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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 last and cruellest of the slayings of Elf by Elf； and that was
the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath。
For the sons of F？anor that yet lived came down suddenly upon the exiles of Gondolin and the remnant of
Doriath； and destroyed them。 In that battle some of their people stood aside； and some few rebelled and were slain upon
the other part aiding Elwing against their own lords （for such was the sorrow and confusion in the hearts of the Eldar in
those days）； but Maedhros and Maglor won the day； though they alone remained thereafter of the sons of F？anor； for
both Amrod and Amras were slain。 Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil…galad the High King came hasting to the aid of
the Elves of Sirion； and Elwing was gone； and her sons。 Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault
joined themselves to Gil…galad； and went with him to Balar； and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive； but
Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea。
Thus Maedhros and Maglor gained not the jewel； but it was not lost。 For Ulmo bore up Elwing out of the waves；
and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird； and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril； as she flew over
the water to seek E？rendil her beloved。 On a time of night E？rendil at the helm of his ship saw her e towards him； as
a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon； as a star over the sea moving in strange course； a pale flame on wings
of storm。 And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot； in a swoon； nigh unto death for the
urgency of her speed； and E？rendil took her to his bosom； but in the morning with marvelling eyes he beheld his wife in
her own form beside him with her hair upon his face； and she slept。
Great was the sorrow of E？rendil and Elwing for the ruin of the havens of Sirion； and the captivity of their sons；
and they feared that they would be slain； but it was not so。 For Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond； and he
cherished them； and love grew after between them； as little might be thought； but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with
the burden of the dreadful oath。
Yet E？rendil saw now no hope left in the lands of Middle…earth； and he turned again in despair and came not
home； but sought back once more to Valinor with Elwing at his side。 He stood now most often at the prow of Vingilot；
and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow； and ever its light grew greater as they drew into the West。 And the wise have
said that it was by reason of the power of that holy jewel that they came in time to waters that no vessels save those of
the Teleri had known； and they came to the Enchanted Isles and escaped their enchantment； and they came into the
Shadowy Seas and passed their shadows； and they looked upon Tol Eress？a the Lonely Isle； but tarried not； and at the
last they cast anchor in the Bay of Eldamar； and the Teleri saw the ing of that ship out of the East and they were
amazed； gazing from afar upon the light of the Silmaril； and it was very great。 Then E？rendil； first of living Men； landed
on the immortal shores； and he spoke there to Elwing and to those that were with him； and they were three mariners who
had sailed all the seas besides him： Falathar； Erellont； and Aerandir were their names。 And E？rendil said to them： 'Here
none but myself shall set foot； lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar。 But that peril I will take on myself alone； for the
sake of the Two Kindreds。'
But Elwing answered： 'Then would our paths be sundered for ever； but all thy perils I will take on myself also。'
And she leaped into the white foam and ran towards him； but E？rendil was sorrowful； for he feared the anger of the
Lords of the West upon any of Middle…earth that should dare to pass the leaguer of Aman。 And there they bade farewell
to the panions of their voyage； and were taken from them for ever。
Then E？rendil said to Elwing： 'Await me here； for one only may bring the message that it is my fate to bear。' And
he went up alone into the land； and came into the Calacirya； and it seemed to him empty and silent； for even as Morgoth
and Ungoliant came in ages past； so now E？rendil had e at a time of festival； and wellnigh all the Elvenfolk were
gone to Valimar； or were gathered in the halls of Manw？ upon Taniquetil； and few were left to keep watch upon the walls
of Tirion。
But some there were who saw him from afar； and the great light that he bore； and they went in haste to Valimar。
But E？rendil climbed the green hill of Túna and found it bare； and he entered into the streets of Tirion； and they were
empty； and his heart was heavy； for he feared that some evil had e even to the Blessed Realm。 He walked in the
deserted ways of Tirion； and the dust upon his raiment and his shoes was a dust of diamonds； and he shone and glistened
as he climbed the long white stairs。 And he called aloud in many tongues； both of Elves and Men； but there were none to
answer him。 Therefore he turned back at last towards the sea； but even as he took the shoreward road one stood upon the
hill and called to him in a great voice； crying：
'Hail E？rendil； of mariners most renowned； the looked for that eth at unawares； the longed for that eth
beyond hope！ Hail E？rendil； bearer of light before the Sun and Moon！ Splendour of the Children of Earth； star in the
darkness； jewel in the sunset； radiant in the morning！'
That voice was the voice of E？nw？； herald of Manw？； and he came from Valimar； and summoned E？rendil to
e before the Powers of Arda。 And E？rendil went into Valinor and to the halls of Valimar； and never again set foot
upon the lands of Men。 Then the Valar took counsel together； and they summoned Ulmo from the deeps of the sea； and
E？rendil stood before their faces； and delivered the errand of the Two Kindreds。 Pardon he asked for the Noldor and pity
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