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 were arrayed in forms young and fair and terrible； and the
mountains rang beneath their feet。
The meeting of the hosts of the West and of the North is named the Great Battle； and the War of Wrath。 There
was marshalled the whole power of the Throne of Morgoth； and it had bee great beyond count； so that Anfauglith
could not contain it； and all the North was aflame with war。
But it availed him not。 The Balrogs were destroyed； save some few that fled and hid themselves in caverns
inaccessible at the roots of the earth； and the uncounted legions of the Ores perished like straw in a great fire； or were
swept like shrivelled leaves before a burning wind。 Few remained to trouble the world for long years after。 And such few
as were left of the three houses of the Elf…friends； Fathers of Men； fought upon the part of the Valar； and they were
avenged in those days for Baragund and Barahir； Galdor and Gundor； Huor and Húrin； and many others of their lords。
But a great part of the sons of Men； whether of the people of Uldor or others new…e out of the east； marched with the
Enemy； and the Elves do not forget it。
Then； seeing that his hosts were overthrown and his power dispersed； Morgoth quailed； and he dared not to e
forth himself。 But he loosed upon his foes the last desperate assault that he had prepared； and out of the pits of Angband
there issued the winged dragons； that had not before been seen； and so sudden and ruinous was the onset of that dreadful
fleet that the host of the Valar was driven back； for the ing of the dragons was with great thunder； and lightning； and
a tempest of fire。
But E？rendil came； shining with white flame； and about Vingilot were gathered all the great birds of heaven and
Thorondor was their captain； and there was battle in the air all the day and through a dark night of doubt。 Before the
rising of the sun E？rendil slew Ancalagon the Black； the mightiest of the dragon…host； and cast him from the sky； and he
fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim； and they were broken in his ruin。 Then the sun rose； and the host of the Valar
prevailed； and well…nigh all the dragons were destroyed； and all the pits of Morgoth were broken and unroofed； and the
might of the Valar descended into the deeps of the earth。 There Morgoth stood at last at bay； and yet unvaliant。 He fled
into the deepest of his mines； and sued for peace and pardon； but his feet were hewn from under him； and he was hurled
upon his face。 Then he was bound with the chain Angainor which he had worn aforetime； and his iron crown they beat
into a collar for his neck； and his head was bowed upon his knees。 And the two Silmarils which remained to Morgoth
were taken from his crown； and they shone unsullied beneath the sky； and E？nw？ took them； and guarded them。
Thus an end was made of the power of Angband in the North； and' the evil realm was brought to naught； and out
of the deep prisons a multitude of slaves came forth beyond all hope into the light of day； and they looked upon a world
that was changed。 For so great was the fury of those adversaries that the northern regions of the western world were rent
asunder； and the sea roared in through many chasms； and there was confusion and great noise； and rivers perished or
found new paths； and the valleys were upheaved and the hills trod down； and Sirion was no more。
Then E？nw？ as herald of the Elder King summoned the Elves of Beleriand to depart from Middle…earth。 But
Maedhros and Maglor would not hearken； and they prepared； though now with weariness and loathing； to attempt in
despair the fulfilment of their oath； for they would have given battle for the Silmarils； were they withheld； even against
the victorious host of Valinor； even though they stood alone against all the world。 And they sent a message therefore to
E？nw？； bidding him yield up now those jewels which of old F？anor their father made and Morgoth stole from him。
But E？nw？ answered that the right to the work of their father； which the sons of F？anor formerly possessed； had
now perished； because of their many and merciless deeds； being blinded by their oath； and most of all because of their
slaying of Dior and the assault upon the Havens。 The light of the Silmarils should go now into the West； whence it came
in the beginning； and to Valinor must Maedhros and Maglor return； and there abide the judgement of the Valar； by whose
decree alone would E？nw？ yield the jewels from his charge。 Then Maglor desired indeed to submit； for his heart was
sorrowful； and he said： The oath says not that we may not bide our time； and it may be that in Valinor all shall be
forgiven and forgot； and we shall e into our own in peace。
But Maedhros answered that if they returned to Aman but the favour of the Valar were withheld from them； then
their oath would still remain； but its fulfilment be beyond all hope； and he said： 'Who can tell to what dreadful doom we
shall e； if we disobey the Powers in their own land； or purpose ever to bring war again into their holy realm？'
Yet Maglor still held back； saying： 'If Manw？ and Varda themselves deny the fulfilment of an oath to which we
named them in witness； is it not made void？'
And Maedhros answered： 'But how shall our voices reach to Ilúvatar beyond the Circles of the World？ And by
Ilúvatar we swore in our madness； and called the Everlasting Darkness upon us； if we kept not our word。 Who shall
release us？'
'If none can release us；' said Maglor； 'then indeed the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot； whether we keep our
oath or break it； but less evil shall we do in the breaking。'
Yet he yielded at last to the will of Maedhros； and they took counsel together how they should lay hands on the
Silmarils。 And they disguised themselves； and came in the night to the camp of E？nw？； and crept into the place where
the Silmarils were guarded； and they slew the guards； and laid hands on the jewels。 Then all the camp was raised against
them； and they prepared to die； defending themselves until the last。 But E？nw？ would not permit the slaying of the sons
of F？anor； and departing unfought they fled far away。 Each of them took to himself a Silmaril； for they said： 'Since one is
lost to us； and but two remain； and we two alone of our brothers； so is it plain that fate would have us share the
heirlooms of our father。'
But the jewel burned the hand of Maedhros in pain unbearable； and he perceived that it was as E？nw？ had said；
and that his right thereto had bee void； and that the oath was vain。 And being in anguish and despair he cast himself
into a gaping chasm filled with fire； and so ended； and the Silmaril that he bore was taken into the bosom of the Earth；
And it is told of Maglor that he could not endure the pain with which the Silmaril tormented him； and he cast it at
last into the Sea； and thereafter he wandered ever upon the shores； singing in pain and regret beside the waves。 For
Maglor was mighty among the singers of old； named only after Daeron of Doriath； but he came never back among the
people of the Elves。 And thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes： one in the airs of heaven； and
one in the fires of the heart of the world； and one in the deep waters。
In those days there was a great building of ships upon the shores of the Western Sea； and thence in many a fleet
the Eldar set sail into the West； and came never back to the lands of weeping and of war。 And the Vanyar returned
beneath their white banners； and were borne in triumph to Valinor； but their joy in victory was diminished； for they
returned without the Silmarils from Morgoth's crown； and they knew that those jewels could not be found or brought
together again unless the world be broken and remade。
And when they came into the West the Elves of Beleriand dwelt upon Tol Eress？a； the Lonely Isle； that looks
both west and east； whence they might e even to Valinor。 They were admitted again to the love of Manw？ and the
pardon of the Valar； and the Teleri forgave their ancient grief； and the curse was laid to rest。
Yet not all the Eldali？ were willing to forsake the Hither Lands where they had long suffered and long dwelt； and
some lingered many an age in Middle…earth。 Among those were Círdan the Shipwright； and Celeborn of Doriath； with
Galadriel his wife； who alone remained of those who led the Noldor to exile in Beleriand。 In Middle…earth dwelt also
Gil…galad the High King； and with him was Elrond Half…elven； who chose； as was granted to him； to be numbered among
the Eldar； but Elros his brother chose to abide with Men。 And from these brethren alone has e among Men the blood
of the Firstborn and a strain of the spirits divine that were before Arda； for they were the sons of Elwing； Dior's
daughter； Lúthien's son； child of Thingol and Melian； and E？rendil their father was the son of Idril Celebrindal； Turgon's
daughter of Gondolin。
But Morgoth himself the Valar thrust through the Door of Night beyond the Walls of the World； into the Timeless
Void； and a guard is set for ever on those walls； and E？rendil keeps watch upon the ramparts of the sky。 Yet the lies that
Melkor； the mighty and accursed； Morgoth Bauglir； the Power of Terror and of Hate； sowed in the hearts of Elves and
Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed； and ever and anon it sprouts anew； and will bear dark fruit
even unto the latest days。
Here ends the SILMARILLION。 If it has passed from the high and the beautiful to darkness and ruin； that was of
old the fate of Arda Marred； and if any change shall e and the Marring be amended； Manw？ and Varda may
know； but they have not revealed it； and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos。
AKALLABêTH
The Downfall of Númenor
It is said by the Eldar that Men came into the world in the time of the Shadow of Morgoth； and they fell swiftly under his
dominion； for he sent his emissaries among them； an