Narog

The River Narog was one of the chief rivers of Beleriand in the First Age, and the greatest tributary of the Sirion. Rising in the far north, it flowed southward through the hills of West Beleriand until it joined the Sirion, not far south of the Gates of Sirion. The Narog was most notable for the underground stronghold of Nargothrond, which lay upon its western banks.

The Narog began in the icy springs beneath the Ered Wethrin, flowing first through the land of Nevrast before turning south. It passed between the wooded highlands to the west and the plains that stretched toward Doriath in the east.

The river was swift and strong, and in its middle course it carved a narrow valley through the western highlands, with steep walls and caves that later gave rise to the halls of Nargothrond. The Narog’s course then continued south until it emptied into the Sirion, strengthening the “great river” on its way to the sea.

The Narog is most closely tied to the fate of Nargothrond, founded by Finrod Felagund with the aid of the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost. Its hidden halls were delved into the banks above the river, with a great bridge built across the Narog itself. For centuries Nargothrond was one of the chief realms of the Noldor, sheltering both Elves and Edain.

During the Battle of Sudden Flame, Finrod fought beside Barahir, swearing an oath of friendship that later brought Beren to Nargothrond. It was here that Finrod renounced his crown and accompanied Beren on his quest for the Silmaril. After Finrod’s death, rule passed to Orodreth, and in later years Nargothrond abandoned secrecy and took to open war against Morgoth.

The disastrous Battle of Tumhalad followed, leading to the sack of Nargothrond by a great wingless dragon. The bridge over the Narog was destroyed, and the halls of Finrod were left in ruin.

After the ruin of Nargothrond, the Narog valley lay in desolation. Its caves became the dragon's lair until his death. Thereafter, Morgoth’s creatures infested the area, and by the end of the First Age, both the Narog and its lands were lost beneath the waves when Beleriand was broken in the War of Wrath.

The memory of the Narog survived in the tales of the Elves and in the lineage of the Half-elven, whose ancestors had dwelt in Nargothrond. The river itself was drowned, along with most of the western lands of Beleriand, but its history remained bound to the deeds of Finrod, Beren, and the people of Nargothrond.