In the beginning, there was Eru the creator, who in the world of Arda, was called Iluvatar,
bringing forth the Timeless Halls and great void, before forming living beings known as
the Ainur, kindled by the flame imperishable.
Melkor, greatest of the Ainur, was granted vast power and knowledge while also sharing
in all the gifts of his brethren.
Yet his unique abilities also made him stand apart from the others, becoming more impatient
and ambitious, desiring that other life forms be created to fill the emptiness of the Void.
His desires even led him to journey into the Void, searching for the Flame Imperishable,
so that he too could have the power to create new lifeforms.
Yet in spending so much time alone, he became more independent with his thoughts growing
further apart from the others.
Eru then taught the Ainur to sing and when they were ready, sat back and harkened as
they performed the Ainulindale, pleased that through them great beauty had been wakened
into song.
However the perfect harmony of the music was soon interrupted by Melkor, who began twisting
the notes to sing in his own manner that conflicted with the others.
Yet as his voice grew more prominent, some of the other Ainur abandoned the original
theme and joined in his harmony.
For a time Eru listened to this war of sound until his very throne was a raging storm and
so introduced a second theme, more powerful than the first.
But the war continued as Melkor’s music rose in uproar, becoming so dominant many
of the ainur were dismayed and stopped their singing.
Eru then made a third theme, deep, wide and beautiful, but slow and blended with an immeasurable
sorrow, while Melkor’s music was aggressive, loud, and endlessly repetitive.
However Melkor continued to challenge each new theme until Eru struck one final chord
as piercing as the light of the eye of Ilúvatar, to end the battle and leave the timeless halls
in silence.
When it was over, Melkor was scolded for bringing such discord into the notes, and was told
that all actions even those thought different and unique, had their foundation in the creator
and only served to contribute to his plans.
The greatest of the Ainur was filled with shame upon hearing the rebuke, but also felt
deep anger which he hid away.
Then Eru left them, travelling into the void, and so the Ainur followed until he revealed
what their music had created.
The Vision of Arda, seeing the lands of Middle Earth and Aman, as well as new life forms
known as the children of Iluvatar.
He showed them how each of the Ainur created elements of the vision, including the discord
of Melkor.
When the vision ended, the Ainur were astounded and wanted it to be made real and so Eru responded
to their pleas and formed Ea, inviting them to enter this new realm on the condition that
they could not return to the Timeless halls until all the events of this universe had
completed.
Many of them agreed and departed for Ea, where the strongest became the Valar, and the lesser
became the Maiar, working together to form Arda, a world of lands and seas, in order
to bring life to the vision they had seen.
These Ainur followed Manwe, king of the Valar, the most powerful of their kind save for his
brother Melkor who also entered Ea, desiring mastery of the world and Lordship over the
Children of Iluvatar.
The Valar created a flat world perfectly symmetrical, surrounded by ocean, however soon Melkor went
on a rampage, disrupting their work, and waging the First War.
Though the powerful Dark Lord was winning the struggle, he was ultimately defeated,
when Tulkas the Strong became the last Ainur to descend from the Timeless halls, joining
the Valar to crush their enemy.
Defeated, Melkor fled from world and hid in the void, allowing for a period of peace and
stability.
However the war had marred the original design of the Valar who chose to make their home
on the island of Almaren in the center of the continent.
To bring light to the world, the valar built two great lamps, placing Illuin in the north
and Ormal in the south, bringing about the Spring of Arda, when plant and animal life
flourished all over the world.
But eventually, Melkor returned to the world in secret, and travelled North where he built
the fortress of Utumno, the base from which he once again waged war against the Valar.
Some of the Maiar who had been attuned to Melkor’s harmony during the Ainulindale,
then turned against the others and joined the Dark Lord, including Sauron and those
that came to be known as the Balrogs.
Sauron was originally known by the name Mairon, meaning the Admirable, and served under Aule
the Smith, becoming a greatly skilled craftsmen.
Yet his love or order and perfection soon consumed him, causing him to embrace Melkor,
becoming a spy for the Dark Lord before leaving the Valar and joining his new master.
Melkor and his minions then attacked, sending a blight to poison the works of the Valar
and shattered the 2 lamps, plunging the world into darkness.
The attack was so devastating it shattered the continent, making three distinct areas
with Aman to the west, Middle Earth at the center and the Land of the Sun in the east.
Almaren, the home of the Valar was destroyed, and so they went west, and founded Valinor,
where they planted the two trees, Teleperion and Laurelin bringing light to Aman allowing
for plant and animal life to flourish.
During these years Middle Earth remained in darkness, ruled over by Melkor, who based
himself in the Utumno, though he also built Angband as a second fortress in the west to
keep watch against invasion, choosing Sauron to hold the fortress and defend it in his
name.
Meanwhile, the Valar built up Valinor, with each of them working in accordance to their
gifts bestowed by Iluvatar.
There was Manwe, Lord of the Winds, and King of the Valar, who made his home at the summit
of Taniquetil, the highest mountain in the world and used the Eagles as scouts to watch
over Middle Earth.
His wife was Varda, the “Star Queen”, who brought light to the world, first with
the 2 lamps, then the 2 trees and eventually the stars, sun and moon.
There was Ulmo, King of the Sea, one of the chief architects of Arda, who lived in the
underwater palace of Ulmonan.
Aule, The Smith, also called the Maker, was a powerful valar who delighted in the crafting
great material works.
In his impatient’s for the coming of new life forms, he created the Dwarven race, but
was forced to put them to sleep by command of the creator, until the children of Iluvatar
had awoken.
Aule’s wife was Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits, who created the world’s plant and animal
life.
After her husband created the Dwarves, approached Manwe with her concerns that the Children
of Iluvatar might destroy her great works, and so it was decided that tall, tree-like
beings known as Ents would serve as Shepherds of the Forest, protecting Yavanna’s creations.
There was Orome, the great Hunter and Lord of Forests, who had his own woodlands in Valinor
but also roamed the lands of Middle Earth.
His wife, Vana, the ever young, was the younger sister of Yavanna and a lover of all things
that grow.
Flowers bloomed in her presence and it was her love for the golden tree Laurelin, that
preserved some of its light, and aided in the creation of the sun.
Namo also known as Mandos was the Judge of the Dead, ruling over Halls of Mandos, where
the spirits of the deceased would dwell while they awaited their ultimate fate.
His wife Vaire (vie-reh) was called the Weaver, and made the tapestry of life, weaving the
story of the world onto the walls of the halls of Mandos.
Irmo, also known as Lorien, Master of Dreams and Illusions, was the brother Mandos and
together were known as the Feanturi, the masters of spirits.
His wife was Este, the Valar of rest, healer of hurts and weariness who watched over the
wellness of all creatures.
Then there was Tulkas, Champion of the Valar, the most warlike of them all who forever remained
the bitterest of enemies to the Dark Lord.
His wife was Nessa, the Dancer, sister of Orome, who was known for her incredible speed,
and love of swift creatures such as deer.
Then lastly there was Nienna, the Lady of Mercy, sister of Mandos and Lorien, who felt
great sadness and pity for the tragedies of the world.
The greatest of her pupils would one day become the Wizard Gandalf, whose love and empathy
for the races of Middle earth, led him to lead the fight against the Sauron in the Third Age.