate,andbehinditeventothemountains,hepiledthethunderoustowersofThangorodrim,thatweremadeoftheashandslagofhissubterraneanfurnaces,andthevastrefuseofhistunnellings.Theywereblackanddesolateandexceedinglylofty;andsmokeissuedfromtheirtops,darkandfouluponthenorthernsky.