Chapter 3. Summons and Sundering.
'Never did Melkor forget that this war was made for the sake of the Elves, and that they were the cause of his downfall. Yet they had no part in those deeds and they know little of the riding of the Might of the West against the North in the beginning of their days (...) Then the Valar passed over Middle Earth and they set a guard over Cuiviénen, and hereafter the Quendi knew nothing of the great Battle of the Powers, save that the Earth shook and groaned beneath them, and the waters were moved, and in the North there were lights as of many fires. Long and grievous was the siege of Utumno, and many battles were fought before its gates of which naught but the rumour is known to the Elves (…) Then again the Valar were gathered in council, and they were divided in debate. For some, and of those Ulmo was the chief, held that the Quendi should be left free to walk as they would in Middle Earth (…) but the most feared for the Quendi in the dangerous world amid the deceits of the starlit dusk; and they were filled moreover with the love of the beauty of the Elves and desired their fellowship.
At the last, therefore, the Valar summoned the Quendi to Valinor, there to be gathered at the knees of the Powers in the light of the Trees for ever; and Mandos broke his silence, saying: "So it is doomed."
From this summons came many woes that afterwards befell (…) Oromë was sent again to them (the Elves) and he chose from among them ambassadors who should go to Valinor; and these were Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë, who afterwards were Kings."
From: Quenta Silmarillion; Of the Coming of the Elves
They had come from far and wide to hearken to the words of Three that had come back from Valinor. The news of their return had swiftly spread, and practically all the Quendi had gathered together. From deep out of the forests they had come, and from far upstream along the banks of the rivers that mouthed in Cuiviénen, and from the Lake itself, where many lived on rafts held close together with huts woven out of reeds for shelter upon them, like a floating, drifting city.
They sat and listened in spellbound silence.
First, Ingwë spoke, and his voice betrayed the awe he felt for the glory and majesty of the Valar, as he tried his best to describe them.
"Yavanna the Giver of Fruits goes in the form of a tall woman robed in green, but at times she will take other shapes, and can be seen like a tree with from all its branches spilling like a golden dew upon the bare earth, and it will grow green with corn. Truly she is Kementari, Queen of the Earth. When Valinor was full wrought, and the mansions of theValar were established, in the midst of the plain beyond the mountains they build their city, Valimar of the many bells. Before its western gate there is a green mound that Yavanna has hallowed, and upon it sang a song of power, so that from the mound came forth two slender shoots. Under her song the saplings grew and became fair and tall and came to flower: the Two Trees of Valinor."
He fell silent, overcome by the memory, and Elwë continued in his stead:
"Oh, the beauty of the Trees, my friends, how shall I describe it? The one has leaves of dark green that beneath are as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light is ever falling, and the earth beneath is dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. The other bears leaves of a young green like the new opened beech; their edges are a glittering gold. Flowers swing upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spills a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there comes forth warmth and a great light. Laurelin, it is called, and the other Telperion. The glory of each tree waxes and wanes, and one awakes to life before the other ceases to shine: so that there is a gentle time of softer light when both are faint and their gold and silver beams mingled. But the light that is spilled from the trees endures long, ere it is taken up into the airs or sinks down into the earth; and the dews of Telperion, the elder tree, and the rain that falls from Laurelin Varda hoards in great vats like shining lakes, that were to all the land of the Valar as wells of water and light. It is with these very waters that she made the stars bright.
Fair are the trees, and fair is Valinor, but fairest of all are the gardens of Lorien, where the Vala Irmo rules, the younger of the Féanturi, whose brother is Mandos the Silent. Irmo is master of vision and dream, and his land is filled with many spirits. Lorien is a gentle, restful place filled with silver trees and multitudes of flowers. The water of its crystal fountains will refresh all visitors. In the midst of this most beautiful of gardens are the glimmering waters of Lake Lovellin, and in the midst of that Lake is an isle of tall trees and gentle mists, that is the home of Estë the Gentle, Irmo's spouse, healer of hurts and weariness."
Now Finwë spoke: " Fair are the Trees and the Gardens of Lorien, but for me I should speak more of Valimar, the home of the Valar. It is filled with white stone mansions, silver domes and golden spires. And the Bells! You have not heard music if you have not heard the music of its many gold and silver bells. Before its white walls and golden gate is Mahanaxar: the Ring of Doom, where the thrones of the Valar are set in a great Council Circle. It is there that they came to the decision to summon us to dwell by their side."
Ingwë fell in: "And then you shall see, oh my friends, true Power, Majesty and Beauty. Upon the highest whitest peak of the mountains, upon Taniquetil, is built Ilmarin, the mansion of the King and Queen of the Valar: Manwë and Varda. When Manwë there ascends his throne and looks forth, if Varda is beside him, he sees further than all other eyes through mist, and through darkness and over the leagues of the sea. And if Manwë is with her, Varda hears more clearly than all other ears the sound of voices that cry from east to west, from the dark places that Melkor has made upon Earth.
With the Valar are other spirits of the same order but of lesser degree: these are the Maiar, the People of the Valar. Mightiest among them is Eonwë, the Herald of Manwë the Windlord. Then there is Ilmarë who throws down her beams of light from the sky: how oft have I seen these from here, and how oft have I wondered what these shooting stars were, and now I know! She is chief of the Maiar maids, and handmaiden to Varda, the Starqueen. And there are Ossë, Master of the Waves and Uinen, Lady of the Calms, his spouse, who are the servants of Ulmo: they shall be our guides as we cross the sea to Valimar."
All of this and much more beside did the three ambassadors speak of, and the hearts of many among the Quendi were won over. They began to sing of the long journey they were to make to that fair land where peace and happiness awaited them.
Yet a great group remained silent throughout, and not until there was talk of dividing themselves into three hosts, the smallest to be the first to leave under the guidance of Ingwë, the next to be led by Fingwë, and the last and greatest host to be jointly led by Elwë and Olwë, that one of that number spoke up, and that one was Elmö.
"What of those who have disappeared from our midst?"
Ingwë shook his head sadly.
"I fear they may be lost for good. We can not tarry for tidings of them: the Valar await us, and Oromë himself shall be our guide."
"So we should just abandon them to whatever fate befell them? And what of Ilwë? Should we not wait for her return at least? She promised she would."
"Yet she did not." said Elwë, and looked upon him pityingly, for he knew well how his brother had kept hope for her return when all others had given up, "She must be lost also."
"Wrong on both counts!" came a voice from the midst of the silent group, and a figure came forward, wrapped in a hooded cloak.
"I am here, and still very much alive." And the figure threw back the hood: and it was Ilwë.
A great cry of dismay came up, for her fair face was disfigured as if a great claw had torn the flesh, and the long dark tresses that had shimmered so fair with the niphredil in them like stars were burnt. Yet she held her cropped and scarred head high with pride, and her eyes shone dark and forbidding.
But Elmö saw none of this, only that she had returned, and sprang forward with a cry of happiness: "I knew you would keep your promise! I awaited you."
The joy that shone on Ilwe's face at these words made her more beautiful than the fairest of Elfmaids, and her eyes turned soft and tender. In a gentle whisper she spoke to Elmö: "Your faith has been greater than mine, for I myself despaired…and I thank you for it. I need your friendship now more than ever, Elmö, are you with me?"
"Always." he promised, "Yours scars will heal, though they matter not to me; and I will defy anyone who dares think less of you for them, or look upon you with pity, for you have no need of that, my brave fair Ilwë."
She pressed his hands tightly in hers, and in a sad and broken voice whispered: " Some scars can never heal…but now I find them not so hard to bear."
Then she looked at Ingwë and Elwë, and her face became stern again.
"Are you going to answer his question?"
"What would you have me say? " asked Elwë, "We do not even know what has befallen our lost kin…unless you found out."
"I did indeed." answered Ilwë, and her voice became cold, "That was the purpose of my going. Far to the North
I travelled, and deep into the Earth, into the fortress that was Utumno I went. I say 'was', for it is no more. The Valar laid siege to it and destroyed it all but completely."
The Elves shouted for joy at this news: they had been much afeared of the threat from the North, and they were happy to be free of it forever, or so they thought. Yet Ilwë held up a hand to bid for silence.
"Oh yes, I heard the blast of the trumpet of Eonwë, whose strength in battle rivals that of the Valar, and a terror overcame all the foes, for in the wake of its sound came the host of the Valar. And I saw how the gates of Utumno were broken and the halls unroofed, and when Melkor took refuge in the uttermost pit, a mighty Vala came forth: his hair and beard were golden, his flesh ruddy, and his weapons were his hands, and he laughed as he wrestled with the dark One, until he cast him upon his face, and laughing still he bound him with a great chain."
Now all the Elves cheered and sang and danced and were greatly relieved, and they praised the Valar for their prowess. Then Ilwë held up both hands for silence:" Nonetheless they did not discover all the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with deceit far beneath the fortress of Utumno, and the stronghold of Angband that is in the Northwest. Many evil things still linger there, and others were dispersed and fled into the dark, and roam now in the waste places of the world, awaiting a more evil hour. All of this I have seen and witnessed: and when the battle was ended and from the ruin of the North great clouds arose hiding the stars themselves, theValar drew Melkor back to their own land, bound hand and foot and blindfold, to be brought to the Ring of Doom and be judged, no doubt."
She fell silent.
There was a talk and a tumult among the Elves after this tale, and many shouted that there was no reason to leave their home, now that the Enemy was overcome, but others cried that Ilwë had testified to there being Evil still, and that they should leave at once, and of these Ingwë was the chief, though not out of fear, but of a burning desire to return to Valinor.
Yet there still remained that great sad and silent group awaiting word of their lost loved ones. At the last, Elmö voiced their fears: " Amid all that strife and ruin, did you not find trace of our lost kin?"
Ilwë remained silent for a long time, and upon her maimed face there was a look of sorrow that betrayed her inner debate. Finally she spoke: "They no longer with us."
And then they cried out in stricken grief, and all of those that lost a friend, a relative, a loved one, cut and tore and shorn their hair short as Ilwë's in sign of mourning, and joined their voices in lament.
Many of these were swayed now, for Ingwë spoke: "Most grievous are these tidings. My heart is heavy at the thought that such evil could come to pass. Let us now make haste to Valinor, were all hurts will be healed, and our hearts made glad again, and we shall suffer no more."
The three ambassadors and Olwë immediately began preparations for their departure. And when the first group was ready, Oromë came to ride at their head upon Nahar, his white horse shod with gold; and passing northward about the Sea of Helcar they turned towards the West. Long and slow was the march of the Eldar, as they now called themselves, into the west, for the leagues of Middle Earth were uncounted, and weary and pathless. Not a few grew afraid and repented, and turned back; nor did the Eldar desire to hasten, for they were filled with wonder at all that they saw, and by the many lands and rivers they wished to abide; and although willing, many feared rather their journey's end than hoped for it. Therefore whenever Oromë departed, having at times other matters to heed, they halted and went forward no more, until he returned to guide them. Of the three hosts, only the Vanyar, that were led by Ingwë who was thereafter High King of all the Elves, and the Noldor led by Finwë, reached the land of the Valar, but of the Teleri host led by Elwë and Olwë many turned aside, and in the end even Elwë himself tarried, and never came to Valinor.
But the Avari, that is the Unwilling, remained by the waters of Cuiviénen till the last of their kin had left, and when the hindmost of Olwe's host disappeared from even the sharpest Elven view, Ilwë turned to Elmö and said softly:
"Now you must decide, for you can still join them. I no longer have a brother, yet you have two, whom you love most dearly."
He drew her close: "Your sorrows are my sorrows, you know that. Let me share them and carry part of the burden with you. Tell me of your brother."
"You would not wish to know."
"Was it so terrible then? Why did not tell the others? You are not alone to have lost someone dear…they might have stayed."
"If they were capable of leaving not knowing, they would be even more capable, knowing. For me, I cannot leave. Iluvé is still here: the land remembers him yet, when so many of his so-called friends have forgotten…forgive me, Elmö, your brothers are among them. Had they but listened, they would have heard his voice in the reeds and the soft lapping of the water upon the shore…as I do…and then I remember him as he was at the end…" Her voice broke.
"Ilwë, you must speak, for your own sake as well as for those who suffer as you do. They have the right to know. Only then can they be free of the past and with a clear mind and conscience decide to go to Valinor."
At the mention of that land, Ilwë's face became hard and her voice bitter.
"I would not go there were my brother here beside me, alive and well!! I heard nothing in Ingwë's, Finwë's and Elwë's tales that could induce me to come, just something about 'servants' and 'handmaidens'."
She gave a short laugh.
"Something for Ingwë, surely: he was all but panting and salivating to become their pet. But perhaps you are right; perhaps I should have told of the atrocities the Valar allowed to happen. Although they could have figured that out for themselves: you heard as well as I did: 'Manwë sees further than all other eyes, and Varda hears the sound of voices that cry from the dark places Melkor has made.' So they have seen, yet not paid attention, and they have heard, just not listened, when our kin were being tortured and twisted and corrupted into the soulless warrior-slaves of Utumno…did I say they were dead? There are those who live still their unhappy lives: those that were not slain by the oh so mighty Valar. Yes, they came in the end, but not to heal, they can create a world but undo the harm of Melkor apparently was beyond them. I saw my own brother Iluvé crawl from the pit with bloodlust in his eyes that before were only filled with merriment and love. I begged the Valar - yes! You hear aright, I, Ilwë, was not too proud to beg, for my brother's life. Our kin might have been changed to monsters, but they were still our kin: yet to the Valar killing the victims of a great wrong was the best, or the simplest way to solve the problem. But I would not let them lay a hand on Iluvé!"
She touched her face were the scar was now faint yet still visible. " It was he who gave me this. Just before I drove my knife into his heart. I keep telling myself that that is what he would have wanted most."
And she wept long and bitter tears of grief that finally would come, and he wept with her.
And when all their tears were spent, Elmö came to a decision.
"I will join my brothers. I must. I would have them know the truth, that their eyes may be opened to the nature of the Valar. Although I do not believe that they are evil; rather that, as Masters of the Earth, they do not understand the true meaning of Freedom and Independence."
She smiled at him.
"Something we do, you and I, as Free Spirits. In Utumno I saw slavery. I fear that in Valimar I would see the other side of the same leaf: slavery disguised by beauty and comfort. Not for me! I fear too that Ingwë, Finwë and your brothers have also had a sweet taste of Mastery. I'm sure they will want servants and handmaidens before long. Leadership is good when it is necessary, as it will be on their long and dangerous journey, but I doubt they will relinquish it, even in the safety of Valinor. Ah, Elmö, what will our people become?"
He wanted to speak, to reassure her, to promise that he would do his uttermost to win the hearts and minds and souls of their people back, but she laid her finger on his lips.
"No words. No oaths. You are a Free Spirit. You may not be able to do what you will, but you will do what you can. It is enough. Go. Go now, go swift. I have faith in you, as you had in me. Farewell!"
And thus Elmö went, without looking back, and indeed he succeeded in swaying part of his brother's following; and in this he was greatly aided by the sight they had of the great river and the tall mountains that formed the border to the westlands of Middle Earth; and these were so fearsome and forbidding that some turned back; and among those that did cross the river one arose that was called Lenwë, and he led away a numerous people, southwards down the river were forever they dwelled besides falls and running streams.
Elmö himself went over the mountains and stayed with his brothers for a long time in the land that afterwards was known as East Beleriand, beyond the river Gelion, were the Teleri rested, while Finwë with his Noldor lived more westward. Elwë often would seek out his friend Finwë, and from one such occasion he did not return, and though his folk sought him long and hard they found him not. At length Olwë took the Kingship of the Teleri and departed: and in this Elmö tried in vain to stop him. Angry words were spoken between the two brothers then: and thereafter the friends of Elwë, who choose with Elmö to stay, called themselves the Eglath, the Forsaken People, vowing to await Elwë's return.
Elmö mourned the absence of two brothers then, and long did his grief last, and he would not be comforted, till an Elfmaid from among the Eglath came to dwell by his side; and she dried his tears and loved him, and he came to love her in return, and took her to wife.
Many years passed as measured by the wheeling stars above, when from the forests at last Elwë came forth, and in his hand was the hand of Melian the Maia, in whose face shone the light of Valinor, and nightingales went always with her. From then on he was called Thingol, and his people Sindar, and together they founded the peaceful Kingdom of Doriath, that was protected by the spells of Melian.
When Elmö saw that his brother was quite content to remain in Middle Earth and had no more thought of taking his people West, he made his farewells, for he had resolved to journey overseas to urge the Vanyar and the Noldor to return. Naught is known of him since, for he is not mentioned in any further tale, but some say that he was close to Fëanor son of Finwë, and instrumental in his Revolt against the Valar and the Return of the Noldor.
It is believed that he met his death in the Kinslaying in the havens of Alqualondë, where the Noldor seized the ships of the Teleri; and he had desperately tried to separate the warring factions, for it was ever his hope to reunite his people. Yet his children had remained in Doriath, and lived there for many an age: then Evil befell that happy land as is told elsewhere* and Elwë was slain for his treasure by the Dwarves, and in her grief Melian forsook the Elves who, unprotected, were set upon by the enemy, and Doriath was ruined.
In that great battle many perished, among them many of the House of Elmö, save his son Oropher,and Celeborn, his daughter's son, and Nimloth, whose father was Celeborn's younger brother Galathil. Together they gathered the scattered people of Doriath, and led them for awhile, until Dior, Thingol's heir through his daughter Luthien came to take up the Kingship. Then Oropher, being a Free Spirit like his father, took all of the people of Doriath who were of like mind with him Eastwards, where they met and joined with a group of Avari Elves, and together they dwelled under the eaves of a great wood. And though they called him King, their ways were never like those of the Vanyar and the Noldor, nor even of their own kin, the Sindar of Doriath. These in time would pass over the mountains too, led by Celeborn and his wife the Noldorin Queen Galadriel, to found the Kingdom of Lothlorien, yet there never was much friendship between these two people, and indeed Oropher would take his people Northwards, away from their influence.
During all those ages Ilwë and the Avari roamed Middle Earth as a Free People, and not until a chance meeting in a forest altered her purpose did she have dealings with the Eldar.
* In 'The Silmarillion'