In J.R.R. Tolkien's mythological world of Middle-earth, the Calaquendi, or the Elves of the Light, were those who crossed Belegaer and entered Valinor, the home of the Valar and Maiar. They lived there in the Light of the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin, and were educated by the Valar and Maiar. There were three kindreds, or clans, that went to Valinor; the Vanyar, or High Elves, the Noldor, and the Teleri. Some of the Teleri stayed behind in Beleriand, and became the Grey-Elves. The Noldor eventually left Valinor under the leadership of the princes and half-brothers Feanor and Fingolfin, and eventually came to dwell in Middle-earth.
The Flight of the Noldor came about when the evil Vala (sing. form of Valar) Melkor (Morgoth) stole the Silmarils, the holy jewels that held the mingled light of Telperion and Laurelin. Melkor, accompained by the gigantic spider Ungoliant, also poisoned the two trees, killing them. Thus, the Noldor left Valinor, and upon their departure swore a terrible oath. Only until many centuries after Fingolfin and Feanor's deaths were the Silmarils taken again by an assault on Melkor by the Valar at his fortress in the north of Middle-earth. However, all three eventually came into their intended mediums; one in the bowels of the earth, one in the sea, and one in the sky, shining as a star.
