Quenta 3 — Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
Chapter 3 of the Quenta Silmarillion
Summary
In the years of the stars, while the Trees still shone, Varda kindled the brightest constellations far above the eastern waters, made ready against the awakening of the Elves. At the starlit mere of Cuiviénen the Quendi awoke, the Firstborn of Ilúvatar, and Melkor, aware of them, sent his servants to seize and torment them, corrupting some into the first Orcs. Oromë, hunting in the east, found the Elves and befriended them, and bore their tidings to Valinor. The Valar then made a great assault upon Utumno and led Melkor back bound in the chain Angainor, where he lay in the Halls of Mandos for three ages. In the long peace that followed, the Valar summoned the Elves to dwell in Aman, and the Great Journey began, with the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri setting west in order of their host. Many Elves refused the summons or turned aside, and these were the Avari and the lesser kindreds that the chapter names as the Dark Elves. At the last Oromë returned and counselled the Valar, and all the world awaited the passing of the years of Melkor’s captivity.