Vairë ‘The Weaver’ (Q.) – One of the Valier (Queens of the Valar); the wife of Mandos. In the lore of the Eldar she is said endlessly to be engaged upon the task of weaving tapestries, the design of which records all things that have ever come to pass in Arda.

Vala – The Quenya or High-elven word for ‘Angelic Power’ (i.e. one of the kindred of the VALAR), but more usually the title of the Fëanorian Tengwa number 22, which represented the sound w in languages which required it.

Valacar – From 1366–1432 Third Age, the twentieth King of Gondor, and the unwitting instigator of the Kin-strife civil war which came near to destroying the South-kingdom. Valacar was the son and heir of Rómendacil II (Minalcar), who had won a great victory over the Easterlings with the aid of the Northmen of Rhovanion, allies of Gondor. Because of his regard for the Northmen, Rómendacil sent his son to dwell for a time in the court of Vidugavia, the mightiest of their Princes. However, Valacar acquired an even greater regard for the Men of Rhovanion than had his father, and in due course wedded Vidugavia’s daughter Vidumavi; the son she bore him was named Eldacar in Gondor, Vinitharya in Rhovanion.

As is told elsewhere, this mingling of the royal blood of Númenor with one of ‘lesser’ race caused a great deal of ill-feeling among the Dúnedain of Gondor, and when Eldacar came to the Throne this resentment turned to rebellion: many of the Dúnedain refused to accept Eldacar as their lawful King, and resisted his authority. The result was the Kin-strife civil war, in which great damage was done to the Line of Anárion and the Realm of Gondor.

Valacirca – See SICKLE (OF THE VALAR).

Valandil – The eldest son of the Lady Silmariën of Númenor, daughter of King Tar-Elendil, and the first of the Lords of Andúnië. He was thus the direct ancestor of Elendil, Isildur and Aragorn. Also the name of the third King of Arnor, who reigned from year 10–249 Third Age. He was the fourth son of Isildur, who was slain at the Gladden Fields (Year 2) together with Valandil’s three elder brothers; Valandil himself had been left behind in Rivendell during the War of the Last Alliance, due to his tender age, and so escaped the massacre.

Valandur – From 602–652 Third Age, the eighth King of Arnor.

Valanya ‘Day-of-the-Valar’ (Q.) – The sixth and final day in the Elves’ week and the seventh and final day in the week of Kings’ Reckoning. In both calendars it was the chief or ‘holy’ day. Its alternative Quenya name was Tárion. The Grey-elves knew it as Orbelain (or Rodyn), while the Hobbits’ name was Highdei (later Highday).

Valaquenta ‘History of the Valar’ (Q.) – A short treatise, of unknown authorship, in which the natures and respective attributes of the VALAR and MAIAR have been detailed in due and proper order. It has been published as part of the collection entitled The Silmarillion1 but, like the Ainulindalë, is distinct from the larger work. Almost certainly the Valaquenta is of Eldarin origin, since the names of the various Powers, both Valar and Maiar, are in the Quenya tongue; and this in turn indicates authorship dating to the time when the Noldor (the chief loremasters of the Elves) were first dwelling in Tirion. How it came to survive until our own day cannot safely be ascertained: in all probability a copy of the work was kept in the library of Rivendell and consequently came to be ‘acquired’, or at least re-copied, by the famed Hobbit-scholar Bilbo Baggins – who, of course, is responsible for other literary acquisitions from the First Age.

Valar ‘Angelic Powers’ (Q.) – The name given by ancient Eldarin tradition to those of the AINUR, or Divinities created by The One before the Creation itself, who participated in the making of Eä (The Universe) and of Arda (the World) amidmost; and who, after the completion of this labour, departed from Eä and came to dwell in Middle-earth as Guardians of the World.

They did so because of their love and desire for the Children of God – Elves and Men – for whom they were to prepare the ‘realm’. The future forms of Elves and Men had been revealed to them, though they had no part in their design or making, and the precise time of their appearance was not known.2

Much is said of the Valar in the Quenta Silmarillion; and even more in the Ainulindalë and the Valaquenta; and for a full account of the natures and powers of the individual Valar the enquirer is referred to those works. Of more adjacence to this entry is the known history of the Powers since their arrival in the World, in a time so distant as scarcely to be within the comprehension of mortals. To prepare the World for the Erusen was all of their ancient purpose, but (as is told above in the quoted passage), even they did not know when this event would come to pass, and so for Ages uncounted they moved about the face of the earth, continuing their ancient ‘demiurgic’ labours, shaping the World, and peopling it with the first living things: the olvar and kelvar. Themselves beings of Light, they determined to bring Light to Arda, and for this hallowed purpose they made the great Lamps Illuin and Ormal; and Light shone on Middle-earth, and the olvar grew and flourished, and the kelvar wandered freely in the vast forests of that ancient time.

In those days (if ‘days’ is the correct word, since the count of Time had not yet begun) the Valar dwelt in the Isle of Almaren, together with their people, the Maiar, to whom they were as Kings and Queens. Almaren was their first home in Middle-earth, and the period of their abiding there under the mingled light of the Lamps is called by tradition The Spring of Arda. All things flourished. Yet evil befell them: the evil of Melkor, who in his origins had been the brother of Manwë Súlimo and the greatest of all the Valar. So mighty was Melkor that he envied even Ilúvatar (The One), and strove with Him even before the Creation. For this he had been rebuked; and from that time onwards he had withheld his aid, and had taken no part in the making of Arda, but had done much to mar it. One war he had fought already – and had lost it. Now he brooded in outer darkness; or so the Valar thought, for in those far-off times they were slow to comprehend the nature of Evil.

The result of their passivity was the secret, unhindered return of Melkor to Middle-earth, and the delving of Utumno, his great fortress in the North. Soon, by various signs, the Valar in Almaren were aware that he was once again at work; but before they could take steps against him he struck first. In a series of mighty blows he overthrew the Lamps, plunging Middle-earth into a Darkness that was to endure for Ages upon Ages, and in the convulsions engendered thereby Almaren was destroyed. The Valar had suffered their first defeat.

For that time they could not avenge themselves upon Melkor, being occupied with saving what they could from the ruin. And when finally the surface of the World had quietened, and the Equilibrium was once again in hand, the Valar decided to abandon Middle-earth to Melkor for a time, until they felt ready to reclaim it from him. For themselves they made a new home: Aman the Blessed in the Far West. At this time the Two Trees first grew and sent forth their Light; yet though Middle-earth remained dark for Ages to come, the Valar remained quiescent in Valinor. A city they built: Valimar. And on the highest peak of Taniquetil Manwë built his high halls, from which he oversaw and heard everything that came to pass, save in the darkened lands to the East.

So the slow Ages wound on. And in due course there came to the Valar news of the event they had awaited since the Dawn: the awakening of the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar: the Elves. By this time the Valar were again grown powerful, and they, now fearing for the safety of the Quendi in darkened Middle-earth, determined to settle accounts with Melkor (it is worth noting that their motive in launching war upon him at this time was not revenge for Almaren and the Lamps, but pre-emption of any evil he might yet commit against the Erusen).

In the resultant Battle of the Powers (as it is called by the Eldar) Melkor was taken prisoner and Utumno was destroyed; but his lesser stronghold of Angband was only levelled, and by lurking deep underground, many evil creatures survived the wrath of the Powers. Nonetheless, the way was now clear for the Quendi to fulfil their destiny – if they so wished. For at this time the Valar themselves were confused. Evil, they now knew, might awake again in Middle-earth at some future time; for the Great Darkness still endured. So there were two apparent choices: to lighten Middle-earth once again, and so remove the fear of renascent evil and safeguard the Quendi (and the Atani who were still to come); or to summon the Quendi to Valinor, there to dwell with the Valar in bliss and everlasting life, in a land illuminated by the holiest Light that has ever been seen in the World. In making their choice, the Valar were guided by their experience; and this seemed to tell them that to lighten Middle-earth and leave the Quendi to dwell there might, in the end, prove disastrous. For who of the Valar had foreseen that Melkor would prove able to overthrow the Lamps Illuin and Ormal? Yet he had done this very thing. The safest course was to summon the Quendi to Valinor, for no evil could ever enter the Blessed Realm. Or so most of the Valar then believed.

(As was afterwards seen, this decision, though blessed with many fair consequences, also had its darker side; yet the memory of Almaren was strong, and the experience of Melkor’s power for destruction had been profound; and unlike The One, the Valar were not infallible in their judgements.)

Of the events which followed the summoning of the Quendi to the Far West much is said in the Quenta Silmarillion. For three Ages of Middle-earth Melkor languished, a captive, in the Halls of Mandos; while the Eldar who had completed the Great Journey from the land of their birth throve in Valinor and Eldamar, beloved of the Valar and Maiar. But still Middle-earth endured the Great Darkness, though this had now been enhanced by the stars created by Varda at the time of the awakening of the Quendi. Yet under that starlit Night the evil of Melkor still moved in Middle-earth, though directionless and impotent. And in the end the time came for the release of Melkor; for in this matter the Valar were bound by their word, and three Ages of imprisonment – no more – had been decreed for him, providing he showed repentance. This he did (though falsely), and was released. And before long his will had crossed the Sea and had entered the minds of his creatures in Middle-earth, so that they began to increase in number.

Finally, deeming himself (accurately) already under suspicion of falseness, and having worked what small evil he could in Valinor, Melkor fled. Powerless to repeat his first great blow, he nevertheless had power enough to strike another, equally grievous, before his flight. With the aid of the monster Ungoliant he poisoned the Two Trees and stole the Silmarils, slaying Finwë of the Noldor to do so. In this way the ancient hope of the Valar, that evil could never enter the Blessed Realm, was brought to nothing; and worse was to follow.

For Melkor’s last and greatest rebellion led to the seduction into evil of many other creatures – and in time the Seduced themselves became Seducers, so that a mighty consequence of Melkor’s treachery was the rebellion of the Noldor and the War of the Great Jewels, with all the evil that entailed. And the process of corruption did not stop there – indeed it had been in process since the beginning of Arda, when many of the Ainur had gone over to Melkor’s side. Evil followed evil – and perhaps the greatest evil of all was the rebellion of the Atani (the Númenoreans) and their assault upon the Undying Lands at the end of the Second Age.

But at the time of the rebellion of Morgoth and his flight to Middle-earth the Valar envisaged no such development. Rather than use force to prevent the revengeful Noldor from forsaking the Undying Lands in pursuit of the evil Vala, they merely ratified the High-elves’ exile until such time as they should truly repent; yet after a while they could no longer stand aside from the affairs of Middle-earth. The host they sent to Middle-earth at the end of the First Age was the greatest force that has ever been in the world; so irresistible was it that Morgoth – who had hitherto been almost totally victorious – was crushed and his evil realm of Angband destroyed in the cataclysm unleashed upon him. This apocalyptic event also destroyed the Grey-elves’ land of Beleriand, and so changed for ever the destiny of Elves in Middle-earth.

Yet the Valar, Guardians of the World, were concerned above all with the innocent. The race of Men, which had appeared in Middle-earth during the later First Age, and which had fought unselfishly against evil with no thought of gain, seemed more deserving of reward than those of the High-elves who had survived the wars; and so the Valar gave to the Atani (Men) a land of their own, far out in the Western Seas and removed from the perils of Middle-earth. And yet this generous gesture, designed to repair in part the evils caused by Morgoth and Fëanor, led in the end to a disaster of even greater proportions: for an Age of the World Númenor grew in power and splendour and pride, and under the evil teaching of Sauron, servant of Morgoth, eventually rebelled, like others before, against the authority of the Guardians. This time the peril was too great for even the Valar to overcome unaided, and they ‘laid down their Guardianship and called upon the One, and the world was changed. Númenor was thrown down and swallowed in the Sea, and the Undying Lands were removed for ever from the circles of the world.’3

After the Drowning of Númenor the Valar, chastened by their self-evident failure, determined to take no further direct part in the affairs of mortals. Instead, they sent messengers to Middle-earth to work against Evil – but these emissaries were themselves forbidden to use the awesome powers of their race; instead, they were made subject to the same laws which bound mortals (apart from lifespan). These were the beings known in Middle-earth as Istari or Wizards, and their individual successes and failures in their appointed tasks are recorded elsewhere.

Yet it may be said that, in this final attempt to maintain the Balance, the Valar achieved a more lasting success than with all previous policies. For although they had not themselves originated Evil, it was one of their race who had done so – and they had failed to win him back to their side, in which cause he might have done mighty service. They had failed to foresee the blows he had struck against them, when the Lamps were cast down and their first realm destroyed (perhaps they were lulled by bliss, and by pride in their achievements). Determined nonetheless to fulfil their Guardianship, they had succeeded in ensuring the survival of the Firstborn – but they had failed to prevent evil from entering their second realm, with all its attendant consequences. Indeed, they had invited it in. And in caring overmuch for the West, they neglected the East, so that evil was not stamped out, nor has it ever been; and the Second People, when they arrived in the World, did so at a time of confusion and fear, which marred them ever after. All this was accountable to the Valar, though not directly, for indeed no evil has ever entered into any of them, save Melkor alone.

Valarauka ‘Demon of Might’ (Q.) – See BALROG.

Valaróma ‘Mighty Trumpet’ (Q.) – The hunting-horn of the Vala OROMË THE GREAT.

Vales of Anduin – All the lands between the westernmost eaves of Mirkwood and the eastern foothills of the Misty Mountains.

Valier ‘Queens of the Valar’ (Q.) – The name given in the lore of the Eldar (see Valaquenta) to the seven most royal of the female VALAR, or Powers, corresponding to the seven Lords.

The Valier are: Varda (Elbereth); Yavanna Kementári; Nienna sister of the Fëanturi; Estë the Healer; Vairë the Weaver; Vána sister of Yavanna, spouse of Oromë; and Nessa his sister, the bride of Tulkas. Varda, Yavanna and Nienna are in addition accounted Aratar, members of the innermost Council of the Powers.

Valimar ‘Home of the Valar’ (Q.) – Also written Valmar. This name is applied in a general sense to the Land of the Valar, also called Valinor, but more properly to the City in the middle of that land. See also following entry.

Valinor ‘[Land]-of-the-Valar’ (Q.; from older form Valinórë ‘[People] of the Valar’) – The name in the High-elven tongue for the second abode in Arda of the Valar or Powers; whose capital was Valimar or Valmar. Valinor was founded after the destruction of Almaren, the first dwelling in Arda of the Powers. Its dimensions are of course not recorded, but it originally embraced the entire Isle of Aman; only later was the easternmost portion of this land set aside as a dwelling for the Eldar – being renamed Eldamar as a consequence – while the Valar and Maiar withdrew into the land west of the Mountains they had raised as a defence against Melkor. (In this connection Valinor is also sometimes known as the Guarded Realm.) Its chief and only city was Valimar (or Valmar) of the Bells; and at the western gate of Valmar stood the chief council-place of the Aratar, the Mahanaxar or Ring of Doom. Before the Mahanaxar stood the green mound Ezellohar; and upon its summit, in ancient times, stood the Two Trees of renown.

Elsewhere there were gardens and enchanted woods, and fields of grain, and orchards, and lakes: each the particular domain of one of the Valar or Valier, peopled by their servants and followers, the Maiar. The westerly boundary was the shore of the Encircling Sea, Ekkaia, where stood the lonely Halls of Mandos. North and south of Valinor the Valar and Maiar did not journey.

Valinorean – The speech of the Valar. Little or nothing of this ancient language has been recorded, but doubtless it played some part in the enriching of the Quenya tongue far back in the Elder Days, and so a certain resemblance between the two languages may be assumed.

Valley of Dreadful Death – A translation of the Sindarin name NAN DUNGORTHEB.

Valmar – See VALINOR.

Vána – A Lady of the Valar, accounted one of the Valier (though not among the Aratar). She was the sister of Yavanna, and shared many of Kementári’s powers and characteristics, being especially attuned to both olvar and kelvar. Vána the ‘Ever-young’ (one of her titles) is the spouse of Oromë.

Vanimeldë (Tar-Vanimeldë) – From 2526–2637 Second Age, the third Ruling Queen (and sixteenth Ruler) of Númenor. On her passing her husband claimed (and took) the Sceptre of Númenor, reigning as ‘Tar-Anducal’, but after his death the legitimacy of his reign was cast into doubt. He was succeeded by his (and Vanimeldë’s) son Alcarin.

Vanyar ‘Fair-elves’ (Q.) – The First Kindred of the Eldar, the ‘Highest’ of all High-elves. Led by Ingwë, their first and only King (Ingwë is also accounted High-king of all Elves), the Vanyar were foremost in the Great Journey from Cuiviénen to Aman, and tarried not at all in mortal lands, for they had been transfixed by the vision of Aman compellingly described for them by Ingwë, and sought only to come to the Uttermost West as speedily as possible. This they did, and never again yearned for Middle-earth – and never returned save on one occasion: as warriors of the Host of Valinor, come to wreak final justice on Melkor. Of all the Quendi the Vanyar were the most beloved of the Valar; and after an Age they forsook the fair and splendid city of Tirion – in whose building they had played a great part – and, seeking ever to come closer to the Light of the Trees and the society of the Valar, migrated through the Calacirya into Valinor and never came back, save as guests of their kinsmen.

The Vanyar were the least numerous of the Three Kindreds; and unlike all other Elves, their hair was golden (which accounts for their name). Few are mentioned by name in records. Ingwë the King was, and is, their Lord, and dwells with Manwë atop Oiolossë; Indis is the name of the Lady whom Finwë of the Noldor took as his second wife, after the passing of Míriel Serindë. From her the yellow hair of her kindred descended among the Noldor (in the House of Finarfin).

Varda ‘The Exalted’ (Q.) – The High-elves’ name for that Lady of the Valier known (to Grey-elves) as ELBERETH.

Vardamir Nolimón – From 442–43 Second Age, the second King of Númenor, the son of Elros Tar-Minyatur. He came to the Throne in 442 Second Age but immediately resigned the Sceptre to his own eldest son, Tar-Amandil, but in records thereafter was deemed (as became general practice in cases of this sort) to have reigned for one year. He was named Nolimón because of his love of lore and old books.

Vardarianna – One of the FRAGRANT TREES of Númenor.

Variags – A barbarous race of Men, dwellers during the Third Age in the remote region of Khand, to the south-east of Mordor. Like other Easterlings, they were apt to Sauron’s will and did battle for his part during the War of the Ring.

Vása ‘Heart of Fire’ (Q.) – A Noldorin name for ANAR (the Sun).

Vëantur – The name of the Númenorean mariner who was the first to achieve the voyage to Middle-earth, in about the sixth century of the Second Age. His ship was called Entulessë (‘Return’, Q.) and made landfall at the Havens of Mithlond.

Veil of Arda – The atmosphere.

Vidugavia ‘Wood-dweller’ – The most powerful of the Princes of Rhovanion during the thirteenth century of the Third Age, and the valiant ally of King Rómendacil II of Gondor. His daughter Vidu-mavi wedded Rómendacil’s son Valacar. See also KIN-STRIFE.

Vidumavi ‘Wood-maiden’ – See also previous entry.

Vilya – The Quenya or High-elven word for ‘air’ or ‘sky’; and the title of Tengwa number 24 (whose value is not known). Also the name in Eldarin tradition of the Ring of Air, mightiest of the THREE RINGS of the Elven-kings made by Celebrimbor the Smith during the middle years of the Second Age. It was given by Celebrimbor to Gil-galad, High King of Lindon, and was later passed on by Gil-galad to Elrond Half-elven shortly before the final battle of the Last Alliance. Elrond bore it throughout the Third Age and carried it over Sea. It was a ring of gold, and bore a large sapphire.

Vingilot ‘Foam-flower’ (Q., from older form Vingilótë) – The name given by EÄRENDIL to the ship he built of birchen planks felled in the woods of Arvernien, in which he and Elwing journeyed to Aman and besought the aid of the Valar against Melkor (Morgoth). The (later) Adûnaic form of this name was Rothinzil. Vingilot was afterwards set in the sky (so the Eldar say) by Elbereth, to traverse the Heavens as the Evening Star.

Vinitharya – The birth-name of King Eldacar of Gondor, given by his mother Vidumavi, daughter of Prince Vidugavia of Rhovanion. The word is in the Northern tongue of the men of Rhovanion, and its meaning has not been recorded.

Vinyalondë ‘New-Haven’ (Q.) – Havens founded early in the Second Age on the coast of Middle-earth at the mouth of the Gwathló (Greyflood) by Aldarion the ‘Great Captain’ of Númenor. They were later sacked by enemies and, still later, partly washed away by a rise in sea level. In after times the ruins were called Lond Daer.

Vinyamar ‘New Home’ (Q.) – The name given by Turgon of the Noldor to his first dwelling in Middle-earth during the years of his exile from Eldamar. Vinyamar was a great hall built upon the slopes of Mount Taras in Nevrast, the ‘First Homely House’ East of the Sea. But it was unfortified, and never more than a temporary dwelling. Turgon and his people afterwards removed to Gondolin, and dwelt there until the fall of that city, four centuries later.

Vinyarion – The birth-name of King Hyarmendacil II of Gondor. It is Quenya in form.

Viressë – The fourth month in Kings’ Reckoning, equivalent to April. The Dúnedain of Middle-earth, descendants of the Númenoreans, used instead the Sindarin equivalent Gwirith. The Hobbits’ name was Astron.

Vorondil the Hunter – From 1998–2029 Third Age, the Steward to King Eärnil II of Gondor. From him all subsequent Ruling Stewards (beginning with his son Mardil) were descended. He was renowned as a great huntsman, and the great ox-horn which was borne ever after by the Steward’s eldest son was the result of a successful expedition on the part of Vorondil to the plains of Rhûn, where many of the fabled Wild White Kine were to be found.

Voronwë ‘Steadfast’ (Q.) – One of the Noldor of the First Age, of the People of Fingolfin; he was one of those sent by Turgon of Gondolin into the Western Seas after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, to beseech the pardon and the aid of the Valar. Seven ships set out, but of all that sailing only one Elf-mariner returned: Voronwë son of Aranwë; and this was many years later. It was afterwards said (by the Eldar) that the Vala Ulmo had played a part in this preservation, for Voronwë was cast ashore in a place where he would easily be encountered by Tuor of the Edain – another instrument of the King of the Sea – so as to furnish Tuor with a guide to Gondolin. Voronwë indeed led Tuor by the secret ways to Turgon’s city, and so played his part after all in the great events which were to end the Age and bring succour to Middle-earth. His fate is not recorded.

Also the admiring title bestowed by folk of Gondor (Third Age) upon Mardil the Good Steward.