7

Such deeds of daring there they wrought

that soon the hunters that them sought

at rumour of their coming fled.

Though price was set upon each head

to match the weregild of a king,

no soldier could to Morgoth bring

news even of their hidden lair;

for where the highland brown and bare

above the darkling pines arose

of steep Dorthonion to the snows

and barren mountain-winds, there lay

a tarn of water, blue by day,

by night a mirror of dark glass

for stars of Elbereth that pass

above the world into the West.

Once hallowed, still that place was blest:

no shadow of Morgoth, and no evil thing

yet thither came; a whispering ring

of slender birches silver-grey

stooped on its margin, round it lay

a lonely moor, and the bare bones

of ancient Earth like standing stones

thrust through the heather and the whin;

and there by houseless Aeluin

the hunted lord and faithful men

under the grey stones made their den.