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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 the
world。
Greatest in strength and deeds of prowess is Tulkas； who is surnamed Astaldo； the Valiant。 He came last to Arda；
to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor。 He delights in wrestling and in contests of strength； and he rides no
steed； for he can outrun all things that go on feet； and he is tireless。 His hair and beard are golden； and his flesh ruddy；
his weapons are his hands。 He has little heed for either the past or the future； and is of no avail as a counsellor； but is a
hardy friend。 His spouse is Nessa； the sister of Orom？； and she also is lithe and fleetfooted。 Deer she loves； and they
follow her train whenever she goes in the wild； but she can outrun them； swift as an arrow with the wind in her hair。 In
dancing she delights； and she dances in Valimar on lawns of never…fading green。
Orom？ is a mighty lord。 If he is less strong than Tulkas； he is more dreadful in anger； whereas Tulkas laughs ever；
in sport or in war； and even in the face of Melkor he laughed in battles before the Elves were born。 Orom？ loved the
lands of Middle…earth； and he left them unwillingly and came last to Valinor； and often of old he passed back east over
the mountains and returned with his host to the hills and the plains。 He is a hunter of monsters and fell beasts； and he
delights in horses and in hounds； and all trees he loves； for which reason he is called Aldaron； and by the Sindar Tauron；
the Lord of Forests。 Nahar is the name of his horse； white in the sun； and shining silver at night。 The Valaróma is the
name of his great horn； the sound of which is like the upgoing of the Sun in scarlet； or the sheer lightning cleaving the
clouds。 Above all the horns of his host it was heard in the woods that Yavanna brought forth in Valinor； for there Orom？
would train his folk and his beasts for the pursuit of the evil creatures of。 Melkor。 The spouse of Orom？ is Vána； the
Ever…young； she is the younger sister of Yavanna。 All flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them；
and all birds sing at her ing。
These are the names of the Valar and the Valier； and here is told in brief their likenesses； such as the Eldar beheld
them in Aman。 But fair and noble as were the forms in which they were manifest to the Children of Ilúvatar； they were
but a veil upon their beauty and their power。 And if little is here said of all that the Eldar once knew； that is as nothing
pared with their true being； which goes back into regions and ages far beyond our thought。 Among them Nine were
of chief power and reverence； but one is removed from their number； and Eight remain； the Aratar； the High Ones of
Arda： Manw？ and Varda； Ulmo； Yavanna and Aul？； Mandos； Nienna； and Orom？。 Though Manw？ is their King and
holds their allegiance under Eru； in majesty they are peers； surpassing beyond pare all others； whether of the Valar
and the Maiar； or of any other order that Ilúvatar has sent into E？。
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 lov