for their great sorrows； and mercy upon Men and Elves and succour in their need。 And his prayer was granted。
It is told among the Elves that after E？rendil had departed； seeking Elwing his wife； Mandos spoke concerning
his fate； and he said： 'Shall mortal Man step living upon the undying lands； and yet live？' But Ulmo said： 'For this he was
born into the world。 And say unto me： whether is he E？rendil Tuor's son of the line of Hador； or the son of Idril； Turgon's
daughter； of the Elven…house of Finw？？' And Mandos answered： 'Equally the Noldor； who went wilfully into exile； may
not return hither。'
But when all was spoken； Manw？ gave judgement； and he said： 'In this matter the power of doom is given to me。
The peril that he ventured for love of the Two Kindreds shall not fall upon E？rendil； nor shall it fall upon Elwing his
wife； who entered into peril for love of him； but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands。
And this is my decree concerning them： to E？rendil and to Elwing； and to their sons； shall be given leave each to choose
freely to which kindred their fates shall be joined； and under which kindred they shall be judged。'
Now when E？rendil was long time gone Elwing became lonely and afraid； and wandering by the margin of the
sea she came near to Alqualond？； where lay the Telerin fleets。 There the Teleri befriended her； and they listened to her
tales of Doriath and Gondolin and the griefs of Beleriand； and they were filled with pity and wonder； and there E？rendil
returning found her； at the Haven of the Swans。 But ere long they were summoned to Valimar； and there the decree of
the Elder King was declared to them。
Then E？rendil said to Elwing： 'Choose thou； for now I am weary of the world。' And Elwing chose to be judged
among the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar； because of Lúthien； and for her sake E？rendil chose alike； though his heart was
rather with the kindred of Men and the people of his father。 Then at the bidding of the Valar E？nw？ went to the shore of
Aman； where the panions of E？rendil still remained； awaiting tidings； and he took a boat； and the three mariners
were set therein； and the Valar drove them away into the East with a great wind。 But they took Vingilot； and hallowed it；
and bore it away through Valinor to the uttermost rim of the world； and there it passed through the Door of Night and
was lifted up even into the oceans of heaven。
Now fair and marvellous was that vessel made； and it was filled with a wavering flame； pure and bright； and
E？rendil the Mariner sat at the helm； glistening with dust of elven…gems； and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow。 Far
he journeyed in that ship； even into the starless voids； but most often was he seen at morning or at evening； glimmering
in sunrise or sunset； as he came back to Valinor from voyages beyond the confines of the world。
On those journeys Elwing did not go； for she might not endure the cold and the pathless voids； and she loved
rather the earth and the sweet winds that blow on sea and hill。 Therefore there was built for her a white tower northward
upon the borders of the Sundering Seas； and thither at times all the sea…birds of the earth repaired。 And it is said that
Elwing learned the tongues of birds； who herself had once worn their shape； and they taught her the craft of flight； and
her wings were of white and silver…grey。 And at times； when E？rendil returning drew near again to Arda； she would fly to
meet him； even as she had flown long ago； when she was rescued from the sea。 Then the far…sighted among the Elves
that dwelt in the Lonely Isle would see her like a white bird； shining； rose…stained in the sunset； as she soared in joy to
greet the ing of Vingilot to haven。
Now when first Vingilot was set to sail in the seas of heaven； it rose unlocked for； glittering and bright； and the
people of Middle…earth beheld it from afar and wondered； and they took it for a sign； and called it Gil…Estel； the Star of
High Hope。 And when this new star was seen at evening； Maedhros spoke to Maglor his brother； and he said： 'Surely that
is a Silmaril that shines now in the West？'
And Maglor answered： 'If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of
the Valar； then let us be glad； for its glory is seen now by many； and is yet secure from all evil。' Then the Elves looked
up； and despaired no longer； but Morgoth was filled with doubt。
Yet it is said that Morgoth looked not for the assault that came upon him from the West； for so great was his pride
bee that he deemed that none would ever again e with open war against him。 Moreover he thought that he had
for ever estranged the Noldor from the Lords of the West； and that content in their blissful realm the Valar would heed
no more his kingdom in the world without； for to him that is pitiless the deeds of pity are ever strange and beyond
reckoning。 But the host of the Valar prepared for battle； and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar； the people
of Ingw？； and those also of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor； whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finw？。
Few of the Teleri were willing to go forth to war； for they remembered the slaying at the Swan…haven； and the rape of
their ships； but they hearkened to Elwing； who was the daughter of Dior Eluchíl and e of their own kindred； and they
sent mariners enough to sail the ships that bore the host of Valinor east over the sea。 Yet they stayed aboard their vessels；
and none of them set foot upon the Hither Lands。
Of the march of the host of the Valar to the north of Middle…earth little is said in any tale； for among them went
none of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in the Hither Lands； and who made the histories of those days that still
are known； and tidings of these things they only learned long afterwards from their kinsfolk in Aman。 But at the last the
might of Valinor came up out of the West； and the challenge of the trumpets of E？nw？ filled the sky； and Beleriand was
ablaze with the glory of their arms； for the host of the Valar were arrayed in forms young and fair and terrible； and the
mountains rang beneath their feet。
The meeting of the hosts of the West and of the North is named the Great Battle； and the War of Wrath。 There
was marshalled the whole power of the Throne of Morgoth； and it had bee great beyond count； so that Anfauglith
could not contain it； and all the North was aflame with war。
But it availed him not。 The Balrogs were destroyed； save some few that fled and hid themselves in caverns
inaccessible at the roots of the earth； and the uncounted legions of the Ores perished like straw in a great fire； or were
swept like shrivelled leaves before a burning wind。 Few remained to trouble the world for long years after。 And such few
as were left of the three houses of the Elf…friends； Fathers of Men； fought upon the part of the Valar； and they were
avenged in those days for Baragund and Barahir； Galdor and Gundor； Huor and Húrin； and many others of their lords。
But a great part of the sons of