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Elves of Mirkwood

2015-07-01T22:32:44Z

209.237.92.123: /* Second Age */ Fixing a link

{{sources}}{{expansion}}
{{people
|image=[[File:David T. Wenzel - Mirkwood elves.jpg|250px]]
|name=The Elves of Mirkwood
|dominions=[[Woodland Realm]], [[Thranduil's Halls]]
|languages=[[Silvan language]], [[Sindarin]], [[Westron]]
|height=
|length=
|skincolor=
|haircolor=
|feathers=
|distinctions=
|lifespan=Immortal
|members=[[Oropher]], [[Thranduil]], [[Legolas]], [[Galion]]
}}
The '''Elves of Mirkwood''' were [[Silvan Elves]] that lived in the [[Woodland Realm]] of northern [[Mirkwood]], under the rule of [[Thranduil]].

==History==
During the [[First Age]], the [[Valar]] summoned the first [[Elves]] to move with them to [[Valinor]]. There were three hosts that first set out to answer the call of the Valar. Of these, the largest host was that of the [[Teleri]]. They advanced very slowly, and would often lose sight of the other two, smaller hosts. There was a time, when they reached the river [[Anduin]], one smaller leader of that host, [[Lenwë]], wished to go no further, and he and his people began to live in the forests surrounding the Anduin Vale as the remaining Teleri continued their journey to [[Valinor]]. Their descendants were the Silvan elves of [[Lothlórien]] and Greenwood the Great.
===Second Age===
During the [[Second Age]], many [[Sindar]] survivors, who did not sail to the [[Valinor|West]], did not wish to stay with the [[Noldor]] in [[Lindon]] and be dominated by them. They travelled eastward from Lindon and eventually ended up in Greenwood the Great, where the Silvan Elves of [[Nandorin]] descent lived. The Silvan Elves were ''[[morbin]]''<ref>{{WJ|B}} (pp. 376-7, 380)</ref> but they shared the same Telerin ancestry, and the Sindar longed to experience a more "rustic" and "natural" way of life and fully embraced and adopted their culture and language. [[Oropher]], a Sinda, was taken by them as lord and founded the [[Woodland Realm]] with the capital at [[Amon Lanc]].<ref name="Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>

The Silvan Elves originally lived in the south of Greenwood but over the course of the Age [[Sauron]] located to [[Mordor]] and started building [[Barad-dûr]] in circa {{SA|1000}}<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}, note 14</ref> while the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Dwarves of Moria]] increased their power, and [[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]] came to [[Lothlórien|Lórien]]. Out of resentment, the Silvan Elves gradually moved north to live around the [[Mountains of Mirkwood]].<ref name="Princes"/>

Oropher joined the [[Last Alliance]] by summoning a great army which joined with [[Amdír]]'s smaller force of [[Galadhrim|Lórien Elves]] to create one large host of Silvan Elves; the Silvan Elves were strong and brave, but had poor armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Noldor]]. [[Amdír]] and Oropher were unwilling to submit to the supreme command of [[Gil-galad]], as such they suffered heavier losses in the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. In the very first assault upon [[Mordor]], Oropher and other brave and hasty Silvan Elves rushed forward before Gil-galad gave the signal to charge. Oropher was killed while 2/3 of the Woodland army also perished. <ref name="Princes" />

At the end of the war, after the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|3441}} the remnants of the army returned to Greenwood under the command of Oropher's son, [[Thranduil]] and he was crowned king.

===Third Age===
With the return of [[Sauron]] around {{TA|1050}} southern Greenwood became dangerous and was renamed [[Mirkwood]]. Creatures like great spiders came to dwell in Mirkwood and Thranduil's folk retreated to the northeastern corner of Mirkwood, where they fortified themselves near the [[Forest River]].

One day in {{TA|2941}} Thranduil and some of his folk were feasting in the woods when they were repeatedly disturbed by [[Thorin and Company|a party]] of [[Dwarves]]. After the third disturbance the Elves captured them. [[Thorin]] their leader, was brought before Thranduil but did not reveal the reason for their journey through Mirkwood. However the prisoners escaped with the help of a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], [[Bilbo Baggins]], who escaped captivity by using his magic [[The One Ring|ring]].

After the Dwarves' escape Thranduil sent out messengers, who soon told him about the death of the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Smaug]], who had brutalized the Elves for years. He knew about the treasures, which Smaug had hoarded, and so he set out towards the [[Lonely Mountain]] with a company of Elves with spears and bows. On the way they met messengers from [[Bard]] in [[Lake-town]] who was seeking aid for his destroyed town. After the Elves had given food to the Lake-men and had helped them to build shelters against the oncoming winter, they were very surprised when they found out that Thorin and his company had survived Smaugs attacks, had taken possession of the Lonely Mountain and its treasures and that Thorin Oakenshield had claimed the title [[King under the Mountain]].

Bard demanded a part of the treasure for [[Dale]] and Lake-town, which Smaug had destroyed, as well as for himself because he had shot the dragon. When Thorin refused to give away parts of the treasure, Thranduil and Bard sieged the mountain and Thorin sent for aid from his cousin [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin II Ironfoot]]. After a few days Dain's host approached and fight seemed unavoidable. But in the night Bilbo brought the [[Arkenstone]], a great jewel that Thorin valued above all to him open to negotiations. The next morning Bard and Thranduil entered into negotiations with an angered Thorin, who agreed to pay 1/14 share of the treasure in exchange for the stone. The next day Dain arrived with his forces and although Thranduil was reluctant to start a war over gold, the dwarves proceeded to attack.

At the last moment, when the battle was almost joined between the two sides Gandalf intervened and revealed that while they were bickering amongst themselves, the [[Orcs]] of the [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Grey Mountains]] under [[Bolg]] were using the opportunity to march against them. They had been incited by Gandalf's earlier slaying of the [[Great Goblin]], but had now mobilized for a full-scale attack after hearing news of the death of the Dragon and the now relatively unguarded treasure hoard. The three commanders agreed that the Orcs were the enemies of all and previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. So the [[Battle of Five Armies]] began.

Thranduil's host was positioned on the southern side of the Mountain, and they were the first to charge. Many Elves were slain and things looked grim when the [[Eagles]] arrived on the battlefield. They turned the tide and the battle was won. The victors divided the treasure.

On [[21 March|March 21]], {{TA|3018}} [[Aragorn]] and [[Gandalf]] delivered [[Gollum]] as a prisoner to Thranduil. He was guarded day and night, but the Elves pitied him and allowed him to climb a tree that stood alone. When one night in June of 3018, Gollum refused to come down, the Elves were attacked by Orcs and Gollum could escape in the confusion. Thranduil sent his son [[Legolas]] to Rivendell to inform [[Elrond]], and in the [[Council of Elrond]] Legolas was selected as one of the nine members of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Company of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref>

On [[15 March|March 15]], {{TA|3019}}, an army of [[Sauron]] from [[Dol Guldur]], tasked with destroying the Woodland Realm, attacked Mirkwood. There was a long [[Battle Under Trees]] and the woods were set on fire. But in the end Thranduil defeated the invaders.

Because the Shadow over Mirkwood was lifted, Thranduil and Celeborn renamed it [[Eryn Lasgalen]], the Wood of Greenleaves. They divided it up, so that Thranduil received the northern part as far as the Mountains, and Celeborn took the southern part below the [[Narrows of the Forest|Narrows]], naming it [[East Lórien]]. The wide forest in-between was given to the [[Beornings]] and the [[Woodmen]]<ref name="AppB">{{App|B}}</ref>.

After the destruction of [[Dol Guldur]] and the cleansing of Mirkwood, Thranduil and the Wood-Elves remained untroubled for many years.

Legolas and the Wood-Elves later worked together with Gimli and the Dwarves to rebuild and improve [[Minas Tirith]], capital city of [[Gondor]], the realm of their mutual friend King [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]]<ref name="AppB"/>.

==Language==
The Elves of Mirkwood spoke [[Sindarin]] and/or [[Silvan Elvish]]. Sindarin was mainly spoken in Thranduil's house and family, but it eventually replaced Silvan altogether.<ref>{{UT|6b}}, pp. 256-7</ref><ref group=note>Another note by Tolkien says that the Elves spoke a language or dialect related to Sindarin, perhaps referring to [[Doriathrin]]. See [[David Salo]]'s ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'' p. 13</ref>

==See also==
*[[Woodland Realm]]

{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Nandor]]
[[Category:Silvan Elves]]

Melkor

2015-07-01T21:53:07Z

209.237.92.123: People are probably looking for the character, not just the name

#REDIRECT [[Morgoth]]
[[Category:Valar]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Evil]]

Avallónë

2015-07-01T20:55:51Z

209.237.92.123: Fixing repeated word

{{location
|image=[[File:Frédéric Bennett - Haven of the Eldar.jpg|250px]]
|name=Avallónë
|othernames=Haven of the Eldar<ref>{{App|Numenor}}</ref>
|etymology=
|type=City and seaport
|location=[[Tol Eressëa]]
|inhabitants=[[Eldar]]
|realms=
|description=Island seaport with a great tower and harbor
|events=
|references=
|}}
'''Avallónë''' was a city and seaport on the eastern shore of the island of [[Tol Eressëa]]. Its name indicated that it was the city nearest to [[Valinor]] and the tower of Avallónë was the first sight that a mariner beheld as he approached the [[Undying Lands]]. The city was described as white-shining with a great harbor with laplit quays.<ref name="Akallabeth">{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> It had a tower where the [[Master-stone]] abode.

==History==
After the [[War of Wrath]] and the downfall of [[Morgoth]] the [[Valar]] summoned the [[Eldar]] to return to the West. Not all obeyed this new summons but those who did dwelt on Tol Eressëa.

In the [[Second Age]] some of the Men of [[Númenor]], those most far-sighted, could see Avallónë from the summit of the [[Meneltarma]] or from a tall ship that lay off the western coast as far as was lawful to go. Some thought this far off vision was of Valinor itself but the wise knew it was but Avallónë. While the [[Númenóreans]] respected the [[Ban of the Valar]] many elves would sail to Númenor; they brought birds, flower, and herbs to the land.

The sight of Avallónë beyond their reach helped to kindle resentment in the hearts of the Númenóreans against the Ban. As the people of the island turned against the Valar the visits of the Eldar became few and only made in secret to the [[Faithful]]. By the reign of [[Tar-Palantir]] the city of Avallónë was veiled in cloud.<ref name="Akallabeth"/>

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]], the island of Tol Eressëa with Avallónë and the Undying Lands beyond were removed from the world. Yet in the towers of the [[Emyn Beraid]] was kept the [[Elostirion-stone|Palantir of Elostirion]], which allowed the Elves to see the Tower of Avallónë, where the [[Master-stone]] abode.<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter to Milton Waldman|a letter to Milton Waldman]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] states that [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] were given an "Arthurian ending".<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 132</ref> It has been suggested by [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] that Tolkien was emphasising this connection in the name Avallónë, echoing the island of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon Avalon] that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur King Arthur] goes to in order to recover from his wounds.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, 677</ref>

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avallone}}
[[Category:Tol Eressëa]]
[[Category:Quenya locations]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]

[[de:Avallóne]]
[[fi:Avallónë]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/tol_eressea/avallone]]

Galadriel's Song

2015-07-01T20:38:49Z

209.237.92.123: More corrections to match the book (caps, punctuation, minor wording)

{{unnamed}}
{{disambig-more|Galadriel|[[Galadriel (disambiguation)]]}}
'''Galadriel's Song of Eldamar''' refers to a song about [[Eldamar]], sung by [[Galadriel]] in her [[Swan-ships|Swan-ship]] in [[Lothlórien]] for the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|II8}}</ref>
It runs thus:

<poem>''I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:''
''Of wind I sang, a wind there came, and in the branches blew.''
''Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea,''
''And by the strand of [[Ilmarin]] there grew a golden Tree.''
''Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone,''
''In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven [[Tirion]].''
''There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years,''
''And here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears.''
''O Lórien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless Day;''
''The leaves are falling in the stream, the river flows away.''
''O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore''
''And in a fading crown have twined the golden [[elanor]].''
''But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,''
''What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?''</poem>

==Other versions of the legendarium==

The earliest version of the song was published in ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]''.<ref>{{TI|XIVviii}}, p. 284</ref>

==External links==

*[http://www.elvish.org/elm/galsong.html Galadriel's Song of Eldamar] translated by [[Christopher Gilson]]
*[http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/swoboda_1.htm Galadriel's Song of Eldamar] translated by Erwin Swoboda

{{references}}
[[Category:Songs]]

Galadriel's Song

2015-07-01T06:29:19Z

209.237.92.123: Correction from FotR

{{unnamed}}
{{disambig-more|Galadriel|[[Galadriel (disambiguation)]]}}
'''Galadriel's Song of Eldamar''' refers to a song about [[Eldamar]], sung by [[Galadriel]] in her [[Swan-ships|Swan-ship]] in [[Lothlórien]] for the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|II8}}</ref>
It runs thus:

<poem>''I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew''
''Of wind I sang, and wind there came, and in the branches blew''
''Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea''
''And by the strand of [[Ilmarin]] there grew a golden tree''
''Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone''
''In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven [[Tirion]]''
''There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years''
''And here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven tears''
''O Lorien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless day''
''The leaves are falling in the stream, the river flows away''
''O Lorien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore''
''And in a fading crown have twined the golden [[elanor]]''
''But if of ships I now would sing, what ship would come to me?''
''What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a sea?''</poem>

==Other versions of the legendarium==

The earliest version of the song was published in ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]''.<ref>{{TI|XIVviii}}, p. 284</ref>

==External links==

*[http://www.elvish.org/elm/galsong.html Galadriel's Song of Eldamar] translated by [[Christopher Gilson]]
*[http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/swoboda_1.htm Galadriel's Song of Eldamar] translated by Erwin Swoboda

{{references}}
[[Category:Songs]]