Eönwë

Herald of the Elder King

Eönwë is one of the two Maiar whom the Valaquenta names as chief of that order, the other being Ilmarë. He belongs to the household of Manwë on Taniquetil, where he serves as the Elder King's herald and carries his banner. Of all the beings who dwell in Arda, none is said to surpass him in strength of arms. He is, in effect, the marshal of the Valar: when Manwë needs a message carried to Middle-earth or an army led there, it is Eönwë who goes.

The War of Wrath

Eönwë's great hour came at the end of the First Age. When Eärendil reached Valinor and pleaded for Elves and Men, Manwë resolved to move against Morgoth at last, and the host of the West was mustered under Eönwë's command. The Vanyar marched, and the Noldor who had never left Aman under Finarfin; the Teleri, still grieving for the Kinslaying, would only crew the ships. The war that followed broke Beleriand itself. Angband was unroofed, Thangorodrim thrown down, the Balrogs all but exterminated, and the dragons destroyed after Ancalagon fell. Morgoth was bound, and Eönwë took the two remaining Silmarils from the Iron Crown and set them under guard in his camp.

The sons of Fëanor

Maedhros and Maglor, the last of Fëanor's sons, sent to Eönwë demanding the jewels under the terms of their Oath. Eönwë answered that whatever right they had once held had been forfeited by the evil they had done to obtain it, and that the Silmarils would return to Valinor, where the brothers must come to be judged. The two crept into the camp by night and killed the guards, expecting to die in turn. Eönwë forbade any pursuit or killing, and let them go with the jewels; the Silmarils themselves passed judgement, burning the hands that held them until one was cast into a fiery chasm and the other into the Sea.

Sauron's surrender

Sauron, seeing his master's ruin, put on his fairest shape and came before Eönwë asking to be pardoned. The herald had no authority to absolve another of his own order and told him he must present himself in Aman for Manwë's judgement. Sauron, ashamed and afraid of humiliation, chose instead to hide in Middle-earth, and so the evil of the later ages was preserved. Eönwë then summoned the Elves of Beleriand to sail west, and many did.

The Edain

Before the Edain crossed the Sea to Númenor, Eönwë came among them and instructed them, so that they grew wiser and more learned than any other mortal people. This is his last recorded act; he remains in Valinor, first among Manwë's servants.

Eönwë remains in Valinor as the herald of Manwë.