Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

           InthattimeweremadethosethingsthatafterwardsweremostrenownedofalltheworksoftheElves.ForFeanor,beingcometohisfullmight,wasfilledwithanewthought,oritmaybethatsomeshadowofforeknowledgecametohimofthedoomthatdrewnear;andheponderedhowthelightoftheTrees,thegloryoftheBlessedRealm,mightbepreservedimperishable.Thenhebeganalongandsecretlabour,andhesummonedallhislore,andhispower,andhissubtleskill;andattheendofallhemadetheSilmarils.

           AsthreegreatJewelstheywereinform.ButnotuntiltheEnd,whenFeanorshallreturnwhoperishederetheSunwasmade,andsitsnowintheHallsofAwaitingandcomesnomoreamonghiskin;notuntiltheSunpassesandtheMoonfalls,shallitbeknownofwhatsubstancetheyweremade.Likethecrystalofdiamondsitappeared,andyetwasmorestrongthanadamant,sothatnoviolencecouldmaritorbreakitwithintheKingdomofArda.YetthatcrystalwastotheSilmarilsbutasisthebodytotheChildrenofIluvatar:thehouseofitsinnerfire,thatiswithinitandyetinallpartsofit,andisitslife.AndtheinnerfireoftheSilmarilsFeanormadeoftheblendedlightoftheTreesofValinor,whichlivesinthemyet,thoughtheTreeshavelongwitheredandshinenomore.ThereforeeveninthedarknessofthedeepesttreasurytheSilmarilsoftheirownradianceshonelikethestarsofVarda;andyet,asweretheyindeedlivingthings,theyrejoicedinlightandreceiveditandgaveitbackinhuesmoremarvellousthanbefore.

           AllwhodweltinAmanwerefilledwithwonderanddelightattheworkofFeanor.AndVardahallowedtheSilmarils,sothatthereafternomortalflesh,norhandsunclean,noranythingofevilwillmighttouchthem,butitwasscorchedandwithered;andMandosforetoldthatthefatesofArda,earth,sea,andair,laylockedwithinthem.TheheartofFeanorwasfastboundtothesethingsthathehimselfhadmade.