highest peaks a narrow path wound its way； on the right hand it was walled by a precipice； and on the left a dreadful fall
leapt into emptiness。 Along that narrow way their march was strung； when they were ambushed by Orcs； for Morgoth
had set watchers all about the encircling hills； and a Balrog was with them。 Then dreadful was their plight； and hardly
would they have been saved by the valour of yellow…haired Glorfindel； chief of the House of the Golden Flower of
Gondolin； had not Thorondor e timely to their aid。
Many are the songs that have been sung of the duel of Glorfindel with the Balrog upon a pinnacle of rock in that
high place； and both fell to ruin in the abyss。 But the eagles ing stooped upon the Orcs； and drove them shrieking
back； and all were slain or cast into the deeps； so that rumour of the escape from Gondolin came not until long after to
Morgoth's ears。 Then Thorondor bore up Glorfindel's body out of the abyss； and they buried him in a mound of stones
beside the pass； and a green turf came there； and yellow flowers bloomed upon it amid the barrenness of stone； until the
world was changed。
Thus led by Tuor son of Huor the remnant of Gondolin passed over the mountains； and came down into the Vale
of Sirion； and fleeing southward by weary and dangerous marches they came at length to Nan…tathren； the Land of
Willows； for the power of Ulmo yet ran in the great river； and it was about them。 There they rested a while； and were
healed of their hurts and weariness； but their sorrow could not be healed。 And they made a feast in memory of Gondolin
and of the Elves that had perished there； the maidens； and the wives； and the warriors of the King； and for Glorfindel the
beloved many were the songs they sang； under the willows of Nan…tathren in the waning of the year。 There Tuor made a
song for E？rendil his son； concerning the ing of Ulmo the Lord of Waters to the shores of Nevrast aforetime； and the
sea…longing woke in his heart； and in his son's also。 Therefore Idril and Tuor departed from Nan…tathren； and went
southwards down the river to the sea； and they dwelt there by the mouths of Sirion； and joined their people to the
pany of Elwing Dior's daughter； that had fled thither but a little while before。 And when the tidings came to Balar of
the fall of Gondolin and the death of Turgon； Ereinion Gil…galad son of Fingon was named High King of the Noldor in
Middle…earth。
But Morgoth thought that his triumph was fulfilled； recking little of the sons of F？anor； and of their oath； which
had harmed him never and turned always to his mightiest aid； and in his black thought he laughed； regretting not the one
Silmaril that he had lost； for by it as he deemed the last shred of the people of the Eldar should vanish from Middle…earth
and trouble it no more。 If he knew of the dwelling by the waters of Sirion； he gave no sign； biding his time； and waiting
upon the working of oath and lie。 Yet by Sirion and the sea there grew up an Elven…folk； the gleanings of Doriath and
Gondolin； and from Balar the mariners of Círdan came among them； and they took to the waves and the building of
ships； dwelling ever nigh to the coasts of Arvernien； under the shadow of Ulmo's hand。
And it is said that in that time Ulmo came to Valinor out of the deep waters； and spoke there to the Valar of the
need of the Elves； and he called on them to forgive them； and rescue them from the overmastering might of Morgoth；
and win back the Silmarils； wherein alone now bloomed the light of the Days of Bliss when the Two Trees still shone in
Valinor。 But Manw？ moved not； and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell？
The wise have said that the hour was not yet e； and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both
Elves and Men； pleading for pardon on their misdeeds and pity on their woes； might move the counsels of the Powers；
and the oath of F？anor perhaps even Manw？ could not loose； until it found its end； and the sons of F？anor relinquished
the 。Silmarils； upon which they had laid their ruthless claim。 For the light which lit the Silmarils the Valar themselves
had made。
In those days Tuor felt old age creep upon him； and ever a longing for the deeps of the Sea grew stronger in his
heart。 Therefore he built a great ship； and he named it E？rrám？； which is Sea…Wing； and with Idril Celebrindal he set sail
into the sunset and the West； and came no more into any tale or song。 But in after days it was sung that Tuor alone of
mortal Men was numbered among the elder race； and was joined with the Noldor； whom he loved； and his fate is
sundered from the fate of Men。
Chapter 24
Of the Voyage of E？rendil and
the War of Wrath
Bright E？rendil was then lord of the people that dwelt nigh to Sirion's mouths； and he took to wife Elwing the fair； and
she bore to him Elrond and Elros； who are called the Half…elven。 Yet E？rendil could not rest； and his voyages about the
shores of the Hither Lands eased not his unquiet。 Two purposes grew in his heart； blended as one in longing for the wide
Sea： he sought to sail thereon； seeking after Tuor and Idril who returned not； and he thought to find perhaps the last
shore； and bring ere he died the message of Elves and Men to the Valar in the West； that should move their hearts to pity
for the sorrows of Middle…earth。
Now E？rendil became fast in friendship with Círdan the Shipwright； who dwelt on the Isle of Balar with those of
his people who escaped from the sack of the Havens of Brithombar and Eglarest。 With the aid of Círdan E？rendil built
Vingilot； the Foam…flower； fairest of the ships of song； golden were its oars and white its timbers； hewn in the
birchwoods of Nimbrethil； and its sails were as the argent moon。 In the Lay of E？rendil is many a thing sung of his
adventures in the deep and in lands untrodden； and in many seas and in many isles； but Elwing was not with him； and
she sat in sorrow by the mouths of Sirion。
E？rendil found not Tuor nor Idril； nor came he ever on that journey to the shores of Valinor； defeated by shadows
and enchantment； driven by repelling winds； until in longing for Elwing he turned homeward towards the coast of
Beleriand。 And his heart bade him haste； for a sudden fear had fallen on him out of dreams； and the winds that before he
had striven with might not now bear him back as swift as his desire。
Now when first the tidings came to Maedhros that Elwing yet lived； and dwelt in possession of the Silmaril by the
mouths of Sirion； he repenting of the deeds in Doriath withheld his hand。 But in time the knowledge of their oath
unfulfilled returned to torment him and his brothers； and gathering from their wandering hunting…paths they sent
messages to the Havens of friendship and yet of stern demand。 Then Elwing and the people of Sirion would not yield the
jewel which Beren had won and Lúthien had worn； and for which Dior the fair was slain； and least of all while E？rendil
their lord was on the sea； for it seemed to them that in the Silmaril lay the healing and the blessing that had e upon
their houses and their ships。 And so there came to pass the last and cruellest of the slayings of Elf by Elf； and that was
the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath。
For the sons of F？anor that yet lived came down suddenly upon the exiles of Gondolin and the remnant of
Doriath； and destroyed them。 In that battle some of their people stood aside； and some few rebelled and were slain upon
the other part aiding Elwing against their own lords （for such was the sorrow and confusion in the hearts of the Eldar in
those days）； but Maedhros and Maglor won the day； though they alone remained thereafter of the sons of F？anor； for
both Amrod and Amras were slain。 Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil…galad the High King came hasting to the aid of
the Elves of Sirion； and Elwing was gone； and her sons。 Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault
joined themselves to Gil…galad； and went with him to Balar； and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive； but
Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea。
Thus Maedhros and Maglor gained not the jewel； but it was not lost。 For Ulmo bore up Elwing out of the waves；
and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird； and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril； as she flew over
the water to seek E？rendil her beloved。 On a time of night E？rendil at the helm of his ship saw her e towards him； as
a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon； as a star over the sea moving in strange course； a pale flame on wings
of storm。 And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot； in a swoon； nigh unto death for the
urgency of her speed； and E？rendil took her to his bosom； but in the morning with marvelling eyes he beheld his wife in
her own form beside him with her hair upon his face； and she slept。
Great was the sorrow of E？rendil and Elwing for the ruin of the havens of Sirion； and the captivity of their sons；
and they feared that they would be slain； but it was not so。 For Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond； and he
cherished them； and love grew after between them； as little might be thought； but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with
the burden of the dreadful oath。
Yet E？rendil saw now no hope left in the lands of Middle…earth； and he turned again in despair and came not
home； but sought back once more to Valinor with Elwing at his side。 He stood now most often at the prow of Vingilot；
and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow； and ever its light grew greater as they drew into the West。 And the wise have
said that it was by reason of the power of that holy jewel that they came in time to waters that no vessels save those of
the Teleri had known； and they came to the Enchanted Isles and escaped their enchantment； and they came into the
Shadowy Seas and passed their shadows； and they looked upon Tol Eress？a the Lonely Isle； but tarried not； and at the
last they cast anchor in the Bay of Eldamar； and the Teleri saw the ing of that ship out of the East and they were
amazed； gazing from afar upon the light of the Silmaril； and it was very great。 Then E？rendil； first of living Men； landed
on the immortal shores； and he spoke there to Elwing and to those that were with him； and they were three mariners who
had sailed all the seas besides him： Falathar； Erellont； and Aerandir were their names。 And E？rendil said to them： 'Here
none but myself shall set foot； lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar。 But that peril I will take on myself alone； for the
sake of the Two Kindreds。'
But Elwing answered： 'Then would our paths be sundered for ever； but all thy perils I will take on myself also。'
And she leaped into the white foam and ran towards him； but E？rendil was sorrowful； for he feared the anger of the
Lords of the West upon any of Middle…earth that should dare to pass the leaguer of Aman。 And there they bade farewell
to the panions of their voyage； and were taken from them for ever。
Then E？rendil said to Elwing： 'A