The Elves awoke in Middle-earth at Lake Cuiviénen. They first looked upon the stars of Varda, and so revered her above all of the Valar. They also heard the sounds of water falling, and so ever after, loved the seas and the waters. The Elves called themselves the Quendi, or those who speak with voices. Elves were the first to use language and music, and became masters of words. They were discovered first by the Vala Oromë, who had gone hunting in Middle-earth. He invited them to live with him and the Valar in Valinor.
The three houses of the Elves that agreed to follow Oromë to Valinor were the Noldor, the Vanyar, and the Teleri. Not all of the Elves agreed to the journey (the unwilling mainly were of the Teleri), and those that stayed and were ruled by Thingol were called the Sindar or Grey Elves and spoke the Sindarin tongue. The Noldor delighted in the earth and working with their hands, and so were beloved to Aule. The Vanyar were the fairest of all the three houses. They loved the Valar and Valinor, and so were beloved of Varda and Manwe. The Teleri loved the sea and had the most beautiful voices. Most of the Teleri lived on Tol Eressea, the island off of the eastern coast of Valinor. They also became great mariners that ferried the Elves of Middle-earth, in the later days, to Valinor. The Teleri were also the makers of beautiful ships and vessels. The Elves that came to Valinor are called the Calaquendi, or High Elves, and surpassed all other Elves in body and mind, for the light of Valinor is upon them. These Elves spoke Quenya, although there were different dialects for each house of Elves in Valinor: a Telerin dialiect, a Vanyarin dialect, and the Noldorin dialect. The Elves that did not come to Valinor are called the Moriquendi, or Elves of Darkness. They never saw the light of Valinor in the days of the two trees.
