Halls of Waiting
Quick Facts
| Location: | On the western shores of Aman |
|---|---|
| Race: | Ruled by an ancient spirit from outside the World |
| Division: | Valar |
The abode of the dead
The Halls that lay in the northern and western part of Valinor, on the shores of the sea that encircled the World. It was here that the spirits of the dead of Middle-earth were summoned and housed for a time. The Halls grew greater as time passed to house the fëar or spirits, and their walls were hung with tapestries telling the tale of the history of the World.
Each of the races of the World had a different fate when their spirits entered the Halls. For most Elves, the stay was a temporary one, and they would eventually be re-embodied and returned to life in Aman. This gift was withheld from some, and their spirits will remain within the Halls while the World lasts: Fëanor was one of these.
The spirits of Men are also gathered in the Halls, but from there they pass on across the sea to a mysterious realm, unknown even to most of the Valar. As for Dwarves, their fate is uncertain. Their own tradition was that their spirits, too, would be gathered and remain in the Halls of Waiting until the time when the World will be remade, in which they will assist their own maker, Aulë the Smith.
