Before the Numenoreans Came - Page 6
© Michael Martinez
The Elves between Baranduin and Lhun must have been mostly Nandor. The Noldor settled in Forlindon with Gil-galad and Elrond. These were probably mostly descended from the Noldor of Gondolin and the folk of Angrod (from northern Nargothrond), many of whom had fled to Balar. Virtually none of the Hithlum Noldor should have survived the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, or if they did they must have been enslaved. So the remaining Noldor must have been derived from the handful of Feanorians who survived the third Kinslaying and any refugees who escaped the fall of Nargothrond.
Although Cirdan's people settled in the twin havens of Mithlond, the Sindar of Doriath and the Green-elves of Ossiriand settled in Harlindon. But many of these Elves eventually migrated east to the Vales of Anduin. Tolkien only says they left "before the building of Barad-dur" (which Sauron began around the year 1000). Many people believe the Sindarin migration must have occurred before the Noldor established Eregion (circa 700-750). Because Sauron began taking action against Elves around the year 500 (apparently stirring up Men from the east to harrass the Elves), it may be that the Sindarin migrations inspired him to do something. (It should be noted that in an early draft of the Tale of Years for the Second Age, the Sindarin migration coincided with a Noldorin migration to Imladris and Eregion.)
The Elvish populations in Lindon increased, and they most likely grew as rapidly as the populations of Beleriand had grown. That is, from the time of the reconciliation of the Noldor in Beleriand early in the First Age until the Dagor Bragollach, the Noldor and Sindar increased their population considerably. A comparable period of time without any Orcish intrusions as occasionally happened during the Siege of Angband elapsed between the departure and the return of the Numenoreans.
Gil-galad's kingdom, therefore, should have become wealthier and more powerful. Cirdan's mariners may have continued sailing across the seas. Why not? They had the ships, they had the skill. Tolkien never says that they visited Aman, but northern Aman, at least, would have been easily within their reach. And it would not have been much of a journey to sail from Numenor to Tol Eressea while they were conducting the Edain over Sea.
At some point Gil-galad's people came into contact with the Edain of Eriador. These Men, thinking that their western cousins had been destroyed, never asked about them when visiting the Elves. And the Elves, having lost contact with the Numenoreans, never thought to inform the Eriadorians that some of their kinsfolk had survived. If we assume that an average generation among the Edain lasted 25-30 years, then anywhere from 24 to 29 generations passed among the Eriadorians after Estolad was abandoned until the Numenoreans returned to Middle-earth.
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