Great Journey

The Great Journey, also called the Great March, is the westward march of the Elves from Cuiviénen, where they awoke, toward Valinor in Aman. Those who set out on it are named the Eldar; those who refuse the summons and stay behind are the Avari. The Silmarillion follows the road stage by stage. The Vala Oromë leads the host north of the Sea of Helcar and past the smoking Iron Mountains, then through the great forest afterwards called Mirkwood, and there is a long halt on the banks of Anduin while he searches out a crossing of the Misty Mountains, which stand far higher in those days. When he returns with a pass, most go on, but a company under Lenwë turns aside, and these are the Nandor. The rest skirt the woods of Eriador. Vanyar and Noldor cross the Blue Mountains first and are ferried over the sea on the island of Tol Eressëa; the Teleri, slowest and most numerous, come after.