The Noldor in Beleriand...

After the reconciliation of the hosts of Fingolfin and the Sons of Fëanor, the Noldor in Beleriand began their long and arduous labours and they sent heralds to meet with the people that dwelt in Middle-earth.

Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand and King of the Sindar, did not altogether welcome the coming of so many high princes out of the West, and to his kingdom he would welcome none save the sons of Finarfin, who could claim kinship with Thingol through Eärwen of Alqualondë, who was the daughter of Olwë, Thingol's brother; unless they came in great need. And wisely he trusted not to the restraint of Morgoth by the swords of the Noldor alone. First of the Exiles to be admitted to Menegroth was Angrod, herald of Finrod, and he spoke long with the king; but being loyal to the Noldor, and thinking all griefs now forgotten, he spoke nothing of the Kinslaying, nor of the manner of the coming of the Noldor to Middle-earth. But Thingol spoke darkly to Angrod, asserting his lordship over all Beleriand, and allocating to the Noldor realms in the far north (such as Hithlum) where his power ran not.

Soon afterwards, the Noldor held council in Mithrim and thither came Angrod out of Doriath, and he spoke all that he heard of Thingol. The Noldor were ill-pleased to hear what the king said, and the greater part of the Noldor feared the fell words of the Sons of Fëanor. The Sons of Fëanor themselves removed from Mithrim (this counsel Maedhros himself devised) and dwelt in East Beleriand around the Hill of Himring. It was in East Beleriand that the riders of Caranthir (son of Fëanor) came across the Dwarves for the first time, who dwelt in their mansions in the Blue Mountains. Of the Noldor the Dwarves learned much secret craft, so that the craftsmen of Nogrod and Belegost became renowned in Middle-earth.

It came to pass that after twenty years of the Sun, Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth, ordained a great feast. Mereth Aderthad it was called, the Feast of Reuniting, and thither came great companies of the Noldor, Grey Elves from the Havens and Green Elves of Ossiriand. There counsels were taken and oaths sworn, and it is said that the Sindarin tongue was spoken by all, even the Noldor. The feast was enjoyed by all who were present. At this time, Turgon left Nevrast and sought out Finrod his friend of old, and journeying down the vales of Sirion, they rested a while. But coming up the River, Ulmo himself, Lord of Waters, laid on them heavy and troubling dreams, and when each awoke, they witheld the telling of each dream one to another, but being unquiet amid the watchful peace of Beleriand, they sought each alone for places of hidden strength.

On a time, Finrod was the guest of Thingol in Doriath, and with him was Galadriel his sister. There Finrod marvelled at the strength and majesty of Menegroth, and the thought came to him that he might himself build a refuge in the hills after the manner of Menegroth. Therefore, he told Thingol of the dreams that Ulmo sent him, and Thingol told him of the deep gorge of the river Narog, and the caves beneath the High Faroth in its western shore; and when Finrod departed from Doriath, Thingol sent with him guides that he might find the place. Galadriel remained in Doriath, for there dwelt Celeborn, kinsman of Thingol, and there was great love between them, and moreover, she had the friendship and tuition of Melian. But Finrod began the delving of his refuge beneath the gorge of Narog, and he had the counsel and aid of the Dwarves in this labour, and thus was wrought Nargothrond. Here Finrod established his throne, and thither came many of the Noldor (and presumably some of the Sindarin wanderers), and the Dwarves named him Felagund, Lord of Caves.

But Turgon remembered in his exile the great city of Tirion upon Túna, and he yearned for it in his heart, but he dwelt in peace in his halls of Vinyamar beside the Sea. But Ulmo appeared to him, and besought him to search the Vales of Sirion, and by the guidance of Ulmo, he discovered the hidden saucer valley of Tumladen, a green jewel in the Encircling Mountains, in the midst of which there was a hill of stone. And so he returned to Nevrast, and devised counsels on how he might build a white city in Tumladen after the manner of Tirion in the West, but he spoke of his plan to none. Still, however, the darkness brooded in the North, and Morgoth was ever labouring at some new evil, that none would know ere he would reveal them...