Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 31, 2005 7:26:19 GMT -6
A friend of ours, Androga, started doing this at another site and he gave us the ok to post it here too!
The First War began before Arda was full-shaped, and for long Melkor had the upper hand. When Tulkas the Strong came from heaven, Melkor fled from his wrath and his laughter to forsake Arda. In the time that followed the Valar shaped the lands, seas and mountains, and Yavanna planted the seeds she had long planned. To bring light to Middle-earth, Aulë built two mighty lamps, filled by Varda and hallowed by Manwë. These lamps where placed on high pillars, higher than any mountain in later times. One lamp was put in the north of Middle-earth and was called Illuin, the other one, Ormal, stood in the south, and in their light Yavanna’s plants grew quick. Soon Middle-earth was in its Spring, filled with many different plants and forests, and animals came to live amongst them. Then the Valar rested in their home Almaren from their labour and Manwë ordained a great feast. But Melkor knew what they had done, and he was jealous of the works of his peers. He gathered all the spirits in his service and went back to Arda. He went to dark mountains far in the north, where the light of Illuin was weak and where the Valar could not see him, and there he built his great fortress Utumno. His evil spread out on Middle-earth from there. Green things started to rot, forests became dark and animals were turned into monsters. Then the Valar knew Melkor had returned and they searched for him. However Melkor went to battle and attacked the lights of Illuin and Ormal, brought down their pillars and broke the lamps. The destruction made seas rise and lands break. Thus the first designs of the Valar could never be restored. In the confusion Melkor escaped to Utumno, but the Valar could not fight him as they had to use their powers to save as much of the Earth as possible.
Since Almaren was destroyed, the Valar left Middle-earth and went to Aman, the most western of all lands, at the borders of the world. Because they could not defeat Melkor, they fortified their dwelling and upon the shores they raised the Pelóri, the highest mountains of Arda. The highest mountain amongst the Pelóri was the Taniquetil, on which Manwë set his throne and from where he could look out across the Earth. Behind the Pelóri the Valar made their domain Valinor. In the middle of the plain they built their city; Valmar of many bells. Before its western gate was Ezellohar or Corollairë, a green mound. There Yavanna sang, and during her song two trees grew upon it and those were Telperion and Laurelin, the Two Trees of Valinor, most renown of Yavanna’s creations. Telperion had dark green leaves, and from its flowers dew of silvery light fell continuously. Laurelin’s leaves were of a young green like the beech, its flowers where like a yellow flame from which a golden rain fell. Each tree’s glory waxed to full and waned again in seven hours, and each awoke to life one hour before the other one ceasedto shine, and thus mingling their gold and silver in a softer light. The days, which lasted for 12 hours, were counted, and a day began when Telperion, the eldest of the two, begins to shine, and it was like that until the Darkening of Valinor.
For ages Middle-earth lay beneath twilight of Varda’s stars, waiting until the coming of the Firstborn. Melkor wandered around in darkness, wielding cold and fire. All things that are cruel and deadly were in his charge. Meanwhile the Valar did not leave Valinor much. Aulë had a great part in the making of all things in that land, as all lore and knowledge of the Earth and all the things that it contained was his. He is named the Friend of the Noldor as they learned most of him, and they were the most skilled of the Elves. Manwë Súlimo, highest and holiest of the Valar, sat upon the borders of Aman, looking over the Outer Lands which he did not forget. He was aided by spirits in shape of hawks and eagles, yet even their eyes could not see through the darkness of Melkor. He loved the Vanyar most of all Elves and he gave them song and poetry. Varda, the most beautiful and also called Elbereth, dwelt at his side. But Ulmo was alone. He dwelt in the Outer Sea and did not come to Valinor unless there was a great council. In the deep places he thinks of great and terrible music, which echo runs to all veins of the world, and he never forsook the rest of the world. The Teleri learned much of him. Yavanna neither abandonned the Outer Lands, and she often left Valinor to heal Melkor’s evil, and when she returned she urged the Valar to fight him. Also Oromë, tamer of beasts, rode often through the dark forests of Middle-earth, to hunt all monsters and fell creatures. He would sound the Valaróma, his great horn, of which even Melkor trembled in Utumno.
Now everything is said about the condition of the Earth before the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar. The Elves and Men were the Children of Ilúvatar, and as the Ainur did not understand the theme on which the Children enter the Music, they didn’t dare to add anything to their fashion. The Elves or Quendi were made most like the Ainur, and therefore they most dealt with them. Ilúvatar gave Men (Atani) a new gift. He wanted the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and beyond the Music of the Ainur. He gave Men freedom of not being bound to the earth and to leave it soon, a gift which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy.
This is the first chapter of the actual Silmarillion. What do you think of this piece?
How do you imagine the first designs of the Earth by the Valar? Can you describe Valinor/Valmar in your own words?
And Ilúvatar gave to Men a special gift... Is death a gift? Is the long lasting life of the Elves a gift? Which of the two would you prefer?
CHAPTER 1 Of the Begining Days
The First War began before Arda was full-shaped, and for long Melkor had the upper hand. When Tulkas the Strong came from heaven, Melkor fled from his wrath and his laughter to forsake Arda. In the time that followed the Valar shaped the lands, seas and mountains, and Yavanna planted the seeds she had long planned. To bring light to Middle-earth, Aulë built two mighty lamps, filled by Varda and hallowed by Manwë. These lamps where placed on high pillars, higher than any mountain in later times. One lamp was put in the north of Middle-earth and was called Illuin, the other one, Ormal, stood in the south, and in their light Yavanna’s plants grew quick. Soon Middle-earth was in its Spring, filled with many different plants and forests, and animals came to live amongst them. Then the Valar rested in their home Almaren from their labour and Manwë ordained a great feast. But Melkor knew what they had done, and he was jealous of the works of his peers. He gathered all the spirits in his service and went back to Arda. He went to dark mountains far in the north, where the light of Illuin was weak and where the Valar could not see him, and there he built his great fortress Utumno. His evil spread out on Middle-earth from there. Green things started to rot, forests became dark and animals were turned into monsters. Then the Valar knew Melkor had returned and they searched for him. However Melkor went to battle and attacked the lights of Illuin and Ormal, brought down their pillars and broke the lamps. The destruction made seas rise and lands break. Thus the first designs of the Valar could never be restored. In the confusion Melkor escaped to Utumno, but the Valar could not fight him as they had to use their powers to save as much of the Earth as possible.
Since Almaren was destroyed, the Valar left Middle-earth and went to Aman, the most western of all lands, at the borders of the world. Because they could not defeat Melkor, they fortified their dwelling and upon the shores they raised the Pelóri, the highest mountains of Arda. The highest mountain amongst the Pelóri was the Taniquetil, on which Manwë set his throne and from where he could look out across the Earth. Behind the Pelóri the Valar made their domain Valinor. In the middle of the plain they built their city; Valmar of many bells. Before its western gate was Ezellohar or Corollairë, a green mound. There Yavanna sang, and during her song two trees grew upon it and those were Telperion and Laurelin, the Two Trees of Valinor, most renown of Yavanna’s creations. Telperion had dark green leaves, and from its flowers dew of silvery light fell continuously. Laurelin’s leaves were of a young green like the beech, its flowers where like a yellow flame from which a golden rain fell. Each tree’s glory waxed to full and waned again in seven hours, and each awoke to life one hour before the other one ceasedto shine, and thus mingling their gold and silver in a softer light. The days, which lasted for 12 hours, were counted, and a day began when Telperion, the eldest of the two, begins to shine, and it was like that until the Darkening of Valinor.
For ages Middle-earth lay beneath twilight of Varda’s stars, waiting until the coming of the Firstborn. Melkor wandered around in darkness, wielding cold and fire. All things that are cruel and deadly were in his charge. Meanwhile the Valar did not leave Valinor much. Aulë had a great part in the making of all things in that land, as all lore and knowledge of the Earth and all the things that it contained was his. He is named the Friend of the Noldor as they learned most of him, and they were the most skilled of the Elves. Manwë Súlimo, highest and holiest of the Valar, sat upon the borders of Aman, looking over the Outer Lands which he did not forget. He was aided by spirits in shape of hawks and eagles, yet even their eyes could not see through the darkness of Melkor. He loved the Vanyar most of all Elves and he gave them song and poetry. Varda, the most beautiful and also called Elbereth, dwelt at his side. But Ulmo was alone. He dwelt in the Outer Sea and did not come to Valinor unless there was a great council. In the deep places he thinks of great and terrible music, which echo runs to all veins of the world, and he never forsook the rest of the world. The Teleri learned much of him. Yavanna neither abandonned the Outer Lands, and she often left Valinor to heal Melkor’s evil, and when she returned she urged the Valar to fight him. Also Oromë, tamer of beasts, rode often through the dark forests of Middle-earth, to hunt all monsters and fell creatures. He would sound the Valaróma, his great horn, of which even Melkor trembled in Utumno.
Now everything is said about the condition of the Earth before the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar. The Elves and Men were the Children of Ilúvatar, and as the Ainur did not understand the theme on which the Children enter the Music, they didn’t dare to add anything to their fashion. The Elves or Quendi were made most like the Ainur, and therefore they most dealt with them. Ilúvatar gave Men (Atani) a new gift. He wanted the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and beyond the Music of the Ainur. He gave Men freedom of not being bound to the earth and to leave it soon, a gift which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy.
This is the first chapter of the actual Silmarillion. What do you think of this piece?
How do you imagine the first designs of the Earth by the Valar? Can you describe Valinor/Valmar in your own words?
And Ilúvatar gave to Men a special gift... Is death a gift? Is the long lasting life of the Elves a gift? Which of the two would you prefer?
- 'It's an ill wind as blows nobody no good, as I always say. And All's well as ends Better!'
