Summary
Ulmo uprooted a great island in the midst of the ocean, which he brought to Beleriand to serve as passage to bring the Elves to Valinor. The Vanyar and the Noldor departed on it, but the Teleri still lived far from the Sea and missed the call. But when they learned that their kindred had left, the Teleri then moved to the shore, where Ossë and Uinen befriended them. From them they learned much of the Sea, and have been the Sea-Elves ever since.
After some time Ulmo returned to bring the Teleri to Valinor, and many were willing. Some Ossë persuaded to stay; Círdan the Shipwright was their lord. And many others wanted to come to Valinor but refused to stop their search for Elwë.
But many of the Teleri did depart on the island ferry, though as it neared Valinor, Ossë and the Teleri persuaded Ulmo to anchor the island in the Bay of Eldamar, instead of bringing it all the way to Valinor. And that island where the Teleri dwelt still beneath the stars became known as Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle.
For the Noldor and the Vanyar, the Valar carved a great pass through the Pelóri so that they could, when they wished, go to the dark shores of Aman and look at the stars. Through this pass the light of the Trees shone, and fell upon the western shores of Tol Eressëa. And in the midst of the pass the Noldor and the Vanyar built their city, Tirion upon the hill of Túna. And in Tirion Yavanna planted a fruit of Telperion, from which came (ultimately) the White Tree of Gondor.
The Noldor were beloved of Aulë, and he and his people taught them much, and in many ways the Noldor soon surpassed their tutors. Finwë was their lord, and his sons were Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin (Fëanor by his first wife, the others by his second. More on that in future chapters).
The Teleri lived a long time on Tol Eressëa, but eventually they longed both for the light of Valinor and for their kindred the Noldor and the Vanyar, and Ulmo sent Ossë to them to teach them ship-building. The ships they constructed were shaped as beautiful swans, and Ossë sent them swans to pull the ships. They built the city of Alqualondë under the stars on the shores of the Bay of Eldamar, rather than in Valinor in the light of the Trees, but they could travel there freely when they wished.
The Vanyar, beloved of Manwë, ultimately left Tirion and lived upon Taniquetil itself. There Ingwë lived, and he has always been held to be the High King of all the Elves.
Commentary
In many ways, what I have to say with this chapter is more about what is not important than what is important. The answer there is most of the names. The chapter is called “Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië,” and it’s exactly what it says it’s about. And most of those Princes of the Eldalië you don’t need to worry about right now. You should know Finwë already, and his three sons Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin are important to know. You should also note their temperaments: Fëanor is an impassioned genius, Fingolfin steadfast and valiant, and Finarfin the wisest of the three. As for all the other names thrown at you? Don’t worry about remembering them. You’ll get to know the important ones when they get their day in the spotlight.
Other than that, this chapter is just describing the set-up of Valinor at its height: the Vanyar living in Valinor proper under the light of the Trees, the Teleri living on the shores under the stars, and the Noldor splitting the difference in Tirion.
In many ways, this chapter is what I would call “the end of the beginning.” Everyone’s happy in paradise, Melkor is in chains, and no one has any problems at all. What could go wrong?
...Of course, given that the next chapter is “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor,” the cleverest of readers might be able to make an educated guess.
And on that totally-not-ominous note, here’s the One Mike to Read Them All index.
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