The Wild, Wild, Wood-elf West - Page 3
© Michael Martinez
The Nandor came from Olwe's host, which was larger than Elwe's. Just for the sake of argument, let's say Olwe led 26 and Elwe led 20. Then half of Olwe's host could have followed Lenwe south to become the Nandor. That would leave Elwe with the larger group of Teleri until they reached Beleriand and he got lost. Then Olwe took over and most of the Teleri in Beleriand made it over Sea. But of those who remained, Cirdan's people came from Olwe's following, so of Olwe's original mob, relatively few of the Elves made it Aman.
What's this got to do with Wood-elves? Everything. Tolkien tells us that most of the Nelyar actually wanted to stay in Middle-earth, but they were also closer to each other than the other groups were. Hence, when it became clear a significant portion of the Nelyar were going to leave Cuivienen, a massive change of heart occurred among the others, and many of them decided to join the Eldar. But these probably constituted the greater part of Olwe's original people.
In the following ages, the Sindar built up a great civilization in Beleriand and the Avari began drifting west. Why did they leave Cuivienen? There were probably two chief reasons: divisions among the Tatyar and increases in population. Cuivienen could probably only support so many Elves. As their numbers grew they most likely began to spread out, and the Tatyar being less fond of the waters would have led the way, while the Nelyar remained as close to Cuivienen as they possibly could.
If one examines the history of the Noldor, it becomes evident that they were a rather divisive group. Even in Aman they didn't all stay together. The Vanyar, too, seemed to get wanderlust. They helped found the city of Tirion but soon they migrated into Valinor, where some of them settled in Valimar (the city of the Valar), some settled on the slopes of Taniquetil, the mountain where Manwe and Varda lived, and some wandered off into the woods and distant regions of Valinor. The Noldor weren't long in following them. Most of the Noldor seem to have stayed in Tirion, or lived in the hills close by the city. But Feanor and his crowd took off, and Mahtan, Feanor's father-in-law, seems to have lived close to Aule (along with other Noldor of like mind). And then in Middle-earth the Noldor couldn't seem to wait to split up and go their various ways.
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