The Elves Settle in Valinor

Orome led the Vanyar and Noldor through the lands of Beleriand. Now in the far north a narrow sea separated Middle-earth and Aman but that see was filled with much grinding ice and cold weather that Melkor had caused to be. For extreme heat and cold Melkor ever brought to Middle-earth. Orome did not take the Elves into the far north region and so they were faced with a great ocean and were afraid. But Ulmo came and blew his horns and that fear was turned for a desire for the Sea. Ulmo and his servants uprooted an island which the Vanyar and Noldor boarded as a ship and were taken to Aman.

Meanwhile the Teleri tarried far from the Sea and missed the summons of Ulmo. Some had continued to search for Elwe but many went forth to the Sea and longed for their departed friends. Olwe was now their king and he settled them on the shores where they met Osse and Uinan and learned more sea-lore than any others of the Firstborn. After some time passed Finwe pleaded with Ulmo to bring the Teleri to Aman for he missed his friends. Ulmo agreed and found most of the Teleri ready to depart but Osse was grieved. Still a small number stayed in Middle-earth and became mariners and makers of ships. "Cirdan the Shipwright was their Lord" (p. 58, The Silmarillion). The friends of Elwe also remained calling themselves the Forsaken People.

When Elwe finally awakes from his love trance he is content to stay in Middle-earth beholding the light of the Trees in Melian's face. Those that waited for him are overjoyed and he seemed like a lord of the Maiar. The Teleri who left with Olwe were not entirely persuaded to go to Valinor. And for a season Tol Eressea was built for them in the Bay of Elvenhome, an island between Middle-earth and Valinor. The Valar were not pleased with Ulmo's actions and Finwe was grieved his friends had not come to Aman. The result of was Teleri speech differed from the Vanyar and Noldor clans. The Elves in Valinor began to learn and build. In particular the Noldor, beloved of Aule, excelled: building and creating beautiful gems. Even the creation writing and words came from the Noldor.

Long the Vanyar and Noldor dwelt in friendship in Aman with the Valar in the Light of the Trees. Of all the beauty in Aman the Elves loved Telperion best. So Yavanna made a tree similar to it for them: Galathilion, a seedling of which would eventually be planted in Tol Eressea. Manwe and Varda loved the Vanyar and Aule loved the Noldor. The Noldor eventually return to Middle-earth and The Silmarillion in large parts is dedicated to that journey and their fate. So it's appropriate to list more key people from the Noldor:

• Finwe was king of the Noldor
• Feanor (mightiest in skill of word and hand), Fingolfin (strongest and most valiant), and Finarfin (fairest and most wise) were his sons
• Miriel was Feanor's mother
• Indis was Fingolfin and Finarfin's mother

Sons of Feanor were: Maedhros the tall, Maglor the singer, Celegorm the fair, Caranthir the dark, Curufin the crafty, and the youngest Amrod and Amras who were twins.

Sons of Fingolfin were: Fingon (King of the northern Noldor) and Turgon (Lord of Gondolin). Aredhel the White was their sister who loved to ride and hunt.

Sons of Finarfin were Finrod the Faithful (AKA Felagund Lord of Caves), Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor. The last two being friends to the point of brothers with Fingolfin's sons. They had a sister as well, Galadriel--the most beautiful of all the house of Finwe, her hair lit with gold. Galadriel would become very important during the War of the Ring ages later. I'm sorry for all the names but they will be popping up from here on out.

At last the Teleri joined the Vanyar and Noldor in Valinor. They longed for the light of Aman. Osse taught them how to build ships and swans pulled the ships to Aman for it was a windless sea there. The Teleri resided on the beaches away from the others and near the waters. There they could see the Light of the Trees as well as sail their ships in the Bay of Elvenhome. Valinor was now at it's bliss.

Middle-earth timeline: Age of the Two Trees
Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 57-62