Annals
The Earliest Annals of Valinor
(adapted according to personal understanding of the Silmarillion)
0
At the beginning Ilúvatar, that is 'Allfather', made all things, and the Valar,
that is the 'Powers', came into the world. These are nine, Melkor, Manwë,
Ulmo, Aulë, Oromë, Mandos (or Námo), Lórien (or Irmo), and Tulkas. Of
these Manwë and Melkor were most puissant and were brethren, and Manwë was
lord of the Valar and holy; but Melkor turned to lust and pride and violence and
evil, and his name is accursed, and is not uttered, but he is called Morgoth.
The spouses of the Valar were Varda, and Yavanna, who were sisters; and Vána,
their younger sister; and Vairë; and Estë; and the sister of Oromë, Nessa the
wife of Tulkas. No spouse hath Ulmo
or Nienna, sister of Mandos and Lórien, or Melkor. With them came many
lesser spirits, their children, or beings of their own kind but of less might;
these are the Valarindi.
(The Silmarillion calls the lesser spirits the Maiar.)
Time was counted in the world before the Sun and Moon by the Valar according to
ages, and a Valian age hath 100 of the years of the Valar, which are each as ten
years are now.
In the Valian Year 500: Morgoth destroyed the Lamps which Aulë
made for the lighting of the World, and the Valar, save Morgoth, retired to the
West and built there Valinor between the Outer Seas that surround the Earth and
the Great Seas of the West, and on the shores of these they piled great
mountains. But the symmetry of land and sea was first broken in those
days.
In the Valian Year 1000, after the building of Valinor, and Valmar the
city of the Gods, the Valar brought into being the Two Trees of Silver and of
Gold, whose bloom gave light unto Valinor.
And the first hour of Telperion’s bloom, they named the Opening Hour
and counted from it the ages of their reign in Valinor. Thus began the Count of Time.
But all this while Morgoth had dwelt in the Middle-earth and made him a great
fortress in the North of the World; and he broke and twisted the Earth much in
that time.
A thousand Valian Years of bliss and glory followed in Valinor, but growth that
began on Middle-earth at the lighting of the Lamps was checked. To
Middle-earth came only Oromë to hunt in the dark woods of the ancient Earth,
and sometimes Yavanna walked there.
But on a time (1900) Varda began to make the stars and set them aloft,
and thereafter some of the Valarindi (or Maiar) strayed into the Middle-earth,
and among them was Melian, whose voice was renowned in Valmar. But she
returned not thither for many ages, and the nightingales sang about her in the
dark woods of the Western Lands.
The Valian Year 2000 is accounted
the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, and the full season of the mirth of the
Gods. At the first shining of the Sickle of the Gods (1950) which
Varda set last and above the North as a threat to Morgoth and an omen of his
fall, the elder children of Ilúvatar awoke in the midmost of the World:
they are the Elves. Oromë found them and befriended them; and the most
part under his guidance marched West and North to the shores of Beleriand, being
bidden by the Gods to Valinor.
But first, Morgoth in a great war was bound and made captive and imprisoned in
Mandos (beginning in 2000). There he was confined in punishment for
nine ages (900 Valian Years) until he sought for pardon. In that war the
lands were rent and sundered anew. (The
Silmarillion says three ages; The Shaping of Middle-earth says
nine; I have left it nine to be accurate with the rest of the dates.)
The Vanyar and the Noldor were the first to reach Valinor, and upon the hill of
Túna nigh to the strand they built the city of Tirion. But the Teleri who
came after abode an age (100 Valian Years) upon the shores of Beleriand, and
some never departed thence. Of these most renowned was Thingol, who was
called Elwe, lord of the Teleri, who Melian enchanted. Her he after wedded
and dwelt as a king in Beleriand, but this was after the departure of most of
the Teleri, drawn by Ulmo upon Tol Eressëa. This is the Valian Years 2100
to 2200.
From 2200 to 2300 the Teleri dwelt on Tol Eressëa in the Great
Sea within sight of Valinor; in 2300 they came in their ships to Valinor,
and dwelt upon its eastern strands, and there they made the town and haven of
Alqualondë or 'Swan-haven', so called because there were moored their
swan-shaped boats.
About 2500 the Noldor invented and began the fashioning of gems; and
after a while Fëanor the smith, eldest son of Finwë chief of the Noldor,
devised the thrice-renowned Silmarils, concerning the fates of which these tales
tell. They shone of their own light, being filled with the radiance of the
Two Trees, the holy light of Valinor, blended to a marvellous fire.
In 2900 Morgoth sued for pardon, and at the prayers of Nienna, and by
the clemency of Manwe his brother, but against the wish of some, he was
released, and feigned humility and repentance, obeisance to the Valar, and love
and friendship for the Elves, and dwelt in Valinor in ever-increasing
freedom. But he lied and dissembled, and most he cozened the Noldor, for
he had much to teach, and they had an over-mastering desire to learn; but he
coveted their gems and lusted for the Silmarils.
2900
Valinor abode yet in bliss, yet a shadow of foreboding began to gather in
many hearts; for Morgoth was at work with secret whisperings and cunning lies;
and most he worked, alas, upon the Noldor, and sowed the seeds of dissension
between the sons of Finwë - Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin, and of distrust
between the Noldor and Valar.
2950
By the doom of the Gods Fëanor, eldest son of Finwë, and his household
and following was deposed from the leadership of the Noldor – wherefore the
house of Fëanor was after called the Dispossessed, for this and because Morgoth
after robbed them of their treasure – and the Gods sent also to apprehend
Morgoth.
But he fled into hiding in Avathar, and plotted evil.
2990-1
Morgoth now completed his designs and with the aid of Ungoliant out of
Avathar stole back into Valinor, and destroyed the Trees, escaping in the
gathering dark northward, where he sacked the dwellings of Fëanor, and carried
off a host of jewels, among them the Silmarils; and he slew Finwë and thus
defiled Valinor and began slaughter in the World.
Though hunted by the Valar he escaped into the North of the Hither Lands
and re-established there his stronghold, and bred and gathered once more his
evil servants, Orcs and Balrogs.
2991
Valinor lay now in great gloom, and darkness, save only for the stars,
fell on all the World. But Fëanor
against the will of the Valar returned to Tirion upon Túna and claimed the
kingship of the Noldor after Finwë, and he summoned to Tirion all the people of
that kindred.
And Fëanor spoke to them, and his words were filled with the lies of
Morgoth, and distrust of the Valar, even though his heart was hot with hate for
Morgoth, slayer of his father and robber of his gems.
The most of the Noldor he persuaded to
follow him out of Valinor and recover their realms on earth, lest they be
filched by the younger children of Ilúvatar, Men (herein he echoed Morgoth
unwitting); and war for ever on Morgoth seeking to recover their treasure.
At that meeting Fëanor and his sons swore their dreadful oath to slay or
pursue any soever that held a Silmaril against their will.
2992
The march began, though the Gods forbade (and yet hindered not), but
under divided leadership, for Fingolfin’s house held him for king.
Long was that people preparing. Then
it came into Fëanor’s heart that never should that great host, both warriors
and other, and store of goods make the vast leagues unto the North (for Tirion
beneath Taniquetil is upon the Girdle of the Earth, where the Great Sea is
measurelessly wide) save with the help of ships. But
the Teleri alone had ships, and they would not yield or lend them against the
will of the Valar.
Thus about 2992 of the Valian Years
befell the dreadful battle of Alqualondë, and the evil Kin-slaying renowned in
song, where the Noldor distraught furthered Morgoth’s work.
But the Noldor overcame the Teleri and took their ships, and fared slowly
north along the rocky coasts in great peril and hardship and amid dissensions.
In 2993 they came to a place where a
high rock stands above the shores, and there stood either Mandos or his
messenger and spoke the Doom of Mandos. For
the kin-slaying he cursed the house of Fëanor, and to a less degree all who
followed them or shared in their emprise, unless they would return to abide the
doom and pardon of the Valar.
But if they would not, then should evil fortune and disaster befall them,
and ever from treachery of kin towards kin; and their oath should turn against
them; and a measure of mortality should visit them, that they should be lightly
slain with weapons, or torments, or sorrow, and in the end fade and wane before
the younger race. And much else he
foretold darkly that after befell, warning them that the Valar would fence
Valinor against their return.
But Fëanor hardened his heart and held on,
and so also but reluctantly did Fingolfin’s folk, feeling the constraint of
their kindred and fearing for the doom of the Gods (for not all of Fingolfin’s
folk had been guiltless of the kin-slaying).
The sons of Finarfin went forward also, for they would not forsake the
sons of Fingolfin. Yet the lords of
this third house were less haughty and more fair than the others, and had no
part in the kin-slaying, and many with Finarfin himself returned unto Valinor
and the pardon of the Gods.
2994
The Noldor came to the bitter North, and further they would not dare, for
there is a strait between the Western Land (whereon Valinor is built) that
curveth east, and the Hither Lands which bear west, and through this the chill
waters of the Outer Seas and the waves of the Great Sea flow together, and there
are vast mists of deathly cold, and the streams are filled with clashing hills
of ice and with the grinding of ice submerged.
This strait was named Helcaraxë.
But the ships that remained, many having
been lost, were too few to carry all across, and dissensions awoke between
Fëanor and Fingolfin. But Fëanor
seized the ships and sailed east; and he said:
‘Let the murmurers whine their way back to the shadows of Valinor.’ And he burned the ships upon the eastern shore, and so great
was its fire that the Noldor left behind saw its redness afar off.
Thus about 2995 Fëanor came unto
Beleriand and the shores beneath Ered Lómin the Echoing Mountains, and their
landing was at the narrow inlet Drengist that runs into Dor-lómin. And
they came thence into Dor-lómin and about the north of the mountains of Mithrim,
and camped in the land of Hithlum in that part that is named Mithrim and north
of the great lake that hath the same name.
2996
And in the land of Mithrim they fought an army of Morgoth aroused by the
burning and the rumour of their advance; and they were victorious and drove away
the Orcs with slaughter, and pursued them beyond Ered Wethrin (the Shadowy
Mountains) into Ard-galen. And that
battle is the Second Battle of Beleriand (the first was between the Sindar and
the Orcs), and is called Dagor-nuin-Giliath, the Battle under Stars; for all was
as yet dark. But the victory was
marred by the death of Fëanor, who was wounded mortally by Gothmog, lord of
Balrogs, when he advanced unwarily too far upon Ard-galen; and Fëanor was borne
back towards Mithrim and died on the way, reminding his sons of their oath.
To this they now added an oath of vengeance for their father.
2997
But Maedhros eldest son of Fëanor was caught in the snares of Morgoth. For
Morgoth feigned to treat with him, and Maedhros feigned to be willing, and
either purposed evil to the other, and came with force to the parley; but
Morgoth with the more, and Maedhros was made captive.
Then Morgoth held him as hostage, and swore
only to release him if the Noldor would march away either to Valinor, if they
could, or from Beleriand and away to the far South; and if they would not he
would torment Maedhros.
But the Noldor trusted
not that he would release Maedhros if they departed, nor were they willing to do
so whatever he might do. Wherefore
in 2998 Morgoth hung Maedhros by the right wrist in a band of
hellwrought steel above a precipice upon Thangorodrim, where none could reach
him.
Now it is told that Fingolfin and the sons
of Finarfin won their way at last with grievous losses and with minished might
into the North of the World.
And they came perforce over the Helcaraxë, being unwilling to retrace
their way to Valinor, and having no ships; but their agony in that crossing was
very great and their hearts were filled with bitterness against Fëanor.
And even as they came the First Ages of the
World were ended; and these are reckoned as 30000 years or 3000 years of
the Valar; whereof the first Thousand was before the Trees, and Two Thousand
save nine were Years of the Trees or of the Holy Light, which lived after and
lives yet only in the Silmarils. And
the Nine are the Years of Darkness or the Darkening of Valinor.
But towards the end of this time as is
elsewhere told the Gods made the Sun and Moon and sent them forth over the
World, and light came unto the Hither Lands. And
Men awoke in the East of the World even at the first Dawn.
But with the first Moonrise Fingolfin set
foot upon the North; for the Moonrise came ere the Dawn, even as Telperion of
old bloomed ere Laurelin and was the elder of the Trees. But
the first Dawn shone upon Fingolfin’s march, and his banners blue and silver
were unfurled, and flowers sprang beneath his marching feet, for a time of
opening and growth was come into the Earth, and good of evil as ever happens.
But Fingolfin marched
through the very fastness of Morgoth’s land, Dor Daedeloth the Land of Dread,
and the Orcs fled before the new light amazed, and hid beneath the earth; and
the Elves smote upon the gates of Angband and their trumpets echoed in
Thangorodrim’s towers.
Then being wary of the wiles of Morgoth they
turned unto Mithrim, that the Shadowy Mountains should be their guard.
But little love was there between them and the house of Fëanor; and the
folk of Fëanor removed and camped upon the southern shores, and the lake lay
between the peoples.
And from this time are reckoned the Years of the Sun, and these things
happened in the first year. And after came measured time into the World, and the growth
and change and ageing of all things was thereafter more swift even in Valinor,
but most in the Hither Lands of Middle-earth, the mortal regions between the
Seas of East and West. And what
else happened is recorded in the Annals of Beleriand, and in the Pennas
or Qenta, and in many songs and tales.
Morgoth flees from Valinor with the
Silmarils, the magic gems of Fëanor, and returns into the Northern World and
rebuilds his fortress of Angband beneath the Black Mountain, Thangorodrim. He
gathers the Balrogs and the Orcs. The Silmarils are set in Morgoth’s iron
crown.
The Noldor of the eldest house, the
Dispossessed, come into the North under Fëanor and his seven sons.
They burn the Telerian ships.
Second of the Battles with Morgoth (the
first was between the Sindar and the Orcs), the Battle under Stars. Fëanor
defeats the Orcs, but is mortally wounded by Gothmog captain of Balrogs, and
dies. Maedhros, his eldest son, is
ambushed and captured and hung on Thangorodrim. The sons of Fëanor camp about Lake Mithrim in the
North-west, behind the Shadowy Mountains.
Year
1
Here Sun and Moon, made by the Gods after the death of the Two Trees of
Valinor, appear. Thus measured time
came into the Hither Lands. Fingolfin
leads the second house of the Noldor over the straits of Grinding Ice into the
Hither Lands. With him came the
sons of Finarfin, and part of the third or youngest house. They march from the North as the Sun rises, and unfurl their
banners; and they come to Mithrim, but there is feud between them and the sons
of Fëanor.
Morgoth at coming of Light retreats into his deepest dungeons, but
smithies in secret, and sends forth black clouds.