The Noldor

Of the Eldar, the Noldor were considered the second great host.  They followed Finwë as their lord.  Once in Valinor, the Noldor learned much from Aulë, one of the eight greatest of the Valar (called the Aratar).  Aulë was the smith of the Valar, and was concerned with the substance of Arda, rock and metal.  Aulë crafted many things of great importance to Middle Earth, including the Dwarves and the vessels of the Sun and the Moon, but we will discuss these things later.

Because of their tutelage under Aulë, the Noldor became the most skilled of the Elves in the matters of lore and craft.  The most gifted of the Noldor was Fëanor, who crafted the Silmarils, which we will discuss later.  Fëanor was the son of Finwë, and for a time, he was accounted the greatest of the Noldor.

The Noldor dwelt in the Undying Lands for many ages, until the Darkening of Valinor, when Melkor destroyed the Two Tress of Valinor.  During his attack of Valinor, Melkor also murdered Finwë and stole the Silmarils.  Many of the Noldor forsook Valinor and left in pursuit of Melkor, sworn to recover the Silmarils and avenge the death of their leader.  This was known as the Return of the Noldor, a self-imposed exile, and is one of the events in the history of Middle Earth that marks the beginning of the First Age.

The Vanyar

The Vanyar were the first of the Three Kindred to make the journey to Valinor.  Their leader was Ingwë, and he was given the title of Hight King of the Elves and is considered the most noble of their race.  The Vanyar stayed in Aman with the Valar, and therefore there is little mention of them in the history of Middle Earth.

The Teleri

The Teleri followed Elwë and his brother Olwë as their leaders, and they were the last of the Eldar to reach the Undying Lands after the Great Journey.  Twice during the long march to Valinor, groups of the Teleri turned aside from the group, choosing instead to remain in Middle Earth and dwell there. 

The first clan to turn aside from the Journey was known as the Nandor, who travelled down the Anduin River.  Some settled in Beleriand, while others formed their own realms.  These became the woodland realms of Mirkwood and Lórien.  The second clan to stay in Middle Earth became the Sindar elves.

The legend says that when the Noldor and Vanyar arrived at the Great Sea, Ulmo, one of the greatest of the Valar, brought a great island to the shore.  The island transported the Elves to Valinor.  The Teleri, however, arrived in Beleriand too late to leave the shores on the island.  It was during this time that the Teleris leader Elwë was lost, and they met Ossë, the Maiar of the coastal waters.  When Ulmo returned to take the Teleri to Valinor, some of the Elves wanted to stay behind to seek for their lost lord and others because of their feelings for Ossë.  These Elves became known as the Sindar, and those that lived by the shores under the leadership of Círdan became known as the Falathrim.

The Three Ages of Bliss

Now came a time of great bliss and peace for the Elves, both in Valinor and Middle Earth.  In Valinor, the Noldor, Vanyar and those of the Teleri who completed the jouney lived with the Valar and learned from them.  They dwelt in the jewelled city of Tirion in the Pass of Light, and at the Swanhaven of Alqualondë, and beneath the tower of Avallónë on the Lonely Isle of Tol Eressëa.  Three ages passed during this time, when the light of the Two Trees still gave light to the realm, and the Elves of Valinor became the wisest and noblest of all Ilúvatars children.  In Beleriand the Sindar lived by starlight, while most of Middle Earth still slept and awaited the rising of the Sun and the Moon.

Melian the Maiar

During the Years of the Trees, Melian of the Maiar journeyed often to Middle Earth while the Elves were engaged in the Great Journey.  One day, she came upon Elu Thingol of the Teleri.  Thingol was enchanted by Melian and decided to remain with her.  They travelled to Doriath, where they ruled for many years until the Dwarves killed Thingol late in the First Age.

Through the marriage of Melian and Thingol, a strain of Ainur blood entered into the bloodlines of Men and Elves.  Her descendents were still apparent at the time of the War of the Rings.  Elrond is her great great grandson, and Aragorn is also her descendant, though through many more generations.  This will be discussed in more detail in later lessons.

Characteristics of the Elves

As I mentioned above, Elves do not suffer sickness, age or death.  Actually, to be precise, they do age, though at a rate that is so slow that it is not perceptible to men, and they appear to Men to be immortal.  If an Elf is slain, or withers with grief, they are reincarnated in the halls of Mandos, the keeper of the slain, in Valinor.  Elves have sharper perception than Men, and can see and sense things that Men cannot.  They do not need sleep, but instead rest their minds by thinking of past ages or looking at beautiful things.  The Eldar could talk telepathically, without speaking.  The Elves have a natural curiosity about all things, and even at one point taught the trees of Fangorn Forest to speak so that they could find out what they were thinking.  All Elves love beautiful things, especially growing things, music, and above all, the stars. 

Unlike Men, the Elves are bound to Arda, and must remain in the world until its end.  They do no, however, have to stay in Middle Earth, and that is why the Straight Road is still open to them, allowing them passage to the Undying Lands.

The Elves had no religion that Men would understand.  In fact, the Three Kindred had travelled to Aman to reside with the Gods themselves (the Valar).  Of all the Valar, they most revered Varda Elentári, the spouse of Manwë; and Lady of the Stars. In Middle-earth, they called her Elbereth, Star-Queen, and sang to her across the wide ocean Belegaer.  Elbereth was also known as Gilthoniel.