Silmarillion - Chapter 15 - Of the Noldor in Beleriand
 

Like chapter 13, “Of the Noldor in Beleriand” covers quite a bit of history rather rapidly. Here we are told of the building of Gondolin and Nargothrond and of the rift that grows between the Sindar and the Noldor when Thingol learns of the kin-slaying.

Striking here are several hints at later events. Ulmo speaks prophetically to Turgon:

And Finrod speaks prophetically to Galadriel:

Also, the narrator makes reference to future events:

These remarks are typical of Tolkien’s ‘historical’ style and, I have always thought, whet the appetite of the reader for those later tales (just who are Hurin and Huor, and how do they end up in Gondolin?). On the other hand, such hints could be viewed as ‘spoilers’ within the story itself; and it does seem that Tolkien walks a dangerous line between arousing the reader’s interest and giving away his own plot.

As with the rest of the middle chapters of the Silmarillion (between the flight of the Noldor and ‘Beren and Luthien’), the historical details here told emerged gradually and were entirely absent from the ‘Book of Lost Tales’.

Additional Reading:
HoMe IV, V – Pre-LotR antecedents of the chapter found in the ‘Sketch’, the ‘Quenta Noldorinwa’, and the ‘Quenta Silmarillion’
HoMe XI – Post-LotR revisions in both the ‘Grey Annals’ and the ‘Later Quenta Silmarillion’.

One wonders if these were set down as markers, so Tolkien could late go back later and tie it all together thoroughly. For instance, the brief speech by Ulmo seems like it might have been placed there when Tolkien tried to figure out were and why the mail in Vinyamar to begin with.

chap 15
 

This is one of my favorite chapters, because it is basically the beginning of the war of the jewels. It is so satisfying to read if one craves knowledge of the noldor.