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The ''' Last Ship''' was the last ship, built by [[Círdan]], that sailed from the [[Grey Havens]] into the [[Uttermost West]] carrying the last [[Elves]] from [[Middle-earth]]. | The ''' Last Ship''' was the last ship, built by [[Círdan]], that sailed from the [[Grey Havens]] into the [[Uttermost West]] carrying the last [[Elves]] from [[Middle-earth]]. | ||
[[Círdan]] maintained the haven at least into the [[Fourth Age]], but it was recognized that eventually, its purpose would reach an end when no more Elves wished to cross the [[Sea]]. At that time, Círdan would abandon the Grey Havens and finally travel the [[Straight Road]] himself. | [[Círdan]] maintained the haven at least into the [[Fourth Age]] (for the last mentioning the [[Grey Havens]] was [[Samwise Gamgee]]'s departure [[West]] in {{FoA|61}}),<ref name="Later">{{App|Later}}</ref> but it was recognized that eventually, its purpose would reach an end when no more Elves wished to cross the [[Sea]]. At that time, Círdan would abandon the Grey Havens and finally travel the [[Straight Road]] himself. | ||
The Last Ship | At some unknown date,<ref group="note">The Last Ship could not have sailed before {{FoA|120}} based on [[Aragorn]]'s final words to [[Arwen]]. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still take passage on a ship from Mithlond into the West, but by this time Arwen had long forfeited the right to live in the [[Undying Lands]]. The words "and some say [Círdan] dwells there still, until the Last Ship sets sail into the West" derive from the [[Red Book of Westmarch]], and not from the ''original'' [[Red Book]], which has not been preserved, but from a copy of it, the first of them being the [[Thain's Book]], copied in {{FoA|171}}. Thus, the speculation about [[Círdan]] still dwelling in [[Mithlond]] cannot be exactly dated to a period before [[Aragorn II Elessar|Elessar]]'s and [[Arwen]]'s death. This means that the Last Ship would have sailed at some unknown date after {{FoA|171}}.</ref><ref name=AppTale>{{App|Tale}}</ref><ref name=prologue/> [[Celeborn]] eventually sought the Grey Havens, taking with him the last memory of the [[Elder Days]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Since Círdan and Celeborn are among the only known Elves of the Elder Days in Middle-earth, they would have taken the Last Ship together.<ref name=prologue>{{FR|Records}}</ref> | ||
[[Celeborn]] eventually sought the Grey Havens, taking with him the last memory of the [[Elder Days]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Since Círdan and Celeborn are among the only Elves of the Elder Days in Middle-earth, they | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[White Ship]] | *[[White Ship]] | ||
{{notes}} | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
[[Category:Ships]] | [[Category:Ships]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:44, 28 August 2022
- "At the Grey Havens dwelt Círdan the Shipwright, and some say he dwells there still, until the Last Ship sets sail into the West."
- ― The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur
The Last Ship was the last ship, built by Círdan, that sailed from the Grey Havens into the Uttermost West carrying the last Elves from Middle-earth.
Círdan maintained the haven at least into the Fourth Age (for the last mentioning the Grey Havens was Samwise Gamgee's departure West in Fo.A. 61),[1] but it was recognized that eventually, its purpose would reach an end when no more Elves wished to cross the Sea. At that time, Círdan would abandon the Grey Havens and finally travel the Straight Road himself.
At some unknown date,[note 1][2][3] Celeborn eventually sought the Grey Havens, taking with him the last memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth. Since Círdan and Celeborn are among the only known Elves of the Elder Days in Middle-earth, they would have taken the Last Ship together.[3]
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit source]
- ↑ The Last Ship could not have sailed before Fo.A. 120 based on Aragorn's final words to Arwen. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still take passage on a ship from Mithlond into the West, but by this time Arwen had long forfeited the right to live in the Undying Lands. The words "and some say [Círdan] dwells there still, until the Last Ship sets sail into the West" derive from the Red Book of Westmarch, and not from the original Red Book, which has not been preserved, but from a copy of it, the first of them being the Thain's Book, copied in Fo.A. 171. Thus, the speculation about Círdan still dwelling in Mithlond cannot be exactly dated to a period before Elessar's and Arwen's death. This means that the Last Ship would have sailed at some unknown date after Fo.A. 171.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Note on the Shire Records"
