named Angband。
It came to pass that the Valar held council； for they became troubled by the tidings that Yavanna and Orom？
brought from the Outer Lands； and Yavanna spoke before the Valar； saying： 'Ye mighty of Arda； the Vision of Ilúvatar
was brief and soon taken away； so that maybe we cannot guess within a narrow count of days the hour appointed。 Yet be
sure of this： the hour approaches； and within this age our hope shall be revealed； and the Children shall awake。 Shall we
then leave the lands of their dwelling desolate and full of evil？ Shall they walk in darkness while we have light？ Shall
they call Melkor lord while Manw？ sits upon Taniquetil？'
And Tulkas cried： 'Nay！ Let us make war swiftly！ Have we not rested from strife overlong； and is not our strength
now renewed？ Shall one alone contest with us for ever？'
But at the bidding of Manw？ Mandos spoke； and he said： 'In this age the Children of Ilúvatar shall e indeed；
but they e not yet。 Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn shall e in the darkness； and shall look first upon the
stars。 Great light shall be for their waning。 To Varda ever shall they call at need。'
Then Varda went forth from the council； and she looked out from the height of Taniquetil； and beheld the
darkness of Middle…earth beneath the innumerable stars； faint and far。 Then she began a great labour； greatest of all the
works of the Valar since their ing into Arda。 She took the silver dews from the vats of Telperion； and therewith she
made new stars and brighter against the ing of the Firstborn； wherefore she whose name out of the deeps of time and
the labours of E？ was Tintall？； the Kindler； was called after by the Elves Elentári； Queen of the Stars。 Carnil and Luinil；
Nénar and Lumbar； Alcarinqu？ and Elemmír？ she wrought in that time； and many other of the ancient stars she gathered
together and set as signs in the heavens of Arda： Wilwarin； Telumendil； Soronúm？； and Anarríma； and Menelmacar with
his shining belt； that forebodes the Last Battle that shall be at the end of days。 And high in the north as a challenge to
Melkor she set the crown of seven mighty stars to swing； Valacirca； the Sickle of the Valar and sign of doom。
It is told that even as Varda ended her labours； and they were long； when first Menelmacar strode up the sky and
the blue fire of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world； in that hour the Children of the Earth
awoke； the Firstborn of Ilúvatar。 By the starlit mere of Cuiviénen； Water of Awakening； they rose from the sleep of
Ilúvatar； and while they dwelt yet silent by Cuiviénen their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven。 Therefore
they have ever loved the starlight； and have revered Varda Elentári above all the Valar。
In the changes of the world the shapes of lands and of seas have been broken and remade； rivers have not kept
their courses； neither have mountains remained steadfast； and to Cuiviénen there is no returning。 But it is said among the
Elves that it lay far off in the east of Middle…earth； and northward； and it was a bay in the Inland Sea of Helcar； and that
sea stood where aforetime the roots of the mountain of Illuin had been before Melkor overthrew it Many waters flowed
down thither from heights in the east； and the first sound that was heard by the Elves was the sound of water flowing；
and the sound of water falling over stone。
Long they dwelt in their first home by the water under stars； and they walked the Earth in wonder； and they began
to make speech and to give names to all things that they perceived。 Themselves they named the Quendi； signifying those
that speak with voices； for as yet they had met no other living things that spoke or sang。
And on a time it chanced that Orom？ rode eastward in his hunting； and he turned north by the shores of Helcar
and passed under the shadows of the Orocarni； the Mountains of the East。 Then on a sudden Nahar set up a great
neighing； and stood still。 And Orom？ wondered and sat silent； and it seemed to him that in the quiet of the land under the
stars he heard afar off many voices singing。
Thus it was that the Valar found at last； as it were by chance； those whom they had so long awaited。 And Orom？
looking upon the Elves was filled with wonder； as though they were beings sudden and marvellous and unforeseen； for
so it shall ever be with the Valar。 From without the World； though all things may be forethought in music or foreshown in
vision from afar； to those who enter verily into E？ each in its time shall be met at unawares as something new and
unforetold。
In the beginning the Elder Children of Ilúvatar were stronger and greater than they have since bee； but not
more fair； for though the beauty of the Quendi in the days of their youth was beyond all other beauty that Ilúvatar has
caused to be； it has not perished； but lives in the West； and sorrow and wisdom have enriched it。 And Orom？ loved the
Quendi； and named them in their own tongue Eldar； the people of the stars； but that name was after borne only by those
who followed him upon the westward road。
Yet many of the Quendi were filled with dread at his ing； and this was the doing of Melkor。 For by after…
knowledge the wise declare that Melkor； ever watchful； was first aware of the awakening of the Quendi； and sent
shadows and evil spirits to spy upon them and waylay them。 So it came to pass； some years ere the ing of Orom？；
that if any of the Elves strayed far abroad； alone or few together； they would often vanish； and never return； and the
Quendi said that the Hunter had caught them； and they were afraid。 And indeed the most ancient songs of the Elves； of
which echoes are remembered still in the West； tell of the shadow…shapes that walked in the hills above Cuiviénen； or
would pass suddenly over the stars； and of the dark Rider upon his wild horse that pursued those that wandered to take
them and devour them。 Now Melkor greatly hated and feared the riding of Orom？； and either he sent indeed his dark
servants as riders； or he set lying whispers abroad； for the purpose that the Quendi should shun Orom？； if ever they
should meet。
Thus it was that when Nahar neighed and Orom？ indeed came among them； some of the Quendi hid themselves；
and some fled and were lost。 But those that had courage； and stayed； perceived swiftly that the Great Rider was no shape
out of darkness； for the light of Aman was in his face； and all the noblest of the Elves were drawn towards it。
But of those unhappy ones who were ensnared by Melkor little is known of a certainty。 For who of the living has
descended into the pits of Utumno； or has explored the darkness of the counsels of Melkor？ Yet this is held true by the
wise of Eress？a； that all those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor； ere Utumno was broken； were put there
in prison； and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved； and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the
Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves； of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes。 For the Orcs had life and
multiplied af