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the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World； and it was called E？。
Then those of the Ainur who desired it arose and entered into the World at the beginning of Time； and it was their
task to achieve it； and by their labours to fulfil the vision which they had seen。 Long they laboured in the regions of E？；
which are vast beyond the thought of Elves and Men； until in the time appointed was made Arda； the Kingdom of Earth。
Then they put on the raiment of Earth and descended into it； and dwelt therein。
Of the Valar
The Great among these spirits the Elves name the Valar； the Powers of Arda； and Men have often called them gods。 The
Lords of the Valar are seven； and the Valier； the Queens of the Valar； are seven also。 These were their names in the
Elvish tongue as it was spoken in Valinor； though they have other names in the speech of the Elves in Middle…earth； and
their names among Men are manifold。 The names of the Lords in due order are： Manw？； Ulmo； Aul？； Orom？； Mandos；
Lórien； and Tulkas； and the names of the Queens are： Varda； Yavanna； Nienna； Est？； Vair？； Vána； and Nessa。 Melkor is
counted no longer among the Valar； and his name is not spoken upon Earth。
Manw？ and Melkor were brethren in the thought of Ilúvatar。 The mightiest of those Ainur who came into the
World was in his beginning Melkor； but Manw？ is dearest to Ilúvatar and understands most clearly his purposes。 He was
appointed to be； in the fullness of time； the first of all Kings： lord of the realm of Arda and ruler of all that dwell therein。
In Arda his delight is in the winds and the clouds； and in all the regions of the air； from the heights to the depths； from
the utmost borders of the Veil of Arda to the breezes that blow in the grass。 Súlimo he is surnamed； Lord of the Breath of
Arda。 All swift birds； strong of wing； he loves； and they e and go at his bidding。
With Manw？ dwells Varda； Lady of the Stars； who knows all the regions of E？。 Too great is her beauty to be
declared in the words of Men or of Elves； for the light of Ilúvatar lives still in her face。 In light is her power and her joy。
Out of the deeps of E？ she came to the aid of Manw？； for Melkor she knew from before the making of the Music and
rejected him； and he hated her； and feared her more than all others whom Eru made。 Manw？ and Varda are seldom
parted； and they remain in Valinor。 Their halls are above the everlasting snow； upon Oioloss？； the uttermost tower of
Taniquetil； tallest of all the mountains upon Earth。 When Manw？ there ascends his throne and looks forth； if Varda is
beside him； he sees further than all other eyes； through mist； and through darkness； and over the leagues of the sea。 And
if Manw？ is with her； Varda hears more clearly than all other ears the sound of voices that cry from east to west； from the
hills and the valleys； and from the dark places that Melkor has made upon Earth。 Of all the Great Ones who dwell in this
world the Elves hold Varda most in reverence and love。 Elbereth they name her； and they call upon her name out of the
shadows of Middle…earth； and uplift it in song at the rising of the stars。
Ulmo is the Lord of Waters。 He is alone。 He dwells nowhere long； but moves as he will in all the deep waters
about the Earth or under the Earth。 He is next in might to Manw？； and before Valinor was made he was closest to him in
friendship； but thereafter he went seldom to the councils of the Valar； unless great matters were in debate。 For he kept all
Arda in thought； and he has no need of any resting…place。 Moreover he does not love to walk upon land； and will seldom
clothe himself in a body after the manner of his peers。 If the Children of Eru beheld him they were filled with a great
dread； for the arising of the King of the Sea was terrible； as a mounting wave that strides to the land； with dark helm
foam…crested and raiment of mail shimmering from silver down into shadows of green。 The trumpets of Manw？ are loud；
but Ulmo's voice is deep as the deeps of the ocean which he only has seen。
Nonetheless Ulmo loves both Elves and Men； and never abandoned them； not even when they lay under the wrath
of the Valar。 At times he win e unseen to the shores of Middle…earth； or pass far inland up firths of the sea； and there
make music upon his great horns； the Ulumúri； that are wrought of white shell； and those to whom that music es
hear it ever after in their hearts； and longing for the sea never leaves them again。 But mostly Ulmo speaks to those who
dwell in Middle…earth with voices that are heard only as the music of water。 For all seas； lakes； rivers； fountains and
springs are in his government； so that the Elves say that the spirit of Ulmo runs in all the veins of the world。 Thus news
es to Ulmo； even in the deeps； of all the needs and griefs of Arda； which otherwise would be hidden from Manw？。
Aul？ has might little less than Ulmo。 His lordship is over all the substances of which Arda is made。 In the
beginning he wrought much in fellowship with Manw？ and Ulmo； and the fashioning of all lands was his labour。 He is a
smith and a master of all crafts； and he delights in works of skill； however small； as much as in the mighty building of
old。 His are the gems that lie deep in the Earth and the gold that is fair in the hand； no less than the walls of the
mountains and the basins of the sea。 The Noldor learned most of him； and he was ever their friend。 Melkor was jealous
of him； for Aul？ was most like himself in thought and in powers； and there was long strife between them； in which
Melkor ever marred or undid the works of Aul？； and Aul？ grew weary in repairing the tumults and disorders of Melkor。
Both； also； desired to make things of their own that should be new and unthought of by others； and delighted in the
praise of their skill。 But Aul？ remained faithful to Eru and submitted all that he did to his will； and he did not envy the
works of others； but sought and gave counsel。 Whereas Melkor spent his spirit in envy and hate； until at last he could
make nothing save in mockery of the thought of others； and all their works he destroyed if he could。
The spouse of Aul？ is Yavanna； the Giver of Fruits。 She is the lover of all things that grow in the earth； and all
their countless forms she holds in her mind； from the trees like towers in forests long ago to the moss upon stones or the
small and secret things in the mould。 In reverence Yavanna is next to Varda among the Queens of the Valar。 In the form
of a woman she is tall； and robed in green； but at times she takes other shapes。 Some there are who have seen her
standing like a tree under heaven； crowned with the Sun； and from all its branches there spilled a golden dew upon the
barren earth； and it grew green with corn； but the roots of the tree were in the waters of Ulmo； and the winds of Manw？
spoke in its leaves。 Kementári； Queen of the Earth； she is surnamed in the Eldarin tongue。
The F？anturi； masters of spirits； are brethren； and they are called most often Mandos and Lórien。 Yet these are
rightly the names of the places of their dwelling； and their true names are Námo and Irmo。
Námo the elder dwells in Mandos； which is westward in Valinor。 He is the keeper of the Houses of the Dead； and
the summoner of the spirits of the slain。 He forgets nothing； and he knows all things that shall be； save only those that lie
still in the freedom of Ilúvatar。 He is the Doomsman of the Valar； but he pronounces his dooms and his Judgements only
at the bidding of Manw？。 Vair？ the Weaver is his spouse； who weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her
storied webs； and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them。
Irmo the younger is the master of visions and dreams。 In Lórien are his gardens in the land of the Valar； and they
are the fairest of all places in the world； filled with many spirits。 Est？ the gentle； healer of hurts and of weariness； is his
spouse。 Grey is her raiment； and rest is her gift。 She walks not by day； but sleeps upon an island in the tree…shadowed
lake of Lórellin。 From the fountains of Irmo and Est？ all those who dwell in Valinor draw refreshment； and often the
Valar e themselves to Lórien and there find repose and easing of the burden of Arda。
Mightier than Est？ is Nienna； sister of the F？anturi； she dwells alone。 She is acquainted with grief； and mourns
for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor。 So great was her sorrow； as the Music unfolded； that
her song turned to lamentation long before its end； and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World
before it began。 But she does not weep for herself； and those who hearken to her learn pity； and endurance in hope。 Her
halls are west of West； upon the borders of the world； and she es seldom to the city of Valimar where all is glad。 She
goes rather to the halls of Mandos； which are near to her own； and all those who wait in Mandos cry to her； for she
brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom。 The windows of her house look outward from the walls of