First Part The tale of the Nauglafring down to the flight of Elwing.

Second Part Earendel dwelt with his Tuor his father and Idril his mother in a house of snow-white stone on the Isles of Sirion at the mouth of that great river by the sea. Elwing of Artanor daughter of Dior and last of the house of Beren, still wearing the Nauglafring, fled to them. With her were Evranin, her nurse, the Gnome Gereth, and a few of the brown Elves and the green. There Earendel and Elwing loved one another as boy and girl. Great love flourished also between Earendel and Tuor. Earendel began to love the sea, and the beings of the sea began to love him, for even the mermaids came to him. Tuor became old, and Ulmo's conches from far out west over the sea called him louder and louder. He became sea-hungry, till one evening he called Earendel, who had grown to be a man, though smaller than most men, and they went to the shore. Tuor set sail in his twilit boat with purple sails, Swanwing (Alqarame). Earendel heard a great song swelling from the sea as Swanwing dipped over the world's rim. Earendel at once was filled with a passion of tears upon the shore. Idril came and saw him too late and lamented. She sang a song after him on the beach of Sirion. After a long time, seeing that Tuor did not return, Earendel and Idril felt terrible grief. Earendel built his first boat, Earame (Eaglepinion). Idrill, who is immortal, urged Earendel to set sail and search even to Mandos. He was reluctant to go, but finally conceded, and with Idrill and Elwing he sails in Earame to the Icy Seas toward Mandos. But the curse of Nauglafring rested on his voyages, and Osse proved to be his enemy. At the Fiord of the Mermaid Earendel's sailors were enchanted

and their ship wrecked there. Ulmo appeared at the wreck and saved them, telling Earendel that he must go to Kor, and that it is for that specific purpose that he was saved, adding: 'Indeed for this hast thou been brought out of the Wrack of Gondolin'. Elwing was filled with grief when she heard Ulmo's bidding. She explains, 'For no man may tread the streets of Kor or look upon the places of the Gods and dwell in the Outer Lands in peace again.' Earendel and Elwing wedded, and soon she became pregnant. Against Elwings counsel, Earendel departed with Voronwe and was wrecked by the treachery of Osse. Earendel was a swift swimmer, and nimble-footed, but Voronwe could not swim. They were saved only by the Oarni, the mermaids, who love him, and he and Voronwe were dragged to Falasquil where they saw the carven first dwelling of Tuor. The Oarni give Earendel a wonderful shining silver coat that repels water. Looking out across the water, Earendel could see the Isle of Seabirds 'whither do all the birds of all waters come at whiles'. Earendel and Voronwe then made their way back by land along the coast. When they got back, they found that Idril had vanished (she had set sail at night). Earendel fell into deep grief. He prayed to Ulmo and heard the conches answer. Ulmo bid him build a new and wonderful ship of the wood of Tuor from Falasquil. Elwing bid him farewell. Unbeknownst to them, this would be the last time they would be together. Third Part Earendel and Voronwe went back to Falasquil to build Wingilot. The Oarni came and offered great help, teaching the art of boatbuilding. The shape of Wingilot when it was finished was like a swan of pearls. At last Voronwe and Earendel set sail in Wingilot. They were driven south, and encountered dark regions and Ungoliante. They had many adventures, seeing fire mountains, treemen, sun-dwellers, pygmies, and sarqindi or cannibal-ogres. Later they were driven west and see the Magic Isles. They could see the Twilit Isle and the white walls of Kor gleaming afar off, but

before they could go ashore there, they were carried away by Osse's adverse winds and waves. Voronwe's son, Little-heart rang his gong and awoke the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl, a messenger that was despatched years ago by Turgon, and had been enmeshed in magics; but even then he could not leave the tower and warned them of the magic. Fourth Part Earendel then set sail for Valinor. He had many wanderings, occupying several years. Fifith Part The doves and pigeons of Turgon's courtyard in Gondolin arrived in Kor and gave tidings to the Elves of Gondolin's fall and the horrors of the fate of the Gnomes. The Elves were in an uproar, and the Gods met in councils. The Inwir (death of Inwe, Meril's great-grandfather), Teleri, and Solosimpi began their march away from Kor. During this march Inwe, Meril's great-grandfather died. The Solosimpi go forth also but fare along all the beaches of the world, for they are loth to fare far from the sound of the sea -- and only consent to go with the Teleri under these conditions -- for the Noldoli slew some of their kin at Kopas. Orcs raided Sirion and Melko captured Elwing. The Gods became full of sorrow and wrath, and they dropped a veil between Valmar and Kor, for the Gods would not destroy it but could not bear to look upon it. (Meril-i-Turinqi had mentioned this to Eriol: Olore Malle was blocked by rocks). The Eldar reached the Great Lands. Melko was bound again. The Eldar fell into wars with Men and the Elves departed to Tol Eressea (the Eldar were unable to endure the strife of the world). Elwing, still wearing the Nauglafring, was on one of the ships to Tol Eressea. Her ship sank and she died, and the Nauglafring sank with her.

Sixth Part Earendel reached Kor and found it empty. On the walls of Kor were many dark tales and prophecies written in pictured symbols, and runes of great beauty were drawn there too or carved upon stones, and Earendel read many a wondrous tale there. Earendel's shoes and even his entire self were powdered with diamond dust so that they shone brightly. He set off home to Sirion in sorrow. On the way, he saw the Bay of Faery, Tol Eressea, the Tower of Pearl, the magic isles, and the great shadows, and he heard the music of the Solosimpi, but a great wind and darkness carried him away, and he missed his way and was driven eastward to the deserts and red palaces where dwells the Sun. He arrived at Sirion, only to find it sacked and empty. Earendel distraught wandered with Voronwe and came to the ruins of Gondolin. Men were encamped there miserably. Also there were Gnomes searching still for lost gems (some of the Gnomes had gone back to Gondolin). Earendel heard of many tidings. He then traveled north and visited the empty halls of Angamandi. Earendel sailed to Tol Eressea and learned of the sinking of Elwing and the Nauglafring. Elwing had become a seabird. Earendel's grief was very great. His garments and body shone like diamonds and his face was in silver flame for the grief. He set sail with Voronwe and dwelt in a northern tower on the Isle of Seabirds in the northern waters (not far from Falasquil) -- and there hoped that Elwing would return among the seabirds, but she sought him stil, wailing along all the shores and especially among wreckage. Seventh Part Earendel's voyage to the firmament. After three times seven years he sailed again for halls of Mandos with

Voronwe. He got there only because those who still.......... and had suffered may do so. He learned that Tuor is not in Valinor (he did not find out that Tuor was with Ulmo), and nought was known of Idril or of Elwing. They reached the bar at margin of the world and set sail on oceans of the firmament in order to gaze over the Earth (to look for Elwing and to see if the Magic Sun has been lit and the Elves have come back). The Moon mariner chased him for his brightness and he dived through the Door of Night. He could not now return to the world or he would die. He would find Elwing at the Faring Forth. Tuor and Idril some say sail now in Swanwing and may be seen going swift down the wind at dawn and dusk. Earendel was the greatest and first of all mariners among Men, and saw regions that Men have not yet found nor gazed upon for all the multitude of their boats. He rideth now with Voronwe upon the winds of the firmament nor comes ever further back than Kor, else would he die like other Men, so much of the mortal is in him. Finally he became a star, shining with the light of the Silmaril. (Now we know that star as the 'morning star', Venus.)