When the sons of Fëanor heard that Elwing had the Silmaril in her keeping, they attacked the exiles of Gondolin and Doriath in the cruelest of slayings of Elf by Elf. There, all the sons of Fëanor were slain, except for
Seeing little hope in Middle-earth, Elwing and Ëarendil sailed to Valinor. With the Silmaril growing brighter as they journeyed West, they arrived to the Blessed Realm, alone of the inhabitants of Middle-earth. He left Elwing in the ship, for he feared the wrath of the Valar. Ëarendil had come to the shores of Valinor during a festival, when all the Elves and Vala were gathered in Taniquetil. He climbed the hill of Túna, but found Tirion (the city of the Noldor) empty. His heart was heavy, for he feared that some evil had come to Valinor. As he walked, he gathered the dust of jewels, and so he shone with great light. Suddenly, Ëarendil saw Eönwë, Herald of the Valar, and was brought before Manwë. Before the Valar, Ëarendil begged for them to take pity on Elves and Men, and to aid them in detroying Morgoth. After much debate, Manwë decided that the Valar would indeed attack Morgoth and Ëarendil would not be punished for entering the Blessed Realm. He granted choice of mortality to Ëarendil, his wife, and his sons. Ëarendil and Elwing chose to be of the Eldar, as did thier son Elrond. But Elros chose to be a Man, and his fate is told in the Rise and Fall of Númenor.
Concerning the Silmaril, the Valar had Vingilot hallowed, and bore it to the Door of Night. Ëarendil sat at the helm with the Silmaril on his brow. He sailed into the night sky as the brightest star in the heavens. The star was named Gil-Estel, Star of High Hope, a great ight amid the darkness that befell Middle-earth. Elwing did not sail with him, however. Instead she lived in a great white tower and befriended many birds, who taught her the craft of flight. As Ëarendil sailed by Arda, she would fly to meet him.
The Lords of the West prepared for battle. Under white banners marched the Vanyar and the Noldor who never departed from Valinor. Beleriand was ablaze with the glory of thier arms, and the great battle was later known as the War of Wrath. There were many of the Balrogs and countless orcs destroyed. Many of the Houses of the Edain, the Elf-friends amoung men, assisted in the war. Many men, however, also fought against the Valar, and the Elves have not forgotten it.
Morgoth, seeing that his forces were being defeated, issued terrible winged dragons, and the army of the Valar was driven back. Then, Ëarendil came in white flame and with him came all the great birds. Ëarendil slew Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest of the dragons. Angband was defeared and the two Silmarils were taken from the crown of Morgoth. Morgoth was bound by the chain Angainor and was cast through the Door of Night into the Void. Eönwë was given the Silmarils and guarded them. Maglor and Maedhros, bound by their oath, raided the camp at night. The camp awoke and Maglor and Maedhros were willing to defend themselves until the end. But Eönwë would not have them killed and allowed them to escape with the Silmarils. The Silmaril burned the hand of Maedhros, and in agony he threw himself into a firey chasm with the Silmaril, and so died. Maglor also could not bear the pain of the Silmaril and cast it into the sea. Thus the Silmarils were lost in the sky, the earth, and the sea. The Noldor recieved the pardon of the Valar and were allowed to return to Valinor. Yet not all departed. Many allied themselves with Gil-galad, the High King, and Elrond Half-Elven. The Valar also granted to the Edain, who assisted in the War of the Wrath, an island to the West just beyond the furthest sight of Tol Eressëa.
