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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； and king
though he was of Amanyar； he was not accounted among the Moriquendi； but with the Elves of the Light； mighty upon
Middle…earth。 And of the love of Thingol and Melian there came into the world the fairest of all the Children of Ilúvatar
that was or shall ever be。
Chapter 5
Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldali？
In time the hosts of the Vanyar and the Noldor came to the last western shores of the Hither Lands。 In the north these
shores； in the ancient days after the Battle of the Powers； bent ever westward； until in the northernmost parts of Arda
only a narrow sea divided Aman； upon which Valinor was built； from the Hither Lands； but this narrow sea was filled
with grinding ice； because of the violence of the frosts of Melkor。 Therefore Orom？ did not lead the hosts of the Eldali？
into the far north； but brought them to the fair lands about the River Sirion； that afterwards were named Beleriand； and
from those shores whence first the Eldar looked in fear and wonder on the Sea there stretched an ocean； wide and dark
and deep； between them and the Mountains of Aman。
Now Ulmo； by the counsel of the Valar； came to the shores of Middle…earth and spoke with the Eldar who waited
there； gazing on the dark waves； and because of his words and the music which he made for them on his horns of shell
their fear of the sea was turned rather to desire。 Therefore Ulmo uprooted an island which long had stood alone amid the
sea； far from either shore； since the tumults of the fall of Illuin； and with the aid of his servants he moved it； as it were a
mighty ship； and anchored it in the Bay of Balar； into which Sirion poured his water。 Then the Vanyar and the Noldor
embarked upon that isle； and were drawn over the sea； and came at last to the long shores beneath the Mountains of
Aman； and they entered Valinor and were weled to its bliss。 But the eastern horn of the island； which was deep…
grounded in the shoals off the mouths of Sirion； was broken asunder and remained behind and that； it is said； was the
Isle of Balar； to which afterwards Oss？ often came。
But the Teleri remained still in Middle…earth； for they dwelt in East Beleriand far from the sea； and they heard not
the summons of Ulmo until too late； and many searched still for Elw？ their lord； and without him they were unwilling to
depart。 But when they learned that Ingw？ and Finw？ and their peoples were gone； then many of the Teleri pressed on to
the shores of Beleriand； and dwelt thereafter near the Mouths of Sirion； in longing for their friends that had departed；
and they took Olw？； Elw？'s brother； to be their king。 Long they remained by the coasts of the western sea； and Oss？ and
Uinen came to them and befriended them； and Oss？ instructed them； sitting upon a rock near to the margin of the land；
and of him they learned all manner of sea…lore and sea…music。 Thus it came to be that the Teleri； who were from the
beginning lovers of water； and the fairest singers of all the Elves； were after enamoured of the seas； and their songs were
filled with the sound of waves upon the shore。
When many years had passed； Ulmo hearkened to the prayers of the Noldor and of Finw？ their king。 Who
grieved at their long sundering from the Teleri； and besought him to bring them to Aman； if they would e。 And most
of them proved now willing indeed； but great was the grief of Oss？ when Ulmo returned to the coasts of Beleriand； to
bear them away to Valinor； for his care was for the seas of Middle…earth and the shores of the Hither Lands； and he was
ill…pleased that the voices of the Teleri should be heard no more in his domain。 Some he persuaded to remain； and those
were the Falathrim； the Elves of the Falas； who in after days had dwellings at the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest； the
first mariners in Middle…earth and the first makers of ships。 Círdan the Shipwright was their lord。
The kinsfolk and friends of Elw？ Singollo also remained in the Hither Lands； seeking him yet； though they would
fain have departed to Valinor and the light of the Trees； if Ulmo and Olw？ had been willing to tarry longer。 But Olw？
would be gone； and at last the main host of the Teleri embarked upon the isle； and Ulmo drew them far away。 Then the
friends of Elw？ were left behind； and they called themselves Eglath； the Forsaken People。 They dwelt in the woods and
hills of Beleriand； rather than by the sea； which filled them with sorrow； but the desire of Aman was ever in their hearts。
But when Elw？ awoke from his long trance； he came forth from Nan Elmoth with Melian； and they dwelt
thereafter in the woods in the midst of the land。 Greatly though he had desired to see again the light of the Trees； in the
face of Melian he beheld the light of Aman as in an unclouded mirror； and in that light he was content。 His people
gathered about him in joy； and they were amazed； for fair and noble as he had been； now he appeared