hough the most important of the Valar, and the most referenced, had the greatest power, there were others of them who were extremely important to the creation of the world and the running of it before and during the time of Elves and Men.

The Fëanturi, masters of spirit, are brethren. They are most often called Mandos and Lórien, though these are more rightly the names of the places where they lived, and their actual names are Námo and Irmo. Námo is the elder, and he dwells in Mandos. He is the keeper of the Houses of the Dead, and he summons the spirits of the slain. He is the Doomsman of the Valar, but he pronounces his dooms only at the bidding of Manwë. His wife is Vairë the Weaver, who weaves all things that have ever been in Time. Irmo is the younger, and he is master of visions and dreams. He lives in Lórien, where are his gardens that are the fairest in all the world. Estë the gentle is his wife, and she is the healer of all hurts and weariness. All who dwell in Valinor get refreshment from the fountains of Irmo and Estë, and even the Valar themselves come to their gardens to find repose from the burdens of Arda.

Nienna is the sister of the Fëanturi, and she dwells alone. "She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor." 6 She does not weep for herself, though, and those who listen to her learn pity and endurance in hope. She does not go to Valinor, but she often goes to the halls of Mandos where the spirits who wait there cry to her. She brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom.

Tulkas is the greatest in strength and prowess. He is also called Astaldo, the Valiant. He loves wrestling and contests of strength. He can outrun anything on feet, and he never tires. He has golden hair and ruddy flesh, and the only weapons he uses are his hands. His wife is Nessa, sister of Oromë, and she is also lithe and fleetfooted. She loves the deer who follow her into the wild, but she can outrun them. She loves dancing, and she dances always in Valimar.

Oromë is a mighty lord. He may be less strong than Tulkas, but he is more dreadful in anger. He loved Middle-earth the most, and he left it reluctantly. He was the last to return to Valinor of all the Valar, and he often passed back into Middle-earth. His horse was Nahar; he was white in the sun but shone 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." 7 He was the first to know of the awakening of the Elves, and he went among them and led many of them back to the Blessed Realm. He is a hunter of monsters and fell beasts, and he loves horses and hounds. He loves all trees, and is called Aldaron or Tauron, Lord of Forests. Vána the Ever-young is his wife, and she is the younger sister of Yavanna. All flowers spring as she passes and open if she looks on them, and all birds sing when she comes near.

 

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