After the defeat of Sauron in the War of the Ring, many elves leave Middle-earth for the Undying Lands of Valinor. The elves who remain behind continue to live in their own realms within Middle-earth, such as Lothlorien and Rivendell, and the High Elves of the West, the elven army who fought against Sauron, remain in Middle-earth to help rebuild and protect the remaining elven realms. The elves eventually disappear from Middle-earth, as they are no longer bound by the world and are able to leave for the Undying Lands at will.