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defend themselves； whereas the olvar that grow cannot。 And among these I hold trees dear。 Long in the growing； swift
shall they be in the felling； and unless they pay toll with fruit upon bough little mourned in their passing。 So I see in my
thought。 Would that the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots； and punish those that wrong them！'
'This is a strange thought；' said Manw？。
'Yet it was in the Song；' said Yavanna。 'For while thou wert in the heavens and with Ulmo built the clouds and
poured out the rains； I lifted up the branches of great trees to receive them； and some sang to Ilúvatar amid the wind and
the rain。'
Then Manw？ sat silent； and the thought of Yavanna that she had put into his heart grew and unfolded； and it was
beheld by Ilúvatar。 Then it seemed to Manw？ that the Song rose once more about him； and he heeded now many things
therein that though he had heard them he had not heeded before。 And at last the Vision was renewed； but it was not now
remote； for he was himself within it； and yet he saw that all was upheld by the hand of Ilúvatar； and the hand entered in；
and from it came forth many wonders that had until then been hidden from him in the hearts of the Ainur。
Then Manw？ awoke； and he went down to Yavanna upon Ezellohar； and he sat beside her beneath the Two Trees。
And Manw？ said： 'O Kementári； Eru hath spoken； saying： 〃Do then any of the Valar suppose that I did not hear all the
Song； even the least sound of the least voice？ Behold！ When the Children awake； then the thought of Yavanna will
awake also； and it will summon spirits from afar； and they will go among the kelvar and the olvar； and some will dwell
therein； and be held in reverence； and their just anger shall be feared。 For a time： while the Firstborn are in their power；
and while the Secondborn are young。〃 But dost them not now remember； Kementári； that thy thought sang not always
alone？ Did not thy thought and mine meet also； so that we took wing together like great birds that soar above the
clouds？ That also shall e to be by the heed of Ilúvatar； and before the Children awake there shall go forth with wings
like the wind the Eagles of the Lords of the West。'
Then Yavanna was glad； and she stood up； reaching her arms towards the heavens； and she said： 'High shall climb
the trees of Kementári； that the Eagles of the King may house therein！'
But Manw？ rose also； and it seemed that he stood to such a height that his voice came down to Yavanna as from
the paths of the winds。
'Nay；' he said； 'only the trees of Aul？ will be tall enough。 In the mountains the Eagles shall house； and hear the
voices of those who call upon us。 But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees。'
Then Manw？ and Yavanna parted for that time； and Yavanna returned to Aul？； and he was in his smithy； pouring
molten metal into a mould。 'Eru is bountiful；' she said。 'Now let thy children beware！ For there shall walk a power in the
forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril。'
'Nonetheless they will have need of wood；' said Aul？； and he went on with his smith…work。
Chapter 3
Of the ing of the Elves
and the Captivity of Melkor
Through long ages the Valar dwelt in bliss in the light of the Trees beyond。 The Mountains of Aman； but all Middle…earth
lay in a twilight under the stars。 While the Lamps had shone； growth began there which now was checked； because all
was again dark。 But already the oldest living things had arisen： in the seas the great weeds； and on earth the shadow of
great trees； and in the valleys of the night…clad hills there were dark creatures old and strong。 To those lands and forests
the Valar seldom came； save only Yavanna and Orom？； and Yavanna would walk there in the shadows； grieving because
the growth and promise of the Spring of Arda was stayed。 And she set a sleep upon many things that had arisen in the
Spring； so that they should not age； but should wait for a time of awakening that yet should be。
But in the north Melkor built his strength； and he slept not； but watched； and laboured； and the evil things that he
had perverted walked abroad； and the dark and slumbering woods were haunted by monsters and shapes of dread。 And
in Utumno he gathered his demons about him； those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour； and
became most like him in his corruption： their hearts were of fire； but they were cloaked in darkness； and terror went
before them； they had whips of flame。 Balrogs they were named in Middle…earth in later days。 And in that dark time
Melkor bred many other monsters of divers shapes and kinds that long troubled the world； and his realm spread now
ever southward over Middle…earth。
And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north…western shores of the sea； to resist any
assault that might e from Aman。 That stronghold was manded by Sauron； lieutenant of Melkor； and it was
named Angband。
It came to pass that the Valar held council； for they became troubled by the tidings that Yavanna and Orom？
brought from the Outer Lands； and Yavanna spoke before the Valar； saying： 'Ye mighty of Arda； the Vision of Ilúvatar
was brief and soon taken away； so that maybe we cannot guess within a narrow count of days the hour appointed。 Yet be
sure of this： the hour approaches； and within this age our hope shall be revealed； and the Children shall awake。 Shall we
then leave the lands of their dwelling desolate and full of evil？ Shall they walk in darkness while we have light？ Shall
they call Melkor lord while Manw？ sits upon Taniquetil？'
And Tulkas cried： 'Nay！ Let us make war swiftly！ Have we not rested from strife overlong； and is not our strength
now renewed？ Shall one alone contest with us for ever？'
But at the bidding of Manw？ Mandos spoke； and he said： 'In this age the Children of Ilúvatar shall e indeed；
but they e not yet。 Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn shall e in the darkness； and shall look first upon the
stars。 Great light shall be for their waning。 To Varda ever shall they call at need。'
Then Varda went forth from the council； and she looked out from the height of Taniquetil； and beheld the
darkness of Middle…earth beneath the innumerable stars； faint and far。 Then she began a great labour； greatest of all the
works of the Valar since their ing into Arda。 She took the silver dews from the vats of Telperion； and therewith she
made new stars and brighter against the ing of the Firstborn； wherefore she whose name out of the deeps of time and
the labours of E？ was Tintall？； the Kindler； was called after by the Elves Elentári； Queen of the Stars。 Carnil and Luinil；
Nénar and Lumbar； Alcarinqu？ and Elemmír？ she wrought in that time； and many other of the ancient stars she gathered
together and set as signs in the heavens of Arda： Wilwarin； Telumendil； Soronúm？； and Anarríma； and Menelmacar with
his shining belt； that forebodes the Last Battle that shall be at the end of days。 And high in the north as a challenge to
Melkor she set the crown of seven mighty stars to swing； Valacirca； the Sickle of the Valar and sign of doom。
It is told that even as Varda ended her labours； and they were long； when first Menelmacar strode up the sky and
the blue fire of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world； in that hour the Children of the Earth
awoke； the Firstborn of Ilúvatar。 By the starlit mere of Cuiviénen； Water of Awakening； they rose from the sleep of
Ilúvatar； and while they dwelt yet silent by Cuiviénen their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven。 Therefore
they have ever loved the starlight； and have revered Varda Elentári above all the Valar。
In the changes of the world the shapes of lands and of seas have been broken and remade； rivers have not kept
their courses； neither have mountains remained steadfast； and to Cuiviénen there is no returning。 But it is said among the
Elves that it lay far off in the east of Middle…earth； and northward； and it was a bay in the Inland Sea of Helcar； and that
sea stood where aforetime the