From Library of the Randirim

(( This work is prefaced by a brief history of the Noldor who departed with Fëanor to Middle-earth against the will of the Valar, as well as accounts of their first battles against Morgoth and the Elf-lords establishing their various strongholds.))

Now it came to pass that as the Noldor settled in Aman, there were long spells of peace in the War of the Jewels; and turning their minds away from the business of fighting they thought once more of their comforts. During this time came the birth of many Elf-children, such as had not been since they dwelt in bliss in Valinor.

These children were not all of like mind to their parents; and some, rather than listening with delight to tales of valor in the fight against Morgoth, dwelt instead upon the horrors of Fëanor's rash flight: of the infamous Kinslaying; of the pride of his sons that estranged them from the Sindar Elves of Doriath; and most of all of the Doom of Mandos that had been pronounced upon the Noldor.

So it was that no small number renounced utterly the Quest of the Silmarils; and swore an Oath to counter that of Fëanor and his sons: to have no part in any of the battles to recover them, and not to dwell as friends with those who claimed the mastery of them. And to uphold their vow, sworn upon the Undying Lands, these Elves left their homelands and wandered across Beleriand.

In all this they were led by one Sendaner of the House of Finarfin, an Elf of great wisdom but of little prowess in war. In time the thought came to Sendaner that Elu Thingol might look with favor upon him and those who followed him, as they had rejected the proud Sons of Fëanor and the deeds of the Noldor.

Thus he led his people to Doriath, and indeed they were welcomed by the Sindar, and passed through the Girdle of Melian. Here they were met by Mablung of the Heavy Hand, who stated that Thingol would accept them on one condition only: they must never again use the language of the Noldor, and use only speech of the Grey-Elves.

This Sendaner and his folk agreed to do; and he himself took a new name, Areneth, saying that he would enter into Doriath as one new-born. And as a whole his people took the name Edlenni, the Exiled, for so they had become.

In Doriath the Edlenni flourished and learned much of the culture of the Sindar Elves. Despite their Oath against the Silmarils, there were some among Thingol's folk who trusted them little; yet many more welcomed them openly, and no greater than those who had been friendly with the Noldor in the past: Beleg Strongbow and Daeron the minstrel in particular.

Thus the Edlenni spent the greater part of their time with these two; and Areneth became apprenticed to Daeron, and learned of the Sindar runes, the Cirth, from the hands of their very maker. So vast became his knowledge that the Grey-Elves began to call him Certhir, Master of Runes, a name he bore ever after.

For a time Certhir and the Edlenni dwelt in bliss in Doriath, but time had not frozen. Of the great matters that came to pass, more can be found in the Lay of Leithian; but it came to pass that Beren One-handed and Lúthien Tinúviel wrested a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth, and this jewel came to the possession of Elu Thingol.

Now the Oath of the Edlenni, which had lain dormant, began to make itself felt; and sad indeed was their parting from Doriath, which they had come to think of as their home. Yet they knew in their hearts that the Silmaril would bring only evil upon the realm, and so it came to be; for Doriath was destroyed by the Naugrim, and Thingol slain; and the Silmaril was hunted relentlessly by the Sons of Fëanor, who dared once again raise their weapons against their own kindred.

All this the Edlenni avoided; for departing Doriath soon after Thingol claimed the Silmaril, they wandered across Beleriand once again until they came under the protection of Gil-galad, who dwelt in what became later known as Lindon. And in his heart Certhir hoped that he and his people would be able to avoid battle and strife for many long years to come.

The Edlenni had no part in the remaining great deeds of the First Age; it was not until the Host of the West cast down Morgoth and reclaimed the Silmarils that they appear again. For their Oath, as Fëanor's, had unlooked-for consequences; and they could not hold as friends the Valar, nor accept their summons; they remained behind in shame.

Yet ere long the Silmarils were lost, and with great joy the greater part of the Edlenni passed eagerly into the West to dwell ever-after in Valinor. Yet some remained, and Certhir among them; for they had come to love Middle-earth in their hearts; and they felt compelled to aid in the healing of the world in the aftermath of the War of Wrath.

When the Edain established the Isle of Númenor, their mariners came often to Lindon; and the Edlenni were ever their greatest friends among the Eldar, for they gave willingly their knowledge and counsel.

Soon after there appeared to the Noldor of Eregion one who named himself Annatar, the Lord of Gifts; and with his aid and advice many great and powerful things were crafted, in particular great rings of power. All looked upon him with favor, yet Gil-galad trusted him not, nor did Elrond; and Certhir and the Edlenni were of like mind to the two Elf-lords.

The shadow came to Númenor, and it was lost; and Annatar revealed himself the Dark Lord Sauron, and forged the Master Ring in the fires of the Mountain of Doom. There followed the Battle of the Last Alliance; and Sauron was cast down; and the Ring was lost for many long years.

With the death of Gil-galad, Lindon waned; and many of the Edlenni sailed at last into the West. Those few who remained followed Certhir into the Vale of Imladris, called Rivendell, the sanctuary of Elrond Half-elven; and there they have dwelt to this day.