Silmarils: Jewels of Light

Fëanor, the greatest craftsman among the Eldar, created the Silmarils at the height of the Noontide of Valinor. His unmatched skill in craftsmanship combined with his deep understanding of lore and language allowed him to create these jewels of surpassing beauty and power. The son of Finwë worked tirelessly in his forge at Formenos, channeling his exceptional creative energy and skill into what would become his masterwork, surpassing all previous creations in the realm of the Valar.

Within the crystalline forms of the Silmarils, Fëanor managed to capture and blend the radiant light of the Two Trees of Valinor. He gathered the silver light of Telperion and the golden rays of Laurelin, intermingling them in a way that had never been achieved before. This feat required not only extraordinary skill but also a deep understanding of the nature of light itself, as the radiance of the Trees was living and sacred.

The substance of the Silmarils remains one of the greatest mysteries of Arda. Fëanor crafted them from a crystalline material called silima, which he alone knew how to create. This substance possessed a hardness greater than adamant, and no violence or instrument in Arda could break or mar it. Even Aulë, the great craftsman among the Valar, marveled at their construction and could not discern their making.

The crystal substance of the Silmarils possessed a hallowed nature that set them apart from all other jewels ever crafted in Arda. They were described in the Quenta Silmarillion as being fashioned of silima, a substance that appeared as crystal but was harder than adamant and as clear as the waters of Ulmo. Their purity was such that they contained no taint or flaw, making them perfect vessels for the holy light they contained.

The Silmarils possessed an extraordinary quality of inner fire that caused them to shine with their own power. They would blaze with white flames and yet cause no heat, radiating a light that combined the silver of Telperion and the gold of Laurelin in perfect harmony. This living light would wax and wane as did the Two Trees themselves, creating a sublime radiance that brought joy to all who beheld it in reverence.

Upon their completion, Varda Elentári herself hallowed the Silmarils, ensuring that no mortal flesh, unclean hand, or anything of evil nature could touch them without being burned and withered. This blessing transformed the jewels from mere masterworks of craft into holy artifacts of Arda. When Morgoth later stole them, his hands were forever burned black by their touch, and his Iron Crown, which held them, caused him constant pain.

The Silmarils contained the only pure and untainted light of the Two Trees of Valinor, making them uniquely significant in the history of Arda. This light represented the apex of creation in Valinor, being more ancient and pure than the light of Sun and Moon. The presence of this holy radiance within the jewels meant they were not merely beautiful trinkets but vessels of profound spiritual and historical importance.

After Morgoth and Ungoliant destroyed the Two Trees, the Silmarils became the sole remaining vessels of their sacred light. The Valar themselves sought these jewels to restore the Trees, but Fëanor, even knowing that giving up the Silmarils could heal the Trees, refused to break them. This decision had far-reaching consequences, as the death of the Trees led to the creation of the Sun and Moon, forever changing the nature of light in Arda.

The living radiance within the Silmarils served as a beacon of hope throughout the dark times that followed the destruction of the Trees. Their light reminded the Eldar of the bliss of Valinor and inspired countless deeds of valor and sacrifice. In Middle-earth, tales of their brilliance sparked dreams of glory and redemption, though their power also awakened dangerous desires in those who beheld them.

The Oath of Fëanor, sworn in Tirion upon Túna, stands as one of the most terrible and consequential moments in the history of the Eldar. Fëanor and his seven sons swore an unbreakable oath by Ilúvatar himself, calling the Everlasting Darkness upon themselves should they fail to recover the Silmarils from any who withheld them. The words of this oath were spoken in wrath and pride, with drawn swords and fatal consequences that would echo through ages.

The binding nature of the Oath of Fëanor was absolute and inescapable. Those who swore it became bound by its terms until the end of time or until the Silmarils were recovered. Neither death nor distance could release them from their sworn word, and the oath drove them to terrible deeds including three kinslayings among their own people. The Doom of Mandos fell upon them as a result, marking them as exiles from Valinor.

The oath became the driving force behind many of the tragic events of the First Age, compelling the sons of Fëanor to terrible actions in their pursuit of the jewels. It led them to attack their own kin at Alqualondë, Doriath, and the Havens of Sirion. The oath's power was such that even when faced with the horror of their deeds, they could not abandon their quest, leading to their eventual destruction and the sundering of the Noldor.

The destruction of the Two Trees marked the beginning of a new and darker chapter in the history of Arda. Morgoth, aided by Ungoliant, struck during a festival when the Valar's vigilance was lowered. After destroying the Trees, Morgoth broke into Fëanor's stronghold at Formenos, slew Finwë, and stole the Silmarils in an act that would shape the destiny of Middle-earth for ages to come.

Upon his return to Middle-earth, Morgoth set the stolen Silmarils into his great Iron Crown, wearing them as symbols of his triumph over the Valar and Eldar. Though the holy jewels burned his flesh unceasingly, his pride would not allow him to remove them. The Iron Crown became both his glory and his torment, as the pure light of the jewels caused him constant pain yet he refused to relinquish them.

The theft of the Silmarils spurred the Noldor to pursue Morgoth into Middle-earth, leading to their exile from Valinor. Despite the warnings of the Valar and the prophecy of the Doom of Mandos, Fëanor led his people on a desperate journey that included the first Kinslaying at Alqualondë and the burning of the ships at Losgar. This pursuit would define the history of the First Age and lead to countless tales of heroism and tragedy.

The influence of the Silmarils on the history of the First Age cannot be overstated. These jewels became the catalyst for the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the establishment of great realms such as Gondolin and Nargothrond, and the alliances formed between Elves and Men. Their presence in Morgoth's crown made Angband both a fortress and a tomb of treasure, drawing warriors and heroes to challenge his dominion.

The wars fought over the Silmarils shaped the geography and politics of Beleriand throughout the First Age. From the Dagor-nuin-Giliath to the War of Wrath, countless battles were fought in the quest to recover these jewels. The great kingdoms of the Noldor, such as Hithlum, Gondolin, and Nargothrond, were established as bases from which to oppose Morgoth and reclaim the Silmarils.

The alliances forged in the wars over the Silmarils brought together Elves, Men, and Dwarves in ways that would influence all later ages of Middle-earth. The marriages of Beren and Lúthien, and later Tuor and Idril, came about through quests related to the jewels. These unions created bloodlines that would carry the legacy of these events far into the future, eventually leading to the Half-elven and the kings of Númenor.

The recovery of the Silmarils came only at the end of the First Age, after the War of Wrath and the final defeat of Morgoth. The remaining sons of Fëanor, Maedhros and Maglor, driven by their binding oath, stole the jewels from the camp of the victorious Valar. However, the jewels rejected their touch, burning their hands with unbearable pain due to their many evil deeds in pursuit of their oath.

The fate of the three Silmarils was to be forever separated across the three realms of Arda. Maedhros, in his despair, cast himself and his Silmaril into a fiery chasm in the earth. Maglor threw his into the great sea, where it remains in the deeps. The third was given to Eärendil, set in his ship Vingilot, sailing forever as a star beloved by Elves and Men alike, known as the Evening Star.

According to the prophecy of Mandos, the Silmarils will remain in their respective domains until the end of Arda. Only after the Last Battle and the remaking of the world will they be recovered and reunited. At this time, Yavanna will break them open to restore the Two Trees, and their light will illuminate the world anew. This promise of restoration remains one of the great hopes for the final healing of Arda.