fter the First War with Melkor ended, the Valar were able to order the waters, the lands, and the mountains. Finally, Yavanna, who loved all that grew upon the earth, was able to plant her seeds that she had longed to plant. At this time, also, the World was in darkness. Aulë, who loved to fashion things from the earth, made two great lamps. Varda, Queen of the Stars, filled the lamps and Manwë hallowed them, and the Valar placed them on high pillars. The one in the north was called Illuin, while the one in the south was called Ormal; "and the light of the Lamps of the Valar flowed out over the Earth, so that all was lit as it were in a changless day." 8 With the light, the seeds began to grow and nature's life began. The world was the most beautiful in that place where the light from both lamps met and mingled, and here the Valar made their first home, Almaren. The beauty of Arda grew and flourished during this time, The Spring of Arda. However, the Spring could not last, because Melkor, as always was waiting in the wings for an opportunity to destroy the works of the rest of the Valar. He found his opportunity when the Valar were resting from their labours; he came forth from his hiding place deep under the Earth and attacked the two lamps of the Valar, spilling their light into the seas and on to the land, destroying much that the Valar had created.

With this destruction, the Spring of Arda ended, and Almaren was destroyed. "Therefore they departed from Middle-earth and went to the Land of Aman, the westernmost of all lands upon the borders of the world; for its west shores looked upon the Outer Sea...encircling the Kingdom of Arda." 9 They raised great mountains, the Pelori, to fortify their dwelling. This place they named Valinor, and they gathered all the beautiful things they had saved from the destruction of Arda, and Valinor became even more beautiful than Middle-earth during the Spring of Arda.

It was here in Valinor that Yavanna sang into being the most renowned of all creations of that time: The Two Trees of Valinor. All the Valar were gathered in their city, Valmar, and they watched silently as Yavanna sang before them. As they watched, two slender shoots came from the mound of earth; as she continued to sing, the saplings became strong and tall and beautiful, and the Two Trees of Valinor came into the world. (I can in no way describe the Two Trees as well as Tolkien, so it is merely easier and wiser to let the words of that great master speak for themselves.) "The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. The other bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges were of glittering gold. Flowers swung upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light." 10 The elder tree, the silver tree, was named Telperion, while the younger, golden tree was named Laurelin. In seven hours, each tree waxed to its full glory and waned again. Each came to life again an hour before the other, so twice a day in Valinor, a soft light emanated from the trees when both the faint silver and golden lights mingled. The first time Telperion bloomed to full stature, the Valar counted as the first hour of time, naming it the Opening hour. After the first waxing and waning of Telperion and Laurelin, the Days of the Bliss of Valinor began, and also the Count of Time.

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The creation of The Two Trees of Valinor is not something I am familiar with in any other mythology. The Trees are obviously a precursor to the sun and moon of modern times. They give off light and heat, and time is counted from their waxing and waning just as our time is counted from the rising and setting of the sun. Again, Tolkien uses the beauty of song to bring natural beauty to life, and here was created two of the most beautiful, important things of Middle-earth. The stories of the Elder days are wrapped up in the fate of these two trees, as will be seen in further stories.

Unfortunately, the beauty and light of the Two Trees, would not last forever. As ever, Melkor waited and brooded, biding his time. He could never let anything of beauty be because his heart was dark and evil. Eventually, even the trees would be destroyed, and a new time would begin. The fate of the Two Trees can be read in The Sun and the Moon.

 

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