梅格林凭著他的工匠天赋和技艺，他亦教导石居者许多知识与工艺，并开始有一些追随者。他们常在环抱山脉开矿，铸造更强力的武器。他亦负责建了贡多林第七道大门，钢之门。梅格林渐渐享有更高的地位，成为特刚王最信任的顾问。
455年，魔苟斯在瞬间烈焰之战击破了安格班之围，并攻入贝尔兰的腹地。特刚之父芬国昐在盛怒和悔恨之下骑往安格班，在一场史诗式决斗中伤了魔苟斯后牺牲。巨鹰之王索隆多抓起芬国昐的遗体，带到俯瞰贡多林的北边山脉，在那里特刚为父亲修建了一处坟墓。
贡多林继续保持隐匿，特刚亦没派任何战士去参与战斗，但他深知魔苟斯带来的威胁，於是暗地里派使去寻找维拉的协助。他们沿西瑞安河南下到巴拉尔岛，并在那里造船西航，不过许多使者都无法找到不死之地，只有少数几个侥幸回到中土大陆。
458年，两位年轻的伊甸人胡林与胡尔在一次与半兽人的战斗中迷失在丁巴尔的旷野。他们都是哈多家族的人，哈多家族是其中一个与精灵结盟抵抗魔苟斯的伊甸人族群。胡尔年仅十三岁，而胡林当时已经接近成年。索隆多派了两只巨鹰将他们接到贡多林里面。

梦境中，乌欧牟向特刚揭示贡多林未来的命运将与哈多家族之子紧缚，故此特刚欢迎他们的到来，收留他们近一年时间。特刚慢慢喜爱他们，甚至宁愿违反自己禁止贡多林人离开的法规，在他们请求归家时放走他们。胡林和胡尔不清楚贡多林的实际位置，亦起誓不会把他们所闻所历的事转告他人。巨鹰将他们载回族人之间，哈多族的人都好奇他们去了哪里，而这些流言亦传入了魔苟斯的爪牙间谍耳中。
468年，费诺长子梅斯罗斯正联合各精灵势力对付魔苟斯，消息也传到特刚那处。芬巩也加入了梅斯罗斯联盟，故此特刚开始整军经武，准备带领贡多林出战。
472年，特刚在梅格林与大将艾克希里昂及葛罗芬戴尔陪同下，统领一万精兵出战。在这场无尽眼泪之役里，芬巩的部队在邻近安格班的安佛格利斯沙漠上遭到半兽人围攻，特刚与胡林及胡尔赶来协助他的兄长抵抗。然而战况最激烈之际，芬巩部与特刚部被敌人截断，芬巩更被炎魔之王勾斯魔格斩杀，胡林和胡尔恳求特刚退回贡多林。

胡林向特刚说：「吾王，快走，趁现在还来得及！因您身上还留存著艾尔达最后的希望，只要贡多林还屹立一日，魔苟斯必要继续担忧害怕。」
但特刚回答：「贡多林将不会隐藏多久；若它被发现将必陷落。」
胡尔遂说：「即使它只存在短短的年日，在你家中必会诞生精灵与人类的希望。在死亡的凝视下，且容我对吾王您这样说：纵然我们在此永别，而我将不再看到您的洁白城墙，但您我之中必然升起一颗希望的新星。珍重再见了！」
（《精灵宝钻》，第二十章《第五战役－－尼南斯阿农迪亚德战役》，英文版P.194、中文台版P.282，译林不知道，别问我...）

三个译者注：
(1)：HoME说到特刚遣使了三位贵族护卫雅瑞希尔，分别是喷泉、葛罗芬戴尔及艾加摩斯，话说译者是看到喷泉大一篇同人《Legend of Ecthelion》才知道这一资料...
(2)：HoME曾讲到精灵习俗，二等亲(即表亲、堂亲等)确实不会结婚，但有例外，若男性有两位妻子，她们的后裔是可以互相通婚的，因此宝钻讲到雅瑞希尔才会有一句奇怪的话，说到她没有把爱情给予费诺任何一位子女。
(3)：大概是《贡多林的失落》里的鼹鼠家族，但记得HoME只是原版和补充资料, 不应把十二家族当成正统

待我找回英文时就贴上去。。。

In 316, Turgon's sister Aredhel became restless and wanted to leave Gondolin after living there for 200 years. Turgon agreed to let her visit their brother Fingon though he was reluctant to allow anyone who knew Gondolin's location to wander abroad. But Aredhel chose a different destination, became separated from her escort, and eventually got lost in the woods of Nan Elmoth.
Nan Elmoth was the home of Eol the Dark Elf who was a renowned smith. He used enchantments to prevent Aredhel from finding the way out of the woods and led her to his home. Aredhel married Eol and they had a son named Maeglin who also became a smith. Maeglin was intrigued by his mother's stories of Gondolin and especially by the fact that his uncle Turgon had no male heir.
In 400, Maeglin convinced Aredhel to return to Gondolin while Eol was away, but Eol followed them and discovered the Hidden Way. Turgon at first welcomed Eol but said that he was required to remain in Gondolin since he knew its location. Eol refused and when threatened with the alternative of death Eol tried to kill his son as well but hit his wife with his javelin instead.

Aredhel died of a poisoned wound and Eol was thrown to his death from the city walls the next day. Maeglin silently observed his father's execution, and Idril - Turgon's daughter and heir - began to distrust Maeglin. Maeglin became enamored of Idril, but first cousins did not marry and his interest made Idril dislike him more.
Maeglin impressed many other Gondolindrim with his skills as a smith, and he taught his craft to others and gathered a number of followers. They mined in the Encircling Mountains for ores and metals to use to forge strong weapons. Maeglin built the Seventh Gate of Gondolin, the Gate of Steel. He rose to a high position and became a close counsellor of the King.
In 455, Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband and in the Battle of Sudden Flame Morgoth's forces made inroads into Beleriand. Turgon's father Fingolfin rode to Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat and after a long struggle Fingolfin was killed. Thorondor, the King of the Eagles, brought Fingolfin's body to a mountaintop overlooking Gondolin from the north and Turgon built a cairn for his father.

Gondolin remained hidden and Turgon did not send any forces into battle. But Turgon realized the danger posed by Morgoth and he sent messengers to seek the help of the Valar. They travelled down the Sirion to the Isle of Balar and built ships to sail westward, but they did not find the Undying Lands and few of the messengers returned to Middle-earth.
In 458, two young Men named Hurin and Huor became lost in Dimbar south of Gondolin after a skirmish with Orcs. The brothers were of the House of Hador - one of the three Houses of the Edain allied with the Elves against Morgoth. Huor was only 13 years old and Hurin was in his late teens. Thorondor sent two Eagles to bring Hurin and Huor to Gondolin.
Ulmo warned Turgon through dreams that Gondolin's fate was tied to the sons of the House of Hador. Turgon welcomed the brothers and they stayed in Gondolin for about a year. Turgon became fond of them and when they asked to leave he agreed despite his law forbidding the departure of anyone who came to Gondolin. They did not know the exact location of Gondolin and they swore not to reveal what they knew. The Eagles returned Hurin and Huor to their people but some suspected where they had been and Morgoth's spies heard the rumors.

In 468, Turgon learned that Maedhros, son of Feanor, was forming an alliance to oppose Morgoth. Turgon's brother Fingon was a part of the Union of Maedhros. Turgon began to prepare the forces of Gondolin for battle.
In 472, Turgon led forth an army of 10,000 Gondolindrim. He was accompanied by Maeglin as well as his captains Ecthelion and Glorfindel. In the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Fingon's forces were surrounded by Orcs on the desert of Anfauglith near Angband. Turgon came to his brother's aid and found Hurin and Huor with him.
But the tide of the battle turned and Fingon and Turgon were separated. Fingon was killed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs. Hurin and Huor urged Turgon to return to Gondolin.
Then Hurin spoke to Turgon, saying: "Go now, lord, while time is! For in you lives the last hope of the Eldar, and while Gondolin stands Morgoth shall still know fear in his heart."
But Turgon answered: "Not long now can Gondolin be hidden; and being discovered it must fall."
Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!"
The Silmarillion: "Of the Fifth Battle," p. 194