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om 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； and they listened to his evil and cunning words； and they worshipped
the Darkness and yet feared it。 But there were some that turned from evil and left the lands of their kindred； and
wandered ever westward； for they had heard a rumour that in the West there was a light which the Shadow could not
dim。 The servants of Morgoth pursued them with hatred； and their ways were long and hard； yet they came at last to the
lands that look upon the Sea； and they entered Beleriand in the days of the War of the Jewels。 The Edain these were
named in the Sindarin tongue； and they became friends and allies of the Eldar； and did deeds of great valour in the war
against Morgoth。
Of them was sprung； upon the side of his fathers； Bright E？rendil； and in the Lay of E？rendil it is told how at the
last； when the victory of Morgoth was almost plete； he built his ship Vingilot； that Men called Rothinzil； and
voyaged upon the unsailed seas； seeking ever for Valinor； for he desired to speak before the Powers on behalf of the Two
Kindreds； that the Valar might have pity on them and send them help in their uttermost need。 Therefore by Elves and
Men he is called E？rendil the Blessed； for he achieved his quest after long labours and many perils； and from Valinor
there came the host of the Lords of the West。 But E？rendil came never back to the lands that he had loved。
In the Great Battle when at last Morgoth was overthrown and Thangorodrim was broken； the Edain alone of the
kindreds of Men fought for the Valar； whereas many others fought for Morgoth。 And after the victory of the Lords of the
West those of the evil Men who were not destroyed fled back into the east； where many of their race were still
wandering in the unharvested lands； wild and lawless； refusing alike the summons of the Valar and of Morgoth。 And the
evil Men came among them； and cast over them a shadow of fear； and they took them for kings。 Then the Valar forsook
for a time the Men of Middle…earth who had refused their summons and had taken the friends of Morgoth to be their
masters； and Men dwelt in darkness and were troubled by many evil things that Morgoth had devised in the days of his
dominion： demons； and dragons； and misshapen beasts； and the unclean Orcs that are mockeries of the Children of
Ilúvatar。 And the lot of Men was unhappy。
But Manw？ put forth Morgoth and shut him beyond the World in the Void that is without； and he cannot himself
return again into the World； present and visible； while the Lords of the West are still enthroned。 Yet the seeds that he had
planted still grew and sprouted； bearing evil fruit； if any would tend them。 For his will remained and guided his servants；
moving them ever to thwart the will of the Valar and to destroy those that obeyed them。 This the Lords of the West knew
full well。 When therefore Morgoth had been thrust forth； they held council concerning the ages that should e after。
The Eldar they summoned to return into the West； and those that hearkened to the summons dwelt in the Isle of Eress？a；
and there is in that land a haven that is named Avallón？； for it is of all cities the nearest to Valinor； and the tower of
Avallón？ is the first sight that the mariner beholds when at last he draws nigh to the Undying Lands over the leagues of
the Sea。 To the Fathers of Men of the three faithful houses rich reward also was given。 E？nw？ came among them and
taught them； and they were given wisdom and power and life more enduring than any others of mortal race have
possessed。 A land was made for the Edain to dwell in； neither part of Middle…earth nor of Valinor； for it was sundered
from either by a wide sea； yet it was nearer to Valinor。 It was raised by Oss？ out of the depths of the Great Water； and it
was established by Aul？ and enriched by Yavanna； and the Eldar brought thither flowers and fountains out of Tol
Eress？a。 That land the Valar called Andor； the Land of Gift； and the Star of E？rendil shone bright in the West as a token
that all was made ready； and as a guide over the sea； and Men marvelled to see that silver flame in the paths of the Sun。
Then the Edain set sail upon the deep waters； following the Star； and the Valar laid a peace upon the sea for many
days； and sent sunlight and a sailing wind； so that the waters glittered before the eyes of the Edain like rippling glass；
and the foam flew like snow before the stems of their ships。 But so bright was Rothinzil that even at morning Men could
see it glimmering in the West； and in the cloudless night it shone alone； for no other star could stand beside it。 And
setting their course towards it the Edain came at last over leagues of sea and saw afar the land that was prepared for
them； Andor； the Land of Gift； shimmering in a golden haze。 Then they went up out of the sea and found a country fair
and fruitful； and they were glad。 And they called that land Elenna； which is Starwards； but also Anad？n？； which is
Westernesse； Númenór？ in the High Eldarin tongue。
This was the beginning of that people that in the Grey…elven speech are called the Dúnedain： the Númenóreans；
Kings among Men。 But they did not thus escape from the doom of death that Ilúvatar had set upon all Mankind； and they
were mortal still； though their years were long； and they knew no sickness； ere the shadow fell upon them。 Therefore
they grew wise and glorious； and in all things more like to the Firstborn than any other of the kindreds of Men； and they
were tall； taller than the tallest of the sons of Middle…earth； and the light of their eyes was like the bright stars。 But their
numbers increased only slowly in the land； for though daughters and sons were born to them； fairer than their fathers； yet
their children were few。
Of old the chief city and haven of Númenor was in the midst of its western coasts； and it was called Andúni？
because it faced the sunset。 But in the midst of the land was a mountain tall and steep； and it was named the Meneltarma；
the Pillar of Heaven； and upon it was a high place that was hallowed to Eru Ilúvatar； and it was open and unroofed； and
no other temple or fane was there in the land of the Númenóreans。 At the feet of the mountain were built the tombs of the
Kings； and hard by upon a hill was Armenelos； fairest of cities； and there stood the tower and the citadel that was raised
by Elros son of E？rendil； whom the Valar appointed to be the first King of the Dúnedain。
Now Elros and Elrond his brother were descended from the Three Houses of the Edain； but in part also both from
the Eldar and the Maiar； for Idril of Gondolin and Lúthien daughter of Melian were their fore…mothers。 The Valar indeed
may not withdraw the gift of death； which es to Men from Ilúvatar； but in the matter of the Half…elven Ilúvatar gave
to them the judgement； and they judged that to the sons of E？rendil should be given choice of their own destiny。 And
Elrond chose to remain with the Firstborn； and to him the life of the Firstborn was granted。 But to Elros； who chose to be
a king of Men； still a great span of years was allotted； many times that of the Men of Middle…earth； and all his line； the
kings and lords of the royal house； had long life even according to the measure of the Númenóreans。 But Elros lived five
hundred years； and ruled the Númenóreans four hundred years and ten。
Thus the years passed； and while Middle…earth went backward and light and wisdom faded； the Dúnedain dwelt
under the protection of the Valar and in the friendship of the Eldar； and they increased in stature both of mind and body。
For though this people used still their own speech； their kings and lords knew and spoke also the Elven tongue； which
they had learned in the days of their alliance； and thus they held converse still with the Eldar； whether of Eress？a or of
the west…lands of Middle…earth。 And the loremasters among them learned also the High Eldarin tongue of the Blessed
Realm； in which much story and song was preserved from the beginning of the world； and they made letters and scrolls
and books； and wrote in them many things o