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： 'Await me here； for one only may bring the message that it is my fate to bear。' And
he went up alone into the land； and came into the Calacirya； and it seemed to him empty and silent； for even as Morgoth
and Ungoliant came in ages past； so now E？rendil had e at a time of festival； and wellnigh all the Elvenfolk were
gone to Valimar； or were gathered in the halls of Manw？ upon Taniquetil； and few were left to keep watch upon the walls
of Tirion。
But some there were who saw him from afar； and the great light that he bore； and they went in haste to Valimar。
But E？rendil climbed the green hill of Túna and found it bare； and he entered into the streets of Tirion； and they were
empty； and his heart was heavy； for he feared that some evil had e even to the Blessed Realm。 He walked in the
deserted ways of Tirion； and the dust upon his raiment and his shoes was a dust of diamonds； and he shone and glistened
as he climbed the long white stairs。 And he called aloud in many tongues； both of Elves and Men； but there were none to
answer him。 Therefore he turned back at last towards the sea； but even as he took the shoreward road one stood upon the
hill and called to him in a great voice； crying：
'Hail E？rendil； of mariners most renowned； the looked for that eth at unawares； the longed for that eth
beyond hope！ Hail E？rendil； bearer of light before the Sun and Moon！ Splendour of the Children of Earth； star in the
darkness； jewel in the sunset； radiant in the morning！'
That voice was the voice of E？nw？； herald of Manw？； and he came from Valimar； and summoned E？rendil to
e before the Powers of Arda。 And E？rendil went into Valinor and to the halls of Valimar； and never again set foot
upon the lands of Men。 Then the Valar took counsel together； and they summoned Ulmo from the deeps of the sea； and
E？rendil stood before their faces； and delivered the errand of the Two Kindreds。 Pardon he asked for the Noldor and pity
for their great sorrows； and mercy upon Men and Elves and succour in their need。 And his prayer was granted。
It is told among the Elves that after E？rendil had departed； seeking Elwing his wife； Mandos spoke concerning
his fate； and he said： 'Shall mortal Man step living upon the undying lands； and yet live？' But Ulmo said： 'For this he was
born into the world。 And say unto me： whether is he E？rendil Tuor's son of the line of Hador； or the son of Idril； Turgon's
daughter； of the Elven…house of Finw？？' And Mandos answered： 'Equally the Noldor； who went wilfully into exile； may
not return hither。'
But when all was spoken； Manw？ gave judgement； and he said： 'In this matter the power of doom is given to me。
The peril that he ventured for love of the Two Kindreds shall not fall upon E？rendil； nor shall it fall upon Elwing his
wife； who entered into peril for love of him； but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands。
And this is my decree concerning them： to E？rendil and to Elwing； and to their sons； shall be given leave each to choose
freely to which kindred their fates shall be joined； and under which kindred they shall be judged。'
Now when E？rendil was long time gone Elwing became lonely and afraid； and wandering by the margin of the
sea she came near to Alqualond？； where lay the Telerin fleets。 There the Teleri befriended her； and they listened to her
tales of Doriath and Gondolin and the griefs of Beleriand； and they were filled with pity and wonder； and there E？rendil
returning found her； at the Haven of the Swans。 But ere long they were summoned to Valimar； and there the decree of
the Elder King was declared to them。
Then E？rendil said to Elwing： 'Choose thou； for now I am weary of the world。' And Elwing chose to be judged
among the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar； because of Lúthien； and for her sake E？rendil chose alike； though his heart was
rather with the kindred of Men and the people of his father。 Then at the bidding of the Valar E？nw？ went to the shore of
Aman； where the panions of E？rendil still remained； awaiting tidings； and he took a boat； and the three mariners
were set therein； and the Valar drove them away into the East with a great wind。 But they took Vingilot； and hallowed it；
and bore it away through Valinor to the uttermost rim of the world； and there it passed through the Door of Night and
was lifted up even into the oceans of heaven。
Now fair and marvellous was that vessel made； and it was filled with a wavering flame； pure and bright； and
E？rendil the Mariner sat at the helm； glistening with dust of elven…gems； and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow。 Far
he journeyed in that ship； even into the starless voids； but most often was he seen at morning or at evening； glimmering
in sunrise or sunset； as he came back to Valinor from voyages beyond the confines of the world。
On those journeys Elwing did not go； for she might not endure the cold and the pathless voids； and she loved
rather the earth and the sweet winds that blow on sea and hill。 Therefore there was built for her a white tower northward
upon the borders of the Sundering Seas； and thither at times all the sea…birds of the earth repaired。 And it is said that
Elwing learned the tongues of birds； who herself had once worn their shape； and they taught her the craft of flight； and
her wings were of white and silver…grey。 And at times； when E？rendil returning drew near again to Arda； she would fly to
meet him； even as she had flown long ago； when she was rescued from the sea。 Then the far…sighted among the Elves
that dwelt in the Lonely Isle would see her like a white bird； shining； rose…stained in the sunset； as she soared in joy to
greet the ing of Vingilot to haven。
Now when first Vingilot was set to sail in the seas of heaven； it rose unlocked for； glittering and bright； and the
people of Middle…earth beheld it from afar and wondered； and they took it for a sign； and called it Gil…Estel； the Star of
High Hope。 And when this new star was seen at evening； Maedhros spoke to Maglor his brother； and he said： 'Surely that
is a Silmaril that shines now in the West？'
And Maglor answered： 'If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of
the Valar； then let us be glad； for its glory is seen now by many； and is yet secure from all evil。' Then the Elves looked
up； and despaired no longer； but Morgoth was filled with doubt。
Yet it is said that Morgoth looked not for the assault that came upon him from the West； for so great was his pride
bee that he deemed that none would ever again e with open war against him。 Moreover he thought that he had
for ever estranged the Noldor from the Lords of the West； and that content in their blissful realm the Valar would heed
no more his kingdom in the world without； for to him that is pitiless the deeds of pity are ever strange and beyond
reckoning。 But the host of the Valar prepared for battle； and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar； the people
of Ingw？； and those also of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor； whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finw？。
Few of the Teleri were willing to go forth to war； for they remembered the slaying at the Swan…haven； and the rape of
their ships； but they hearkened to Elwing； who was the daughter of Dior Eluchíl and e of their own kindred； and they
sent mariners enough to sail the ships that bore the host of Valinor east over the sea。 Yet they stayed aboard their vessels；
and none of them set foot upon the Hither Lands。
Of the march of the host of the Valar to the north of Middle…earth little is said in any tale； for among them went
none of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in the Hither Lands； and who made the histories of those days that still
are known； and tidings of these things they only learned long afterwards from their kinsfolk in Aman。 But at the last the
might of Valinor came up out of the West； and the challenge of the trumpets of E？nw？ filled the sky； and Beleriand was
ablaze with the glory of their arms； for the host of the Valar we