he opened his mind to Yavanna and told her of all that had e to pass。 Then Yavanna said to him： 'Eru is merciful。
Now I see that thy heart rejoiceth； as indeed it may； for thou hast received not only forgiveness but bounty。 Yet because
thou hiddest this thought from me until its achievement； thy children will have little love for the things of my love。 They
will love first the things made by their own hands； as doth their father。 They will delve in the earth； and the things that
grow and live upon the earth they will not heed。 Many a tree shall feel the bite of their iron without pity。'
But Aul？ answered： 'That shall also be true of the Children of Ilúvatar； for they will eat and they will build。 And
though the things of thy realm have worth in themselves； and would have worth if no Children were to e； yet Eru
will give them dominion； and they shall use all that they find in Arda： though not； by the purpose of Eru； without respect
or without gratitude。'
'Not unless Melkor darken their hearts；' said Yavanna。 And she was not appeased； but grieved in heart； fearing
what might be done upon Middle…earth in days to e。 Therefore she went before Manw？； and she did not betray the
counsel of Aul？； but she said： 'King of Arda； is it true； as Aul？ hath said to me； that the Children when they e shall
have dominion over all the things of my labour； to do as they will therewith？'
'It is true；' said Manw？。 'But why dost thou ask； for thou hadst no need of the teaching of Aul？？'
Then Yavanna was silent and looked into her own thought。 And she answered： 'Because my heart is anxious；
thinking of the days to e。 All my works are dear to me。 Is it not enough that Melkor should have marred so many？
Shall nothing that I have devised be free from the dominion of others？'
'If thou hadst thy will what wouldst thou reserve？' said Manw？。 'Of all thy realm what dost thou hold dearest？'
'All have their worth；' said Yavanna； 'and each contributes to the worth of the others。 But the kelvar can flee or
defend themselves； whereas the olvar that grow cannot。 And among these I hold trees dear。 Long in the growing； swift
shall they be in the felling； and unless they pay toll with fruit upon bough little mourned in their passing。 So I see in my
thought。 Would that the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots； and punish those that wrong them！'
'This is a strange thought；' said Manw？。
'Yet it was in the Song；' said Yavanna。 'For while thou wert in the heavens and with Ulmo built the clouds and
poured out the rains； I lifted up the branches of great trees to receive them； and some sang to Ilúvatar amid the wind and
the rain。'
Then Manw？ sat silent； and the thought of Yavanna that she had put into his heart grew and unfolded； and it was
beheld by Ilúvatar。 Then it seemed to Manw？ that the Song rose once more about him； and he heeded now many things
therein that though he had heard them he had not heeded before。 And at last the Vision was renewed； but it was not now
remote； for he was himself within it； and yet he saw that all was upheld by the hand of Ilúvatar； and the hand entered in；
and from it came forth many wonders that had until then been hidden from him in the hearts of the Ainur。
Then Manw？ awoke； and he went down to Yavanna upon Ezellohar； and he sat beside her beneath the Two Trees。
And Manw？ said： 'O Kementári； Eru hath spoken； saying： 〃Do then any of the Valar suppose that I did not hear all the
Song； even the least sound of the least voice？ Behold！ When the Children awake； then the thought of Yavanna will
awake also； and it will summon spirits from afar； and they will go among the kelvar and the olvar； and some will dwell
therein； and be held in reverence； and their just anger shall be feared。 For a time： while the Firstborn are in their power；
and while the Secondborn are young。〃 But dost them not now remember； Kementári； that thy thought sang not always
alone？ Did not thy thought and mine meet also； so that we took wing together like great birds that soar above the
clouds？ That also shall e to be by the heed of Ilúvatar； and before the Children awake there shall go forth with wings
like the wind the Eagles of the Lords of the West。'
Then Yavanna was glad； and she stood up； reaching her arms towards the heavens； and she said： 'High shall climb
the trees of Kementári； that the Eagles of the King may house therein！'
But Manw？ rose also； and it seemed that he stood to such a height that his voice came down to Yavanna as from
the paths of the winds。
'Nay；' he said； 'only the trees of Aul？ will be tall enough。 In the mountains the Eagles shall house； and hear the
voices of those who call upon us。 But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees。'
Then Manw？ and Yavanna parted for that time； and Yavanna returned to Aul？； and he was in his smithy； pouring
molten metal into a mould。 'Eru is bountiful；' she said。 'Now let thy children beware！ For there shall walk a power in the
forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril。'
'Nonetheless they will have need of wood；' said Aul？； and he went on with his smith…work。
Chapter 3
Of the ing of the Elves
and the Captivity of Melkor
Through long ages the Valar dwelt in bliss in the light of the Trees beyond。 The Mountains of Aman； but all Middle…earth
lay in a twilight under the stars。 While the Lamps had shone； growth began there which now was checked； because all
was again dark。 But already the oldest living things had arisen： in the seas the great weeds； and on earth the shadow of
great trees； and in the valleys of the night…clad hills there were dark creatures old and strong。 To those lands and forests
the Valar seldom came； save only Yavanna and Orom？； and Yavanna would walk there in the shadows； grieving because
the growth and promise of the Spring of Arda was stayed。 And she set a sleep upon many things that had arisen in the
Spring； so that they should not age； but should wait for a time of awakening that yet should be。
But in the north Melkor built his strength； and he slept not； but watched； and laboured； and the evil things that he
had perverted walked abroad； and the dark and slumbering woods were haunted by monsters and shapes of dread。 And
in Utumno he gathered his demons about him； those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour； and
became most like him in his corruption： their hearts were of fire； but they were cloaked in darkness； and terror went
before them； they had whips of flame。 Balrogs they were named in Middle…earth in later days。 And in that dark time
Melkor bred many other monsters of divers shapes and kinds that long troubled the world； and his realm spread now
ever southward over Middle…earth。
And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north…western shores of the sea； to resist any
assault that might e from Aman。 That stronghold was manded by Sauron； lieutenant of Melkor； and it was
named Angband。
It came to pass that the Valar held council； for they became troubled by the tidings that Yavanna and Orom？
brought from the Oute