The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Sindar
Audiobook
During the Chaining of Melkor, those Teleri Elves that set out on the Great Journey but did not go to Valinor settled down in Beleriand. These Elves were called the Sindar, and they were able to live in peace with the absence of Morgoth. Under the lordship of Thingol and Melian, the Elves of Beleriand grew in wisdom and skill. They soon made contact with the Dwarves, or Naugrim as the Elves called them, of Nogrod and Belegost. The Dwarves soon learned the Sindarin language and began trading with the Sindar, though they were not friends so much as allies and trading partners.
The Dwarves informed Thingol that not all of Morgoth's servants were destroyed by the Valar. The Avari in the east were being driven away by evil creatures coming down from the North, where Morgoth once reigned. These evil creatures began to appear in Beleriand, including wolves and foul Orcs. Thingol commissioned the Dwarves to begin making weapons and armor and stored them in his armories.
There was another elf named Denethor who led his people into Beleriand. These would later be known as the Green-Elves. Thingol welcomed them and they dwelt in Ossiriand.
Unfortunately, the peace was not to last, for Morgoth escaped Valinor and returned to Middle-earth. Morgoth rebuilt Angband and unleashed his armies upon Beleriand, attacking Doriath. Thingol called upon Denethor for assistance, and they attacked the Orcs. The armies of the Orcs were routed, but not before they killed Denethor and scattered the Green Elves. Many Green Elves went to live in Thingol's domain.
Melian used her power to create the Girdle of Melian, a protective veil around Doriath that kept out not only Morgoth's forces, but anyone who tried to enter against the will of Melian or Thingol. There was peace within the veil of Doriath, but outside chaos reigned, for Morgoth's forces had overrun Beleriand.
Soon, out of the west, came the white ships bearing Fëanor and the Noldor...
Timeline of Arda:
Years of the Trees
4652: Elwë awakes from slumber and reunites with the Sindar. He becomes known as Thingol, settling in Doriath.
4661: The Teleri of Tol Eressëa learn the art of shipbuilding, and ferry across the bay of Eldamar to Aman, where they found the city of Alqualondë.
4665: The last Vanyar abandon Tirion and settle in Valinor proper.
* The Noldor remain in Tirion under their lord, Finwë.
4669: Fëanor is born.
* Rúmil invents writing.
* Nogrod and Belegost were founded by Dwarves;
* Khazad-dûm was founded by Durin the Deathless.
4670: Míriel dies.
4672: The Valar issued the Statute of Finwë and Míriel
4685: Finwë and Indis are married.
4690: Fingolfin is born.
4700: Lúthien is born.
4730: Finarfin is born.
4750: Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost are met by the Sindar, establishing trade.
* Fëanor develops the Tengwar.
4780: Finarfin and Eärwen are married.
4800: Turgon and Finrod Felagund are born.
* Menegroth is built by the Dwarves of Belegost and the Sindar.
* Daeron devises the Cirth.
4830: Orcs begin to appear in Beleriand.
* The Dwarves of Belegost make weapons for the Sindar.
4850: The Nandor, under Denethor, arrive in Beleriand, becoming known as the Green Elves of Ossiriand.
* The Halls of Menegroth are finished.
4862: Aredhel and Galadriel are born.
4900: Melkor is freed from his sentence.
4910: Melkor begins corrupting some of the Noldor.
4949: Fëanor begins to make the Silmarils.
4950: Fëanor completes the forging of the Silmarils, capturing some of the light of the Two Trees.
4950: Melkor spreads lies among the Noldor and talks of weapons.
4990: Fëanor, deceived by Melkor, draws arms against his brother and is banished from Tirion.
* Finwë and many of the Noldor follow him in exile to Formenos.
4992: Fëanor argues with Melkor at Formenos.
* Melkor hides from capture by the Valar and joins forces with Ungoliant.
4995: The Darkening of Valinor.
* Manwë tries to heal the feud of the Noldor, and summons Fëanor to a festival in Valimar.
* Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees, kill Finwë, steal the Silmarils, and flee to Middle-earth.
* Fëanor becomes High King of the Noldor, renaming Melkor as Morgoth.
* Fëanor and his sons swear an oath to regain the Silmarils and the majority of the Noldor depart from Valinor.
* Noldor kill many Teleri and seize their ships in the First Kinslaying.
4996: Doom of Mandos: the Noldor are banished from Valinor and face great doom.
* Finarfin turns back and returns to Valinor.
4997: The Noldor arrive at Helcaraxë.
* Fëanor and his host betray the sons of Indis and sail across, then burn the ships at Losgar.