Great Journey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Great Journey, or the Great March was the journey that the Elves known as the Eldar took from Cuiviénen, the place of their awakening, to Valinor.
After the War of the Valar against Melkor much of northern Middle-earth was broken, and then Oromë returned to take the Eldar with him into the West. The majority of the Elves departed, but a part remained behind, becoming known as the Avari, in the Sundering of the Elves.
Oromë guided the Eldar north of the Sea of Helcar, passing under the smoke of the ruined Ered Engrin. Some Eldar fled in fear, and disappeared from history. Later the host passed through a great forest (the later Mirkwood) on the path where later was the Dwarf Road, and then long waited at the shores of a Great River (Anduin) while Oromë sought a way to get them over the Hithaeglir mountains, which were much higher in those days.
When Oromë returned, having found (or forged) the High Pass where later was built Rivendell, most Eldar went on, but a group remained behind under their leader Dan (or Lenwë), becoming known as the Nandor.
The remaining Eldar passed north of the immense forests that covered all of Eriador, along the route of the later Great West Road that ran through Arnor. Finally the Vanyar and Noldor crossed the Ered Luin, while the Lindar still lagged behind in Eriador (for which reason they became known as the Teleri).
The Vanyar and Noldor were ferried across Belegaer on Tol Eressëa by Ulmo, while the Teleri finally entered Beleriand. When Ulmo returned for them the greater part of the Teleri finally crossed Belegaer, but a part remained behind again, becoming the Sindar.
Thus, the Great Journey serves to divide the Elves into their major categories: the Avari (Dark Elves) who never set off, the Nandor who turned aside before reaching Beleriand, the Sindar (Grey Elves, or Elves of Twilight) who reached Beleriand but then never completed the journey, and finally the three groups that completed the journey are the Vanyar (who then remained in Valinor), the Noldor (who later returned to Middle-earth), and the Teleri, who completed the journey last. Throughout the following ages there was often a mixing of the groups, except for the Avari and the Vanyar. The Silvan Elves were mostly Nandor (but often adopted Sindarin language and leadership), and the High Elves in Middle-earth were mostly Noldor.
