Silmarillion Storybook

The Voyage of Earendil

E�rendil the Mariner Earendil stood before the Gods in Valinor. He had made the long journey from Middle-Earth, across the Great Sea, to the Undying Lands. All the Gods were there -- even Ulmo had come up from the sea -- to hear what this great mariner had to say, the only one of the Children of Iluvatar to cross the sea without the aid of the Gods.

"It is forbidden that any mortal man set foot in the Undying Lands," began Manwe. "It is equally forbidden that any of the Noldor return here after the kinslaying at Alqualonde, when Feanor first led the Noldor from Valinor. You have made the perilous journey across the Sea, and we wish to hear your errand; we will then decide your fate."

Earendil began his tale.

Ulmo, Lord of Waters "In all ours wars with Morgoth, we have only recovered one of the three Silmarils. Beren and Luthien won it from Morgoth, and I wear it upon my brow. Morgoth now rules all of Middle-Earth. He has destroyed the last strongholds at Gondolin and Nargothrond. Some of the race of Men, the Elf-friends, have joined the Elves in their wars; Morgoth has deceived and ensnared the rest of them with threats and false promises.

"My father was Tuor, a Man, one of the Elf-friends. Years ago, Ulmo placed in his heart a burning passion for the Sea. He left the lands of his fathers and journeyed west across Middle-Earth. Ulmo appeared to him at the Sea in a great wave and sent him to the hidden stronghold of Gondolin, bearing a message for King Turgon. Tuor traveled through secret paths; alone of mortals, he discovered the way to the Hidden City. Tuor found favor in the eyes of all the city, including the king's daughter Idril. Idril had come to Middle-Earth with her father across the Helcaraxe, but her mother died along the way. Idril desired to marry Tuor -- and he desired to marry her -- and Turgon granted it.

"Turgon believed he was safe from Morgoth, and Gondolin had peace for many years. I am Earendil, the son of Tuor and Idril, born during this time of peace; I am thus descended from both kindreds of the Children of Iluvatar. But Morgoth soon discovered the location of the city and unleashed a great assault of dragons, orcs, and Balrogs. My father led the defense of Gondolin; he fought bravely and rescued my mother and me, but he could not save the city. He led a small group of survivors through a secret passage that led through the hills that surrounded the city, and we escaped down the Great River to the Sea.

The Shores of Valinor "I grew up beside the sea, near the havens. Years later, Ulmo again placed in Tuor's heart a burning passion for the sea. My father and my mother set sail in their ship Eärrámë ('Sea-Wing') and have never returned. At the havens, I befriended Cirdan the Shipwright; he helped me build the ship Vingilot ('Foam-Rider'), made of the finest birchwood with golden oars and silver sails. I crossed the Great Sea in this fair ship and landed along the shores of Valinor; there Vingilot waits for me. I walked to Tirion, the old city of the Noldor whence Feanor set out, but found it empty. I have come here, to the halls of the Gods.

Earendil Searches Tirion "I now deliver my errand. The Elves have grown weary of Middle-Earth and of their war with Morgoth; they wish to return to Valinor. Men seek freedom from the dominion of Morgoth that they might live out the short years of their lives and govern their realms in peace. I plead with you -- on behalf of both of the Kindreds from which I am descended -- to send strength of arms and aid in this war. I plead with you to grant peace to Men and pardon to the Elves."

Earendil So Earendil finished his errand. The Gods debated among themselves which action to take. Some argued that Elves and Men should suffer the consequences of their actions; others argued that the Children of Iluvatar should live free of the power of Morgoth, regardless of their past deeds. Pity won in the end, and the Gods granted Earendil's plea.

A great army was assembled, and the Gods came from the West. They attacked Morgoth in the North and destroyed his army and his stronghold. They bound him in chains and beat his iron crown into a collar for his neck. They recovered the two remaining Silmarils. They cast Morgoth out of the circles of the world, through the Doors of Night, into the Timeless Void.

Earendil The Gods again took council to decide Earendil's fate. They agreed he could not return to the lands of mortals, now that he had set foot in the Undying Lands. Instead they appointed a path for Vingilot to sail in the heavens. Earendil the Great Mariner, with a Silmaril upon his brow, sails Vingilot across the skies, watching over the skies and over the prisoner Morgoth; he will do so until the Great Battle and the end of the world.

Bibliography Earendil and Elwing