Avallón？； if they would。 Therefore the loremasters of Men said that a Straight Road must still be； for those that were
permitted to find it。 And they taught that； while the new world fell away； the old road and the path of the memory of the
West still went on； as it were a mighty bridge invisible that passed through the air of breath and of flight （which were
bent now as the world was bent）； and traversed Ilmen which flesh unaided cannot endure； until it came to Tol Eress？a；
the Lonely Isle； and maybe even beyond； to Valinor； where the Valar still dwell and watch the unfolding of the story of
the world。 And tales and rumours arose along the shores of the sea concerning mariners and men forlorn upon the water
who； by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar； had entered in upon the Straight Way and seen the face of the world
sink below them； and so had e to the lamplit quays of Avallón？； or verily to the last beaches on the margin of Aman；
and there had looked upon the White Mountain； dreadful and beautiful； before they died。
OF THE RINGS OF POWER
AND THE THIRD AGE
in which these tales e to
their end
Of old there was Sauron the Maia； whom the Sindar in Beleriand named Gorthaur。 In the beginning of Arda Melkor
seduced him to his allegiance； and he became the greatest and most trusted of the servants of the Enemy； and the most
perilous； for he could assume many forms； and for long if he willed he could still appear noble and beautiful； so as to
deceive all but the most wary。
When Thangorodrim was broken and Morgoth overthrown； Sauron put on his fair hue again and did obeisance to
E？nw？ the herald of Manw？； and abjured all his evil deeds。 And some hold that this was not at first falsely done； but that
Sauron in truth repented； if only out of fear； being dismayed by the fall of Morgoth and the great wrath of the Lords of
the West。 But it was not within the power of E？nw？ to pardon those of his own order； and he manded Sauron to
return to Aman and there receive the judgement of Manw？。 Then Sauron was ashamed； and he was unwilling to return in
humiliation and to receive from the Valar a sentence； it might be； of long servitude in proof of his good faith； for under
Morgoth his power had been great。 Therefore when E？nw？ departed he hid himself in Middle…earth； and he fell back
into evil； for the bonds that Morgoth bad laid upon him were very strong。
* * *
In the Great Battle and the tumults of the fall of Thangorodrim there were mighty convulsions in the earth； and
Beleriand was broken and laid waste； and northward and westward many lands sank beneath the waters of the Great Sea。
In the east； in Ossiriand； the walls of Ered Luin were broken； and a great gap was made in them towards the south； and a
gulf of the sea flowed in。 Into that gulf the River Lh？n fell by a new course； and it was called therefore the Gulf of Lh？n。
That country had of old been named Lindon by the Noldor； and this name it bore thereafter； and many of the Eldar still
dwelt there； lingering； unwilling yet to forsake Beleriand where they had fought and laboured long。 Gil…galad son of
Fingon was their king； and with him was Elrond Half…elven； son of E？rendil the Mariner and brother of Elros first king
of Númenor。
Upon the shores of the Gulf of Lh？n the Elves built their havens； and named them Mithlond； and there they held
many ships； for the harbourage was good。 From the Grey Havens the Eldar ever and anon set sail； fleeing from the
darkness of the days of Earth； for by the mercy of the Valar the Firstborn could still follow the Straight Road and return；
if they would； to their kindred in Eress？a and Valinor beyond the encircling seas。
Others of the Eldar there were who crossed the mountains of Ered Luin in that age and passed into the inner
lands。 Many of these were Teleri； survivors of Doriath and Ossiriand； and they established realms among the Silvan
Elves in woods and mountains far from the sea； for which nonetheless they ever yearned in their hearts。 Only in Eregion；
which Men called Hollin； did Elves of Noldorin race establish a lasting realm beyond the Ered Luin。 Eregion was nigh
to the great mansions of the Dwarves that were named Khazad…d？m； but by the Elves Hadhodrond； and afterwards
Moria。 From Ost…in…Edhil； the city of the Elves； the highroad ran to the west gate of Khazad…d？m； for a friendship arose
between Dwarves and Elves； such as has never elsewhere been； to the enrichment of both those peoples。 In Eregion the
craftsmen of the Gwaith…i…Mírdain； the People of the Jewel…smiths； surpassed in cunning all that have ever wrought； save
only F？anor himself； and indeed greatest in skill among them was Celebrimbor； son of Curufin； who was estranged from
his father and remained in Nargothrond when Celegorm and Curufin were driven forth； as is told in the Quenta
Silmarillion。
Elsewhere in Middle…earth there was peace for many years； yet the lands were for the most part savage and
desolate； save only where the people of Beleriand came。 Many Elves dwelt there indeed； as they had dwelt through the
countless years； wandering free in the wide lands far from the Sea； but they were Avari； to whom the deeds of Beleriand
were but a rumour and Valinor only a distant name。 And in the south and in the further east Men multiplied； and most of
them turned to evil； for Sauron was at work。
Seeing the desolation of the world； Sauron said in his heart that the Valar； having overthrown Morgoth； had again
forgotten Middle…earth； and his pride grew apace。 He looked with hatred on the Eldar； and he feared the Men of
Númenor who came back at whiles in their ships to the shores of Middle…earth； but for long he dissembled his mind and
concealed the dark designs that he shaped in his heart。
Men he found the easiest to sway of all the peoples of the Earth； but long he sought to persuade the Elves to his
service； for he knew that the Firstborn had the greater power； and he went far and wide among them； and his hue was
still that of one both fair and wise。 Only to Lindon he did not e； for Gil…galad and Elrond doubted him and his fair…
seeming； and though they knew not who in truth he was they would not admit him to that land。 But elsewhere the Elves
received him gladly； and few among them hearkened to the messengers from Lindon bidding them beware； for Sauron
took to himself the name of Annatar； the Lord of Gifts； and they had at first much profit from his friendship。 And he said
to them： 〃Alas； for the weakness of the great！ For a mighty king is Gil…galad； and wise in all lore is Master Elrond； and
yet they will not aid me in my labours。 Can it be that they do not desire to see other lands bee as blissful as their
own？ But wherefore should Middle…earth remain for ever desolate and dark； whereas the Elves could make it as fair as
Eress？a； nay even as Valinor？ And since you have not returned thither； as you might； I perceive that you love this
Middle…earth； as do I。 Is it not then our task to labour together for its enrichment； and for the raising of all the Elven…
kindreds that wand