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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； and there
naught faded nor withered； neither was there any stain upon flower or leaf in that land； nor any corruption or sickness in
anything that lived； for the very stones and waters were hallowed。
And when Valinor was full…wrought and the mansions of the Valar were established； in the midst of the plain
beyond the mountains they built their city； Valmar of many bells。 Before its western gate there was a green mound；
Ezellohar； that is named also Corollair？； and Yavanna hallowed it； and she sat there long upon the green grass and sang a
song of power； in which was set all her thought of things that grow in the earth。 But Nienna thought in silence； and
watered the mould with tears。 In that time the Valar were gathered together to hear the song of Yavanna； and they sat
silent upon their thrones of council in the Máhanaxar； the Ring of Doom near to the golden gates of Valmar； and
Yavanna Kementári sang before them and they watched。
And as they watched； upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots； and silence was over all the world in
that hour； nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna。 Under her song the saplings grew and became
fair and tail； and came to flower； and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor。 Of all things which
Yavanna made they have most renown； and about their fate all the tales of the Elder Days are woven。
The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver； and from each of his countless flowers a
dew of silver light was ever falling； and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadow of his fluttering leaves。 The
other bore leaves of a young green like the new…opened beech； their edges were of glittering gold。 Flowers swung upon
her branches in clusters of yellow flame； formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground； and
from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light。 Telperion the one was called in Valinor； and
Silpion； and Ninquelót？； and many other names； but Laurelin the other was； and Malinalda； and Culúrien； and many
names in song beside。
In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught； and each awoke once more to life
an hour before the other ceased to shine。 Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light when
both trees were faint and their gold and silver beams were mingled。 Telperion was the elder of the trees and came first to
full stature and to bloom； and that first hour in which he shone； the white glimmer of a silver dawn； the Valar reckoned
not into the tale of hours； but named it the Opening Hour； and counted from it the ages of their reign in Valinor。
Therefore at the sixth hour of the First Day； and of all the joyful days thereafter； until the Darkening of Valinor；
Telperion ceased his time of flower； and at the twelfth hour Laurelin her blossoming。 And each day of the Valar in Aman
contained twelve hours； and ended with the second mingling of the lights； in which Laurelin was waning but Telperion
was waxing。 But the light that was spilled from the trees endured long； ere it was taken up into the airs or sank down into
the earth； and the dews of Telperion and the rain that fell from Laurelin Varda hoarded in great vats like shining lakes；
that were to all the land of the Valar as wells of water and of light。 Thus began the Days of the Bliss of Valinor； and thus
began also the Count of Time。
But as the ages drew on to the hour appointed by Ilúvatar for the ing of the Firstborn； Middle…earth lay in a
twilight beneath the stars that Varda had wrought in the ages forgotten of her labours in E？。 And in the darkness Melkor
dwelt； and still often walked abroad； in many shapes of power and fear； and he wielded cold and fire； from the tops of
the mountains to the deep furnaces that are beneath them； and whatsoever was cruel or violent or deadly in those days is
la