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
laid to his charge。
From the beauty and bliss of Valinor the Valar came seldom over the mountains to Middle…earth； but gave to the
land beyond the Pelóri their care and their love。 And in the midst of the Blessed Realm were the mansions of Aul？； and
there he laboured long。 For in the making of all things in that land he had the chief part； and he wrought there many
beautiful and shapely works both openly and in secret。 Of him es the lore and knowledge of the Earth and of an
things that it contains： whether the lore of those that make not； but seek only for the understanding of what is； or the lore
of an craftsmen： the weaver； the shaper of wood； and the worker in metals； and the tiller and husbandman also； though
these last and all that deal with things that grow and bear fruit must look also to the spouse of Aul？； Yavanna Kementári。
Aul？ it is who is named the Friend of the Noldor； for of him they learned much in after days； and they are the most
skilled of the Elves； and in their own fashion； according to the gifts which Ilúvatar gave to them； they added much to his
teaching； delighting to tongues and in scripts； and in the figures of broidery； of drawing； and of carving。 The Noldor also
it was who first achieved the making of gems； and the fairest of an gems were the Silmarils； and they are lost。
But Manw？ Súlimo； highest and holiest of the Valar； sat upon the borders of Aman； forsaking not in his thought
the Outer Lands。 For his throne was set in majesty upon the pinnacle of Taniquetil； the highest of the mountains of the
world； standing upon the margin of the sea。 Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls； and
their eyes could see to the depths of the seas； and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world。 Thus they brought word
to him of well nigh all that passed in Arda； yet some things were hidden even from the eyes of Manw？ and the servants
of Manw？； for where Melkor sat in his dark thought impenetrable shadows lay。
Manw？ has no thought for his own honour； and is not jealous of his power； but rules all to peace。 The Vanyar he
loved best of all the Elves； and of him they received song and poetry； for poetry is the delight of Manw？； and the song of
words is his music。 His raiment is blue； and blue is the fire of his eyes； and his sceptre is of sapphire； which the Noldor
wrought for him； and he was appointed to be the vicegerent of Ilúvatar； King of the world of Valar and Elves and Men；
and the chief defence against the evil of Melkor。 With Manw？ dwelt Varda the most beautiful； she who in the Sindarin
tongue is named Elbereth； Queen of the Valar； maker of die stars； and with than were a great host of spirits in
blessedness。
But Ulmo was alone； and he abode not in Valinor； nor ever came thither unless there were need for a great
council； he dwelt from the beginning of Arda in the Outer Ocean； and still he dwells there。 Thence he governs the
flowing of all waters； and the ebbing； the courses of an rivers and the replenishment of Springs； the distilling of all dews
and rain in every land beneath the sky。 In the deep places he gives thought to music great and terrible； and the echo of
that music runs through all the veins of the world in sorrow and in joy； for it joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun；
its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomed at the foundations of the Earth。 The Teleri learned much of Ulmo； and
for this reason their music has both sadness and enchantment。 Salmar came with him to Arda； he who made the horns of
Ulmo that none may ever forget who once has heard them； and Oss？ and Uinen also； to whom he gave the government
of the waves and the movements of the Inner Seas； and many other spirits beside。 And thus it was by the power of Ulmo
that even under the darkness of Melkor life coursed still through many secret lodes； and the Earth did not die； and to all
who were lost in that darkness or wandered far from the light of the Valar the ear of Ulmo was ever open； nor has he
ever forsaken Middle…earth； and whats