lay
upon his face before the feet of Manw？ and sued for pardon； but his prayer was denied； and he was cast into prison in
the fastness of Mandos； whence none can escape； neither Vala； nor Elf； nor mortal Man。 Vast and strong are those halls；
and they were built in the west of the land of Aman。 There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long； before his
cause should be tried anew； or he should plead again for pardon。
Then again the Valar were gathered in council； and they were divided in debate。 For some； and of those Ulmo
was the chief； held that the Quendi should be left free to walk as they would in Middle…earth； and with their gifts of skill
to order all the lands and heal their hurts。 But the most part feared for the Quendi in the dangerous world amid the
deceits of the starlit dusk； and they were filled moreover with the love of the beauty of the Elves and desired their
fellowship。 At the last； therefore； the Valar summoned the Quendi to Valinor； there to be gathered at the knees of the
Powers in the light of the Trees for ever； and Mandos broke his silence； saying： 'So it is doomed。' From this summons
came many woes that afterwards befell。
But the Elves were at first unwilling to hearken to the summons； for they had as yet seen the Valar only in their
wrath as they went to war； save Orom？ alone； and they were filled with dread。 Therefore Orom？ was sent again to them；
and he chose from among them ambassadors who should go to Valinor and speak for their people； and these were Ingw？；
Finw？ and Elw？； who afterwards were kings。 And ing they were filled with awe by the glory and majesty of the
Valar； and desired greatly the light and splendour of the Trees。 Then Orom？ brought them back to Cuiviénen； and they
spoke before their people； and counselled them to heed the summons of the Valar and remove into the West
Then befell the first sundering of the Elves。 For the kindred of Ingw？； and the most part of the kindreds of Finw？
and Elw？； were swayed by the words of their lords； and were willing to depart and follow Orom？； and these were known
ever after as the Eldar； by the name that Orom？ gave to the Elves in the beginning； in their own tongue。 But many
refused the summons； preferring the starlight and the wide spaces of Middle…earth to the rumour of the Trees； and these
are the Avari； the Unwilling； and they were sundered in that time from the Eldar； and met never again until many ages
were past。
The Eldar prepared now a great march from their first homes in the east； and they were arrayed in three hosts。
The smallest host and the first to set forth was led by Ingw？； the most high lord of all the Elvish race。 He entered into
Valinor and sits at the feet of the Powers； and all Elves revere his name； but he came never back； nor looked again upon
Middle…earth。 The Vanyar were his people； they are the Fair Elves； the beloved of Manw？ and Varda； and few among
Men have spoken with them。
Next came the Noldor； a name of wisdom； the people of Finw？。 They are the Deep Elves； the friends of Aul？； and
they are renowned in song； for they fought and laboured long and grievously in the northern lands of old。
The greatest host came last； and they are named the Teleri； for they tarried on the road； and were not wholly of a
mind to pass from the dusk to the light of Valinor。 In water they had great delight； and those that came at last to the
western shores were enamoured of the sea。 The Sea…elves therefore they became in the land of Aman； the Falmari； for
they made music beside the breaking waves。 Two lords they had； for their numbers were great： Elw？ Singollo （which
signifies Greymantle） and Olw？ his brother。
These were the three kindreds of the Eldali？； who passing at length into the uttermost West in the days of the
Trees are called the Calaquendi； Elves of the Light。 But others of the Eldar there were who set out indeed upon the
westward march； but became lost upon the long road； or turned aside； or lingered on the shores of Middle…earth； and
these were for the most part of the kindred of the Teleri； as is told hereafter。 They dwelt by the sea or wandered in the
woods and mountains of the world； yet their hearts were turned towards the West。 Those Elves the Calaquendi call the
úmanyar； since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm； but the úmanyar and the Avari alike they
call the Moriquendi； Elves of the Darkness； for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon。
It is told that when the hosts of the Eldali？ departed from Cuiviénen Orom？ rode at their head upon Nahar； his
white horse shod with gold； and passing northward about the Sea of Helcar they turned towards the west。 Before them
great clouds hung still black in the North above the ruins of war； and the stars in that region were hidden。 Then not a few
grew afraid and repented； and turned back； and are forgotten。
Long and slow was the march of the Eldar into the west； for the leagues of Middle…earth were uncounted； and
weary and pathless。 Nor did the Eldar desire to hasten； for they were filled with wonder at all that they saw； and by many
lands and rivers they wished to abide； and though all were yet willing to wander； many feared rather their journey's end
than hoped for it Therefore whenever Orom？ departed； having at times other matters to heed； they halted and went
forward no more； until he returned to guide them。 And it came to pass after many years of journeying in this manner that
the Eldar took their course through a forest； and they came to a great river； wider than any they had yet seen； and beyond
it were mountains whose sharp horns seemed to pierce the realm of the stars。 This river； it is said； was even the river
which was after called Anduin the Great； and was ever the frontier of the west…lands of Middle…earth。 But me mountains
were the Hithaeglir； the Towers of Mist upon the borders of Eriador； yet they were taller and more terrible in those days；
and were reared by Melkor to hinder the riding of Orom？。 Now the Teleri abode long on the east bank of that river and
wished to remain there； but the Vanyar and me Noldor passed over it； and Orom？ led them into the passes of the
mountains。 And when Orom？ was gone forward the Teleri looked upon the shadowy heights and were afraid。
Then one arose in the host of Olw？； which was ever the hindmost on the road； Lenw？ he was called。 He forsook
the westward march； and led away a numerous people； southwards down the great river； and they passed out of the
knowledge of their kin until long years were past。 Those were the Nandor； and they became a people apart； unlike their
kin； save that they loved water； and dwelt most beside falls and running streams。 Greater knowledge they had of living
things； tree and herb； bird and beast； than all other Elves。 In after years Denethor； son of Lenw？； turned again west at
last； and led a part of that people over the mountains into Beleriand ere the rising of the Moon。
At length the Vanyar and the Noldor came over Ered Luin； the Blue Mountains； between Eriador and the
westernmost land of Middle…earth； which the Elves after named Beleriand； and the foremost panies passed over the
Vale of Sirion and came down to the shores of the Great Sea between Drengist and the Bay of Balar。 But when they
beheld it great fear came upon them； and many withdrew into the woods and highlands of Beleriand。 Then Orom？
departed； and returned to Valinor to seek the counsel of Manw？； and left them。
And the host of the Teleri passed over the Misty Mountains； and crossed the wide lands of Eriador； being urged
on by Elw？ Singollo； for he was eager to return to Valinor and the Light that he had beheld； and he wished not to be
sundered from the Noldor； for he had great friendship with Finw？ their lord。 Thus after many years the Teleri also came
at last over Ered Luin into the eastern regions of Beleriand。 There they halted； and dwelt a while beyond the River
Gelion。
Chapter 4
Of Thingol and Melian
Melian was a Maia； of the race of the Valar。 She dwelt in the gardens of Lórien； and among all his people there were
none more beautiful than Melian； nor more wise； nor more skilled in songs of enchantment。 It is told that the Valar
would leave their works； and the birds of Valinor their mirth； that the bells of Valmar were silent and the fountains
ceased to flow； when at the mingling of the lights Melian sang in Lórien。 Nightingales went always with her； and she
taught them their song； and she loved the deep shadows of the great trees。 She was akin before the World was made to
Yavanna herself； and in that time when the Quendi awoke beside the waters of Cuiviénen she departed from Valinor and
came to the Hither Lands； and there she filled the silence of Middle…earth before the dawn with her voice and the voices
of her birds。
Now when their journey was near its end； as has been told； the people of the Teleri rested long in East Beleriand；
beyond the River Gelion； and at that time many of the Noldor still lay to the westward； in those forests that were
afterwards named Neldoreth and Region。 Elw？； lord of the Teleri； went often through the great woods to seek out Finw？
his friend in the dwellings of the Noldor； and it chanced on a time that he came alone to the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth；
and there suddenly he heard the song of nightingales。 Then an enchantment fell on him； and he stood still； and afar off
beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian； and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire。 He
forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind； and following the birds under the shadow of the trees
he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost。 But he came at last to a glade open to the stars； and there Melian stood；
and out of the darkness he looked at her； and the light of Aman was in her face。
She spoke no word； but being filled with love Elw？ came to her and took her hand； and straightway a spell was
laid on him； so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them； and the trees of
Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word。
Thus Elw？'s folk who sought him found him not； and Olw？ took the kingship of the Teleri and departed； as is told
hereafter。 Elw？ Singollo came never again across the sea to Valinor so long as he lived； and Melian returned not thither
while their realm together lasted； but of her there came among both Elves and Men a strain of the Ainur who were with
Ilúvatar before E？。 In after days he became a king renowned； and his people were all the Eldar of Beleriand； the Sindar
they were named； the Grey…elves； the Elves of the Twilight and King Greymantle was he； Elu Thingol in the tongue of
that land。 And Melian was his Queen； wiser than any child of Middle…earth； and their hidden halls were
Menegroth； the Thousand Caves； in Doriath。 Great power Melian lent to Thingol； who was himself great among
the Eldar； for he alone of all the Sindar had seen with his own eyes the Trees in the day of their flowering； a