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e of Gondolin as
they could gather in the confusion of the burning down the secret way which Idril had prepared； and of that passage the
captains of Angband knew nothing； and thought not that any fugitives would take a path towards the north and the
highest parts of the mountains and the nighest to Angband。 The fume of the burning； and the steam of the fair fountains
of Gondolin withering in the flame of the dragons of the north； fell upon the vale of Tumladen in mournful mists； and
thus was the escape of Tuor and his pany aided； for there was still a long and open road to follow from the tunnel's
mouth to the foothills of the mountains。 Nonetheless they came thither； and beyond hope they climbed； in woe and
misery； for the high places were cold and terrible； and they had among them many that were wounded； and women and
children。
There was a dreadful pass； Cirith Thoronath it was named； the Eagles' Cleft； where beneath the shadow of the
highest peaks a narrow path wound its way； on the right hand it was walled by a precipice； and on the left a dreadful fall
leapt into emptiness。 Along that narrow way their march was strung； when they were ambushed by Orcs； for Morgoth
had set watchers all about the encircling hills； and a Balrog was with them。 Then dreadful was their plight； and hardly
would they have been saved by the valour of yellow…haired Glorfindel； chief of the House of the Golden Flower of
Gondolin； had not Thorondor e timely to their aid。
Many are the songs that have been sung of the duel of Glorfindel with the Balrog upon a pinnacle of rock in that
high place； and both fell to ruin in the abyss。 But the eagles ing stooped upon the Orcs； and drove them shrieking
back； and all were slain or cast into the deeps； so that rumour of the escape from Gondolin came not until long after to
Morgoth's ears。 Then Thorondor bore up Glorfindel's body out of the abyss； and they buried him in a mound of stones
beside the pass； and a green turf came there； and yellow flowers bloomed upon it amid the barrenness of stone； until the
world was changed。
Thus led by Tuor son of Huor the remnant of Gondolin passed over the mountains； and came down into the Vale
of Sirion； and fleeing southward by weary and dangerous marches they came at length to Nan…tathren； the Land of
Willows； for the power of Ulmo yet ran in the great river； and it was about them。 There they rested a while； and were
healed of their hurts and weariness； but their sorrow could not be healed。 And they made a feast in memory of Gondolin
and of the Elves that had perished there； the maidens； and the wives； and the warriors of the King； and for Glorfindel the
beloved many were the songs they sang； under the willows of Nan…tathren in the waning of the year。 There Tuor made a
song for E？rendil his son； concerning the ing of Ulmo the Lord of Waters to the shores of Nevrast aforetime； and the
sea…longing woke in his heart； and in his son's also。 Therefore Idril and Tuor departed from Nan…tathren； and went
southwards down the river to the sea； and they dwelt there by the mouths of Sirion； and joined their people to the
pany of Elwing Dior's daughter； that had fled thither but a little while before。 And when the tidings came to Balar of
the fall of Gondolin and the death of Turgon； Ereinion Gil…galad son of Fingon was named High King of the Noldor in
Middle…earth。
But Morgoth thought that his triumph was fulfilled； recking little of the sons of F？anor； and of their oath； which
had harmed him never and turned always to his mightiest aid； and in his black thought he laughed； regretting not the one
Silmaril that he had lost； for by it as he deemed the last shred of the people of the Eldar should vanish from Middle…earth
and trouble it no more。 If he knew of the dwelling by the waters of Sirion； he gave no sign； biding his time； and waiting
upon the working of oath and lie。 Yet by Sirion and the sea there grew up an Elven…folk； the gleanings of Doriath and
Gondolin； and from Balar the mariners of Círdan came among them； and they took to the waves and the building of
ships； dwelling ever nigh to the coasts of Arvernien； under the shadow of Ulmo's hand。
And it is said that in that time Ulmo came to Valinor out of the deep waters； and spoke there to the Valar of the
need of the Elves； and he called on them to forgive them； and rescue them from the overmastering might of Morgoth；
and win back the Silmarils； wherein alone now bloomed the light of the Days of Bliss when the Two Trees still shone in
Valinor。 But Manw？ moved not； and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell？
The wise have said that the hour was not yet e； and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both
Elves and Men； pleading for pardon on their misdeeds and pity on their woes； might move the counsels of the Powers；
and the oath of F？anor perhaps even Manw？ could not loose； until it found its end； and the sons of F？anor relinquished
the 。Silmarils； upon which they had laid their ruthless claim。 For the light which lit the Silmarils the Valar themselves
had made。
In those days Tuor felt old age creep upon him； and ever a longing for the deeps of the Sea grew stronger in his
heart。 Therefore he built a great ship； and he named it E？rrám？； which is Sea…Wing； and with Idril Celebrindal he set sail
into the sunset and the West； and came no more into any tale or song。 But in after days it was sung that Tuor alone of
mortal Men was numbered among the elder race； and was joined with the Noldor； whom he loved； and his fate is
sundered from the fate of Men。
Chapter 24
Of the Voyage of E？rendil and
the War of Wrath
Bright E？rendil was then lord of the people that dwelt nigh to Sirion's mouths； and he took to wife Elwing the fair； and
she bore to him Elrond and Elros； who are called the Half…elven。 Yet E？rendil could not rest； and his voyages about the
shores of the Hither Lands eased not his unquiet。 Two purposes grew in his heart； blended as one in longing for the wide
Sea： he sought to sail thereon； seeking after Tuor and Idril who returned not； and he thought to find perhaps the last
shore； and bring ere he died the message of Elves and Men to the Valar in the West； that should move their hearts to pity
for the sorrows of Middle…earth。
Now E？rendil became fast in friendship with Círdan the Shipwright； who dwelt on the Isle of Balar with those of
his people who escaped from the sack of the Havens of Brithombar and Eglarest。 With the aid of Círdan E？rendil built
Vingilot； the Foam…flower； fairest of the ships of song； golden were its oars and white its timbers； hewn in the
birchwoods of Nimbrethil； and its sails were as the argent moon。 In the Lay of E？rendil is many a thing sung of his
adventures in the deep and in lands untrodden； and in many seas and in many isles； but Elwing was not with him； and
she sat in sorrow by the mouths of Sirion。
E？rendil found not Tuor nor Idril； nor came he ever on that journey to the shores of Valinor； defeated by shadows
and enchantment； driven by repelling winds； until in longing for Elwing he turned homeward towards the coast of
Beleriand。 And his heart bade him haste； for a sudden fear had fallen on him out of dreams； and the winds that before he
had striven with might not now bear him back as swift as his desire。
Now when first the tidings came to Maedhros that Elwing yet lived； and dwelt in possession of the Silmaril by the
mouths of Sirion； he repenting of the deeds in Doriath withheld his hand。 But in time the knowledge of their oath
unfulfilled returned to torment him and his brothers； and gathering from their wandering hunting…paths they sent
messages to the Havens of friendship and yet of stern demand。 Then Elwing and the people of Sirion would not yield the
jewel which Beren had won and Lúthien had worn； and for which Dior the fair was slain； and least of all while E？rendil
their lord was on the sea； for it seemed to them that in the Silmaril lay the healing and the blessing that had e upon
their houses and their ships。 And so there came to pass the