Quenta Silmarillion

Quenta Silmarillion is The Silmarillion's third section, a collection of stories from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. It detailed all significant developments of the First Age of Middle-earth and was the last, most comprehensive narrative of this period. It was an unfinished work of Tolkien, but his son Christopher Tolkien compiled the materials, and together with Guy Gavriel Kay, completed the tales. They published it years after Tolkien's passing

Tolkien intended to present the Silmarillion as old legends narrated by an Elfwine of England or Eriol, a fictional character and source of the written tales from the Middle Age (although he is not connected nor referenced from the Second to Third Ages of Tolkien's writings of Middle-earth). At the time of his recounting of these stories, the Elves had passed into legend. These lost stories were the only remaining trace of the Elf race. There was an implication that the last version of these stories was from Hobbits and Men.

The Quenta Silmarillion accounts for the story of Arda created by Eru Iluvatar. The Valar, superior beings similar to angels, entered Arda and formed its appearance through Iluvatar's plan revealed to them in a vision. They arranged the first form of Arda as a well-formed landmass illuminated by two massive lamps. But the evil Melkor ruined the beacons, which set Arda into darkness, and the continent of Arda lost its symmetry. From then on, two great lands formed: in the west was the land of Aman, while in the east is the land of Middle-earth. Afterward, Melkor retreated to the fortification of Utumno in the northern region of Middle-earth. He sought protection from his vile creatures. Most were Maiar turned fallen beasts such as the Balrog. The Valar settled in the land of Aman. They founded the kingdom of Valinor, ruled by the Valar crowned King Manwe. In place of the Two Lamps, one of the Valar called Yavanna formed the Two Trees, the new source of light for Valinor. The Valar rarely set foot in Middle-earth, then covered in eternal shadows. But a few of them, such as Orome, come to Middle-earth once in a while. They watch over the actions of Melkor and to make Middle-earth ready for the arrival of the race of Elves (revealed to them in the vision from Iluvatar).

Orome found the Elves had just woken in the land of Cuvienen during one of his journeys. As the Valar had foreseen the threat of Melkor to the race of Elves, they forcibly removed him from his stronghold, then captured and imprisoned him in the Halls of Mandos. There they commanded him to labor for three ages.

Soon, Orome returned to Middle-earth to draw the Elves and have them settle in Aman with the Valar. The Elves who accepted the offer departed with him through a sailing island. However, many of the Elves refused as most were content in Middle-earth. Thus they remained in their dwellings in Middle-earth, separating the race of the Elves.

The Sindar, one of the Elf kins, stayed in Middle-earth as their King Thingol vanished in the woods. Later, he re-appeared as bound to Melian, his Maian wife, and established the realm of Doriath.

The first High King of the Noldor Elves was Finwe, whose son was Feanor. When Miriel, Finwe's wife, gave birth to Feanor, he absorbed her mother's life energy, rendering it consumed. And so Miriel's soul left her physical body and passed onto the Halls of Mandos. Later on, Feanor married Indis and had sons named Finarfin and Fingolfin.

Feanor was most renowned for crafting the Silmarils, jewels which hold the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. The Valar consecrated the three Silmarils and destroyed any dark or perishable being who dared handle or take the jewels.

During this period, Melkor had finished his punishment. He vowed to the Valar of his changed heart, and so they acquitted Melkor. But Melkor deceived Fingolfin and Feanor, causing conflict and disunity within the kin of Noldor. He also persuaded them that the Valar only wanted to draw them to Valinor to dominate over them. Because of this, Feanor revolted against the Valar. He rallied the Elves to depart Aman and even pulled out his blade to threaten Fingolfin. Then, they cast out Feanor for twelve years in Tirion. Feanor's father, Finwe, as well as Feanor's seven sons, left to settle in the recently established fortress of Formenos. The Valar knew the conflict was from the corruption of Melkor, and so Tulkas, one of the Valar, pursued him. However, he effectively concealed himself that the Valar could not find him. He went to Formenos in his deep desire for the Silmarils and attempted to take it by deceiving Feanor. Yet Feanor knew his intent and scornfully sent him away.

Melkor covertly journeyed to Avathar and sought the aid of the massive, primeval spider called Ungoliant, to kill the Two Trees of Valinor [1] and steal the Silmaril. He vowed to grant anything the beast asked for and even passed his dark powers to the creature. Together they entered Valinor in stealth. Ungoliant poisoned the Two Trees, therefore killing them. Darkness fell over the land as Melkor and Ungoliant continued to Formenos. Then, they murdered Finwe, seized the Silmarils, and escaped through the chaos. They fled to Middle-earth, and Melkor rewarded Ungoliant with all the treasures he had stolen. But he hid the Silmarils for himself. The beast devoured all the treasures Melkor gave her, but with her insatiable hunger, she still yearned for the Silmarils. The cunning Melkor revoked his vow, then the massive spider charged and wrapped him with her strong webs. Melkor's roars of agony resounded throughout Middle-earth. Later on, the Balrog servants of Melkor saved him from Ungoliant. The beasts emerged from their secret lair in the dark abyss of the wreckage of Utumno. The three Silmaril jewels smoldered his hands, turning them dark as charcoal. Then he set them upon his Iron Crown. The Silmarils were the only pure light remaining from the Two Trees of Valinor. Melkor began to rebuild his dominion in Angband, his next realm located in the North.

Upon receiving the news of the slaying of his father, and the Silmarils stolen by Melkor, the enraged Feanor charged to Tirion, breaching his exile. He called Melkor as Morgoth in his fury and rebuked the Valar for negligence in defending the Silmarils and Finwe. He campaigned for the departure of the Noldor from Aman, convincing them to wage war against Morgoth and begin a new realm in Middle-earth. Feanor and his sons swore to destroy all who hindered them from the Silmarils, thus resulting in the infamous Oath of Feanor.

With Feanor as their leader, the Noldor gathered to depart from Tirion towards Alqualonde. There, they urged the Teleri Elf clan to unite with them against Morgoth. During this time, many of the Noldor could not sail beyond the Great Sea as there were almost no built ships left. So they also persuaded the Teleri to grant them their vessels for their voyage to Middle-earth. But the Teleri declined, and so Feanor commanded the Noldor to seize the ships. Thus, the infamous Kinslaying took place. The Noldor, blind with wrath, massacred the Teleri. Soon after, Mandos confronted the Noldor along Eldamar's northern borders, and he cursed all the Noldor companions of Feanor. Finarfin then returned to Valinor with a few of his Noldor companions. All this time, he was always hesitant to join the Noldor's venture. Feanor forsook Fingolfin and his companions, with Galadriel among them. Many of the Noldor crossed through the dreadful ice sea of Helcaraxe, in which more than two million died in the dangerous voyage.

On the other hand, Morgoth set forth to overcome the kingdom of Doriath in Middle-earth. King Thingol and his Maiar wife Melian, ruled over the realm. Morgoth rallied a series of five attacks. On his first attempt, he sent forth two Orc troops to ravage the domain. But Thingol and his queen built a mystical barrier covering the kingdom called the Girdle of Melian, saving the realm from their enemies. Meanwhile, the Elves who dwell on the shores escaped, taking refuge in their coastal fortress. Fortunately, Feanor and his company came to their aid at the right time.

In the Second attack called Dagor-nun-Giliath, or Battle under the Stars, the united armies of the Sindar and Noldor slaughtered the enemy Orc forces. Feanor, in his vengeful wrath, continued to pursue the fleeing Orcs, and the Balrogs ensnared and murdered him.

The Valar mourned at the death of their beloved Two Trees. They could restore the Trees through their remaining pure light captured within the Silmarils, but Feanor refused to surrender them. And so they only accomplished to harvest the last golden fruit and silver leaf from the trees, from which they formed the Sun and Moon. The two newly formed sources of light radiated over Middle-earth, saving the lands from the darkness and replenished all life, plants, and creatures. It also limited Morgoth to create his next schemes. He and his followers greatly feared the lights. Thus, his former boundless powers waned along with his servant's weakness. Then, the race of Men awakened in the eastern lands of the Middle-earth towards the west.

The Noldor founded their new realms and dominions in the middle and northlands of Beleriand. The heirs of Feanor, Finarfin, and Fingolfin reigned over them. They established multiple fortresses such as the secret mountain stronghold of Gondolin, which Turgon controlled, and those who dare come within were never to depart forever. There was also the immense cave capital of Nargothron along the River Narog. Most of the Elves originally inhabiting Beleriand were Sindar, and they willingly joined under the realms of the Noldor. Still, other Sindarin strongholds remain. There was Doriath ruled by Thingol, then the Falas by the sea, commanded by Cirdan the shipwright, and the hidden realm of Ossiriand, governed by the Green-Elves.

Initially, the returning Noldor and native Sindars maintained good connections. But the Noldor withheld the truth of the Kinslaying in Alqualonde and the Curse upon them because of it. Later on, Thingol discovered this from Angrod. For this reason, he forbid all Noldor Elves, all but his relative descendants of Finarfin, from stepping into his kingdom of Doriath. He also banned the language of the Noldor within his domain.

The deeds of Aredhel, Fingolfin's daughter, and Turgon's sister contributed more to the conflict between the Noldor and Sindar. It also brought outcomes that resulted in Gondolin's later defeat from Morgoth. As a Noldor restricted to the borders of Gondolin, she grew restless and decided to go east to seek the sons of Feanor, her former companions. However, she could not enter Doriath as she was a Noldor, banned by the command of King Thingol. And so she traversed the borders of the dark land of Nan Dungortheb, the same region where Ungoliant sought refuge after Morgoth's fled. There she went astray from her companion, being disoriented in the forest. Then, she encountered the Dark Elf Eöl, a Sindar relative of Thingol.

She remained with him and became his wife, later giving birth to a son named Maeglin. Eöl forbade his wife and child to leave his territory, yet Aredhel longed to come back to Gondolin and bide her time for the opportunity to flee. He regularly visited the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains in the east, as he traded with them. He also learned to forge metal through the Dwarves, later his son matured as his apprentice. On one of his trips to the East, Aredhel escaped with her son to Gondolin. But Eöl followed them, Aredhel's brother Turgon seized him in Gondolin. The Dark Elf commanded his son to leave with him threatening to curse him, but Maeglin refused and disowned his father. Turgon required Eöl to stay in Gondolin or be punished with death if he leaves.

When Turgon summoned him the following day, the Dark Elf aimed to stab his son with a poisoned weapon, but Aredhel shielded her son with her body and wounded her shoulder. Because of this, Aredhel passed away that evening. Turgon condemned Eol to his death, thrown from the high walls of Gondolin's fortification. Maeglin resided in Gondolin from then on. He forged exceptional weapons and advanced into a powerful swordsman. But Maeglin later turned into a traitor for Morgoth, due to his illicit affection to Idril Celebrindal, who was his cousin.

Fifty years passed, Morgoth sent forth his armies from the North to attack the Noldor, assuming they were not ready for war. But the combined forces of Fingolfin and Maedhros have long since prepared for it. In this Third Battle known as Dagor Aglareb, the Elves devastated the armies of Morgoth. They chased them up to the entryway of Angband, where they decimated the Orc hordes. Thus, the Siege of Angband began, which went on for four centuries. After a hundred years, the armies of Morgoth attempted to infiltrate the kingdom of Hithlum entering the northwest border, but they were countered and beaten by the forces of Fingon.

In the next century, Morgoth released a new weapon against the Elves, the dragon beast called Glaurung. Yet the dragon had not fully developed, his armor was incomplete, and did not hold out against the bows of Fingon's army. Glaurung retreated to Angband, and so it was the first downfall of the dragon. This era of freedom from the enemy endured for two centuries and became known as the Long Peace. It was in the same period that the race of Men arrived in Middle-earth, approximately three centuries since the Noldor settled in Beleriand.

Men emerged from the distant lands of the east. The Elves first encountered this new race in Ossirian, in which Noldor Felagund was the first to notice them. They befriended the Noldor and settled in their kingdoms. Men became the Noldor's comrades against the Dark Lord Morgoth within the next centuries.

In Y.S. 455, Morgoth released the full power of the dragon Glaurung and began Dagor Bragollach, also known as the Fourth Battle. Morgoth utilized the period of their besiegement to replenish his forces. At the same time, Glaurung the Dragon renewed his strength. The siege ended as they slaughtered most of the Noldor, while the dragon burned Dorthonion and Ard-Galen. Gil-Galad also escaped from the realm of Hithlum to the refuge of the Falas by the sea.

The attacks ignited Fingolfin's wrath. [2] He boldly charged into the entrance of Angband and dared Morgoth into a one on one battle. The Dark Lord emerged from his fortress to face him and match the Elf-lord's threat. Fingolfin struck and slashed him seven times, but Fingolfin's strength failed. He tripped into one of the craters caused by the war hammer of Morgoth called Grond. Morgoth struck him to the ground with his shield, and Fingolfin fell three times. Morgoth overcame Fingolfin and pounded him with his foot. Then, Fingolfin struck his heel with all his remaining force. Morgoth crushed Fingolfin's body, killing him. As Morgoth tried to toss Fingolfin's dead body to the wolves, the King of the Great Eagles Thorondor appeared and slashed Morgoth's face with his massive talons. The giant eagle was observing the fight from a distance, and seeing the unfortunate outcome, he came to take back Fingolfin's body. He flew to Gondolin, bringing the remains of Fingolfin back to his people. Meanwhile, all of the seven wounds of Morgoth inflicted by Fingolfin never improved. The scars covered his face, and his left foot maimed for the rest of his life.

After sixteen years, the ultimate battle of the Noldor versus Morgoth transpired, known as Nirnaeth Arnoediad. The Noldor, commanded by Maedhros, joined forces with Men and advanced to Morgoth's fortress. They managed to infiltrate Angband's gate and met the overwhelming number of Morgoth's army. With the fearsome Glaurung as its commander, the devastating strength of Morgoth's entire forces decimated them. Morgoth overcame the Noldor forces, slaughtering and enslaving many of the High Elves. Morgoth triumphed over the Noldor and the realms of the North. Then, he proceeded to bring down each of the last standing Elven realms.

The Quenta Silmarillion's final section contains tales of characters and unions between Elves and Men. The story of Beren and Luthien is a romantic tale about a man named Beren and Luthien, known as a renowned beauty among the Elves. She was the daughter of King Thingol and Melian. Her father detested the race of Men and used all efforts to hinder the union. Still, he gave one condition, expecting that the quest was far beyond Beren's ability. Beren must take the Silmaril from the Iron Crown of the Dark Lord, and Thingol will give his permission for their marriage. Yet as he proposed this quest, he bound himself Mandos (doom of those who sought the Silmaril), causing his later demise. Beren and Luthien covertly crossed Thangorodrim, eventually entering the fortress of Angband and into the seat of Morgoth. Luthien showed herself and enchanted Morgoth and his servants for a moment through her appearance, magically putting them to sleep.

Then, Beren removed the first Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. As he displaced the second Silmaril, his dagger broke, set a fragment to Morgoth. It scratched his face, and Morgoth began to awaken. Beren and Luthien barely escaped, as Morgoth and his servants woke. But the two encountered the awakened protector of Angband's gates, the massive Wolf beast Carcharoth. Beren used the Silmaril against Carcharoth, but the giant wolf devoured his hand along with the jewel. The jewel sent the wolf into excruciating pain, raving violently through the lands until he reached Doriath. Beren, together with the powerful Huan, the Hound of the Elves, battled Carcharoth. Huan defeated Carcaroth. Yet the beast gravely injured Beren with its poisonous fangs, eventually killing him. Soon after, Luthien journeyed through her spirit and begged Mandos to let Beren come back from the House of the Dead. And so, Luthien and Beren returned to Middle-earth. Beren came back to life, while Luthien turned into a mortal. There will come a time when the two would encounter death and depart from Arda. Thingol and Melian mourned for the fate of their daughter. As immortals enduring as long as Arda remains, they grieved over Luthien as she departed from them forever.

After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Morgoth imprisoned Hurin and cast a curse on him because of his resistance to the Dark Lord. Hurin's son, Turin Turambar, along with his siblings and his mother, also suffered from it. Despite the unfortunate events brought upon by Morgoth's evil intentions, Turin turned out as a champion of his people. When the dragon Glaurung burned down the majestic realm of Nargothrond, he inhabited the ruins as his lair. And there, he cast a spell on Turin and his sister Nienor. Turin and Nienor fell for each other and lived together as a couple. Later on, the enchantment of Glaurung upon them faded as Turin slew the dragon, revealing the truth of their relations. In terrible anguish of their offense, Turin and Nienor both ended their own lives.

The final realm that stood against Morgoth was Gondolin, the secluded Elven city. The Valar Ulmo sent a man named Tuor to counsel King Turgon of the coming devastation of Gondolin. Tuor settled in Gondolin, later united with Idril, daughter of Turgon, and together they had a son named Earendil. But Gondolin eventually fell in the hands of Morgoth through the traitor Maeglin. King Turgon died defending the city, while Tuor, his wife, and son fled along with those who survived the attack. Afterward, Gil-galad residing in the Mouth of Sirion, received the crown of the High King.

Earendil united in marriage with Elwing, the prevailing guardian of the Silmaril, taken by her grandparents Beren and Luthien from Morgoth. Earendil and Elwing voyaged to Valinor through the power of the Silmaril. They appealed for the aid of the Valar to Elves and Men against Morgoth. They also asked for the Valar's forgiveness to the Noldor. The Valar accepted their plea and sent Earendil high above the heavens, along with Silmaril. And there, remain as a star until the end of Arda.

The Valar finally joined the battle against the Morgoth in the War of Wrath. Eonwe commanded their attack, crushed the armies of Morgoth, and scattered his servants all over Arda. They captured the Dark Lord and took the two remaining Silmarils that he possessed. However, upon knowing that the Valar obtained the Silmarils, the remaining sons of Feanor ventured to take them from Eonwe. They successfully seized the jewels, but it scorched their skin when they held the Silmarils, causing unbearable agony. Maglor cast one Silmaril into the depths of the sea while Maedhros took his life by throwing himself with the Silmaril into the abyss. Hence, the Silmaril remained with Arda's primary elements of earth, sky, and water and will only arise in the destruction and rebirth of Arda. As the Valar acquitted the Noldor from their selfish deeds, the Teleri then absolved the Noldor for the Kinslaying. Most of the Noldor and Sindar Elves sailed west to dwell in Valinor, forever departing from Middle-earth. Still, many Elves heeded Gil-galad and settled in the lands of Middle-earth.

1. ^Destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor.
2. ^Fingolfin duels with Morgoth.