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Of the Maiar
With the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World； of the same order as the Valar but of less
degree。 These are the Maiar； the people of the Valar； and their servants and helpers。 Their number is not known to the
Elves； and few have names in any of the tongues of the Children of Ilúvatar； for though it is otherwise in Aman； in
Middle…earth the Maiar have seldom appeared in form visible to Elves and Men。
Chief among the Maiar of Valinor whose names are remembered in the histories of the Elder Days are Ilmar？； the
handmaid of Varda； and E？nw？； the banner…bearer and herald of Manw？； whose might in arms is surpassed by none in
Arda。 But of all the Maiar Oss？ and Uinen are best known to the Children of Ilúvatar。
Oss？ is a vassal of Ulmo； and he is master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle…earth。 He does not go in the
deeps； but loves the coasts and the isles； and rejoices in the winds of Manw？； for in storm he delights； and laughs amid
the roaring of the waves。 His spouse is Uinen； the Lady of the Seas； whose hair lies spread through all waters under sky。
All creatures she loves that live in the salt streams； and all weeds that grow there； to her mariners cry； for she can lay
calm upon the waves； restraining the wildness of Oss？。 The Númenóreans lived long in her protection； and held her in
reverence equal to the Valar。
Melkor hated the Sea； for he could not subdue it。 It is said that in the making of Arda he endeavoured to draw
Oss？ to his allegiance； promising to him all the realm and power of Ulmo； if he would serve him。 So it was that long ago
there arose great tumults in the sea that wrought ruin to the lands。 But Uinen； at the prayer of Aul？； restrained Oss？ and
brought him before Ulmo； and he was pardoned and returned to his allegiance； to which he has remained faithful。 For
the most part； for the delight in violence has never wholly departed from him； and at times he will rage in his wilfulness
without any mand from Ulmo his lord。 Therefore those who dwell by the sea or go up in ships may love him； but
they do not trust him。
Melian was the name of a Maia who served both Vána and Est？； she dwelt long in Lórien； tending the trees that
flower in the gardens of Irmo； ere she came to Middle…earth。 Nightingales sang about her wherever she went。
Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin。 He too dwelt in Lórien； but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna； and
of her he learned pity and patience。
Of Melian much is told in the Quenta Silmarillion。 But of Olórin that tale does not speak； for though he loved the
Elves； he walked among them unseen； or in form as one of them； and they did not know whence came the fair visions or
the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts。 In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar； and
took pity on their sorrows； and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of
darkness。
Of the Enemies
Last of all is set the name of Melkor； He who arises in Might。 But that name he has forfeited； and the Noldor； who
among the Elves suffered most from his malice； will not utter it； and they name him Morgoth； the Dark Enemy of the
World。 Great might was given to him by Ilúvatar； and he was coeval with Manw？。 In the powers and knowledge of all
the other Valar he had part； but he turned them to evil purposes； and squandered his strength in violence and tyranny。 For
he coveted Arda and all that was in it； desiring the kingship of Manw？ and dominion over the realms of his peers。
From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself； a spirit wasteful and pitiless。
Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use； until he became a liar without
shame。 He began with the desire of Light； but when he could not possess it for himself alone； he descended through fire
and wrath into a great burning； down into Darkness。 And darkness he used most in his evil works upon Arda； and filled it
with fear for all living things。
Yet so great was the power of his uprising that in ages forgotten he contended with Manw？ and all the Valar； and
through long years in Arda held dominion over most of the lands of the Earth。 But he was not alone。 For of the Maiar
many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness； and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness；
and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts。 Dreadful among these spirits were the
Valaraukar； the scourges of fire that in Middle…earth were called the Balrogs； demons of terror。
Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron； or
Gorthaur the Cruel。 In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aul？； and he remained mighty in the lore of that people。 In
all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda； in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning； Sauron had a part；
and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself。 But in after years he rose like a
shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice； and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void。
HERE ENDS THE VALAQUENTA
QUENTA
SILMARILLION
The History of the
Silmarils
Chapter 1
Of the Beginning of Days
It is told among the wise that the First War began before Arda was full…shaped； and ere yet there was any thing that grew
or walked upon earth； and for long Melkor had the upper hand。 But in the midst of the war a spirit of great strength and
hardihood came to the aid of the Valar； hearing in the far heaven that there was battle in the Little Kingdom； and Arda
was filled with the sound of his laughter。 So came Tulkas the Strong； whose anger passes like a mighty wind； scattering
cloud and darkness before it； and Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter； and forsook Arda； and there was peace
for a long age。 And Tulkas remained and became one of the Valar of the Kingdom of Arda； but Melkor brooded in the
outer darkness； and his hate was given to Tulkas for ever after。
In that time the Valar brought order to the seas and the lands and the mountains； and Yavanna planted at last the
seeds that she had long devised。 And since； when the fires were subdued or buried beneath the primeval hills； there was
need of light； Aul？ at the prayer of Yavanna wrought two mighty lamps for the lighting of the Middle…earth which he had
built amid the encircling seas。 Then Varda filled the lamps and Manw？ hallowed them； and the Valar set them upon high
pillars； more lofty far than are any mountains of the later days。 One lamp they raised near to the north of Middle…earth；
and it was named Illuin； and the other was raised in the south； and it was named Ormal； and the light of the Lamps of the
Valar flowed out over the Earth； so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day。
Then the seeds that Yavanna had sown began swiftly to sprout and to burgeon； and there arose a multitude of
growing things great and small； mosses and grasses and great ferns； and trees whose tops were crowned with cloud as
they were living mountains； but whose feet were wrapped in a green twilight。 And beasts came forth and dwelt in the
grassy plains； or in the rivers and the lakes； or walked in the shadows of the woods。 As yet no flower had bloomed nor
any bird had sung； for these things waited still their time in the bosom of Yavanna； but wealth there was of her
imagining； and nowhere more rich than in the midmost parts of the Earth； where the light of both the Lamps met and
blended。 And there upon the Isle of Almaren in the Great Lake was the first dwelling of the Valar when all things were
young； and new…made green was yet a marvel in the eyes of the makers； and they were long content。
Now it came to pass that while the Valar rested from their labours； and watched the growth and unfolding of the
things that they had devised and begun； Manw？ ordained a great feast； and the Valar and an their host came at his
bidding。 But Aul？ and Tulkas were weary； for the craft of Aul？ and the strength of Tulkas had been at the service of an
without ceasing fax the days of their labour。 And Melkor knew of an that was done； for even then he had secret friends
and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause； and far off in the darkness he was filled with hatred；
being jealous of the work of his peers； whom he desired to make subject to himself。 Therefore he gathered to himself
spirits out of the halls of E？ that he had perverted to his service； and he deemed himself strong。 And seeing now his time
he drew near again to Arda； and looked down upon it； and the beauty of the Earth in its Spring filled him the more with
hate。
Now therefore the Valar were gathered upon Almaren； fearing no evil； and because of the light of Illuin they did
not perceive the shadow in the north that was cast from afar by Melkor； for he was grown dark as the Night of the Void。
And it is sung that in that feast of the Spring of Arda Tulkas espoused Nessa the sister of Orom？； and she danced before
the Valar upon the green grass of Almaren。
Then Tulkas slept； being weary and content； and Melkor deemed that his hour had e。 And he passed therefore
over the Walls of the Night with his host； and came to Middle…earth far in the north； and the Valar were not aware of
him。
Now Melkor began the delving and building of a vast fortress； deep under Earth； beneath dark mountains where
the beams of Illuin were cold and dim。 That stronghold was named Utumno。 And though the Valar knew naught of it as
yet； nonetheless the evil of Melkor and the blight of his hatred flowed out thence； and the Spring of Arda was marred。
Green things fell sick and rotted； and rivers were choked with weeds and slime； and fens were made； rank and
poisonous； the breeding place of flies； and forests grew dark and perilous； the haunts of fear； and beasts became
monsters of horn and ivory and dyed the earth with blood。 Then the Valar knew indeed that Melkor was at work again；
and they sought for his hiding place。 But Melkor； trusting in the strength of Utumno and the might of his servants； came
forth suddenly to war； and struck the first blow； ere the Valar were prepared； and he assailed the lights of Illuin and
Ormal； and cast down their pillars and broke their lamps。 In the overthrow of the mighty pillars lands were broken and
seas arose in tumult； and when the lamps were spilled destroying flame was poured out over the Earth。 And the shape of
Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands was marred in that time； so that the first designs of the Valar were
never after restored。
In the confusion and the darkness Melkor escaped； though fear fell upon him； for above the roaring of the seas he
heard the voice of Manw？ as a mighty wind； and the earth trembled beneath the feet of Tulkas。 But he came to Utumno
ere Tulkas could overtake him； and there he lay hid。 And the Valar could not at that time overe him； for the greater
part of their strength was needed to restrain the tumults of the Earth； and to save from ruin all that could be saved of
their labour； and afterwards they feared to rend the Earth again； until they knew where the Children of Ilúvatar were
dwelling； who were yet to e in a time that was hidden from the Valar。
Thus ended the Spring of Arda。 The dwelling of the Valar upon Almaren was utterly destroyed； and they had no
abiding place upon the face of the Earth。 Therefore they departed from Middle…earth and went to the Land of Aman； the
westernmost of all lands upon the borders of the world； for its west shores looked upon the Outer Sea； that is called by
the Elves Ekkaia； encircling the Kingdom of Arda。 How wide is that sea none know but the Valar； and beyond it are the
Walls of the Night。 But the east shores of Aman were the uttermost end of Belegaer； the Great Sea at the West； and since
Melkor was returned to Middle…earth and they could not yet overe him； the Valar fortified their dwelling； and upon
the shores of the sea they raised the Pelóri； the Mountains of Aman； highest upon Earth。 And above all the mountains of
the Pelóri was that height upon whose summit Manw？ set his throne。 Taniquetil the Elves name that holy mountain； and
Oioloss？ Everlasting Whiteness； and Elerrína Crowned with Stars； and many names beside； but the Sindar spoke of it in
their later tongue as Amon Uilos。 From their halls upon Taniquetil Manw？ and Varda could look out across the Earth
even into the furthest East。
Behind the walls of the Pelóri the Valar established their domain in that region which is called Valinor； and there
were their houses； their gardens； and their towers。 In that guarded land the Valar gathered great store of light and an the
fairest things that were saved from the ruin； and many others yet fairer they made anew； and Valinor became more
beautiful even than Middle…earth in the Spring of Arda； and it was blessed； for the Deathless dwelt there； a