The Silmarillion

During that time, only Oromë and Yavanna come to Middle-earth, where evil and “dark creatures” walk. Yavanna puts some of the natural world to sleep so it won’t age before the elves arrive. Melkor’s corruption and influence grows, and he creates a new fortress near the western shore commanded by Sauron and called Angband. Yavanna tells the council of the Valar that the Children of Ilúvatar will wake up eventually to find Middle-earth overrun by evil if they don’t do something about Melkor.

Tulkas urges them to begin another war with Melkor, but Manwë reminds the Valar that the elves are fated to wake up in darkness, under only the light of the stars. Varda, who already created stars, leaves the council and begins the “greatest of all the works of the Valar.” She takes the shining dew from Telperion and uses it to craft new, brighter stars and constellations. Because of this labor, the elves call her the Kindler and the Queen of the Stars.

As Varda finishes her labor, the elves wake up in the bay of Cuiviénen, and the first thing they see is starlight. They live by the water for a long time, exploring the world, then begin to create language and name themselves the Quendi. As Oromë rides through Middle-earth on a hunt his horse stops suddenly, and he hears the sound of singing. By this chance, the Valar discover that the elves are awake.

Oromë is “filled with wonder” seeing the elves, and names them the Eldar (the people of the stars), but many of the elves are afraid of Oromë since Melkor has plagued them with spies and evil spirits. If any of the elves venture too far away from the bay and disappear, a lie begun by Melkor leads them to assume Oromë the hunter caught them. Melkor corrupts and enslaves the elves he captures and uses them to create the race of orcs—possibly his worst crime.  The noblest of the elves, however, are drawn to Oromë and don’t run from him.

Oromë travels to Valinor to tell the Valar the news, then returns immediately to Middle-earth to stay with the elves. Ilúvatar counsels Manwë to lead the Valar to defend the elves from Melkor. The Valar fight Melkor in the north-west of Middle-earth, destroying much of the land, but winning a swift victory and driving him back to Utumno. The siege of Utumno changes the shape of Middle-earth and ends with Tulkas capturing Melkor and restraining him in chains made by Aulë.

Though Melkor’s capture leads to an age of peace, the Valar don’t find all the hiding places in Utumno and Angband, so many evil things (including Sauron) escape. When the Valar bring Melkor back to Valinor to face the council of the Valar, Melkor begs Manwë for pardon and is denied. They imprison him in the Houses of the Dead, where no one can escape, and plan to wait three ages before allowing him to ask for pardon again.

The Valar argue about how to care for the Quendi. Some want to heal the wrongs of Middle-earth and leave the Quendi there, but others fear for their safety and want their companionship. The Valar decide to summon the Quendi to Valinor to live with them, as Mandos knows is part of their fate. “Many woes” result from the invitation.

The Quendi are fearful and hesitant to come, so Oromë selects ambassadors to travel to Valinor first. Ingwë, Finwë, and Elwë meet the Valar, then return to advise the rest of the Quendi to come to Valinor, leading to the first division of the elves. Most of the elves (called the Eldar after this) follow their leaders to Valinor. Others called the Avari (or Unwilling) refuse to come and are separated from the Eldar.

The first group of elves to depart Middle-earth, led by Ingwë, is called the Vanyar, or the Fair Elves, who rarely return to Middle-earth. The next group, led by Finwë, is called the Noldor, or the Deep Elves, and is loved by Aulë. The biggest group is led by Elwë and his brother Olwë and is called the Teleri, or the Sea-elves. The elves that make it to Valinor are collectively called the Elves of the Light. Other members of the Eldar don’t complete the journey, becoming lost on the road or lingering in Middle-earth. They, along with the Avari, are called the Elves of the Darkness.

The Eldar’s trek to Valinor is long, since they enjoy the sights of Middle-earth as they travel and often stop moving entirely if Oromë isn’t there to lead them. The Teleri almost stop to live near the Anduin river, and one elf named Lenwë leads many elves away from the march to Valinor. They become the Nandor, who possess extensive knowledge of nature. Eventually, all three groups of Eldar reach Beleriand, the westernmost part of Middle-earth at the edge of the sea that leads to Valinor.