The Silmarillion

Aulë created the Dwarves “in the darkness of Middle-earth” (17) so that he could teach them his crafts. He made the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves secretly in a hall beneath the mountains and tries to explain his decision to Eru. He offers to destroy the Dwarves, but Eru blesses his work, though the Dwarves must “sleep now in the darkness under stone” (17) until the arrival of the Elves and Men. The Dwarves are “stone-hard, stubborn, fast in friendship and in enmity” (17); they live longer than men but not as long as Elves.

When Aulë reveals his creation to Yavanna, she congratulates him. However, because he kept the Dwarves a secret from her, the Dwarves will “have little love” (17) for the natural beauty she creates, and they will “delve in the earth” (17). When Aulë reminds Yavanna that most of the Children will have a similar dominion over her creations, she becomes concerned and goes to Manwë. He confirms her fears and asks her what she would protect above all else: “I hold trees dear” (18), she answers. After consulting with Eru and the song, Manwë tells Yavanna that the forests will have protectors: The Shepherds of the Trees (also known as Ents); this pleases Yavanna. 

Melkor continues to gather strength. He creates “monsters and shapes of dread” (19) that populate Arda, and he lurks in Utumno with the Balrogs, his realm spreading south over Middle-earth. He places Sauron in a fortress named Angband. When Yavanna and Oromë report this back to the Valar, there is concern. While Tulkas calls for war, Mandos reminds them that the Children of Ilúvatar will come soon. To herald their arrival, Varda creates seven mighty stars. As their light trickles into the world, “the Children of the Earth awoke” (19). The Elves walk through the world, the first of the Children to develop language and song. Oromë spots them for the first time while hunting and is “filled with wonder” (21).

Though Oromë is amazed by the Elves, many of them fear him. This is the work of Melkor, who has noticed their awakening and had sent evil spirits to harass, spy upon, and even capture any Elves who strayed far from their home. When Oromë visits the Elves, some flee; those that remain realize that Oromë is not a threat. Those Elves that were captured by Melkor were imprisoned and corrupted, eventually becoming Orcs. Their creation is “the vilest deed of Melkor” (21).

Oromë leaves the Elves and returns to the Valar and tells them the good news. He returns to the Elves while the other Valar debate how to protect the Elves from Melkor. They decide to assault Melkor’s fortress. Melkor will never forget that Elves were the motivation for the war, even though the Elves themselves were not involved in the decision.

The two sides meet in the North-west of Middle-earth. The Valar win, and Melkor’s forces flee back to Utumno. The Valar lay siege to the fortress for a long time, during which “the shape of Middle-earth was changed” (21). When the siege is finally broken, Melkor takes refuge in the “uttermost pit” (22). Tulkas fights him and beats him; Melkor is then bound in a special chain and held captive. However, the Valar did not capture every evil thing in Utumno; many remained, including Sauron.

After the battle, the Valar are divided in opinion over what to do with the Elves. Eventually, they summon the Elves to Valinor. Eventually, Oromë convinces three representatives to go: Ingwë, Finwë, and Elwë. All three find the Valar to be wondrous and convince most of the Elves to move west to Valinor. Many Elves remain, and become known as the Avari, the Unwilling. Ingwë leads his Elves to Valinor, and they become the Vanyar (the Fair Elves) who can never return to Middle-earth. Finwë’s Elves become the Noldor (the Deep Elves). Most of the Elves arrived with the last host and were named the Teleri, led by two lords: Elwë and Olwë. A number of Elves became lost en route to Valinor; these are the Umanyar who, together with the Avari, are known as the Elves of the Darkness as they did not see the light of Valinor. At the same time, however, Melkor is establishing the combative forces that will cause much damage in the centuries to come.