Throughout the First Age, humans spread from Hildorien to Beleriand, with three Edain tribes
passing over the blue mountains to settle in the west, forging relationships with the
Elves and Dwarves of the region.
Eventually, the House of Hador settled in Dor-Lomin, courageous, fair haired warriors
led by the descendants of the great chieftain Marach, until Galdor the Tall was killed defending
their borders against the armies of the Dark Lord Morgoth.
With their homeland conquered, warriors slaughtered and survivors subjugated, Hurin and Huor,
the sons of Galdor the Tall, continued his legacy in exile, by becoming famous heroes
of men, each accomplishing extraordinary feats throughout their lives.
Both then went on to have sons of their own, who also earned fame as fearsome warriors.
Although Turin son of Hurin died without children, Tuor son of Huor eventually earned a place
of honour in the Elven city of Gondolin, where he married Lady Idril, the King’s only daughter.
This Elven princess, descended from a proud lineage of her own, teeming with legendary
heroes like Turgon, High King of the Noldor, Fingolfin, who died in a duel with Morgoth,
and Finwe, one of the original Elven leaders who awoke in Cuivienen before the creation
of the sun and moon.
And so it was, that these noble human and elven lines were united, when Tuor and Idril
had their son Earendil.
Though the first few years of his life were spent in Gondolin, the forces of Morgoth soon
attacked and destroyed his homeland, forcing Tuor and Idril to depart with their son, leading
survivors to a refuge in the mouths of Sirion.
Soon, more elves sought refuge when the Sindar kingdom of Doriath fell, leaving their people
no choice but to flee south.
Among those escaping Doriath was the princess Elwing, who carried in her possession a precious
simaril jewel, as an heirloom of her house, stolen from the crown of Morgoth by her grandparents.
Yet this incredible treasure was also the reason her homeland was destroyed, as the
Sons of Feanor swore an oath to capture the Silmarils by any means necessary.
As Sindar Elves mixed with Noldor in the mouths of Sirion, Tuor and Idril founded the settlement
Arvernien, before deciding to leave middle earth, sailing west in search of adventure.
Although their fate was unknown, legends claim they travelled to the undying lands, where
the human Tuor, because of his marriage to Idril, was granted special permission to share
in Elven immortality.
Meanwhile, their son Earendil ruled over Arvernien, alongside his beloved wife Elwing, keeper
of the Silmaril.
Together they had twin sons, Elrond and Elros, who had the honor of being born from the most
powerful and influential bloodline in all of Middle-earth.
In addition, to being a descendant of the Human Chieftains from the House of Hador,
and the Elven High Kings of the Noldor through their father Earendil, their mother Elwing’s
line included the human Chieftains for the House of Beor, the kings of Doriath, the Elven
High King of the Sindar, and a Maia queen from the Undying Lands, through her great
grandmother Melian, a being so ancient she existed as an Ainur in the Timeless Halls,
before the creation of the world.
As a result of this human, elven and maia lineage, Elrond, Elros and their future descendants
would each possess extraordinary traits and abilities.
Yet it was their parents Earendil and Elwing who had the most long lasting impact, performing
one of the most extraordinary feats in the history of the world.
Known as the Mariner, Earnedil was far out to sea, aboard his beloved ship Vingilot,
when the Sons of Feanor attacked Arvernien.
Seeking to capture the Silmaril held by Elwing, she threw herself into the sea rather than
surrender to her pursuers.
Yet it was not the end for the Elven Princess, who was transformed her into a great white
bird by the Vala Ulmo, allowing her to fly through the air until she found her husband’s
ship.
Once reunited, they discussed the hopelessness of their situation, as the Dark Lord Morgoth
already conquered most of Beleriand, and what few Elves and men remained, were divided and
quarrelling among themselves.
Even their children were in the hands of enemies, though fortunately Elrond and Elros were treated
well by the Sons of Feanor.
And so Earendil and Elwing decided to make one last, desperate gamble by sailing west
to the Undying Lands of Aman, in order to beg the Valar for assistance in their war
against Morgoth.
Guided by the light of the silmaril, they arrived on the shores of Valinor where Earendil
was brought before the ancient, powerful Valar, presenting the silmaril and explaining the
peril their peoples faced across the sea.
Whereas Melian, great grandmother of Elwing was a Maia, one of the lesser Ainur who existed
before the creation of the world, the Valar were greater Ainur, the most powerful of their
kind.
So strong that in the past, whenever they directly fought the Dark Lord Morgoth, it
led to cataclysmic, worldwide devastation.
As a result, they confined themselves to the continent of Aman, and resisted meddling in
the affairs of Middle Earth, to avoid harming humans, elves and dwarves.
Despite his reservations, Manwe, king of the Valar, knew his brother Morgoth had to be
stopped, and so agreed to Earendil’s request, assembling a great host for war, which including
the Valar, Maiar, Vanyar Elves and those Noldor who remained behind when others journeyed
to Middle Earth.
The Teleri Elves also contributed by providing ships to sail east, but refused to fight as
they still held a grudge against the Noldor for past grievances.
In dealing with Earendil and his wife, both of whom violated their laws by travelling
to the undying lands, Manwe understood they acted selflessly and also recognized a potential
exception could be made because of their mixed bloodline, which included descent from immortal
Elves.
Therefore, Earnedil and Elwing were not punished for their crime, and along with their children
were instead given the unique opportunity to chose their ultimate fate.
Either living out their days as mortal humans, meant for a second destiny after death.
Or as immortal elves, enjoying the paradise of the Undying Lands until the world eventually
came to an end.
Both Elwing and Elrond were happy to choose the immortality of Elves, while Elros became
a man and leader the Edain as King of Numenor, founding a dynasty of extraordinary humans
that eventually led to the birth of Aragorn, the mighty third age hero who helped defeat
Sauron and reunited the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
Earendil, however did not chose what he truly desired, as he wished to remain a man in honor
his father’s people, yet for the love of his wife Elwing, became an immortal Elf, living
by her side for the rest of their days.
When the Host of Valinor arrived in Middle Earth, they were joined by the surviving Elves
and men of Beleriand to engage Morgoth in a long, bloody 40 year struggle.
As a final defence against his enemy, the Dark Lord released an army of winged, fire
breathing Dragons which quickly devasted the enemy, threatening victory.
Yet as the fighting intensified, Earendil the Mariner, wearing the silmaril upon his
helm, flew into battle aboard a sky ship, alongside a host of mighty eagles under their
leader Thorondor.
Charging against the dragons, Earendil struck the killing blow against Ancalagon the Black,
largest and greatest of the dragons, who then crashed upon and destroyed the mountain of
Thangorodrim.
In the end, the forces of the Valar were victorious, while Morgoth was captured, executed and his
spirit banished from the world.
Yet just as the Valar feared, their war caused enormous damage which sunk the entire Beleriand
region of middle-earth, beneath the waves.
Though Elrond and Elros stayed in the east, helping to organize survivors, their parents
lived out their days in Aman, where Earendil was charged with the unique task of protecting
the sun and moon, continuing to wear the silmaril as he sailed across the sky.
An exceptional hero, it was said that during the Dagor Dagorath, the final battle at the
end of the world, Earendil would once again descend from the sky to join the army of light
against the Dark Lord Morgoth.