The hosts of the Vanyar and Noldor are now in the fair shoreland regions of Beleriand, and the Telerin Elves are encamped along the shores of the River Gelion in East Beleriand. The Vala Oromë has now departed over the Sea to seek the counsel of the Valar - because practically, it would be impossible to lead the Eldar into the far north, where Middle-earth and Aman draw nigh together, as that region contains a narrow straight where the waters of the Ekkaia and Belegaer meet and blend, and the straight is filled with grinding hills of ice and waste - likely due to the violence of Melkor. Therefore, the Eldar are left for a while in Middle-earth.
During this time, Elwë Singollo, Lord of the Teleri, wandered into the forest of Nan Elmoth in search of Finwë his friend. Elwë was eager to return to Valinor, and he had ever urged his host to continue the Great Journey. Then on a sudden, he stopped, hearing the sound of singing and the sound of Nightingales (they are called in Quenya lomelindi, which signifies ''dusk-singers''), and he was held in awe, and forgot then all the purposes of his mind, and wandering deeper and deeper into Nan Elmoth, he was lost. And at last, coming upon an open glade, he beheld Melian the Maia, and the light of Aman was in her face. She spoke no word, but coming towards her, he took her hand, and they stood thus for long years, and the people of the Teleri who sought him, found him not. Olwë, the king's brother, then took the lordship of the Teleri.
Now Ulmo, the Lord of Waters, by the counsel of the Valar, came to the north-western shores of the Outer Lands and spoke with the Eldar. And he made music for them upon his horns of shell, the Ulumúri, wrought by Salmar, and then the Elves, who had until that time been afraid of the look and sound of the Sea, were desirous of it. And then Ulmo, with the aid of his servants, uprooted an island that stood amidst the Great Sea and brought it to the Hither Lands, and the Elves embarked upon this Isle and were ferried across the Sea. But the Teleri dwelt yet in East Beleriand and heard not the summons of Ulmo, moreover some searched yet for Elwë who was lost. When they heard of the departure of their kindred, they pressed onto the seaward regions of Beleriand and abode near the Mouths of Sirion in longing for their friends; and Ossë and Uinen, servants of Ulmo, came to them and befriended them.
The Teleri remained long by the western shores of Middle-earth, until listening to the prayers of the Vanyar and Noldor, who grieved at their long sundrance from the Teleri, Ulmo returned to the shores of the Great Lands. Then a great many of the Teleri (those that had pressed onto the coasts) embarked upon the isle and were ferried over the Sea. But those that remained, the friends of Elwë, were left behind, and were filled with sorrow. They called themselves the Eglath, the Forsaken People, and they dwelt rather in the woods and valleys than by the Sea, which reminded them of their lost kindreds. But after a time, Elwë returned with Melian (whom he took to wife) and met his people, and he had grown tall and grey. He became the Lord of Beleriand, and his people were the Sindar, the Grey-Elves, and Melian was his Queen.
Now Ossë followed the isle that was taken over the Sea, and when it reached the Bay of Eldamar, he called to the Teleri, and they were glad. Then Ulmo anchored the isle in the Sea, for he understood the minds of the Teleri, and at the great councils of the Valar, he had wished that the Quendi were left free to wander the lands of Middle-earth, and with their arts to heal the hurts of Melkor. The Isle became known as Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, and there the Teleri abode as they wished, under their lord Olwë, and under the bright stars.
The above image is another of Ted Nasmith's Middle-earth inspired artwork. It is called ''The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea.'' If any reader is curious to find more Tolkien artwork, go to this link.
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