- Mithlond
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The harbour from whichFrodo Baggins ,Bilbo Baggins ,Gandalf ,Galadriel , andElrond in "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy set off to sail to Valinor.] The Elven ports of Mithlond or the Grey Havens was an Elvish port on theGulf of Lune in the northwest ofJ. R. R. Tolkien 'sfictional universe ofMiddle-earth .It was founded at the beginning of the
Second Age by the surviving Elves ofBeleriand , those who chose to remain on Middle-earth after the wars againstMorgoth . It was afterwards used by the Elves to leave Middle-earth forValinor . The Grey Havens was part ofLindon , the kingdom directly ruled byGil-galad , last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.According to the map of Middle-earth Mithlond's anchorage is divided into the Harlond (the "south-haven") and the Forlond ("north-haven") which occupy the southern and northern banks, respectively, of the River Lune.
Because of its cultural and spiritual importance to the Elves, Mithlond in time became the primary Elvish settlement west of the
Misty Mountains prior to the establishment ofEregion and, later, ofImladris . Even after the death of Gil-galad, and the Elves dwindled in numbers by the year, Mithlond remained a focal point of the history in the northern part of Middle-earth.Círdan theShipwright was the master of the Havens since its founding;Galdor of the Havens , his messenger, was among Mithlond's known inhabitants.Aside from Elves, Gimli the dwarf,
Gandalf ,Bilbo Baggins andFrodo Baggins also went to Valinor from the Grey Havens, and a family tradition held thatSamwise Gamgee (having been himself aRing-bearer , albeit briefly) did likewise, in the year 1484 of the Shire Reckoning. (Fourth Age 61) It is unclear just what the fate of the Elves of Middle-earth was in the early Fourth Age and how long Círdan or his remaining folk dwelled at the Havens and continued to build the great ships that carried the Elves to the Blessed Realm.External links
* [http://www.lotrlibrary.com/agesofarda/beyondgreyhavens.asp Beyond the Grey Havens: Lord of the Rings Fanatics Library]
* [http://www.warnerreprise.com/qt-ref/annielennox_intothewest_uth6g356_ref.mov] 'Into The West' performed by Annie Lennox. This song refers to Frodo's journey ending and his leaving for Valinor. It won an Oscar in 2003.
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