September 20, 2002

The Ends of the Earth
Brett C.

Beyond Valinor, Smee and Smo, lies the Outer Sea, Ekkaia, where I believe Ulmo most often abides, though he never remains long in one place. Beyond these are the Walls of Night, that mark the boundary between Arda and the Outer Darknes. In 'The Beginning of Days' Melkor gathered his forces beyond these walls and at a time of festival among the Valar crossed them with his followeres in the North of Arda to attack the Two Lamps of the Valar. Also, the vessels of the Sun and Moon periodically pass beneath the roots of Arda, by way of a great chasm which runs about its circumference [meaning I suppose that the Sun and Moon make their jouneys within the bounds of Arda, and not in the void beyond] Earendil, the evening star, whose light is captured in the phial Galadriel gives Frodo, sails out from Valinor and traverses the outer darknes by the light of the Silmaril he bears, and is seen brightly in the sky as he leaves on or returns from these voyages.