Creation of the World
Yet as well had the First Music resounded with life and beauty. From Yavanna, named Kementári the Queen of the Earth by the Eldar, came forth arias envisioning creatures who walked, and creatures who were fixed to the earth. As Yavanna conjured visions of trees and beasts, and of birds and insects, she had attracted bands of Maiar who unveiled the possibilities of animals both great and small and to reveal forests tall and vast; and they followed her as adoring companies into the World. As well was Vána the Ever-Young sistered to Yavanna during the First Music, and but scant less was her melodies compared to those of Yavanna; for Vána is named the Queen of Flowers, and she it was who first devised the colors and scents for the trees and beasts first sang into thought by Yavanna.
Nevertheless, do the living require protection, and in fury during the First Music came that Vala named Oromë the Hunter, and he sang bold ballads of glory and pursuit against those who followed Melkor, and in defense of the images of Yavanna and Vána. And Oromë drew many among the mightiest of the Maiar, such as Alatar, Tuvo, and Tilion; and some of Melkor’s followers even forsook him, such as Makar the Fierce and his sister Meásse the Savage, although those two did so more out of a desire for violence than any bearing towards justice. Henceforth did those Maiar ensembled in armies that fought back with vigor against Melkor’s discord, and in legions did they follow Oromë into Arda. With them was the mighty Ainur Nessa, whose speed and skills matched his own to conjure beasts that would adorn the World, and Oromë beckoned Nessa to become his sister within the World. But if Oromë was ever Yavanna’s ally and protector, it was Aulë who proffered that Queen of the Earth a great land within Arda upon which her creations might run free, while others might be rooted and grow tall and proud; and she espoused the Smith, for she loved him and the earth he begged to forge for her. Yet unto Oromë in the new lands of Arda walked Vána the Ever-Young, Yavanna’s younger sister, and his first quest in the First Music was met with her own pursuit, and his mightful daring was enjoined with her flowery blazoned colors, and thus forever the Hunter became wedded to her earth-adorning hues.
Three among the greatest of the Ainur, however, were entities unto themselves and were held in reverence by those within the Timeless Halls. For Ilúvatar it was who purposed them for ideas and realms most dear to his creations, and most vital to the needs of Eru’s Children. During the First Music were two among the Ainur brothered, and are named by few as Irmo and his elder brother Námo, and they were skilled in themes of the intangible rather than of substance; but their Songs of Power were comprehended only in part and to all but a few, of those who number either among the Ainur or of the Children of Ilúvatar. These brothers are known as the Fëanturi, who are the masters of spirits, and are more commonly named by the realms that Irmo and Námo rule, which are Lórien and Mandos; and if Lórien guides the dreams of Elves and Men, then Mandos guides their departed spirits after death to more than ever could be achieved in life. Mandos the Doomsman is nigh unswayable to all who cry out to him; but he espoused upon Arda Vairë the Weaver, for even Mandos cherished her desire to record all the glory and deeds of Ilúvatar’s Children so that they would be forgotten not. Too did Lórien’s own spouse become Estë the Gentle, so that the dreams he imparted unto Eru’s Children would be matched by her eternal striving to heal the pains and fatigue of all who hearkened to her.
A sister did Mandos and Lórien have as well, and she remained unespoused upon Arda, and afore the Creation of the World abided closest to the Flame Imperishable; and Nienna’s Songs of Power are replete not with strength but sadness, for she bears talents far beyond the capabilities of force or might. Behind her brothers did the cantillations of Nienna give substance to Lórien’s chants and the hymns of Mandos. Only with the waters of her teary laments could those residing in the Timeless Halls quench their thirst to understand the One who had created them. The Ainur who chose to endure upon Arda loved the One, and no less the Children of the One; and hence did Nienna’s foretellings of a Doom bearing both sadness and joy influence the Valar for reasons more than any others. For without sadness, there is no joy, and no dreams of mending a World that was meant to be Marred; but yet shall the World later become Unmarred in a Final Music by Elves and by Men that is known by none save the One.
One among the Ainur who sought as well to enter into the World was yet stayed within the Timeless Halls during the vast undertakings of the Valar; and his very essence bore strength enough to fight against Melkor. But Tulkas the Valiant held back at Eru’s call, despite being ill-content to watch the comings and goings of Melkor into the World. And thus to Tulkas did Ilúvatar comfort, saying, “Hearken to me, O Valiant, for courage and battle you bear, ebullient with my fire! Doth I love you no less than Manwë, who began the battle against proud Melkor in your shared Music? Greatest your combat shall reside not against Melkor but rather within thee, and before wrestling with Melkor you must first subdue your impatience. There will be a time for battle, but greater shall your time in the Little Kingdom be measured by your restraint. Let both the powers of Manwë and Melkor complete Arda’s creation, but rejoice that you shall have your final venging!” So Tulkas abided, and was comforted by Eru’s promise that his own part in the First Music was not forgotten; yet Menelmacar the Mighty, named also the First among the Maiar of Tulkas, was allowed entry into Arda; and he bore a luminous sword sheathed unto his mighty belt as he entered the World in Tulkas’s stead.
For Melkor had as well arrived upon Arda, and from its very first beginnings did Melkor seek to shape the world into one that reflected his own dark glory. Envy and malice of the Valar drew Melkor to Arda, and he threw his boundless energy not into Arda’s Creation but to its Marring; yet too was Melkor’s destruction fated from the first to be assimilated into the final shape of the World. From Melkor’s utmost power spewed forth both consuming fire and deadening cold; rivers would be diverted, mountains torn asunder, and lands corrupted beyond recognition by Melkor’s efforts, and he proclaimed he alone would be master upon Arda.
The life-givers had soon begun their own creations to prepare for the seeding of plants and the birthing of animals. Aulë had indeed fulfilled his promise to Yavanna his spouse in forming a World suitable for the seeding and populating Arda’s creatures. With Yavanna labored the myriad spirits from the outer realms, such as Aiwendil who envisioned the flighting of winged creatures bejeweling the skies, and Coitenorë who yearned to create a life that would occupy the dark realms of the earth below. Soon did the Valar and Maiar anticipate the airs of Arda to fill with the cries of animals and the winds blowing through the trees. But against any creature of Melkor’s designs, who bore no beauty or semblance to the beasts of the Valar, came Oromë and his Hunters. Soon did the resistance of the Valar and their peoples, led by Manwë, overcome the desires of Melkor to rule first upon Arda, and between Melkor and the Valar there grew strife. Melkor then withdrew from the World to other regions, and for his own purposes; but his intentions upon Arda were forgotten not.
After many an age, and as the World neared completion, abruptly did Melkor return. He now wore a form as did the Valar, but his outer designs reflected those within him, and his titanic presence crashed dark and terrible as a reminder that he remained the most powerful among those others who had once dwelt in the Timeless Halls. Melkor’s eyes issued forth malice, and his limbs were stronger than continents, and his power issued forth without peer. Throughout Arda did then the earth tremble, and the waters boil, and the air ignites; for Melkor was dominated by thoughts of vengeance, and he again declared that a Kingdom upon Arda was his alone to claim. With greater power than seen before did Melkor throw his power, seemingly limitless, against the craftings of the Valar. The works of Aulë were destroyed beyond count, and the lands prepared for Yavanna’s forests did Melkor despoil, and the plains and shores built for running animals did Melkor corrupt.
Arda’s vast repairing was no longer sufficient for the Valar to complete, for the destruction threw by Melkor against their works was too great. No longer did mere rivalry exist between Melkor and the Valar; and for the first time did the Valar and Melkor know the battle for ages beyond measure; ever and anon did the Valar create, only to witness their creations destroyed by Melkor. Yet their battling was foreseen by the One, for the Arda of Ilúvatar’s vision, and the Arda of Melkor’s Marring did achieve a completion both unsought and undesired by the Valar. Soon did the lands transform into realms both beautiful and bizarre, and the oceans and waterways spread over the World, and the airs above circulated with both fresh winds and foul smoke.
The grief and fatigue of the Valar endured for ages beyond count, and those wars are known little by Elves or Men. Yet perhaps from Nienna’s tears, or from Vairë’s weavings, or even from those dreams granted by Lórien do those Wisest among the Elves in the West glean what befell Menelmacar the Swordsman, who abides in the starry heavens until Arda’s End. Menelmacar the First, dauntless and abiding as Tulkas’s herald upon Arda among the Valar, grew weary of those endless wars of Arda’s creation and challenged Melkor to single battle. But Melkor delighted in the discord of his crafting, and smiled with malice against he who strove against him; for Melkor still bore more power than the Valar, and he stared with contempt towards Menelmacar’s summons as Melkor strode from his first frozen northern delvings.
With the Mighty came Oromë and his Hunters, and many others of the Valar who as well sought an end to the ages-long carnage of Melkor. In his right hand did Menelmacar bear his sword unsheathed, and with his left hand he held unfurled his mighty belt to restrain Melkor, and forthwith Menelmacar flung himself upon proud Melkor, and drove him back to the northern icy expanses of Melkor’s domain. But those realms were beyond the reach of the Valar, and were of Melkor’s own choosing; for behind his opponent Melkor lifted a towering ringlet of mountains, and they were laden with Iron to repel those from without. Thus the Valar were barred from their advance, and they could see naught of the duel beyond; but the Valar heard still the pair’s protracted battle, and those with Oromë gnashed their teeth with anguish, for they could not pass over those tightknit peaks.
For long did the Valar witness those iron-wrought mountains crash from side to side during their struggles, as the two wrestled beyond those summits tall enough to grate against the very skies. Then abruptly the sounds of their northmost battle ended, and the finality of the Mighty’s last cry reverberated within the grieving ears of the forlorn Valar. So it was that Menelmacar the Swordsman was the First Maia of Tulkas to descend upon Arda, but as well the first to perish at the hands of Melkor; for courage does not always proceed to victory, and Menelmacar fell broken by Melkor’s own wrath.
Then Melkor came forth, laughing with malice. Henceforth was his glare forever after laden with ill intent, for his eyes had beheld victory in the firstmost slaying of one of the Ainur. As Melkor approached the Valar, bearing Menelmacar’s body aloft behind his Iron Mountains, only then did the Valar know fully the depths of Melkor’s malevolence; and Nienna was not alone among the Valar to shed tears for his passing. Upon hearing the sighs and outcry of those who opposed him, Melkor’s pride grew yet more; and he held the slain form of his opponent even higher, and called unto them: “Behold your Music!”