that have not been seen upon Middle-earth, and perhaps never now shall be, since the fashion of the world was changed.
The Silmarillion
Chapter 6
Of F?anor and the Unchaining of Melkor
Now the Three Kindreds of the Eldar were gathered at last in Valinor, and Melkor was chained. This was the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, the fullness of its glory and its bliss, long in tale of years, but in memory too brief. In those days the Eldar became full-grown in stature of body and of mind, and the Noldor advanced ever in skill and knowledge; and the long years were filled with their joyful labours, in which many new things fair and wonderful were devised. Then it was that the Noldor first bethought them of letters, and R?mil of Tirion was the name of the loremaster who first achieved fitting signs for the recording of speech and song, some for graving upon metal or in stone, others for drawing with brush or with pen.
In that time was born in Eldamar, in the house of the King in Tirion upon the crown of T?na, the eldest of the sons of Finw?, and the most beloved. Curufinw? was his name, but by his mother he was called F?anor, Spirit of Fire; and thus he is remembered in all the tales of the Noldor.
M?riel was the name of his mother, who was called Serind?, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor. The love of Finw? and M?riel was great and glad, for it began in the Blessed Realm in the Days of Bliss. But in the bearing of her son M?riel was consumed in spirit and body; and after his birth she yearned for release from the labours of living. Ana when she had named mm, she said to Finw?: 'Never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone forth into F?anor.'
Then Finw? was grieved, for the Noldor were in me youth of their days, and he desired to bring forth many children into the Miss of Aman; and he said: 'Surely there is healing in Aman? Here all weariness can find rest.' But when M?riel languished still, Finw? sought the counsel of Manw?, and Manw? delivered her to the care of Irmo in L?rien. At their parting (for a little while as he thought) Finw? was sad, for it seemed an unhappy chance that the mother should depart and miss the beginning at least of the childhood days of her son.
'It is indeed unhappy,' said M?riel, 'and I would weep, if I were not so weary. But hold me blameless in this, and in all that may come after.'
She went then to the gardens of L?rien and lay down to sleep; but though she seemed to sleep, her spirit indeed departed from her body, and passed in silence to the halls of Mandos. The maidens of Est? tended the body of M?riel, and it remained unwithered; but she did not return. Then Finw? lived in sorrow; and he went often to the gardens of L?rien, and sitting beneath the silver willows beside the body of his wife he called her by her names. But it was unavailing; and alone in all the Blessed Realm he was deprived of joy. After a while he went to L?rien no more.
An his love he gave thereafter to his son; and F?anor grew swiftly, as if a secret fire were kindled within him. He was tall, and fair of face, and masterful, his eyes piercingly bright and his hair raven-dark; in the pursuit of all his purposes eager and steadfast. Few ever changed his courses by counsel, none by force. He became of all the Noldor, then or after, the most subtle in mind and the most skilled in hand. In his youth, bettering the work of R?mil, he devised those letters which bear his name, and which the Eldar used ever after; and he it was who, first of the Noldor, discovered how gems greater and brighter than those of the earth might be made with skill. The first gems that F?anor made were white and colourless, but being set under starlight they would blaze with blue and silver fires brighter than Helluin; and other crystals he made also, wherein things far away could be seen small but clear, as with the eyes of the eagles of Manw?. Seldom were