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lake of Lórellin。 From the fountains of Irmo and Est？ all those who dwell in Valinor draw refreshment； and often the
Valar e themselves to Lórien and there find repose and easing of the burden of Arda。
Mightier than Est？ is Nienna； sister of the F？anturi； she dwells alone。 She is acquainted with grief； and mourns
for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor。 So great was her sorrow； as the Music unfolded； that
her song turned to lamentation long before its end； and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World
before it began。 But she does not weep for herself； and those who hearken to her learn pity； and endurance in hope。 Her
halls are west of West； upon the borders of the world； and she es seldom to the city of Valimar where all is glad。 She
goes rather to the halls of Mandos； which are near to her own； and all those who wait in Mandos cry to her； for she
brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom。 The windows of her house look outward from the walls of the
world。
Greatest in strength and deeds of prowess is Tulkas； who is surnamed Astaldo； the Valiant。 He came last to Arda；
to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor。 He delights in wrestling and in contests of strength； and he rides no
steed； for he can outrun all things that go on feet； and he is tireless。 His hair and beard are golden； and his flesh ruddy；
his weapons are his hands。 He has little heed for either the past or the future； and is of no avail as a counsellor； but is a
hardy friend。 His spouse is Nessa； the sister of Orom？； and she also is lithe and fleetfooted。 Deer she loves； and they
follow her train whenever she goes in the wild； but she can outrun them； swift as an arrow with the wind in her hair。 In
dancing she delights； and she dances in Valimar on lawns of never…fading green。
Orom？ is a mighty lord。 If he is less strong than Tulkas； he is more dreadful in anger； whereas Tulkas laughs ever；
in sport or in war； and even in the face of Melkor he laughed in battles before the Elves were born。 Orom？ loved the
lands of Middle…earth； and he left them unwillingly and came last to Valinor； and often of old he passed back east over
the mountains and returned with his host to the hills and the plains。 He is a hunter of monsters and fell beasts； and he
delights in horses and in hounds； and all trees he loves； for which reason he is called Aldaron； and by the Sindar Tauron；
the Lord of Forests。 Nahar is the name of his horse； white in the sun； and shining silver at night。 The Valaróma is the
name of his great horn； the sound of which is like the upgoing of the Sun in scarlet； or the sheer lightning cleaving the
clouds。 Above all the horns of his host it was heard in the woods that Yavanna brought forth in Valinor； for there Orom？
would train his folk and his beasts for the pursuit of the evil creatures of。 Melkor。 The spouse of Orom？ is Vána； the
Ever…young； she is the younger sister of Yavanna。 All flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them；
and all birds sing at her ing。
These are the names of the Valar and the Valier； and here is told in brief their likenesses； such as the Eldar beheld
them in Aman。 But fair and noble as were the forms in which they were manifest to the Children of Ilúvatar； they were
but a veil upon their beauty and their power。 And if little is here said of all that the Eldar once knew； that is as nothing
pared with their true being； which goes back into regions and ages far beyond our thought。 Among them Nine were
of chief power and reverence； but one is removed from their number； and Eight remain； the Aratar； the High Ones of
Arda： Manw？ and Varda； Ulmo； Yavanna and Aul？； Mandos； Nienna； and Orom？。 Though Manw？ is their King and
holds their allegiance under Eru； in majesty they are peers； surpassing beyond pare all others； whether of the Valar
and the Maiar； or of any other order that Ilúvatar has sent into E？。
Of the Maiar
With the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World； of the same order as the Valar but of less
degree。 These are the Maiar； the people of the Valar； and their servants and helpers。 Their number is not known to the
Elves； and few have names in any of the tongues of the Children of Ilúvatar； for though it is otherwise in Aman； in
Middle…earth the Maiar have seldom appeared in form visible to Elves and Men。
Chief among the Maiar of Valinor whose names are remembered in the histories of the Elder Days are Ilmar？； the
handmaid of Varda； and E？nw？； the banner…bearer and herald of Manw？； whose might in arms is surpassed by none in
Arda。 But of all the Maiar Oss？ and Uinen are best known to the Children of Ilúvatar。
Oss？ is a vassal of Ulmo； and he is master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle…earth。 He does not go in the
deeps； but loves the coasts and the isles； and rejoices in the winds of Manw？； for in storm he delights； and laughs amid
the roaring of the waves。 His spouse is Uinen； the Lady of the Seas； whose hair lies spread through all waters under sky。
All creatures she loves that live in the salt streams； and all weeds that grow there； to her mariners cry； for she can lay
calm upon the waves； restraining the wildness of Oss？。 The Númenóreans lived long in her protection； and held her in
reverence equal to the Valar。
Melkor hated the Sea； for he could not subdue it。 It is said that in the making of Arda he endeavoured to draw
Oss？ to his allegiance； promising to him all the realm and power of Ulmo； if he would serve him。 So it was that long ago
there arose great tumults in the sea that wrought ruin to the lands。 But Uinen； at the prayer of Aul？； restrained Oss？ and
brought him before Ulmo； and he was pardoned and returned to his allegiance； to which he has remained faithful。 For
the most part； for the delight in violence has never wholly departed from him； and at times he will rage in his wilfulness
without any mand from Ulmo his lord。 Therefore those who dwell by the sea or go up in ships may love him； but
they do not trust him。
Melian was the name of a Maia who served both Vána and Est？； she dwelt long in Lórien； tending the trees that
flower in the gardens of Irmo； ere she came to Middle…earth。 Nightingales sang about her wherever she went。
Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin。 He too dwelt in Lórien； but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna； and
of her he learned pity and patience。
Of Melian much is told in the Quenta Silmarillion。 But of Olórin that tale does not speak； for though he loved the
Elves； he walked among them unseen； or in form as one of them； and they did not know whence came the fair visions or
the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts。 In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar； and
took pity on their sorrows； and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of
darkness。
Of the Enemies
Last of all is set the name of Melkor； He who arises in Might。 But that name he has forfeited； and the Noldor； who
among the Elves suffered mo