Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

           ItistoldthataftertheflightofMelkortheValarsatlongunmovedupontheirthronesintheRingofDoom;buttheywerenotidle,asFeanordeclaredinthefollyofhisheart.FortheValarmayworkmanythingswiththoughtratherthanwithhands,andwithoutvoicesinsilencetheymayholdcouncilonewithanother.ThustheyheldvigilinthenightofValinor,andtheirthoughtpassedbackbeyondEaandforthtotheEnd;yetneitherpowernorwisdomassuagedtheirgrief,andtheknowingofevilinthehourofitsbeing.AndtheymournednotmoreforthedeathoftheTreesthanforthemarringofFeanor:oftheworksofMelkoroneofthemostevil.ForFeanorwasmadethemightiestinallpartsofbodyandmind,invalour,inendurance,inbeauty,inunderstanding,inskill,instrengthandinsubtletyalike,ofalltheChildrenofIluvatar,andabrightflamewasinhim.TheworksofwonderforthegloryofArdathathemightotherwisehavewroughtonlyManwemightinsomemeasureconceive.AnditwastoldbytheVanyarwhoheldvigilwiththeValarthatwhenthemessengersdeclaredtoManwetheanswersofFeanortohisheralds,Manweweptandbowedhishead.ButatthatlastwordofFeanor:thatattheleasttheNoldorshoulddodeedstoliveinsongforever,heraisedhishead,asonethathearsavoicefaroff,andhesaid:’Soshallitbe!Dear-boughtthosesongsshallbeaccounted,andyetshallbewell-bought.Forthepricecouldbenoother.ThusevenasEruspoketousshallbeautynotbeforeconceivedbebroughtintoEa,andevilyetbegoodtohavebeen.’

           ButMandossaid:’Andyetremainevil.TomeshallFeanorcomesoon.’

           ButwhenatlasttheValarlearnedthattheNoldorhadindeedpassedoutofAmanandwerecomebackintoMiddle-earth,theyaroseandbegantosetforthindeedsthosecounselswhichtheyhadtakeninthoughtfortheredressoftheevilsofMelkor.